This year's iPhone, or last year's?
June 24, 2010 5:07 AM Subscribe
Is it stupid to upgrade my iPhone... to a 3GS?
I got the iPhone 3G when it was released here in Canada, and have enjoyed it thoroughly for the past 2 years. That is, until a month or two ago, when the home button broke. I've managed to make do, figuring out tricks to maneuver through some applications and functions without a reboot, but it's getting old.
I had intended to wait for the iPhone 4, when it release here "soon" (I know it was supposed to be July, but online sites here have changed that to "soon"), but now I'm not so sure, especially with the news that white models are delayed even in the US (yes, I'm picky). I can grab a 3GS at half the price right now, and I'm not sure if the increased specs on the new model are worth the wait and extra cost. I don't care about things like the improved video camera or gyroscope, and I like the feel of the curved back of the 3G and 3GS. All that flatness puts me off a bit. Plus I figure with the new OS, it'll be enough of a new phone experience to satisfy me. The new screen does look nice though.
What would you do? Am I crazy for giving up on the new hotness? Will I be kicking myself for not going with this year's model, or even next year's?
I got the iPhone 3G when it was released here in Canada, and have enjoyed it thoroughly for the past 2 years. That is, until a month or two ago, when the home button broke. I've managed to make do, figuring out tricks to maneuver through some applications and functions without a reboot, but it's getting old.
I had intended to wait for the iPhone 4, when it release here "soon" (I know it was supposed to be July, but online sites here have changed that to "soon"), but now I'm not so sure, especially with the news that white models are delayed even in the US (yes, I'm picky). I can grab a 3GS at half the price right now, and I'm not sure if the increased specs on the new model are worth the wait and extra cost. I don't care about things like the improved video camera or gyroscope, and I like the feel of the curved back of the 3G and 3GS. All that flatness puts me off a bit. Plus I figure with the new OS, it'll be enough of a new phone experience to satisfy me. The new screen does look nice though.
What would you do? Am I crazy for giving up on the new hotness? Will I be kicking myself for not going with this year's model, or even next year's?
As far as I understand it, the 4 is the one best suited for the new multi-tasking; in terms of battery consumption and performance. While now you may indeed be okay, one or two years down the line when apps are being programmed for multi-tasking and higher demands, you may find your phone a little laggy.
Imagine using an iPhone 2 at this point and that's the kind of thing I'm talking about. It's functional, but slowly things are developing away from it. That's a bad part of the curve to be on when buying a new product.
posted by Hiker at 5:16 AM on June 24, 2010
Imagine using an iPhone 2 at this point and that's the kind of thing I'm talking about. It's functional, but slowly things are developing away from it. That's a bad part of the curve to be on when buying a new product.
posted by Hiker at 5:16 AM on June 24, 2010
Also, the new screen looks nice because they're hyping it. In reality it is so high resolution that it makes little difference. Like getting 1080p HD on a 12" HDTV; it's such a small screen that it doesn't matter. Sure, you look at it with a microscope and there's a difference, but I'm not doing that every day.
Modern screens on other smartphones are just fine (and the 3GS has a higher-quality screen than most others of its caliber, anyway.)
posted by InsanePenguin at 5:20 AM on June 24, 2010
Modern screens on other smartphones are just fine (and the 3GS has a higher-quality screen than most others of its caliber, anyway.)
posted by InsanePenguin at 5:20 AM on June 24, 2010
As far as I understand it, the 4 is the one best suited for the new multi-tasking; in terms of battery consumption and performance. While now you may indeed be okay, one or two years down the line when apps are being programmed for multi-tasking and higher demands,
This may be true, but if it is it's only because of Apple's incompetence in coding. Android phones and Palm phones with much lower specs multitask like fucking champs.
FWIW, I haven't heard any reports of slowing on the 3GS with iOS 4.0. On the normal 3G it seems to be hit-and-miss, but I bet
posted by InsanePenguin at 5:23 AM on June 24, 2010
This may be true, but if it is it's only because of Apple's incompetence in coding. Android phones and Palm phones with much lower specs multitask like fucking champs.
FWIW, I haven't heard any reports of slowing on the 3GS with iOS 4.0. On the normal 3G it seems to be hit-and-miss, but I bet
posted by InsanePenguin at 5:23 AM on June 24, 2010
*But I bet you'll be fine.
posted by InsanePenguin at 5:24 AM on June 24, 2010
posted by InsanePenguin at 5:24 AM on June 24, 2010
It really wouldn't make sense to get a 3GS unless you absolutely cannot wait until the new one is released. The extra ram alone (512MB vs 256MB) is going to make the 4 a lot better for multitasking and things like keeping a bunch of tabs open in Safari without reloading. Plus there's the improved camera, high resolution screen, improved battery life, potentially improved reception, forward facing cam. The only thing the 3GS has going for it now, beyond availability, is the initial price difference, which makes up a small part of the total price you'll pay with the contract anyway.
posted by 6550 at 5:30 AM on June 24, 2010
posted by 6550 at 5:30 AM on June 24, 2010
Actually, thinking more on it, here's what I would do:
1) Buy a 3GS to replace your broken phone off of eBay or craigslist. Wait.
2) When the iPhone 4 drops in Canada, pick it up on contract.
3) Sell the 3GS.
With a little luck you'll even pull a profit on the 3GS. Lots of people will be looking to sell right around now, and prices may not be as high as usual, but they'll rebound when you go to sell, probably.
posted by InsanePenguin at 5:35 AM on June 24, 2010
1) Buy a 3GS to replace your broken phone off of eBay or craigslist. Wait.
2) When the iPhone 4 drops in Canada, pick it up on contract.
3) Sell the 3GS.
With a little luck you'll even pull a profit on the 3GS. Lots of people will be looking to sell right around now, and prices may not be as high as usual, but they'll rebound when you go to sell, probably.
posted by InsanePenguin at 5:35 AM on June 24, 2010
Also, the new screen looks nice because they're hyping it. In reality it is so high resolution that it makes little difference
Considering the eye can discern > 300 dpi, it does make a difference. Having a screen that looks like print is pretty fucking amazing.
posted by wongcorgi at 5:37 AM on June 24, 2010
Considering the eye can discern > 300 dpi, it does make a difference. Having a screen that looks like print is pretty fucking amazing.
posted by wongcorgi at 5:37 AM on June 24, 2010
I have the 3GS with ios4. I have noticed the camera is slower to open since the upgrade. I don't see a big enough jump to go to 4. Facetime is the only draw for me but that would require all my peeps to get the 4 as well (not likely).
posted by saucysault at 5:38 AM on June 24, 2010
posted by saucysault at 5:38 AM on June 24, 2010
For me, it'd come down to whether I was signing a 2 year contract or not, mostly. If I'm going to be stuck with a phone for two years, whatever the cost is for the actual phone becomes less important.
I'm currently a year into my 3GS contract and am really happy with it. I'm currently not compelled to buy an iPhone 4. However, I wouldn't like to be stuck with it for two more years.
posted by Tu13es at 5:40 AM on June 24, 2010
I'm currently a year into my 3GS contract and am really happy with it. I'm currently not compelled to buy an iPhone 4. However, I wouldn't like to be stuck with it for two more years.
posted by Tu13es at 5:40 AM on June 24, 2010
Also, the new screen looks nice because they're hyping it. In reality it is so high resolution that it makes little difference.
I just played around with one last night (one of the early deliveries), and I can tell you this is not the case. It really is an big improvement. There's also a pretty significant battery-life improvement.
That said, the 3GS does get the new OS, and I'm extremely happy with mine. So it's perfectly reasonable to get it.
posted by Tomorrowful at 5:40 AM on June 24, 2010
I just played around with one last night (one of the early deliveries), and I can tell you this is not the case. It really is an big improvement. There's also a pretty significant battery-life improvement.
That said, the 3GS does get the new OS, and I'm extremely happy with mine. So it's perfectly reasonable to get it.
posted by Tomorrowful at 5:40 AM on June 24, 2010
I upgraded from a two-year-old 3G to an iPhone 4 (it arrived yesterday, and is all set up right here in my grubby hands).
The new model really is a big improvement on the 3G--the screen is a vast improvement; it's like looking through a pane of glass to the real world. And is exceedingly fast; even texting on the 3G could take a while to load for me, but now there is instant responsiveness.
There are a lot of new little features that I haven't played with. But I think it's definitely worth the upgrade--for me.
That said, the 3GS are so cheap, you can't really lose. Have you seen this article? At the end of the day, the 3GS is still a good phone, and a noticeable upgrade from the 3G at a good price.
posted by dam1975 at 5:52 AM on June 24, 2010
The new model really is a big improvement on the 3G--the screen is a vast improvement; it's like looking through a pane of glass to the real world. And is exceedingly fast; even texting on the 3G could take a while to load for me, but now there is instant responsiveness.
There are a lot of new little features that I haven't played with. But I think it's definitely worth the upgrade--for me.
That said, the 3GS are so cheap, you can't really lose. Have you seen this article? At the end of the day, the 3GS is still a good phone, and a noticeable upgrade from the 3G at a good price.
posted by dam1975 at 5:52 AM on June 24, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions all, I think I can deal with the 3GS. I got swept up in gadget lust, but then again I'm the same guy who bought a 1999 Motorola Timeport in 2007.
Also, yikes.
posted by yellowbinder at 5:53 AM on June 24, 2010
Also, yikes.
posted by yellowbinder at 5:53 AM on June 24, 2010
One of my colleagues got her new iPhone yesterday. The resolution on the 4 is very impressive in comparison to my 3GS. Other than that, what Tu13es said.
posted by Silvertree at 5:53 AM on June 24, 2010
posted by Silvertree at 5:53 AM on June 24, 2010
Response by poster: Re: contract, in Canada we have to do 3 year contracts. So I've got a year left in mine. I think upgrading only adds one more year on, so it would be 2 years until I can catch up.
posted by yellowbinder at 5:55 AM on June 24, 2010
posted by yellowbinder at 5:55 AM on June 24, 2010
The price of the hardware is pretty irrelevant when you compare it to the price of the plan over 2 or 3 (in Canada, this seems to be more of the norm) years.
I'd say the better battery life, extra ram, and better screen make it a worthwhile investment.
posted by backwards guitar at 5:57 AM on June 24, 2010
I'd say the better battery life, extra ram, and better screen make it a worthwhile investment.
posted by backwards guitar at 5:57 AM on June 24, 2010
Ok first the iPhone 4 just got released. Every release of every product/OS ever has had some sort of "OMFG this thing is fundamentally flawed" moment.
My anecdotal experience that would recommend a 4.0 phone over a 3GS. I was recently in the same boat as you only had to choose between the 3G and 3GS (lost phone - it had to be replaced about a year ago). I thought "why get the 3gs? I don't need a better camera and a compass." So got the 3G, a decision I was fine with until the iOS 4.0 update rolled out last week and my phone didn't get multi-tasking - the one iOS 4 feature I wanted.
So while right now you may be fine with a 3GS, you may leave yourself out in the cold with a future iOS update with a super cool feature that won't be available for the "old" 3GS phones.
posted by bitdamaged at 6:55 AM on June 24, 2010
My anecdotal experience that would recommend a 4.0 phone over a 3GS. I was recently in the same boat as you only had to choose between the 3G and 3GS (lost phone - it had to be replaced about a year ago). I thought "why get the 3gs? I don't need a better camera and a compass." So got the 3G, a decision I was fine with until the iOS 4.0 update rolled out last week and my phone didn't get multi-tasking - the one iOS 4 feature I wanted.
So while right now you may be fine with a 3GS, you may leave yourself out in the cold with a future iOS update with a super cool feature that won't be available for the "old" 3GS phones.
posted by bitdamaged at 6:55 AM on June 24, 2010
Backwards guitar beat me to it. The total cost of ownership makes the price diff in hardware largely irrelevant.
Personally I would wait. If you're really not in gadget lust what difference does a month make? Besides, would you want to be on the 3G/3GS divide now with difference in functionality in the operating system... Because you didn't want to wait a month?
Also - the 4 doubles the ram, and there are apps my 3G won't run/run well that my friends on 3gses can use fine. That difference will inevitably surface with the 4/3GS divide too.
posted by phearlez at 7:02 AM on June 24, 2010
Personally I would wait. If you're really not in gadget lust what difference does a month make? Besides, would you want to be on the 3G/3GS divide now with difference in functionality in the operating system... Because you didn't want to wait a month?
Also - the 4 doubles the ram, and there are apps my 3G won't run/run well that my friends on 3gses can use fine. That difference will inevitably surface with the 4/3GS divide too.
posted by phearlez at 7:02 AM on June 24, 2010
It'll be hard to feel bad about it when your pocket is that much heavier with the money that you'll save.
The money you'll save is basically $100, which is pretty much nothing when amortized across the life of the contract extension. Plus, you'd be getting an iPhone that's half the size of the cheapest iPhone 4. No offense, but extending your contract to buy last year's model is pretty ridiculous. The numbers just don't add up.
posted by dhammond at 8:14 AM on June 24, 2010
The money you'll save is basically $100, which is pretty much nothing when amortized across the life of the contract extension. Plus, you'd be getting an iPhone that's half the size of the cheapest iPhone 4. No offense, but extending your contract to buy last year's model is pretty ridiculous. The numbers just don't add up.
posted by dhammond at 8:14 AM on June 24, 2010
No offense, but extending your contract to buy last year's model is pretty ridiculous. The numbers just don't add up.
I was assuming OP would buy a used 3GS and not extend contract, that's what I would do, I wasn't clear in the first response.
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:42 AM on June 24, 2010
I was assuming OP would buy a used 3GS and not extend contract, that's what I would do, I wasn't clear in the first response.
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:42 AM on June 24, 2010
especially with the news that white models are delayed even in the US (yes, I'm picky)
Huh? You wouldn't be satisfied with a black iPhone 4, but you would be happy with a slower, more pixelated, crappier-cameraed white 3GS for the next two years? You and I obviously put very different emphasis on what's important in a computer in our pockets.
(No prizes for guessing I'd be holding out for the 4.)
posted by puffmoike at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2010
Huh? You wouldn't be satisfied with a black iPhone 4, but you would be happy with a slower, more pixelated, crappier-cameraed white 3GS for the next two years? You and I obviously put very different emphasis on what's important in a computer in our pockets.
(No prizes for guessing I'd be holding out for the 4.)
posted by puffmoike at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2010
I bought a refurbished 3G for cheap because I didn't think the 3GS was a large enough upgrade, and I was happy for 2 years. I think the iPhone 4 is worth it, and I can't imagine being happy with my 3G or a 3GS (except for money reasons). So I'm glad I waited.
Then again, I much prefer the new design.
This may be true, but if it is it's only because of Apple's incompetence in coding. Android phones and Palm phones with much lower specs multitask like fucking champs.
Apple was concerned about battery life and didn't want users to have to deal with an application 'killer'. They wanted it seamless and without affecting battery life. You can agree with their methods (choice) or not (that's why one phone isn't for everyone), but blaming it on Apple incompetence is comical.
Also, the new screen looks nice because they're hyping it. In reality it is so high resolution that it makes little difference. Like getting 1080p HD on a 12" HDTV; it's such a small screen that it doesn't matter. Sure, you look at it with a microscope and there's a difference, but I'm not doing that every day.
posted by InsanePenguin
This simply isn't true. After seeing the new screen that's the biggest reason I want to upgrade. Review after review has heaped praised on the new screen while viewed without a microscope.
I heard this 'it won't make it a difference' BS a lot BEFORE people actually saw the screen in person, but almost nothing after users actually got to play with the new iPhone 4. It's the best screen on a smart phone today.
posted by justgary at 9:16 AM on June 24, 2010
Then again, I much prefer the new design.
This may be true, but if it is it's only because of Apple's incompetence in coding. Android phones and Palm phones with much lower specs multitask like fucking champs.
Apple was concerned about battery life and didn't want users to have to deal with an application 'killer'. They wanted it seamless and without affecting battery life. You can agree with their methods (choice) or not (that's why one phone isn't for everyone), but blaming it on Apple incompetence is comical.
Also, the new screen looks nice because they're hyping it. In reality it is so high resolution that it makes little difference. Like getting 1080p HD on a 12" HDTV; it's such a small screen that it doesn't matter. Sure, you look at it with a microscope and there's a difference, but I'm not doing that every day.
posted by InsanePenguin
This simply isn't true. After seeing the new screen that's the biggest reason I want to upgrade. Review after review has heaped praised on the new screen while viewed without a microscope.
I heard this 'it won't make it a difference' BS a lot BEFORE people actually saw the screen in person, but almost nothing after users actually got to play with the new iPhone 4. It's the best screen on a smart phone today.
posted by justgary at 9:16 AM on June 24, 2010
The new iPhone is totally worth it, between the screen, the RAM and the battery. Then there's the new camera, etc., etc....
Haters gonna hate.
posted by entropicamericana at 11:12 AM on June 24, 2010
Haters gonna hate.
posted by entropicamericana at 11:12 AM on June 24, 2010
I'd get the 3GS. It runs iOS4 fine and all the new features won't be all that relevant till all the apps you like are updated. So heavy multitasking is probably at least a few months away. The screen might be great or not, I haven't actually seen the phone yet and Job's praise is obviously irrelevant. Again, apps need to be updated to take advantage of the new resolution.
But the note that the price difference is actually very small due to monthly fees is absolutely true.
posted by chairface at 7:36 AM on June 25, 2010
But the note that the price difference is actually very small due to monthly fees is absolutely true.
posted by chairface at 7:36 AM on June 25, 2010
Oh, if only developers had access to the new OS before the general public so that they could update their apps for iOS4 in a timely manner and maybe even have them available for download on the release day of the new iPhone....
Oh wait, they did!
posted by entropicamericana at 7:43 AM on June 25, 2010
Oh wait, they did!
posted by entropicamericana at 7:43 AM on June 25, 2010
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posted by InsanePenguin at 5:13 AM on June 24, 2010