If you haven't been reading the news lately, yes, Apple finally introduced the iPhone 3G. The device uses 3G networking, GPS, sports enterprise support, third party application support, will be available in around 70 countries, and will be more affordable. iPhone 3G is an overall better-performing device at a lower price. Right at this moment, nothing can beat it. So let's see what's under that shiny hood.

IPHONE 3G


SIZE & WEIGHT

- Height: 4.5 inches (115.5 mm)
- Width: 2.4 inches (62.1 mm)
- Depth: 0.48 inch (12.3 mm)
- Weight: 4.7 ounces (133 grams)




Original iPhone – iPhone 3G Size & Weight Comparison

Original iPhone
- Size: 115×61×11.6 mm (4.5×2.4×0.46 in)
- Weight: 135 g (4.8 oz)

iPhone 3G
- Size: 115.5×62.1×12.3 mm (4.5×2.4×0.48 in)
- Weight: 133 g (4.7 oz)

So, although iPhone 3G is slightly thicker than its lower-specced predecessor, it sports a lighter body, which is a tremendous feat, given the new additions. Oh, wait, we haven't really gone into those yet.

DISPLAY

- 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display
- 480-by-320-pixel resolution at 163 ppi
- Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

Original iPhone owners will notice that screen size and resolution haven't changed, but the 3G model does add multiple language support, as well as support inputting multiple characters simultaneously.

VIDEO

Video formats supported: H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

CAMERA & PHOTOS

- 2.0 megapixels Camera located on back of iPhone.
- Photo geotagging
- iPhone and third-party application integration



AUDIO

- Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
- Audio formats supported: AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 1, 2, and 3), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
- User-configurable maximum volume limit

So, audio has clearly been upped a notch here.

CONNECTORS AND INPUT / OUTPUT (see image below)



SENSORS

- Accelerometer
- Proximity sensor
- Ambient light sensor

EXTERNAL BUTTONS AND CONTROLS (see image below)


POWER & BATTERY

Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter

Talk time:
- Up to 5 hours on 3G
- Up to 10 hours on 2G

Standby time:
- Up to 300 hours

Internet use:
- Up to 5 hours on 3G
- Up to 6 hours on Wi-Fi

Video playback:
- Up to 7 hours

Audio playback
- Up to 24 hours

CAPACITY

- 8GB or 16GB flash drive

CELLULAR AND WIRELESS

- UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
- Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

GPS

- Assisted GPS

LANGUAGE SUPPORT

Language support for English, French, German, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Russian, and Polish

International keyboard and dictionary support for English (U.S.), English (UK), French (France), French (Canada), German, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil), Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Korean (no dictionary), Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Russian, and Polish

HEADPHONES

- Stereo earphones with built-in microphone
- Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
- Impedance: 32 ohms

ACCESSORIES

- iPhone Bluetooth Headset
- iPhone 3G Dock
- Apple USB Power Adapter
- MobileMe Subscription
(more details on MobileMe Subscription are available here)

REQUIREMENTS

Mac system requirements
- Mac computer with USB 2.0 port
- Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later
- iTunes 7.7 or later

Windows system requirements
- PC with USB 2.0 port
- Windows Vista; or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later
- iTunes 7.7 or later

Environmental requirements
- Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
- Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
- Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
- Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

Don't freak out, iTunes 7.7 isn't available yet, but it will be soon.

COLOR

- 8GB model: Black
- 16GB model: Black or white




FEATURES COMMON TO BOTH IPHONE & IPHONE 3G

Screen size: 8.9 cm (3.5 in)
Screen resolution: 480×320 pixels at 163 ppi
Input method: Multi-touch screen interface plus a "Home" button
Operating System: iPhone OS
Storage: 8 or 16 GB flash memory
Quad band GSM (GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900)
GPRS and EDGE data
Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR
Location finding by detection of cell towers and Wi-Fi networks
2 megapixel camera
Built-in rechargeable, non-removable battery
Samsung S5L8900 (ARM 1176 processor, PowerVR MBX 3D graphics co-processor).


IN THE BOX

- iPhone 3G
- Stereo Headset with mic
- Dock Connector to USB Cable
- USB Power Adapter
- Documentation
- Cleaning/polishing cloth
- SIM ejector tool


Apple is currently planning to release the iPhone 3G in twenty-two countries, including the original six. Forty-eight more are expected to follow in the months to come. The device will be available at an affordable $199, for the 8GB model, and at $299 for the 16GB version.

Based on Apple's iPhone 3G Technical Specifications.