My Cellphone My Terms

Should I buy the iPhone 4 or iPhone 3Gs?

iPhone 4 vs iPhone 3GS – my big purchasing decision.

When Apple announced the new iPhone 4 would go on sale in the US on June 24 and likely in Canada at the end of July, many people became excited about the prospects of having the latest and newest iPhone. There are many reasons to be excited about the newest iPhone, but for someone looking to purchase an iPhone should they automatically go for the 4 or are there reasons to choose the 3Gs? Let’s examine the pros and cons of getting the new iPhone 4 versus going with the current iPhone 3GS with the corresponding upgrades.

Why the iPhone 4?

The iPhone 4, not to be confused with iPhone 4G ,which implies that the phone runs on a 4G network when there are no 4G commercial networks in Canada (as far as I’m aware), has several great features and attributes associated with it:

• The iPhone 4 comes with the latest and newly debuted operating system – iOS 4, which includes the much needed multi-tasking upgrade, a unified email inbox and apps folder for the home screen
• A faster processor – the same A4 chip that can be found in the iPad, and an extended battery life
• A better camera, 5 megapixel versus 3 in the previous model, with the ability to record in HD format, and a new front facing camera
• The iPhone 4 is one of, if not the thinnest smart phones on the market at 9.3 mm and includes a stainless steel envelop which doubles as the antenna

There are also other features like Facetime which is a video calling application which allows you to talk to someone else via a video call. Pretty neat, but there are two drawbacks, the other party needs to also have Facetime installed and it only works via WiFi ,which means I need to be home or at a Starbucks (rare for me). Video calling has been around for ages and hasn’t really taken off, but maybe it will with Apple, however it will take sometime to get enough people with an iPhone 4 to make it worth its hype.  Secondly, the iPhone comes with Retina display, apparently Apple’s attempt to rival the HTC Evo, which has a crystal sharp display, but the big enhancements aren’t as noticeable to the human eye as you would think but there are certainly improvements here.

The iPhone 4 is likely to be priced like its predecessor at $199 for the 16GB and $299 for the 32GB version on a 3 year term and between $700 and $900 without a contract.

Why the iPhone 3Gs?

There are several reasons to stay with the iPhone 3Gs and here are a few of them:

• One of the biggest reasons to get the new iPhone 4 is the new operating system, iOS 4. However, if you have an iPhone 3Gs you will be able to upgrade to the latest operating system.  So you can enjoy the great enhancements that we will see with the iPhone 4 on the iPhone 3Gs.
• Value for money. Apple has always been reluctant to discount the iPhone 3Gs from its standard prices.  With the iPhone 4 coming to market there will be great discounts on the 3Gs, which will make sticking with this model worth it – now you can get the iPhone 3Gs for under $100 on a term contract
• The 3Gs uses the standard SIM format while the 4 uses the same Micro SIM used in the iPad which makes traveling with the new cell phone more of a compatibility issue, since the new micro SIM format isn’t that popular
• A wider screen, the iPhone 3Gs’ screen is 62.1 mm (2.4 inches) vs the iPhone 4 which is  58.6 mm (2.31 inches) and while the iPhone 4 is thinner it is also is a bit heavier than its predecessor. The wider the screen the better the surfing experience is for me.

So if you like great value, access the tons of applications and the great user experience of the iPhone the 3Gs  can work for you. If video calling and an upgraded camera are not important part of your phone experience then the 3Gs may be a better bet.

Conclusion

While I know all my Apple colleagues will be jumping on the iPhone 4 band wagon there are those of us who would appreciate experiencing the iPhone without the hefty  price tag associated with it. So you tell me, do I sign up for the new iPhone 4 or do I make use of the great value of the 3Gs?

Before making my final purchasing decision however, I would compare the cell phone plans I receive for the 3Gs versus that of the iPhone 4. Get your next iPhone deal at myCELLmyTERMS by making the cell phone companies compete for your business.

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