Apple iPhone 3G 8GB - Expert Reviews

Review summary: Reviewers fault battery life, 3G coverage, and service-plan costs. But the sound quality and download speeds are much improved.

Award: Editor's Choice!

Review summary: Welcome to the Mac Micro. The iPhone 3G is the beginning of a new computing platform. With 3G and the App Store, the best iPod ever is now one of the best handheld computers ever. We struggled with a bunch of day-one bugs, but we're confident that ...

Pros: 3G. True GPS. App Store adds hundreds of third-party programs. Voice quality is much improved from the original iPhone. No more recessed headphone jack. Surprisingly good battery life

Cons: An unknown number of buggy units have been released. Still missing video recording, voice dialing, stereo Bluetooth support, picture messaging, and document editing. Earbuds are still lousy ; Watch the iPhone 3G Video Review

Verdict: The iPhone 3G represents the birth of a new computing platform. It's also one very cool phone. While it's not perfect, it makes other options on AT&T look tired.

Review summary: Is this the phone of 2008?

Pros: 3G, GPS inclusion, App Store, interface

Cons: No improvement on the camera, O2's 3G coverage not great, no search in email, no "read all", no cut and paste, GPS fiddly to use

Verdict: If you've got an old iPhone and aren't fussed about 3G or GPS, the iPhone 2.0 software update will mean the "buzz" phone of the moment is all but virtually in your pocket already

Pros: The Apple iPhone 3G offers critical new features including support for high-speed 3G networks, third-party applications, and expanded e-mail. Its call quality is improved and it continues to deliver an excellent music and video experience.

Cons: The iPhone 3G continues to lack some basic features that are available on even the simplest cell phone. Also, we prefer the original iPhone's design.

Review summary: We're hard at work on a full iPhone 3G review, but here are some of our initial impressions for those of you buying today. The big features are 3G and assisted GPS, as it turns out, their usefulness will really depend on how you use your phone.

Verdict: The in-store activation was a pain. I was among the first 5 in the AT&T store I went to and our wait times varied greatly. The first person in was actually the last person out, how long the process took really depended on how good of a sales associate ...