Request a product

Apple iPhone 3GS vs Apple iPhone 4

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleiPhone 3GSAppleiPhone 4
Overview
ReleasedJune 2009June 2010
Display
Screen size3.5″3.5″
Resolution480 × 320960 × 640
Sharpness165 pixels per inch330 pixels per inch
PanelLCDLCD
Refresh rate60 Hz60 Hz
Peak brightness–500 nits
Display type3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch displayRetina display; 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display
Pixel density163 ppi326 ppi
Brightness detail–500 cd/m² max brightness (typical)
Screen protectionFingerprint-resistant oleophobic coatingAluminosilicate glass front and back; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back
Display features–800:1 contrast ratio (typical)
Performance
ChipSamsung S5PC100A4
Memory256 MB512 MB
Storage8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB
CPU600 MHz Cortex-A8 in Samsung S5PC100; 256 MB of RAM (Wired's 2009 teardown report)1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 (GSMArena); 512 MB of RAM (iFixit)
GPUPowerVR SGX535 (Apple developer documentation)PowerVR SGX535 (GSMArena)
Cameras
Main camera3 MP5 MP
Ultra wide cameraNoneNone
Telephoto cameraNoneNone
Optical zoomNoneNone
Front camera–0.3 MP
Main camera3-megapixel still camera with tap to focus5-megapixel still camera with LED flash and tap to focus
Front camera–VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 fps
Video recordingVGA up to 30 fps with audioHD (720p) up to 30 fps with audio
Camera featuresPhoto and video geotaggingTap to focus video or still images; photo and video geotagging
Battery and charging
Battery1,219 mAh1,420 mAh
Video playback (maker's claim)Up to 10 hoursUp to 10 hours
Wireless chargingNoneNone
Battery life detailTalk time up to 5 hours on 3G or 12 hours on 2G; standby up to 300 hours; internet use up to 5 hours on 3G or 9 hours on Wi-Fi; video playback up to 10 hours; audio playback up to 30 hours; 3.7 V, 4.51 Wh, 1,219 mAh (iFixit)Talk time up to 7 hours on 3G or 14 hours on 2G; standby up to 300 hours; internet use up to 6 hours on 3G or 10 hours on Wi-Fi; video playback up to 10 hours; audio playback up to 40 hours; 3.7 V, 1,420 mAh (iFixit)
Wired chargingCharging via USB to a computer or power adapterCharging via USB to a computer or power adapter
Design
TypeStandardStandard
Weight135 g137 g
Thickness12.3 mm9.3 mm
Height × width115.5 × 62.1 mm115.2 × 58.6 mm
Materials–Aluminosilicate glass front and back with a stainless steel band
ColoursBlack (8GB)Black, white
ButtonsSleep/wake; ring/silent; volume up/down; HomeOn/off, sleep/wake; ring/silent; volume up/down; Home
SensorsAccelerometer; proximity sensor; ambient light sensorThree-axis gyro; accelerometer; proximity sensor; ambient light sensor
Software
Operating systemiOSiOS
Software at launchiPhone OS 3.0iOS 4
Connectivity
Mobile networkUMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)GSM model: UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) and GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); CDMA model: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)
SIM–Micro-SIM (GSMArena)
Wi-FiWi-Fi (802.11b/g)Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (802.11n 2.4GHz only)
BluetoothBluetooth 2.1 + EDRBluetooth 2.1 + EDR
USB30-pin dock connector; 3.5 mm stereo headphone minijack; 576p and 480p video out with Apple Component AV Cable (sold separately)30-pin dock connector; 3.5 mm stereo headphone minijack; video out up to 1024 × 768 with the Dock Connector to VGA Adapter (sold separately)
PositioningAssisted GPS; digital compass; Wi-Fi; cellularAssisted GPS; digital compass; Wi-Fi; cellular

More comparisons