Apple iPhone 3GS vs HTC Hero
A spec-by-spec comparison of the Apple iPhone 3GS and the HTC Hero, taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.
Head to head
| Apple iPhone 3GS | HTC Hero |
|---|
| Our rating | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Battery | 1,220 mAh | 1,350 mAh |
| Storage (max) | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Screen size | 3.5 in | 3.2 in |
| Main camera | 15 MP | 5 MP |
| Weight (lower is lighter) | 135 g | 135 g |
| Released | Jun 2009 | Jul 2009 |
Summary: Apple iPhone 3GS is ahead on our rating, screen size, main camera. HTC Hero is ahead on battery.
★ Which should you buy? Apple iPhone 3GS is the stronger overall pick on the measured specs.
Researched with AI assistance by infozme.com from manufacturer and retailer sources — see how we research & rate phones.
Display
| Apple iPhone 3GS | HTC Hero |
|---|
| Type | TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors | TFT capacitive touchscreen, 65K colors |
| Size | 3.5 inches | 3.2 inches |
| Resolution | 320 x 480 pixels | 320 x 480 pixels (HVGA) |
| Protection | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating | Corning Gorilla Glass (mentioned in GSMArena summary) |
| Pixel Density | 163 ppi | — |
Platform
| Apple iPhone 3GS | HTC Hero |
|---|
| OS | iPhone OS 3, upgradable to iOS 6.1.6 | Android 1.5 (Cupcake), upgradable to 2.1 (Eclair) with HTC Sense UI |
| Chipset | Samsung APL0298C05 (S5L8920) | Qualcomm MSM7200A |
| CPU | 600 MHz ARM Cortex-A8 | 528 MHz ARM 11 |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX535 | Adreno 130 |
Memory
| Apple iPhone 3GS | HTC Hero |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDHC (dedicated slot), supports up to 32GB |
| Internal | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB storage, 256MB RAM | 288MB RAM, 512MB ROM (165MB for applications) |
Main Camera
| Apple iPhone 3GS | HTC Hero |
|---|
| Single | 3.15 MP, autofocus | 5 MP, autofocus |
| Features | Tap to focus, geotagging | Geo-tagging |
| Video | 480p@30fps | 144p, CIF (352 x 288 pixels) |
Selfie Camera
| Apple iPhone 3GS | HTC Hero |
|---|
| Single | No | No |
Battery
| Apple iPhone 3GS | HTC Hero |
|---|
| Type | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery | Removable Li-Ion |
| Capacity | 1220 mAh | 1350 mAh (GSM version) |
| Talk time | Up to 12 h (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G) | Up to 8 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G) |
| Stand-by | Up to 300 h | Up to 440 h (2G) / Up to 420 h (3G) |
| Internet use | Up to 9 h (Wi-Fi) / Up to 5 h (3G) | — |
| Video playback | Up to 10 h | — |
| Audio playback | Up to 30 h | — |
Body
| Apple iPhone 3GS | HTC Hero |
|---|
| Dimensions | 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm (4.55 x 2.44 x 0.48 in) | 112 x 56.2 x 14.4 mm (4.41 x 2.21 x 0.57 in) |
| Weight | 135 g (4.76 oz) | 135 g (4.76 oz) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Build | — | Plastic body, some versions with Teflon coating |
Comms
| Apple iPhone 3GS | HTC Hero |
|---|
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g |
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.0 with A2DP, EDR |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS | — |
| Radio | No | — |
| USB | 2.0 (proprietary 30-pin connector) | ExtUSB (miniUSB compatible) |
| Positioning | — | GPS, A-GPS |
Launch
| Apple iPhone 3GS | HTC Hero |
|---|
| Announced | June 8, 2009 | 2009, June |
| Status | Discontinued (8GB model discontinued September 12, 2012) | — |
| Released | June 19, 2009 | 2009, July |
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better battery, Apple iPhone 3GS or HTC Hero?
HTC Hero — 1,220 mAh for the Apple iPhone 3GS versus 1,350 mAh for the HTC Hero.
Which is newer, Apple iPhone 3GS or HTC Hero?
HTC Hero — Jun 2009 for the Apple iPhone 3GS versus Jul 2009 for the HTC Hero.
Is the Apple iPhone 3GS or the HTC Hero rated higher?
We rate the Apple iPhone 3GS 8/10 and the HTC Hero 7/10.
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