Apple iPhone 3GS vs Apple iPhone 4
A spec-by-spec comparison of the Apple iPhone 3GS and the Apple iPhone 4, taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.
Head to head
| Apple iPhone 3GS | Apple iPhone 4 |
|---|
| Our rating | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Battery | 1,220 mAh | 1,420 mAh |
| Storage (max) | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Screen size | 3.5 in | 3.5 in |
| Main camera | 15 MP | 5 MP |
| Weight (lower is lighter) | 135 g | 137 g |
| Released | Jun 2009 | Jun 2010 |
Summary: Apple iPhone 3GS is ahead on main camera, weight (lower is lighter). Apple iPhone 4 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 | Apple iPhone 4 |
|---|
| Type | TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors | IPS LCD, LED-backlit, capacitive touchscreen |
| Size | 3.5 inches | 3.5 inches |
| Resolution | 320 x 480 pixels | 640 x 960 pixels |
| Protection | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Pixel Density | 163 ppi | ~326 ppi (Retina display) |
Platform
| Apple iPhone 3GS | Apple iPhone 4 |
|---|
| OS | iPhone OS 3, upgradable to iOS 6.1.6 | iOS 4, upgradable to iOS 7.1.2 |
| Chipset | Samsung APL0298C05 (S5L8920) | Apple A4 |
| CPU | 600 MHz ARM Cortex-A8 | 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 (800 MHz underclocked) |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX535 | PowerVR SGX535 |
Memory
| Apple iPhone 3GS | Apple iPhone 4 |
|---|
| Card slot | No | — |
| Internal | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB storage, 256MB RAM | — |
| RAM | — | 512MB |
| Internal Storage | — | 8GB, 16GB, 32GB |
| Card Slot | — | No |
Main Camera
| Apple iPhone 3GS | Apple iPhone 4 |
|---|
| Single | 3.15 MP, autofocus | 5 MP, f/2.8, autofocus |
| Features | Tap to focus, geotagging | LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, HDR |
| Video | 480p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
Selfie Camera
| Apple iPhone 3GS | Apple iPhone 4 |
|---|
| Single | No | 0.3 MP (VGA) |
| Features | — | FaceTime over Wi-Fi |
| Video | — | 480p@30fps |
Battery
| Apple iPhone 3GS | Apple iPhone 4 |
|---|
| Type | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery | Li-Po 1420 mAh, non-removable |
| Capacity | 1220 mAh | — |
| Talk time | Up to 12 h (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G) | Up to 14 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G) |
| Stand-by | Up to 300 h | Up to 300 h (2G) / Up to 300 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 | — |
| Music play | — | Up to 40 h |
Body
| Apple iPhone 3GS | Apple iPhone 4 |
|---|
| Dimensions | 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm (4.55 x 2.44 x 0.48 in) | 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm (4.5 x 2.31 x 0.37 in) |
| Weight | 135 g (4.76 oz) | 137 g (4.8 oz) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Build | — | Glass front (Corning Gorilla Glass), glass back, stainless steel frame |
Comms
| Apple iPhone 3GS | Apple iPhone 4 |
|---|
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz only) |
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.1 + EDR |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS | A-GPS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | 2.0 (proprietary 30-pin connector) | 30-pin dock connector |
Launch
| Apple iPhone 3GS | Apple iPhone 4 |
|---|
| Announced | June 8, 2009 | June 7, 2010 |
| Status | Discontinued (8GB model discontinued September 12, 2012) | — |
| Released | June 19, 2009 | June 24, 2010 (GSM model); February 2011 (CDMA model) |
| OS at Launch | — | iOS 4 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better battery, Apple iPhone 3GS or Apple iPhone 4?
Apple iPhone 4 — 1,220 mAh for the Apple iPhone 3GS versus 1,420 mAh for the Apple iPhone 4.
Which is lighter, Apple iPhone 3GS or Apple iPhone 4?
Apple iPhone 3GS — 135 g for the Apple iPhone 3GS versus 137 g for the Apple iPhone 4.
Which is newer, Apple iPhone 3GS or Apple iPhone 4?
Apple iPhone 4 — Jun 2009 for the Apple iPhone 3GS versus Jun 2010 for the Apple iPhone 4.
Is the Apple iPhone 3GS or the Apple iPhone 4 rated higher?
We rate the Apple iPhone 3GS 8/10 and the Apple iPhone 4 8/10.
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