The iPhone 3G was Apple’s second-generation smartphone, following the original iPhone (2007). It was officially announced on June 9, 2008, at the WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) and released on July 11, 2008. It introduced 3G cellular connectivity, GPS, and most importantly, access to the App Store—making it a massive leap in both hardware and software.
🗓️ Key Dates
Event
Date
Announced
June 9, 2008
Released
July 11, 2008
Discontinued
June 7, 2010
📦 Model Names
Marketing Name: iPhone 3G
Internal Model Number: A1241 (North America) / A1324 (China)
Code Names: N82AP (8 GB) and N83AP (16 GB)
🧠 Technical Specifications
🔧 Hardware Overview
Feature
Specification
CPU
Samsung 32-bit RISC ARM11 @ 412 MHz
GPU
PowerVR MBX Lite
RAM
128 MB (eDRAM)
Storage
8 GB or 16 GB (no expansion slot)
Battery
Non-removable Li-Ion, 1150 mAh
📏 Design
Form Factor: Slate smartphone
Dimensions: 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm (4.55 x 2.44 x 0.48 in)
Weight: 133 g (4.7 oz)
Build Materials: Glossy plastic back (Black or White), glass front, aluminum bezel
🖥️ Display
Spec
Detail
Size
3.5 inches
Type
TFT capacitive touchscreen
Resolution
320 x 480 pixels
Pixel Density
~165 ppi
Multitouch
Yes
Protection
Scratch-resistant glass
📡 Connectivity
Type
Details
Cellular
Quad-band GSM, Tri-band UMTS (3G)
Data
HSDPA (3.6 Mbps max), EDGE, GPRS
Wi-Fi
802.11b/g
Bluetooth
2.0 + EDR
USB
30-pin dock connector
GPS
Assisted GPS (A-GPS)
Headphone Jack
3.5 mm
📷 Camera
Feature
Detail
Rear Camera
2 MP, fixed focus
Video Recording
Not supported natively
Front Camera
None
Still no flash, no autofocus, and no video recording—significant limitations at the time.
🔋 Battery Life
Usage
Battery Life
Talk Time (3G)
Up to 5 hours
Talk Time (2G)
Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi)
Up to 6 hours
Video Playback
Up to 7 hours
Audio Playback
Up to 24 hours
Standby
Up to 300 hours
📱 Software
Operating System
Launched with: iPhone OS 2.0
Final Update: iOS 4.2.1 (2010)
Notable New Features:
App Store (first time)
Push Email
Microsoft Exchange Support
Contacts Search
Scientific Calculator (landscape mode)
Third-party apps support
GPS in Maps with real-time location
Key Pre-installed Apps
Phone
Safari (browser)
Mail
Messages (SMS only)
App Store
Calendar
Camera
Photos
YouTube
Maps (with GPS)
Clock
Calculator
Notes
Settings
iTunes Store
iPod (music/video player)
🌍 Global Release
Released in 22 countries initially, with more than 70 countries by the end of 2008.
Carriers required 2-year contracts in most regions.
Introduced a subsidized pricing model for the first time.
💰 Launch Pricing (U.S.)
Storage
Price (with contract)
8 GB
$199
16 GB
$299
Pricing marked a significant reduction from the original iPhone due to carrier subsidies and broader global availability.
🆚 Improvements Over Original iPhone
Feature
iPhone 1st Gen
iPhone 3G
3G Data
❌ No
✅ Yes
GPS
❌ No
✅ Yes
App Store
❌ No
✅ Yes
Plastic Back
❌ Aluminum
✅ Yes
Software Updates
Up to iOS 3.1.3
Up to iOS 4.2.1
❌ Limitations and Criticisms
Still lacked video recording
No front-facing camera
No MMS support at launch (added later in iOS 3)
Poor low-light camera performance
Slower performance on iOS 4 (many features were disabled to preserve speed)
No multitasking or folders (until later iOS versions)
