When you're considering buying a touchscreen-based multimedia and web device from Apple, choosing the the iPhone 3GS vs. the iPhone 4 vs. the iPhone 4S vs. the iPod touch can be tricky.
After all, the touch is slimmer and lighter, but the iPhone has a phone and Internet access virtually anywhere, to say nothing of the 4's high-quality screen and high-definition video recording and editing features.
On the other hand, getting those features adds $50-$120/month to the cost of an iPhone (that being the price of an AT&T service plan), while the iPod touch requires no such service fee.
Given that the devices are so similar, making the choice can be tough. In an effort to help those considering an iPhone vs. iPod touch, the chart below allows you to compare the devices head to head. And the links give more background about them.
Luckily, they’re both great, so whichever you choose, you won’t be sorry!
iPhone and iPod touch Reviews
- Fourth Generation iPod touch
- iPhone 4S - Coming Soon
- iPhone 4
- iPhone 3GS
Set Up Guides
- iPod touch
- iPhone 4S - Coming Soon
- iPhone 4
- iPhone 3GS
iPhone vs. iPod touch
| iPod touch | iPhone 4S | iPhone 4 | iPhone 3GS | |
| Capacity | 8 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB | 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Screen size (inches) /Resolution |
3.5 / 960 x 480 | 3.5 / 960 x 480 | 3.5 / 960 x 480 | 3.5 / 480 x 320 |
| Processor | Apple A4 | Apple A5 | Apple A4 | Samsung ARM Cortex-A8 |
| Battery Life | Video: 7 hours Audio: 40 hours |
Talk/Video/Web: 8/10/9 hours Audio: 40 hours |
Talk/Video/Web: 7/10/10 hours Audio: 40 hours |
Talk/Video/Web: 5/10/5 hours Audio: 30 hours |
| A-GPS | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | under 1 megapixel | 8 megapixel & VGA | 5 megapixel & VGA | 3.2 megapixel |
| Video Camera | 720p HD | 1080p HD | 720p HD | Yes |
| FaceTime | 4th gen. and later | Yes | Yes | No |
| Siri Support | No | Yes | No | No |
| Phone | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Size (in inches) | 4.4 x 2.3 x .28 | 4.5 x 2.31 x .37 | 4.51 x 2.31 x .37 | 4.5 x 2.4 x .48 |
| Weight (in ounces) | 3.56 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| iOS 5 Support? | 3rd gen and later | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly Fees | No | $55-$99 | $55-$99 | $55-$99 |
| Price | $199/$299/$399 | $199/$299/$399 (w/ 2-year contract) |
$99 (w/ 2-year contract) |
Free (w/ 2-year contract) |
