Each successive generation of the iPhone has added new features and, in almost all cases, gotten better. From the original iPhone (which looks kind of old and pokey now, but was a pretty big step forward in terms of ease of use and multitouch) through to the iPhone 4, each step in iPhone history has introduced big changes to the iPhone line up.
The chart below compares the hardware specifications of each generation of the iPhone so you can get an easy sense of how things have changed through iPhone history.
iPhone Comparison Chart
| iPhone 4S 16GB/32GB/ 64GB |
iPhone 4 16GB/32GB |
iPhone 3GS 16GB/32GB |
iPhone 3G 8GB/16GB |
iPhone 4GB/8GB |
|
| Songs Held | 4,000/8,000/ 16,000 |
4,000/8,000 | 4,000/8,000 | 2,000/4,000 | 1,000/2,000 |
| Screen Size** | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Resolution | 960x480 | 960x480 | 480x320 | 480x320 | 480x320 |
| Processor | Apple A5 | 1 Ghz Apple A4 | 600 Mhz Samsung ARM Cortex-A8 |
412 Mhz Samsung ARM |
412 Mhz Samsung ARM |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, UMTS/HSDPA/ HSUPA/3G, GSM, CDMA, Bluetooth |
Wi-Fi, UMTS/HSDPA/ HSUPA/3G, GSM, CDMA, Bluetooth |
Wi-Fi, UMTS/3G, GSM, Bluetooth |
Wi-Fi, UMTS/3G, GSM, Bluetooth |
Wi-Fi, GSM, EDGE, Bluetooth |
| Carrier | AT&T, Sprint, Verizon |
AT&T, Verizon | AT&T | AT&T | AT&T |
| A-GPS? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Max. OS | iOS 5 | iOS 5 | iOS 5 | iOS 4, limited | iOS 3 |
| Camera | 2 cameras: 8 Megapixel & VGA |
2 cameras: 5 Megapixel & VGA |
3 Megapixel | 2 Megapixel | 2 Megapixel |
| Records Video? |
1080p HD at 30 fps |
720p HD at 30 fps |
VGA at 30 fps |
No | No |
| FaceTime | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Siri | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Weight (ounces) |
4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Size** | 4.5 x 2.31 x .37 |
4.51 x 2.31 x .37 |
4.5 x 2.4 x .48 |
4.5 x 2.4 x .48 |
4.5 x 2.4 x .46 |
| Battery Life (in hours) |
Talk: 8 Video: 10 Web: 9 Audio: 40 |
Talk: 7 Video: 10 Web: 10 Audio: 40 |
Talk: 5 Video: 10 Web: 9 Audio: 30 |
Talk: 5 Video: 7 Web: 5 Audio: 24 |
Talk: 8 Video: 7 Web: 6 Audio: 24 |
| Colors | Black, White | Black, White | Black, White | Black, White | Black |
| Price w/contract |
US$199/$299/ $399 |
$199/$299, later $99 |
$199/$299, later $49, and then free |
$199/$299 | $499/$599, later $399 |
** in inches
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