Apple iPhone 3GS
Price: Discontinued (originally launched at $199)
16GB variant · Original US contract launch price · Launched June 2009
Apple iPhone 3GS ("S" for Speed) doubled performance over the 3G, and added video recording, voice control, and a digital compass.
Launch
| Announced | June 8, 2009 |
| Released | June 19, 2009 |
| Discontinued | September 2012 |
Display
| Screen Size | 3.5 inches |
| Resolution | 320 x 480 pixels |
| Pixel Density | ~165 ppi |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz (standard) |
| Display Type | TFT LCD, capacitive touch |
| Brightness | ~500 nits (typical) |
| Features | Multi-touch, Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass |
Performance
| Chipset | Samsung S5L8920 (APL0298) |
| CPU | Single-core ARM Cortex-A8, 600 MHz |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX535 |
| Neural Engine | Not Supported |
| Ray Tracing | Not Supported |
| RAM | 256 MB |
| Cooling | Passive design (No active cooling) |
| Operating System | iPhone OS 3.0 (max update: iOS 6.1.6) |
| AI | Not Supported |
| Gaming Performance | Basic 3D gaming (early App Store titles) |
| FPS Support | N/A |
| Graphics Support | OpenGL ES 1.1 / 2.0 |
Benchmark
| AnTuTu 11 | Not Supported |
| AnTuTu CPU | Not Supported |
| AnTuTu GPU | Not Supported |
| AnTuTu Memory | Not Supported |
| AnTuTu UX | Not Supported |
Not officially tested on modern AnTuTu 11; too old for current benchmark compatibility.
Rear Camera
| Main Camera | 3.15 MP, autofocus, f/2.8 |
| Ultra Wide | No |
| Telephoto | No |
| Long Zoom | No |
| Stabilization | No |
| Camera Features | Tap-to-focus, auto white balance, geotagging |
Front Camera
| Camera | No (Front camera missing) |
| Aperture | N/A |
| Focus | N/A |
| Features | N/A |
Video Recording
| Rear Video | VGA (640x480) at 30fps (first iPhone with video recording) |
| ProRes | Not Supported |
| ProRes RAW | Not Supported |
| Apple Log 2 | Not Supported |
| Slow Motion | Not Supported |
| Front Video | Not Supported |
| Audio | Built-in mic, mono recording |
Battery
| Battery Type | Li-Ion, built-in (non-removable) |
| Battery Capacity | 1220 mAh |
| Video Playback | Up to 10 hours |
| Streamed Video | Not Supported |
Charging
| Wired Charging | Via 30-pin dock connector |
| Fast Charging | No |
| MagSafe | No |
| Qi2 | No |
| Port | Apple 30-pin dock connector |
Connectivity
| 5G | No |
| 4G | No |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g |
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP (headset support only) |
| NFC | No |
| UWB | No |
| Thread | No |
| Wireless Chip | Not Disclosed |
| FM Radio | No |
USB & Expansion
| Connector | 30-pin dock connector |
| USB Speed | USB 2.0 |
| Display Output | Not Supported |
| External Display | Not Supported |
SIM & Network
| SIM | Mini-SIM |
| eSIM | No |
| Network | Quad-band GSM/EDGE, 3G HSDPA 7.2 Mbps |
Navigation & Location
| GPS | Yes, Assisted GPS |
| Other Systems | No |
| Compass | Yes (digital compass, new to this model) |
| Location | GPS, Wi-Fi & cell tower triangulation |
Sensors
| Face ID | No |
| LiDAR | No |
| Motion | Accelerometer |
| Other Sensors | Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Digital Compass |
Audio & Multimedia
| Speakers | Earpiece + loudspeaker |
| Spatial Audio | Not Supported |
| Dolby Atmos | Not Supported |
| Audio Formats | AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF |
Software Features
| Browser | Safari (HTML) |
| Maps | Google Maps with GPS & compass |
| Document Viewer | Yes |
| Photo Viewer | Yes |
| Predictive Text Input | Yes |
| Voice Control | Yes (new to this model) |
| Cut, Copy & Paste | Yes (introduced with iPhone OS 3.0) |
Build & Protection
| Frame | Plastic polycarbonate back (same design as 3G) |
| Front Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Back Protection | Glossy plastic |
| Water Resistance | No IP rating |
| Dimensions | 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm |
| Weight | 135 grams |
Colors
| Available Colors | Black, White |
Storage & Price
| Card Slot | No (fixed internal storage only) |
| 16GB | Discontinued (originally $199) |
| 32GB | Discontinued (originally $299) |
Misc
| Model Number | A1303 (iPhone2,1) |
Overall: The 3GS was the "safe" upgrade — same look, but twice the speed, first video recording, and a compass — making it Apple's longest-selling iPhone at the time (over 3 years in production).
Price Detector: this page automatically shows pricing in your local currency (USD base) based on your visitor location. Where a price was never officially disclosed, it is marked Unavailable rather than estimated.
Specifications are based on Apple's official technical specifications and public records. This is a historical/legacy device; current retail availability may vary.