iPhone · The Aluminum Age · 2009
iPhone 3GS
The iPhone hits its stride: double the speed, finally video recording and copy-paste, and a maturing App Store. It stuck around for three years as the cheap entry model.
I picked this one because I thought it was just designed well. It felt sturdy, with that white curved back, and the speed was a real step up from the iPhone 3G. There was no Retina screen yet, but to me it was still one of the best iPhones Apple ever made.
The "S" was for Speed: twice as fast, with video recording, a compass and voice control.
iPhone 4 (2010)
iPhone 3GS: key facts
When was the iPhone 3GS released?
The iPhone 3GS arrived on June 19, 2009. Apple discontinued it in September 2012.
How much did the iPhone 3GS cost?
The iPhone 3GS launched at $599 in 2009, about $893 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Samsung ARM Cortex-A8 at 600 MHz, 256 MB RAM, 16 GB storage, 3.5" LCD, 320×480 multitouch display.
Why does the iPhone 3GS matter?
The "S" was for Speed: twice as fast, with video recording, a compass and voice control.
Full specifications
| CPU | Samsung ARM Cortex-A8 · 600 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 256 MB |
| Storage | 16 GB |
| Display | 3.5" LCD, 320×480 multitouch |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX535 |
| Ports | 30-pin dock, 3.5 mm |
| Weight | 135 g |
| Dimensions | 115.5×62.1×12.3 mm |
| Operating system | iPhone OS 3.0 |
| Released | June 19, 2009 |
| Discontinued | September 2012 |
| Launch price | $599 |
How the iPhone 3GS compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 64× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 600 MHz, the clock is roughly 5.3× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 4,100 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $599 in 2009, about $893 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
Eventually given away free-on-contract, the first "old iPhone for nothing" deal.
Related iPhone models
Open the iPhone 3GS in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11