Like King penguins, if you've seen one iPhone 3G you've seen them all. Apple has opted to keep the outside of its smartphone identical to the iPhone 3G of last year — the same glossy, piano-black backplate and stainless steel trim around its 3.5-inch display.
The iPhone 3G 32GB S still has only three buttons and two sockets around its exterior; the home key, volume adjustments and a ringer-muting switch, plus a 3.5mm headphone socket and charging port.
Keeping the phone physically the same is wise on the one hand: it's instantly recognisable as the iPhone 3G . But it poses two problems that we can see. Firstly, looking identical to last year's robs us of the "my phone is better than your phone" finger-pointing that we love to do with a new gadget. More importantly, the iPhone design is amongst the most fragile in the smartphone market.
Phones, by the very nature of their mobility, are prone to drops, dings and scratches more than most consumer electronics. We had seen rumoured rubberised finishes for this phone, which would have made a lot more sense than the hard plastic shell we have right now.
With the new iPhone 3G 32GB S, you'll need an unlocked iPhone to use it on the network of your choice. Be sure to check the iPhone you buy is unlocked, and if it isn't, how much it'll cost to get it unlocked.
Once it's unlocked, you'll have the freedom to choose the network, and the plan that suits you.
No need to be locked-in to a 24 month contract. Buy an unlocked iPhone 3G 32GB S and go with a prepaid plan - It's cheaper in the long run!