Whether you’re a trendy or a techy the release of a new iPhone is big news, but is the new handset worth trading in your old mobile for? As much as the new iPhone looks like its predecessor it is packing some serious punch under that sleek exterior.  Apple know when they’re onto a good thing so recycling the looks of the 3G for the new handset was tantamount to declaring their pride in the original, if not a little disappointing that at a glance you can’t show off your new phone.  The real proof of the pudding is in the eating though, so we set out to see if Apple had pulled a fast one, or really brought us up to speed. 

Better performance for iPhone apps 

Speed by name and speed by nature.  The new phone really is a lot quicker than the old, thanks to a super-charged CPU with double the RAM and 600MHZ.  The big difference here is running apps, especially games where the graphics and frame rendering really is a marked improvement. 

Improved 3 megapixel camera 

The camera is the next big improvement, although given that it is so poor on the old phone it wasn’t going to be hard.  The new phone comes equipped with a 3 megapixel camera that has a quicker shutter speed, and the ability to record video (which is also available with the software update for older models).  The new model still doesn’t have a flash though, so if you’re looking for decent camera phone there are still a lot better alternatives on the market. 
 

Handy new iPhone features 

The new software update is music to the ears of current iPhone and new 3GS owners alike, with some handy features like cut and pasting from texts, MMS messaging and a landscape keyboard amongst other improvements.  What you don’t have in the old phone is a built in compass; where the old handset allows you to pinpoint your position on a map the new phone has been transformed into a pocket-sized GPS system which picks up your bearing and rotates the map to the way you’re facing….very handy indeed!  
 

A great handset with improved speed and new software 

With the iPhone 3GS sitting on the shelf, is this another success or have Apple dropped the ball?  Well, the Jury is out for the time being.  The new phone has improved what is already a great handset that looks stunning and is easy to use.  The extra speed and software along with the addition of a 32GB model make the new phone very appealing, however those of us expecting a giant leap in the land of smartphones can only wonder what the next iPhone will deliver.