Apple · iPhone 3G
iPhone 3G specifications
iPhone 3G was introduced by Apple in 2008. This page includes every specification group published on Apple's official technical specifications page, plus model numbers, capacities, colors and current OS compatibility.
Software support: Not listed for iOS 26|Last reviewed: 2026-07-29
Browse listings for iPhone 3G No final software-support end date has been announced.
Specifications
Design and colors
- Size and weight
- Height : 4.5 inches (115.5 mm) • Width : 2.4 inches (62.1 mm) • Depth : 0.48 inch (12.3 mm) • Weight : 4.7 ounces (133 grams)
- Color
- 8GB model: Black • 16GB model: Black or white
Display
- Display
- 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display • 480-by-320-pixel resolution at 163 ppi • Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously
Performance and storage
- Capacity
- 8GB or 16GB flash drive
Cameras and video
- Camera and photos
- 2.0 megapixels • Photo geotagging • iPhone and third-party application integration
Battery and charging
- Power and battery
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery 3 • Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter • Talk time: 4 Up to 5 hours on 3G Up to 10 hours on 2G • Standby time: Up to 300 hours 5 • Internet use: Up to 5 hours on 3G 6 Up to 6 hours on Wi-Fi 7 • Video playback: Up to 7 hours 8 • Audio playback: Up to 24 hours 9
Connectivity and ports
- Cellular and wireless
- UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz) • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) • Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) • Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
- Connectors and input/output
- 30-pin dock connector • 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack • Built-in speaker • Microphone • SIM card tray
- External buttons and controls
- Sleep/wake • Ring/silent • Volume up/down • Home
- Sensors
- Accelerometer • Proximity sensor • Ambient light sensor
Audio and media
- Audio
- Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz • Audio formats supported: AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV • User-configurable maximum volume limit
- Headphones
- Stereo earphones with built-in microphone • Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz • Impedance: 32 ohms
In the box
- In the box
- iPhone 3G • Stereo Headset with mic • Dock Connector to USB Cable • USB Power Adapter • Documentation • Cleaning/polishing cloth • SIM eject tool
Additional specifications
- GPS
- Assisted GPS
- Video
- Video formats supported: H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
- iPhone Accessories
- iPhone Stereo Headset • Apple Dock Connector to USB Cable • iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable • iPhone 3G Universal Dock Adapter 3-Pack • iPhone TTY Adapter • Apple Universal Dock • Apple Component AV Cable • Apple Composite AV Cable • AirPort Extreme Base Station • Actual size and weight vary by configuration and manufacturing process. • 1GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less. • Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information. • Talk time: Testing conducted by Apple in May and June 2008 using preproduction iPhone 3G units and software. iPhone 3G units were connected to a 1900MHz network or a 2100MHz network. All settings were default except: Call Forwarding was turned on; the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks was turned off. Wi-Fi was enabled but not associated with a network. Battery life depends on the cellular network, location, signal strength, feature configuration, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific iPhone units; actual results may vary. • Standby time: Testing conducted by Apple in May and June 2008 using preproduction iPhone 3G units and software. All settings were default except: Call Forwarding was turned on; the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks was turned off. Wi-Fi was enabled but not associated with a network. Battery life depends on the cellular network, location, signal strength, feature configuration, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific iPhone units; actual results may vary. • Internet use over 3G: Testing conducted by Apple in May and June 2008 using preproduction iPhone 3G units and software. Internet over 3G tests were conducted over a 1900MHz 3G network using dedicated web and mail servers, browsing snapshot versions of 20 popular web pages, and receiving mail once an hour. All settings were default except: Call Forwarding was turned on; the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks and Auto-Brightness were turned off. Wi-Fi was enabled but not associated with a network. Battery life depends on the cellular network, location, signal strength, 3G connectivity, feature configuration, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific iPhone units; actual results may vary. • Internet use over Wi-Fi: Testing conducted by Apple in May and June 2008 using preproduction iPhone 3G units and software. Internet over Wi-Fi tests were conducted using a closed network and dedicated web and mail servers, browsing snapshot versions of 20 popular web pages, and receiving mail once an hour. All settings were default except: Call Forwarding was turned on; the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks and Auto-Brightness were turned off; WPA2 encryption was enabled. Battery life depends on the cellular network, location, signal strength, Wi-Fi connectivity, feature configuration, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific iPhone units; actual results may vary. • Video playback: Testing conducted by Apple in May and June 2008 using preproduction iPhone 3G units and software. Video content consisted of a repeated 2-hour 23-minute movie purchased from the iTunes Store. All settings were default except: Call Forwarding was turned on; the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks and Auto-Brightness were turned off. Wi-Fi was enabled but not associated with a network. Battery life depends on the cellular network, location, signal strength, feature configuration, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific iPhone units; actual results may vary. • Audio playback: Testing conducted by Apple in May and June 2008 using preproduction iPhone 3G units and software. The playlist consisted of 358 unique audio tracks, a combination of content imported from CDs using iTunes (128-Kbps AAC encoding) and content purchased from the iTunes Store (128-Kbps AAC encoding). All settings were default except: Call Forwarding was turned on; the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks was turned off. Wi-Fi was enabled but not associated with a network. Battery life depends on the cellular network, location, signal strength, feature configuration, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific iPhone units; actual results may vary. • Talk and standby times: Testing conducted by Apple in June 2007 using preproduction iPhone Bluetooth Headsets, iPhone units, and software. All iPhone Bluetooth Headset settings were default. All iPhone settings were default except: Call Forwarding was turned on; the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks was turned off. Battery life depends on signal strength, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific iPhone Bluetooth Headset and iPhone units; actual results may vary. • Support • iPhone 3G - Technical Specifications
Before buying
- Match the model number to your region and cellular networks before buying.
- Test the battery, display, cameras and biometrics, and review parts and service history on a used device.
- Verify storage capacity because iPhone does not support expandable memory cards.
Sources
- Official iPhone 3G technical specifications — Apple Support
- Identify iPhone models and model numbers — Apple Support
- Devices compatible with iOS 26 — Apple Support