iPhone display shines in early tests
On most phones, the display is important enough. On the iPhone, it’s paramount because it also serves to control the device, which has very few buttons or other controls.
Display quality, then, was our first order of business in our iPhone tests, which began today. Our initial findings:
Brightness and legibility. iPhone’s 3.5-in., 480 x 320-resolution display proved to be excellent in readibility even in bright sunlight, a setting that washes out many screens. In fact, this may be the most legible cell-phone screen we’ve ever tested. Most notable was how readily we could read details--the numbers of incoming and outgoing calls, and signal and battery meters, for example--even in the midday sun. One quibble, however: The chrome-like frame can produce annoying glare when you hold the iPhone at certain angles in bright sunlight.
Surface issues. The iPhone’s mirror-like surface does draw smudges. However, the smears weren’t distracting on most functions, though they were quite noticeable where the screen was dark. (Click on the image above for a larger view and you'll see what we mean.) The iPhone comes with a chamois-like cloth that effectively wipes off smudges with a light buff. And in a quick scratch test--placing the iPhone in a pocket that also held four sets of keys--the glass screen came out unscathed.
We continue to assess other aspects of screen performance, and will report on those and other tests through the coming week. Meantime, if you’re among the new iPhone owners, we invite your impressions of the device in the comments below.
--Mike Gikas
Posted by: Mahmudul Haq | Jun 16, 2008 2:23:35 AM
From the day I-Phone arrived in market i am waiting for it,unfortunetly
there marketing policy is so poor that after one year passed but I have
failed to purchease it.Why?Because in Bangladesh it is not available.Now my question is as they have introduse a new product definetly everyone has right to use it.If there policy makes barrier between first world & third world then my prayer is for I-Phone & Apple go to hell.
Posted by: chucklesj | Apr 20, 2008 2:40:42 PM
I love my Iphone; however, the screen is very susceptible to cracks and breaks. If this happens to you (as it did me) it will cost you $250 for Apple to repair it by mail for you. I hope Apple will release a version with a plastic screen instead of glass sometime in the future. I recommend you do not buy this phone if you tend to bang your phone around a bit...stick with a flip phone or something else.
Posted by: Jeremy | Sep 25, 2007 1:41:22 AM
I purchased a 4GB iPhone model after the price dropped to $299. I knew the supplies would only last a few days, so I purchased it immediately. Even though I got the phone for less, after using it for a week, I would have happily paid the full retail price for it.
You see, until my iPhone had actually arrived, I had never used one or even seen one in real life... This phone could not be easier to use. There are some misses, such as not being able to send MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messages, such as picture messages, to other cell phones. The saving grace to this is the total integration of e-mail--you can snap a picture and send it to a contact using any POP3 or push mail account you choose.
Set up and activation was a breeze, taking mere minutes to update my account as to my new information. And a huge plus side on the service--I can still use my old Motorola KRAZR whenever I want with no interruption of service on my iPhone (granted that only one is on at a time). So when I go out, I don't have to take the beautiful phone and risk damaging it or losing it!
Posted by: Lorraine | Jul 9, 2007 7:41:23 PM
I bought the iphone the day after it came out and I haven't looked back. How did I live without this phone/computer/ipod?? I absolutely love the ease it takes to do anything on it. From editing contacts on your phone to sending out text messages to doing a quick search on the internet, a few touches of the screen does it all. My 7 year old is loving it as much as I am, which goes to show how easy it is to use. I never showed him how to use it and within a few moments of picking it up he was watching a disney/pixar short I had downloaded. My husband is in Iraq and I love that I can email him any time of the day--no longer having to wait until I get home in the evenings to check my email. He loves it too and can't wait to pick one up when he gets home. Oh, I also dropped it on the kitchen porcelain floor and it withheld the fall. Try it, I guarantee you'll feel like you've finally stepped into the 21st century-and it looks good!!
Posted by: n/a | Jul 5, 2007 5:09:55 AM
I would realy like more photos of iPhone display in direct sun-light! Can anyone provide them? Does iPhone's display acts as well as iPod's does?
Posted by: William Lorber | Jul 4, 2007 5:12:39 PM
Agree the iPhone is top notch! Pure class! Easy to use. Best cell phone ever, and the iPod, photo library, and movie/UTube views are terrific. I have a couple of other multi-media cellphones sitting in a closet since I never had the patience to learn how to use all the functions. The iPhone is extremely intuitive, if you just watch the TV commercials, you can use it in less than 30 minutes of opening the box. I love it - However, be forewarned, it is slippery smooth and very easy to drop. I even warned one of my friends when I showed it to her, and she still immediately dropped it! I only use it sitting down over a soft surface or in my car. My iphone has landed softly in every case, but it has me worried. Buy a leather case for it right away to help you hang on!
The camera function on my iPhone isn't working. Called AT&T and they referred me to Apple. Sounded like I'm the first with this camera problem. They will not replace my iPhone until they have looked at it. The nearest Apple store is about 100 miles from me, so I have to ship it back to them in a pre-paid box they are sending me. I'll be without my iPhone for a few days (at least) which is a bummer! If you are near an Apple store, they might take care of you right away (I don't know). But, if you're like me, you might want to hang on to your old cell phone awhile to substitute in case you have to ship yours back to Apple. Why they didn't just let my AT&T store (just around the corner), where I purchased the iPhone, replace it for me, I don't know. Most importantly, stay tuned to find out how well this flaw is rectified by Apple. Customer service is very important to me, so we'll have to wait and see how Apple performs in this area.
Posted by: Dave | Jul 3, 2007 7:59:15 AM
Jason, see PC World's scratch and drop test:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,133636/article.html
Their iPhone survived multiple drops on carpeting, hard floors, and even concrete from head height. As Alfonso points out above, though, and as your friend learned, it is glass, and an unlucky hit at the wrong angle can break it. In fairness, though, most phones could be severely damaged or destroyed by a bad fall.
Playing with the iPhone in Apple's store, the main thing that disappointed me was the calendar. Unlike most, you can't set a monthly event to repeat on the third Friday of each month, nor can you search the calendar. Unfortunately, a fully functional calendar is a necessity for me, so I didn't buy one, yet. Hopefully any such rough edges will be cleared up by a software update soon; I'd love to ditch my current phone for one of these. After spending a few minutes with an iPhone, other phones seem rather primitive.
Posted by: David | Jul 2, 2007 9:02:06 PM
I bought one for my wife (she complained about her phone with the tiny keys and display for the two years since I bought it.) She was already an AT&T subscriber, converting her account took minutes after unpacking the phone. I agree with other comments, the phone is even more amazing than expected. After visiting a friend and showing them the satellite photo of their home, linked through contacts to google maps (over the supposedly slow EDGE network), and figuring all this out without a manual, I was hooked. We have two macs so syncing was easy (my Wintel PCs are on death row, as soon as they die it's probably sayonara...) Thank god there is now salvation from cell phones that can do nothing well, including making a phone call. I loved my wife's phone so much I went out and bought one for myself, even taking the hit on a Verizon cancellation fee ($175). Their service drives me nuts, always trying to sell you VCAST, games, ringtones, yadda yadda, but the phone is a pain to make a call on! I could do without the ipod function and get it for $200 less (it probably will be in a year or two) for now count me a happy customer x 2. The web browser function is truly amazing for a phone, esp. if you are on your home broadband connection (it connects seamlessly after you set it up.) You really don't need the 8G model unless you are using it for an ipod (which I don't but got the 8G models just in case.) Go for it, you won't be sorry (assuming you can afford it).
Posted by: Alfonso | Jul 2, 2007 2:51:47 AM
I got an iPhone, it's really amazing. I also dropped it by accident and it was fine, however I'm sure if it drops at the right angle the glass screen will crack, remember its made of glass not something unbreakable.
Posted by: Kaye | Jul 1, 2007 6:35:23 PM
I bought my iPhone Friday night and have played with it and explored every nook and cranny on it since that time. When I first opened the box I was disappointed to find there was not a user's manual. There was only a note telling me how to activate the phone and to go to the website if I wanted the user's guide, which I planned to do as soon as I activated my phone. The activation took a total of 3 minutes and could not have been easier. Equally easy was every operation I explored. I never made it to the web site because I didn't need to. It is so easy and intuitive that it is obvious how to perform each function. It is easy to read because the display is bright and smallest of details can be seen. Each one of my family and a few of my friends have asked to play with it. Without exception, every one of them said it was even better than they expected. And I agree - it is absolutely amazing.
Posted by: Jason | Jul 1, 2007 1:57:17 AM
So my friend bought an iPhone today and a Belkin case for it. Well it fell out of the case and fell to the ground. When he picked it up, the front screen was cracked all the way across. Can you guys check into that and find out if it is just a one time thing or if that would happen anytime the iPhone is dropped?