The New iPhone: 5 reasons to wait

We praised and recommended the original iPhone (available to subscribers). And we have no reason to think the new iPhone 3G, available this Friday, will be any less compelling to buy—especially at prices that start at $199, half or less what the original version cost.

That said, unless you're bent on buying the iPhone 3G (Click on the image at right for a closer look) the moment it's available, here are some reasons not to join the iStampede, at least in its earliest days:

Compelling competitors. In the past year since the original iPhone launched, other worthy phones with a touch screen, keyboard, and Web surfing have hit the market. These include the LG Voyager and Samsung Glyde on Verizon, among the best carriers in our Ratings of cell-service providers (available to subscribers). There's also the Samsung Instinct from Sprint Nextel and the upcoming Blackberry Thunder, the first Blackberry to feature a touch screen instead of a keyboard.

Your old iPhone will be upgraded, too. If you have the original iPhone and are feeling a bit envious, be aware that it will get a software upgrade, too, also available on Friday. (It's free for iPhone owners and $10 for owners of the iPod Touch, the iPhone-minus-the-phone device that launched last September.) You won't get GPS or 3G network access, but the upgrade will provide old iPhone owners with better e-mail management, more sophisticated contact searches, and support for heavy-duty Office applications such as PowerPoint. And both iPod Touch and iPhone owners will have access to a whole slew of applications from third-party developers (typically $10) covering gaming, chatting, social networking, traveling, news, sports, finance, or business. So you might consider adding a web app like FastPriceCheck, an application that  finds product details, user reviews, and compare the lowest online prices using any product's barcode.

History suggests supplies will be plentiful. Rumors of short supplies compelled many customers to line up in front of Apple and AT&T stores during last year's iPhone debut. But there were plenty of $499 iPhones available then. While it's hard to predict exactly how supply and demand may align this time, especially given the much lower price, we'd err on the side of assuming the new iPhone will be widely available for some time and avoids the crowds on Friday. Another reason to avoid the initial rush: The 3G will have to be activated in stores, which could make lines move more slowly than with the original, which you activated at home.

Tests may turn up glitches. A new product, even one with a promising pedigree like the iPhone, may have glitches or quirks that might affect your buying decision. Wait for the assessment of experts, which will likely begin on Wednesday and Thursday with previews from the select few reviewers whom Apple bestows with advance units. Since we buy every product we test, we'll be joining the fray to buy our new iPhones at stores on Friday morning. We plan to begin posting our first impressions on Friday or Saturday. By then, a myriad of new owners will also have weighed in via the likes of this blog, Engadget and Gizmodo.

Plan costs. As we've reported previously, the relatively affordable (for a smartphone, anyway) price tag for iPhone 3G is accompanied by a minimum cost of $70 for a voice/data plan. That compares with the $60 minimum with the old iPhone. And even that $60 plan came with 200 text messages a month thrown in; with the 3G, you need to pay $5 a month on top of the $70-plus plan for 200 messages—or pay a hefty 20 cents per message a la carte.

—David Toner and Mike Gikas

Comments

[Alex]

First, I purchased the original iPhone (16GB model) about 2 months before Apple announced the 3G phone. Upon learning, I was upset, disappointed, and felt I had purchased a $500 "old" model that was out dated! The cost reduction of $200 was very upsetting, but the iPhone itself is fantastic!

Second, I love my iPhone and I'm currently writing applications, adding to the many available via iTunes. The Apple provided updates for my phone have been timely, functional and powerful. The pain is gone and "the scar" is fading ...

Last, Apple is the leader in "User Based" technology. I know because my experience includes working with the first and subsequent Apple computers (including "Newtons"), multiple PCs and various mainframes. Apple technology is the best available and iPhone competitors have a lot of catching-up to do, as Microsoft has demonstrated.

[kristofor Parker]

So I was/have been thinking for a while about getting the iPhone. I'm trying to get an insight by researching what other people think about it on how it works. If heard people say that it's slow and doesn't work good and then other people say they love it and it works fine. I have been with Verizon and absolutely love them. I have the unlimited contract due to being from New York and moving out to California for school and it's fairly reasonable. AT&T's version and with the iPhone is way over for the unlimited minutes from what I'm paying now.

Anyone have any advice on if the phone is good enough?

thanks

[sean]

i have the lg dare DO NOT GET THIS PHONE it is horible its not compatital whith mac os x

the screen scraches easily and verizon wont let you return it DO NOT GET THE LG DARE
GET THE IPHONE 3G

[Lou]

As usual, CR was correct... I got the 3G shortly after it came out (had to wait a couple of weeks on a backorder) and after 3 weeks of trying to overcome glitches with the 3G chip (being reported as a possible hardware problem) and software update problems I finally just returned it to ATT.

Many people are happy with their iPhones, but my work doesn't allow me the luxury of being a "beta tester". A shame to because the interface is absolutely wonderful.

LT

[Tom]

I was told at an AT&T store that if my line is one of the additional lines on a Family Talk account that the I-phone cost per month of unlimited email and web is $30. (Text is additional) You can't always count on sales people being accurate, so I was wondering if anyone has different information.

[Tim]

>>> Posted by: James | Jul 14, 2008 4:49:39 PM

"I just got a Dare from Verizon. I like it a lot, but there is one glaring defect. When you activate the web or vz navigator there is no digital keypad for you type anything into a URL, usernames or passwords for e-mail, etc..."
-------------------------------------------------------

That is incorrect. If you tap two times in the text field, a phone type keypad will appear on the screen when the Dare is being held vertically. If you turn it on its side, a Qwerty keyboard will appear on the screen.

I love my Dare. It works great.

[bobby]

Thanks for the review James. How do you then enter info if there is no digital keypad?

CR folks, please review and compare it to the iphone soon...the wait is killing me! :)

[James]

I just got a Dare from Verizon. I like it a lot, but there is one glaring defect. When you activate the web or vz navigator there is no digital keypad for you type anything into a URL, usernames or passwords for e-mail, etc... Everything else works very well. The screen is much more sensitive than the voyager, etc... But this is an amazing defect to have on such a large investment that is not an iphone. I will probably keep it anyway, since I use the music player and text features, but it would be nice to have the internet options be feasible.

[bobby]

Curious to see how the new iphone compares with LG Dare for Verizon. I've heard the Dare is the closet Verizon has come to replicating the iphone. Please do a comparison as soon as you can.

[Patricia]

Now for the catch...

Turns out, current AT&T customers will be able to purchase the new iPhone at the lowest price ONLY if you are currently eligible for an upgrade.

From their website:

"If you are upgrade eligible and your account is in good standing, you will pay $199 for 8GB (black) and $299 for 16GB (black or white). Two-year contract required.

You have the option to purchase an early upgrade priced at $399 for 8GB (black) or $499 for 16GB (black or white). Two-year contract required.

Coming soon, AT&T will offer a no-commitment option of $599 for 8GB and $699 for 16GB."

Bummer!