Speed Test: iPhone 3G S vs. iPhone 3G vs. Palm Pre

by CNET staff

Check out the latest Prize Fight featuring a speed test between the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G S, and the Palm Pre from CNET TV.

Topics:: Reviews

Tags:: iPhone 3G,; Apple,; iPhone 3G S,; palm,; pre,; speed

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by tipoo_ June 19, 2009 4:01 PM PDT: Palms gotta work on that startup time...Otherwise, the benchmarks Anandtech provided were pretty favorable for webpage rendering.; Reply to this comment

by climbbike1 June 19, 2009 5:27 PM PDT

This is about the stupidest, most un-scientific tests I have ever seen. I understand real-world testing, but that's just ridiculous.

Reply to this comment


by petitbrilliance October 12, 2009 12:42 PM PDT: how so?

by EarlyAdopter June 19, 2009 7:12 PM PDT

The test says about as much on network speed as it does device speed, except for bootup. If you want to test the devices' performance under identical conditions, try all of them on WiFi so that the network is out of the equation. AT&T still has some work to do.

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by jhootska June 26, 2009 2:52 PM PDT: Wifi isnt always available.. this is a real world test.. like on the bus, in class, at work, at a concert, walking down the road. I dont see why you iphone fanboys cant except defeat.. both phones where running off 3g.. So, sprints 3g is better! thats what you get when you buy the phone not only the phone but the network.. So, deal with it already. thats why the iphone should have launched on sprint.. they would have a faster network, and cheapier prices! customers win that way. by the way sprint is rolling out their 4g network. so, by the time ATTs 3g network gets up to speed with sprint they will already be running 4G.. 5 times faster.. Pre wins.. sorry, better phone, better network, better prices! why would you even think about getting the still outdated Iphone 3g S?? (by the way i own a HTC so no biases here)


by June 19, 2009 8:07 PM PDT: This guy is so cute! The review was way too short but good for what it was. That startup speed on the Pre is unbelievably slow. Almost two minutes?! It makes you wonder if there's something wrong...

I'm getting a 3G S tomorrow so... :); Reply to this comment

by DesertRavEdog June 21, 2009 2:47 AM PDT

The speeds for web were badly performed. There were TWO factors: how a web page is rendered AND how the network performed, the latter having nothing to do with the phone and having EVERYTHING to do with the carrier. Had both been on the same carrier, then the tests would have been fair.

To makes the tests equal, they should have put both phones into WiFi mode, then run the tests. Then they could have determined who had the better browser. THEN move on to the carrier.

Everyone knows AT&T has horrible coverage and thruput in the SF area while sprint has a more robust data network.

Redo the tests on WiFi then post your results for the Brower.

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by petitbrilliance October 12, 2009 12:43 PM PDT: but if it was on wifi, it wouldnt be a real world test..


by polarbebe June 21, 2009 7:13 PM PDT: Um... why don't they test using WIFI? Doesn't that make more sense.; Reply to this comment


by jhootska June 26, 2009 2:59 PM PDT: I dont get all of those requests for wifi test.. wifi isnt always available everywhere.. so, what happens when it not?? you have to rely on your network.. and all you ATT Iphone fans should already know sprints network is better.. and not to mention cheapier.. your phone is only as good as your network and ATT just sucks.. if you want the iphone to preform better, petition apple to put it on sprint. after all when they switch to 4g the iphone is really gonna be worthless.; Reply to this comment


by Notaphonegeek June 29, 2009 10:45 AM PDT: While my Pre is fairly slow at start up (took mine about 50 sec.), It's very fast in just about everything I do email, internet sending picture mail etc. I hate that so many people are talking trash about a pretty good phone. Both the IPhone and Pre are good phones, the competition will now only make it better for the consumer. Buy what you like, there is no need to talk trash. I see so many IPhone zombies swearing that the pre is junk and I've had it from the release date and love it. My friend has a new IPhone 3Gs and loves my phone and I think his is pretty cool. He says he wishes he bought a pre due to the plan that he's on. Apparently, everything with ATT is extra.

Anyway competition is good. Great phones all 3.; Reply to this comment


by DJMontePGH July 2, 2009 2:22 PM PDT: Ok in all fairness on the photo test you would have to check the resolution of the pics that were sent. Picks of a persons face are normally a lot higher res than a dark studio that have bright lights beaming right at it. I bet there was a huge difference. Just go take a pic of something in the dark then take a pic with a lot of light shinning on the object that you are taking a pic of. Better lighting equals higher res. Meaning that the iPhone was sending a larger pic. Now on another note, it took Pre girl way to long to send the pic. I've played with a pre. It has shortcuts that she probably didn't use that makes it quicker. Plus she typed in an email address or number. The girl with the iPhone did no such thing. She took it, picked out a contact and sent it. So after you factor everything in the Pre will normally always come out on top pending the area you live in and signal strength. I'll take the Pre over the iPhone any day. One test they didn't do is a plan price test. If you get all the bells and whistles from AT&T it will cost you over $150 a month after you add on everything to the already $99 unlimited plan. See, unlimited is only for talk time. Add text, voicemail Voice Dialing(shouldn't this be built into the phone???) and navi and you are paying a pretty hefty price. Now lets look at sprints price. $99 covers everything. hmmmm And sprint now has a 4G network. Sorry iPhone. But your run is done.; Reply to this comment

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