Apple iPhone 3G Price In Nigeria (2024), Specs – 1220mAh, slot, Jumia

Apple iPhone 3G Price In Nigeria 2024

Apple iPhone 3G was a landmark device that ushered in the era of mainstream smartphone adoption when it launched back in 2008.

Let’s take a nostalgic walk down memory lane and see how this iconic phone stacks up by today’s standards.

Specs at a Glance

Body

The original iPhone 3G had a plastic rear shell with curved edges and a chrome trim, giving it a very sleek and premium design for its time. It measures 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3mm and weighs a paltry 133g, which is impressive even now. The phone uses a mini-SIM slot.

Display

The display is a 3.5-inch TFT panel with a classic 3:2 aspect ratio. It has a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, which gives it a pixel density of around 165ppi.

By today’s standards it’s low, but back in 2008 it was par for the course. The original iPhone did not have a Gorilla Glass display, so it could scratch easily.

Operating System

The iPhone 3G originally shipped with the iPhone OS 2.0, which introduced the App Store. It was upgradable to iOS 4.2.1, which was the final update for the device.

It runs on a 412MHz ARM 11 CPU paired with a PowerVR MBX GPU. Performance was good at the time but feels quite sluggish today.

Memory

The iPhone 3G came in 8GB or 16GB storage options, both with 128MB of RAM. There is no memory card slot for expansion.

The limited memory means even light use will fill up storage quickly. With no way to add more, you’ll have to manage the space diligently.

Camera

There is a 2MP rear camera capable of capturing video, despite no camcorder being specified.

A 2MP sensor was decent in 2008 but woefully inadequate today, where 12MP+ cameras are the norm. There is no front camera on the iPhone 3G. Selfies didn’t exist back then!

Apple iPhone 3G Price in Nigeria

The iPhone 3G cost about 90 EUR at launch. Obviously it is no longer officially sold, but you can find used models on resale sites.

Apple iPhone 3G Price In Nigeria is NGN 70,000 at Slot and on Jumia as of 24th October 2024.

Budget models from Chinese brands with far superior specs retail for less.

Sound

The iPhone 3G has a loudspeaker for calls and media, though it isn’t very loud at just 66dB. There is a standard 3.5mm headphone jack too. But high quality Bluetooth headsets were not common then, so options are limited.

Connectivity

Connectivity options include Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 (only for headsets), and GPS. The lack of 5GHz Wi-Fi support means slow internet. There is no NFC or radio. The old 2.0 USB port only charges at 480Mbps speeds.

Sensors

There is an accelerometer for auto rotate and a proximity sensor for turning off the display during calls.

Unlike modern iPhones, there is no fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication. You’ll have to rely on a 4-digit passcode for security.

Battery

The iPhone 3G has a non-removable 1220mAh battery. On 3G standby it lasts around 300 hours.

But using mobile data and apps drains it faster. The battery is not user replaceable and loses capacity over time.

Charging is slow over the old 30-pin connector. Fast charging was not introduced until much later.

Miscellaneous

The iPhone 3G came in black or white color options. It was offered in the 8GB and 16GB configurations only. Besides some minor differences, the models are basically the same device.

Comparison With Similar Devices

Here is how the iPhone 3G stacks up against a few competing smartphones of the era:

• Nokia N95 – More connectivity options, microSD card slot, but poorer app ecosystem.
• HTC Dream – First Android phone, offered similar specs, but no multi-touch.
• BlackBerry Bold – Excellent email device thanks to BlackBerry OS, but lagged in touchscreen usability.

Pros & Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of using an iPhone 3G in 2024:

Pros

• Still runs iOS and can download apps
• Very compact and light
• Good call quality and signal reception
• Decent display and form factor for its time

Cons

• Extremely slow by today’s standards
• Very limited storage
• Terrible camera even for 2008
• No fingerprint sensor or fast charging
• Low screen resolution and pixel density
• No front camera for selfies or video calling

The iPhone 3G: A Nostalgic Look at Apple’s Revolutionary Smartphone

Apple iPhone 3G was a groundbreaking device that helped usher in the modern smartphone era when it launched in 2008.

While its specs may seem quaint by today’s standards, the iPhone 3G laid the foundation for the powerful pocket computers we now take for granted.

Let’s take a deeper look at this iconic phone’s place in mobile history and how it compares to modern devices.

The Birth of the App Store: How the iPhone 3G Changed Mobile Software

One of the most revolutionary aspects of the iPhone 3G was the introduction of the App Store.

This centralized marketplace for third-party applications fundamentally changed how we use and interact with our mobile devices.

The App Store’s Humble Beginnings

• At launch in July 2008, the App Store had just 500 apps available
• By the end of 2008, this had grown to over 15,000 apps
• Popular early apps included:
• Tap Tap Revenge (rhythm game)
• Pandora Radio
• Facebook
• Shazam (music recognition)

Impact on Mobile Software Development

• The App Store created a new industry of mobile app developers
• It standardized the process for distributing mobile software
• Revenue sharing model (70% to developers, 30% to Apple) became industry standard
• Sparked the “there’s an app for that” revolution in mobile utility

Comparison to Modern App Stores

• Today’s App Store has over 1.8 million apps available
• Google Play Store for Android has over 2.5 million apps
• Modern app categories that didn’t exist for iPhone 3G:
• Ride sharing (Uber, Lyft)
• Mobile payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
• Video streaming (Netflix, YouTube)
• Augmented reality

While primitive by today’s standards, the iPhone 3G’s App Store was revolutionary for its time. It created an entire ecosystem of mobile software that continues to shape how we use our devices today.

From Edge to 3G: The iPhone’s Leap into High-Speed Mobile Data

As its name implies, the iPhone 3G’s headline feature was support for 3G cellular networks. This marked a significant upgrade from the original iPhone’s EDGE data capabilities.

Understanding the 3G Revolution

• EDGE (2G) theoretical max speed: 384 Kbps
• 3G theoretical max speed: 7.2 Mbps
• Real-world 3G speeds were typically 600 Kbps – 1.4 Mbps
• This enabled:
• Faster web browsing
• Streaming audio and low-quality video
• Downloading larger apps and files

Impact on Mobile Internet Usage

• 3G made “always-on” mobile internet a reality for many users
• Enabled more data-hungry apps and services
• Sparked the rise of mobile-first internet companies like Instagram

The Evolution of Mobile Data

• 4G/LTE: Introduced in 2010, theoretical speeds up to 1 Gbps
• 5G: Launched in 2019, theoretical speeds up to 20 Gbps
• Modern iPhones support:
• 5G mmWave and sub-6GHz
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
• Bluetooth 5.0

The jump from EDGE to 3G was as revolutionary in its time as the current transition from 4G to 5G. It opened up new possibilities for mobile internet use that we now take for granted.

The iPhone 3G’s Camera: A Basic Shooter in the Pre-Selfie Era

By modern standards, the iPhone 3G’s 2-megapixel rear camera seems almost comically basic. However, it played a crucial role in the development of mobile photography.

iPhone 3G Camera Specs

• 2-megapixel fixed-focus rear camera
• No flash
• No front-facing camera
• Video recording not officially supported (added via third-party apps)

Early Mobile Photography Culture

• Photo sharing was primarily done through MMS or email
• Social media photo sharing was in its infancy:
• Facebook added photo uploads to its iPhone app in 2008
• Instagram wouldn’t launch until 2010
• Common photo subjects:
• Pets
• Food
• Landscapes
• Friends and family

The Evolution of iPhone Cameras

• iPhone 4 (2010): Added 5MP rear camera and VGA front camera
• iPhone 5 (2012): Introduced panorama mode and 1080p video recording
• iPhone 6s (2015): Jumped to 12MP rear camera
• iPhone 11 Pro (2019): Added triple-lens rear camera system
• iPhone 12 Pro (2020): Introduced LiDAR scanner for AR and low-light photos
• Latest iPhones feature:
• Multiple rear cameras (wide, ultra-wide, telephoto)
• Night mode
• Portrait mode with depth control
• 4K video at 60 fps
• ProRAW image format

While the iPhone 3G’s camera was basic, it helped popularize the concept of always having a camera in your pocket. This laid the groundwork for the mobile photography revolution that followed

The Legacy of the iPhone 3G: How It Shaped Modern Smartphones

Despite its outdated specs, the iPhone 3G’s influence can still be felt in the smartphones we use today. Many of its innovations have become standard features across the industry.

Design Language

• The iPhone 3G’s rounded edges and minimalist design influenced smartphone aesthetics for years
• Physical home button became an iconic iPhone feature until iPhone X in 2017
• Large touchscreen with minimal bezels set the standard for smartphone design

User Interface Paradigms

• Multi-touch gestures (pinch-to-zoom, swipe to scroll) are now ubiquitous
• Grid of app icons became the default home screen layout for many platforms
• Emphasized simplicity and intuitiveness in mobile UI design

Hardware Evolution

• Capacitive touchscreens became industry standard, replacing resistive screens
• Accelerometer for screen rotation is now a basic smartphone feature
• GPS integration for location-based services is expected in all smartphones

Software and Ecosystem

• App Store model has been adopted by all major mobile platforms
• Regular OS updates delivered directly to users (not through carriers)
• Focus on a curated, integrated experience of hardware and software

Impact on Mobile Computing

• Popularized the concept of the smartphone as a pocket computer
• Sparked the decline of physical keyboards on mobile devices
• Led to the development of new input methods (swipe typing, voice assistants)

While modern iPhones have evolved dramatically from the 3G, many of its core principles remain. The focus on user experience, tight integration of hardware and software, and a robust app ecosystem continue to define the iPhone line.

While the iPhone 3G may seem primitive by today’s standards, its impact on the smartphone industry cannot be overstated.

It popularized the modern smartphone form factor, introduced the revolutionary App Store, and brought 3G data speeds to the masses.

The device’s influence can still be seen in the smartphones we use today, making it a true pioneer in mobile technology.

As we look back on the iPhone 3G from our vantage point in 2024, it serves as a reminder of how far mobile technology has come in a relatively short time.

While using an iPhone 3G as a daily driver today would be impractical, its legacy lives on in every smartphone we use. It truly was a revolutionary device that helped shape the mobile-first world we now live in.

Final Thoughts

The iPhone 3G was undoubtedly an innovative device and a true game changer when it first launched. For many, it was their first experience using a capacitive touchscreen and a completely app-driven interface.

However, technology has advanced lightyears since then. What was once revolutionary, now seems dated and extremely limited. The iPhone 3G’s tiny screen, chunky bezels, mediocre camera, and laggy performance are deal breakers today.

Except for nostalgia or collection purposes, using an original iPhone 3G as a daily driver in 2024 is not recommended.

You lose out on countless features that are considered basic necessities now like good cameras, large high-res displays, fingerprint sensors, and fast charging.

But you can get a brand new Android phone with far superior specifications for the same price or even less.

The iPhone 3G occupies an important place in smartphone history, but as a practical device today, it is a relic of a bygone era. For an optimal experience, it’s best to use a relatively modern device.

Apple iPhone 3G Price in Nigeria is NGN 70,000 in Slot and Jumia as of 24th October 2024.