Only the differences are shown. 38 specs stay the same.
+0you gain
−1you give up
iPhone 3G came out in July 2008. iPhone (2007) came out in June 2007, over 1 year later. iPhone 3G stopped getting new iOS versions at iOS 4.2.1. iPhone (2007) stopped getting software updates at iPhone OS 3.1.3.
Note on iPhone 3G: $199 for 8 GB with a 2-year contract. No front camera. Chip not published by Apple.
Note on iPhone (2007): $499 for 4 GB with a 2-year AT&T contract. No front camera, no video recording. Chip not published by Apple.
Updates & AI
iOS 4.2.1 → iPhone OS 3.1.3
The only change here
Price check
(2007) launched at $499 with 2-year carrier contract
Not currently sold refurbished by Back Market or Apple.
All 5 differences
Updates & AI1 loss
Latest iOS
iOS 4.2.1›iPhone OS 3.1.3
What does this mean?
iOS is the software that runs the iPhone: the home screen, the built-in apps, the settings and the security protection. Apple releases a new version every September.
A phone on the newest iOS gets new features every year and regular security fixes. A phone stuck on an older version keeps working, but it no longer gets new features, and after a while it stops getting security fixes too.
Matters most if: You use banking, payment or work apps. They are usually the first to require a recent iOS.
Apple Intelligence
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
Apple Intelligence is Apple's set of AI features. It includes the new Siri AI, writing help that rewrites or proofreads your text, short summaries of long notifications and emails, and Clean Up, which removes unwanted people or objects from photos.
Most of it runs on the phone itself, which is why it only works on newer iPhones. Older iPhones cannot get it through a software update. Which features you see also depends on your country and language.
Matters most if: You want the new Siri AI or the AI photo and writing tools.
Apple repair support
No longer repaired by Apple (same on both)
What does this mean?
Apple counts from when it stopped selling the model, not from its release date. Vintage: Apple stopped selling it 5 to 7 years ago; repairs only while parts last. Obsolete: over 7 years ago; Apple no longer repairs it.
Checked against Apple's vintage and obsolete products list on 2026-10-11.
Price1 change
Price check
iPhone (2007) — launched at $499 with 2-year carrier contract
- Used on eBay
- Back Market does not list models this old
- Apple does not currently sell this model refurbished
What your iPhone 3G sells for
- Apple Trade In estimate
- Sold listings on eBay
eBay may ask you to sign in to see sold prices.
Links open in a new tab. Prices are set by each seller and change daily.
Launch price (US)
$199›$499+$300
iPhone 3G: $199 with 2-year carrier contract
iPhone (2007): $499 with 2-year carrier contract
What does this mean?
The price Apple charged in the US on launch day, for the lowest storage option, before tax.
This is not what the phone costs today. Older models drop in price over time, so check the used and refurbished links for current prices.
Design & buttons2 changes
Weight
133 g›135 g
What does this mean?
Weight in grams. 100 grams is about 3.5 ounces.
Around 30 grams difference is noticeable when holding the phone for a long time, lying down, or in a shirt pocket. Bigger batteries and screens add weight.
Frame
Plastic›Aluminum and plastic
What does this mean?
The material around the edge of the phone.
Aluminum is light and spreads heat well. Stainless steel is shiny and heavy. Titanium is strong and light. Day to day, most people notice the weight more than the material, and many use a case anyway.
Unlock
None (passcode only) (same on both)
What does this mean?
How you unlock the phone. Face ID recognizes your face. Touch ID reads your fingerprint.
Face ID works just by looking at the phone, even in the dark. Touch ID works well with a mask on, but needs a dry, clean finger.
Action button
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
A button on the side that you can set to do one thing of your choice. It replaces the old mute switch.
Press and hold it to turn on the flashlight, open the camera, start a voice memo, switch silent mode, or run any shortcut you set up.
Camera Control button
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
A button on the side made for the camera. It reacts to clicks, light presses and finger slides.
Click once to open the camera from anywhere, press to take a photo, and slide your finger along it to zoom, like on a real camera.
Matters most if: You take a lot of quick photos.
Water resistance
None (same on both)
What does this mean?
IP stands for Ingress Protection, a standard rating for how well something keeps out dust and water. The first number is dust (6 is the highest), the second is water. IP67 survives 1 meter for 30 minutes. IP68 goes deeper; Apple lists the tested depth in meters.
Rain, spills and a quick drop in the sink are fine on all of these. Protection wears down over the years, and Apple does not cover water damage under warranty, so swimming with the phone is still not a good idea.
Chip & storage1 change
Storage options
8 GB, 16 GB›4 GB, 8 GB
What does this mean?
Storage is where your photos, videos, apps and messages are kept. 1 TB (terabyte) is 1,024 GB.
iPhones have no memory card slot, so you cannot add storage later. As a rough guide, 128 GB fills up fast if you shoot a lot of video. 256 GB suits most people.
Chip
Not published (same on both)
What does this mean?
The chip is the phone's brain. It runs every app, processes photos and handles the AI features.
A newer chip makes the phone faster, keeps it fast for more years, and decides which new features it can get. Apple Intelligence, for example, only works on recent models.
What's new
RSS feedAdded Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio and Mac Pro
33 desktop Macs from 2017 onward, checked against Apple's tech specs pages, in one Mac section with the laptops, so you can compare a Mac mini with a MacBook Air. Specs a model does not have, such as a screen on Mac mini, show as Not applicable.
Added MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and MacBook Neo
45 Mac laptops from 2016 onward, checked against Apple's tech specs pages. Older models appear on the timeline and open for comparison once they are checked. Switch to Mac at the top of the home page.
Added every iPad since 2010
45 iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro models, checked against Apple's tech specs pages. Switch between iPhone and iPad at the top of the home page.