The T-Mobile G1 was officially announced yesterday and the comparisons to the iPhone started almost as soon as the last executive left the stage. But when you pair up the iPhone 3G and the T-Mobile G1, which device comes out as the winner? Or, is it too soon to tell?
For starters, the T-Mobile G1 has a brand new operating system, Google’s Android that has been highly anticipated for quite some time. It has the unique distinction of being open-source, which means developers from all over can update and modify the OS. The Android Market is also going to go live, which features apps from all walks of life.
The phone itself features Wi-Fi, GPS and 3G (where available). It features a 3-megapixel camera and 1GB of storage by means of a removable memory card, which can be expanded up to 8GB. The G1 has a touchscreen and a full QWERTY keyboard that is revealed by means of a nifty sliding mechanism. We can expect the G1 from T-Mobile on October 22 and current T-Mobile customers can pre-order it for $179.
On the flip side, we have the iPhone 3G. It’s been out for nearly three months and while it looks nice, it hasn’t been without its drama. Some people don’t get 3G reception, there were a few security issues, and the App Store appears to be highly monitored so certain apps are rejected. But as far as specs go, the iPhone has Wi-Fi, a limited GPS function, a 2-megapixel camera, 8GB or 16GB of storage and a 3.5″ touchscreen that supports multi-touch gestures. It currently costs $199.
When it comes to looks, the iPhone 3G definitely wins. It’s glossy back, large screen smooth touch capabilities all lend it a sense of style. The T-Mobile G1 is also decent-looking, though what was previously described as the “chin” and the bulkier feel bring it down a notch.
But looks aside, who comes out on top here? Well, Apple has been criticized recently for its excessive monitoring of apps in the iTunes App Store, and the Android Market will be rule-free, in effect. But is that a good idea, either? What about malware apps or other annoying programs that intend to harm your G1 or obtain your personal information? What will be done in these cases?
The limited storage capacity is also a bit of a problem, especially for those that want to load up on music. A plus, however, is that Android uses Amazon MP3, which offers DRM-free tracks, often a point of contention with iTunes.
During the announcement yesterday, I would have said the G1 has a leg up because it only costs $179, but many users of our Android Community are reporting differently, noting pre-order price tags of $299 or more!
In the end, I find myself torn. While the iPhone 3G and T-Mobile G1 are similar in that they are smartphones with touchscreens and app stores, they couldn’t be more different. The iPhone 3G is a phone made by Apple that runs on Apple software. When it comes to the G1, we’re dealing with a phone made by HTC, carried by T-Mobile that runs on an OS by Google.
Could an Android-based handset be the always talked about “iPhone killer?” Sure. But that handset is not the G1. Until Google makes their own phone that runs on Android, I don’t think we’ll see all that the very impressive OS from the search engine mogul can do.
nice article – yall should make a new website called androidbuzz.com
or summit
I’m afraid that the dedication to beautiful graphics/design gives the iphone a much bigger edge over the G1 for me.
Looking at the photos in the article the G1 looks garbage in comparison, and the specs don’t seem to be too challenging for the iphone either!
I’ll stick with Apple for now…
Too many nagging popup windows on your site. Will not get back to your site. This is really too much.
I use mp3 and AAC DRM-free tracks on my iphone….how is that the province of the G1? Does the G1 support DRM free AAC files?
How come Google didn’t call for an expensive multi touch screen like the iPhone has? Everything Apple has is going multi touch despite the expense as it is cutting edge.
The only thing cutting edge about the G Phone is that new OS and unrestricted attitude that will allow every Tom and Dick to write malware and viruses just to screw with the gullible just like Microsoft Windows allows.
The G1 is so yesterday with its cheap touch screen and ugly graphics which remind you of Windows mobile. The only favorable mention is a cheap keyboard for those that want to type a novel on a telephone.
Does the G1 have an expensive tempered glass screen that is bullet proof to scratches or is it a chap plastic one that scratches as soon as you open it up? This is the type of device that begs for thick screen protectors as most PDAs and smartphones built to date.
What no earphone or firewire port? You have to plug in a USB adapter to attach an earphone? By the time you buy all the addons like a memory card that pops into a toaster like port (beware it doesn’t pop out when you aren’t looking) your wallet will be wondering what hit it.
The G Phone will eventually come out on top as it will be the mass market OS for cheap phones from the urban getto to the modern cities of the third world displacing Symbian and Windows Mobile.
isnt the multi touch interface patented?
3g. 20 markets for G1 and 200 for iPhone 3g which AT&T is aggressively expanding. Thats a big difference you left out.
What do you mean by “limited GPS” on the iPhone 3G, when at this point, there is no turn by turn directions for EITHER? Why does the G1 get “GPS” as the descriptor, while the 3G gets “a limited GPS function”?
Malware is only one of the issues. How about wireless sync and ease of use? How about the cost of the extra memory? The iPhone includes 8Gig at $199, how much is that extra 8Gig going to cost? A search reveals that they cost a good $30, so that puts the G1 over the $199. So why would I pay more for the G1, than for the iPhone?
It makes no sense.
Android is not as open as you suggest. You can be sure that T-Mobile will reject any app that conflicts with its business model.
I have had an original iPhone since the day it was released in the US and traded up to the 3G on its release day, and I think Apple has made good progress, not withstandiing copy and paste. Steve Jobs understands that stability and reliability are more important than features, though the iPhone has always had plenty of the latter. That’s why, I as a customer appreciate Apple’s control over the phone. If Android or its controlling telcom allows a free for all by developers it will be a disaster.
I wrote about this very issue in my blog at http://johnkendrick.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/was-steve-jobs-right-with-iphone-10/
I am excited by the Android platform, but to compare it to the iPhone is, I think, a little misguided. The iPhone is a marriage of software and hardware, which means that every developer knows exactly what they are shooting for when they design a piece of software. The G1 doesn’t have multi-touch, but it is mooted for future editions of Android; it has a certain processor and GPU that isn’t standard to all Android phones; the UI and structure of Android will be unrecognisable from model to model as the commercial and independent community get to grips with it and modify it. Developers will find themselves in the same position as WM and Palm developers and cater largely for the lowest common denominator. I can see a future where different Android ‘distros’ are competing with each other as well as the other systems.
Of COurse you guys are going to be Biased Against the G1 and Android, this IS an iPhone Fan site After all.
CHEERS!
- D
HERE! HERE!! D!! THE G1 HASN’T EVEN CAME OUT YET AND IT IS ALREADY BEING CRITICIZED. I HAD THE FIRST MODEL OF THE IPHONE AND I RETURNED IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT OF ALL THE CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND IT COULDN’T EVEN TAKE VIDEO!!! I THOUGHT THAT WAS DUMB. BUT IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU USE IT FOR. I USED IT ALSO FOR TEXTING AND I THOUGHT IT ALSO SUCKED, BUT OTHER PEOPLE CAN MOVE THEIR THUMBS WITH MORE PRECISION THAN I CAN. I ALSO HAVE BULKY THUMBS AND MAYBE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. BUT I THINK WE ALL SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE RELEASE DATE FOR THE G1, BEFORE WE CAN START JUDGING.
-g
Actually guys, we do have an Android-focused site: http://androidcommunity.com/
We’ve got space in our hearts for Apple AND Google ;)
HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RELAX!!!!!
It’s just a phone
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