Apple iPhone 3G (16GB) vs Apple iPhone 17 (256GB)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPhone 3G vs Apple iPhone 17 phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
3.5"
TFT
TFT
320x480
2
MP
MP
128MB
RAM
RAM
Single-core
1150
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.3"
OLED
OLED
1206x2622
48
MP
MP
18mp
8GB
RAM
RAM
Hexa-core
3692
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Apple iPhone 17 (256GB)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
2 Advantages 
44 Advantages | 10 Common items in both devices |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| Proximity sensor |
| Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Hands-free calling |
| Vibrating alert |
| +3 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| Model | iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) |
| Other model names | iPhone 3G, iPhone 2 | iPhone 17 (A3258, A3519, A3520, A3521) |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Apple | Apple |
| Release date | 7/1/2008 | 9/19/2025, Announced: 9/9/2025 |
| Depth | 12.3 millimeters (0.48 inches) | 7.95 millimeters (0.31 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 62.1 x 115.5 millimeters (2.44 x 4.55 in) | 71.5 x 149.6 millimeters (2.81 x 5.89 in) |
| Weight | 133 grams (4.66 ounces) | 177 grams (6.2 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Plastic body, glass front | Aluminum frame, glass front/back |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant |
📲 Display | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LCD | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Screen size | 3.5" inches | 6.3" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~50.9% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~90.9% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 320x480 pixels (3:2) | 1206x2622 pixels (19.5:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 2-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 165 PPI | 458 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 1 billion |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass | Ceramic Shield 2 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Display features | Not supported | 1000nits[typ], 3000nits[peak] HDR10 Always-On Display Oleophobic coating screen True-tone Wide color gamut |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| System version | iOS 2.0 | iOS 26 |
| Firmware update | iOS 4.0 | feature not registered |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: Samsung S5L8900 | 64bit: Apple A19 (3nm) |
| CPU | Single-core, 1 processor: 1x 412MHz ARM1176JZF-S (Single-core) | Hexa-core, 2 processors: 2x 4.26GHz P-Core (Dual-core) 4x 2.1GHz E-Core (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | PowerVR MBX Lite | A19 Pro GPU (5-core) |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | AnTuTu: 1829854 (v10) Geekbench: 8910 (v6.5) |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| RAM memory | 128MB SDRAM | 8GB LPDDR5X |
| Internal storage | 16GB (14GB available) Flash (EEPROM) | 256GB (230GB available) NVMe (SSD) |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) Standard mini-SIM (2FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) + e-SIM |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 3.6 Mbps | 5000/1024 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | UMTS 850/1900/2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | Not supported | LTE Cat20 VoLTE A3520 (International): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 53, 66) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) A3258 e-SIM only (USA): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 53, 66, 71) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) A3519 (Canada, Mexico, EMEA): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 53, 66, 71) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) A3521 No e-SIM (China): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 66) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | A3520 (International): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 77, 78, 79) A3258 e-SIM only (USA): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79) mmWave (258, 260, 261) A3519 (Canada, Mexico, EMEA): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79) A3521 No e-SIM (China): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 75, 77, 78, 79) |
| Primary data network | CSD, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6, mmWave |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 2 megapixels | (dual camera) 48 megapixels 48MP ultrawide f/2.213mm120°1/2.55"0.7µmPDAF |
| Main camera resolution | 1600x1200 pixels | 8000x6000 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | Not supported | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps |
| Flash | Not supported | Dual-LED flash |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | f/1.6 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | 26mm (lens) |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | 1/1.56" inches |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | 1µm pixel |
| Autofocus | Not supported | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras |
| Touch focus | Not supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | Not supported | OIS: Optical stabilization on both cameras |
| Zoom | Not supported | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Not supported | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Not supported | Supported |
| HDR | Not supported | HDR photo/video on both cameras |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | 4K@24/25/30/60fps 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps Dolby Vision (60fps) |
📸 Front camera | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | Not supported | (dual front camera) 18 megapixels 0.3MP SL 3D |
| Front camera resolution | Not supported | 5184x3456 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | Not supported | 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | f/1.9 (aperture) |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Mono sound (not stereo) | Stereo sound Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio 3D |
| Active noise cancellation | 1 microphone | 3 microphones |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | feature not registered | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV |
| Audio formats | MP3, iTunes | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| USB | USB 2.0 proprietary connector | USB 2.0 Type-C reversible connector |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | Type-C reversible connector |
| TV output | Proprietary TV-out | USB Type-C (reversible) |
| Bluetooth | 2.0 + A2DP | 6.0 + A2DP/LE |
| WiFi | 802.11 b/g [wifi3] (2.4GHz) | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be [wifi7/6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) + MIMO WiFi hotspot |
| DLNA | Not supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC |
| NFC | Not supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock 3D Gyroscope Proximity sensor UWB (Ultra Wideband) |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 1150 mAh | 3692 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 5W (5V/1A) Wired charging | 30W Wired fast charging 4.5W Reverse charging by cable USB Power Delivery 2.0 |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Not supported | 25W Qi2 wireless charging |
| Talk time autonomy | 10 hours | feature not registered |
| Standby | 300 hours (12.5 days) | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| Call control | Voice recorder | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS, MMS, E-mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Not supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Black, White | • Colors: Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage, Lavender • Apple Intelligence • Apple Pay • Face ID • MagSafe |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| iPhone 3G (16GB) | iPhone 17 (256GB) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | 0.52W/kg (head), 1.29W/kg (body) | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | 0.56W/kg (head), 0.23W/kg (body) | feature not registered |