Apple iPhone 5C (8GB) vs Apple iPhone 3GS (16GB)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPhone 5C vs Apple iPhone 3GS phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
4"
IPS
IPS
640x1136
8
MP
MP
1.2mp
1GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
1510
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
3.5"
TFT
TFT
320x480
3.1
MP
MP
256MB
RAM
RAM
Single-core
1219
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Apple iPhone 5C (8GB)
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!
28 Advantages 
2 Advantages | 17 Common items in both devices |
| Plastic body, glass front |
| 60Hz |
| 16 million |
| Autofocus |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| +10 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 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| Model | iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) |
| Other model names | Apple iPhone 5C A1507, iPhone A1456, A1529, A1532 | Apple iPhone 3GS |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | (Global, International) |
| Brand | Apple | Apple |
| Release date | 9/20/2013, Announced: 9/10/2013 | 6/19/2009, Announced: 4/13/2012 |
| Depth | 9 millimeters (0.35 inches) | 12.3 millimeters (0.48 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 59.2 x 124.4 millimeters (2.33 x 4.9 in) | 62.1 x 115.5 millimeters (2.44 x 4.55 in) |
| Weight | 132 grams (4.62 ounces) | 135 grams (4.73 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Plastic body, glass front | Plastic body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD | TFT LCD |
| Screen size | 4" inches | 3.5" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~59.9% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~50.9% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 640x1136 pixels (16:9) | 320x480 pixels (3:2) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 326 PPI | 165 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Not supported | Gorilla Glass |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | Not supported | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| System version | iOS 7.0 | iOS 3.0 |
| Firmware update | iOS 10 | iOS 6.0 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: Apple A6 (32nm) | 32bit: Samsung S5PC100 |
| CPU | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1.3GHz Swift (Dual-core) | Single-core, 1 processor: 1x 600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 (Single-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | PowerVR SGX543 (3-core, 266MHz) | PowerVR SGX535 |
| Performance (benchmark) | Basemark X: 2225 | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| RAM memory | 1GB LPDDR3 | 256MB SDRAM |
| Internal storage | 8GB (5GB available) eMMC 4.5 | 16GB (14GB available) Flash (EEPROM) |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) micro-SIM (3FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 100/50 Mbps | 7.2 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | 2G, 3G |
| 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 | CDMA 800/1700/1900/2100, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | A1532 GSM/A1532 CDMA/A1456 model: UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 A1507/A1529 model: UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 A1533 CDMA/A1453 model: CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | UMTS 850/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat3 A1532 GSM/A1532 CDMA model: LTE 700/800/850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100 (Bands 1,2,3,4,5,8,13,17,19,20,25) A1456 model: LTE 700/800/850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100 (Bands 1,2,3,4,5,8,13,17,18,19,20,25,26) A1507 model: LTE 800/850/900/1800/1900/2100/2600 (Bands 1,2,3,5,7,8,20) A1529 model LTE 800/850/900/1800/1900/2100/2600 (Bands 1,2,3,5,7,8,20) TD-LTE 1900/2300/2600 (38,39,40) | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE | CSD, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA |
| 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 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 8 megapixels | 3.1 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 2048x1536 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps | VGA (640x480) 30 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/2.4 (aperture) | feature not registered |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/3.2" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.4µm pixel | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization | Not supported |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Not supported |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Not supported |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Not supported |
| HDR | HDR photo only main camera | Not supported |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 1.2 megapixels | Not supported |
| Front camera resolution | 1280x960 pixels | Not supported |
| Video recording (secondary) | HD (1280x720) | Not supported |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| 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 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Mono sound (not stereo) |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones | 1 microphone |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MPEG4, H.264, MOV | MPEG4, MOV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, AAC, eAAC, M4A | MP3 |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| USB | USB 2.0 proprietary connector | USB 2.0 proprietary connector |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | Proprietary TV-out | Proprietary TV-out |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 + A2DP | 2.1 + A2DP |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) | 802.11 b/g [wifi3] (2.4GHz) |
| DLNA | Not supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS | A-GPS, GeoTagging |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Compass Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| Battery type | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) 616-0435 |
| Battery capacity | 1510 mAh | 1219 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 5W Wired charging | 5W (5V/1A) Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Not supported | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 10 hours | 11.7 hours |
| Standby | 250 hours (10.4 days) | 300 hours (12.5 days) |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS, MMS, E-mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Not supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized with tutorial |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: White, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink • Oleophobic coating • Simultaneous HD video and image recording • FaceTime • Siri natural language • AirDrop file sharing • iCloud cloud service • WiFi hotspot | • Colors: Black, White • Audio/video player • Image editor iCloud service • Google Maps |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| iPhone 5C (8GB) | iPhone 3GS (16GB) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | 1.15W/kg (head), 1.17W/kg (body) | 0.26W/kg (head), 0.79W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | 1W/kg (head), 0.96W/kg (body) | 0.45W/kg (head), 0.4W/kg (body) |