Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) vs Apple iPhone 3GS (8GB)
Side by side comparison between Motorola Photon 4G vs Apple iPhone 3GS phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
4.3"
TFT
TFT
540x960
8
MP
MP
0.3mp
1GB
RAM
RAM
Dual-core
1700
mAh
mAh
(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? Motorola Photon 4G (MB855)
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!
24 Advantages 
1 Advantage | 17 Common items in both devices |
| TFT LCD |
| 16 million |
| Autofocus |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| Compass |
| +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 | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| Change model | ||
| Model | Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) |
| Other model names | Sprint Motorola Photon 4G | Apple iPhone 3GS |
| Country or region available |  USA |  (Global, International) |
| Brand | Motorola | Apple |
| Release date | 8/1/2011 | 6/19/2009, Announced: 4/13/2012 |
| Depth | 12.2 millimeters (0.48 inches) | 12.3 millimeters (0.48 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 66.9 x 126.9 millimeters (2.63 x 5 in) | 62.1 x 115.5 millimeters (2.44 x 4.55 in) |
| Weight | 158 grams (5.53 ounces) | 135 grams (4.73 ounces) |
| Build, materials | feature not registered | Plastic body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| Display type | TFT LCD | TFT LCD |
| Screen size | 4.3" inches | 3.5" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~60% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~50.9% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 540x960 pixels | 320x480 pixels (3:2) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch 5-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 256 PPI | 165 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass | Gorilla Glass |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | 60Hz |
| Display features | feature not registered | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| System version | Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread | iOS 3.0 |
| Firmware update | Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread | iOS 6.0 |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: NVIDIA Tegra 2 250 AP20H | 32bit: Samsung S5PC100 |
| CPU | Dual-core, 1 processor: 2x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 (Dual-core) | Single-core, 1 processor: 1x 600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 (Single-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | NVIDIA GeForce | PowerVR SGX535 |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| RAM memory | 1GB LPDDR2 | 256MB SDRAM |
| Internal storage | 16GB (13GB available) | 8GB (5GB available) Flash (EEPROM) |
| External storage | Until 32GB microSD, microSDHC (dedicated slot) | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) Standard mini-SIM (2FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) micro-SIM (3FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 10.2/5.76 Mbps | 7.2 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G | 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 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, UMTS 850/1900/2100 | UMTS 850/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA | 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 | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 8 megapixels | 3.1 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 2048x1536 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | HD (1280x720) 30 fps | VGA (640x480) 30 fps |
| Flash | Dual-LED flash | 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 |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | feature not registered | Supported |
| Image stabilization | feature not registered | Not supported |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Not supported |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection | Not supported |
| BSI sensor | Not supported | Not supported |
| HDR | Not supported | Not supported |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 0.3 megapixels | Not supported |
| Front camera resolution | 640x480 pixels | Not supported |
| Video recording (secondary) | Not supported | 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 | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Mono sound (not stereo) |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 1 microphone |
| Radio | FM (RDS) | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.264, H.263, WMV | MPEG4, MOV |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC+ | MP3 |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| USB | MicroUSB 2.0 | USB 2.0 proprietary connector |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | Mini HDMI Type C | Proprietary TV-out |
| Bluetooth | 2.1 + A2DP | 2.1 + A2DP |
| WiFi | 802.11 b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz) | 802.11 b/g [wifi3] (2.4GHz) |
| DLNA | Supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging | A-GPS, GeoTagging |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Compass Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Removable) HF5X | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) 616-0435 |
| Battery capacity | 1700 mAh | 1219 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | 5W (5V/1A) Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | feature not registered | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 9.1 hours | 11.7 hours |
| Standby | 314 hours (13.1 days) | 300 hours (12.5 days) |
➕ Other features | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (Swype), 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, Flash player | HTML, XHTML |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Black • HDMI 1.3 connector • Dual-mode CDMA/GSM phone • Motorola MOTOBLUR UI • Docking connector • 3G/4G WiFi hotspot up to 8 devices Java framework | • Colors: Black, White • Audio/video player • Image editor iCloud service • Google Maps |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) | iPhone 3GS (8GB) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | 0.93W/kg (head), 0.91W/kg (body) | 0.26W/kg (head), 0.79W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.45W/kg (head), 0.4W/kg (body) |