Just how fast is the iPhone 3G?

Morfik · 5 Aug 2008 at 23:49

I'm curious, is the iPhone really a 3.6 Mbps HSDPA device? The thing is, Apple claims it is but based on the YouTube videos, reviews and speed tests I've never seen anything above ~380 Kbps which seems much closer to normal 3G than HSDPA.

I know quoted HSDPA speeds are in ideal circumstances and real world performance will always be reduced but this is still a huge drop. I remember reading on these forums of people tethering N95s on T-Mobile Web 'n Walk and getting 1Mbps connections, a far cry from what 3G iPhone users get.

I'm still using a 1st Gen iPhone and my only comparison is Three Mobile Broadband which of course is slightly different as my laptop has way more processing power. But still, websites and in particular images still load considerably quicker than the iPhone 3G even when not on a HSDPA connection.

So has anyone managed to connect their iPhone any faster than basic 3G speeds? If not, is this because o2 don't have a decent HSDPA network yet or is it because the iPhone is limited to lower connection speeds?

JonB · 6 Aug 2008 at 10:47

I would go with O2's network being shocking and only just having standard 3G speeds available.

I'm suppost to have HDSPA in the area I live, my map is completely pink. I've never even got close to HDSPA speeds. I barely even get 3G to be honest.

mdjmcnally · 6 Aug 2008 at 11:11

I can get a 3G signal in my home in Didcot and the speedtest utility from the appstore showed a 92Kbs download. Didn't complete an upload speed test.

Just tested from office in Reading and got 25Kbs Download and 131Kbs Upload. Looks quite wrong to me that upload is faster then download.

Morfik · 13 Aug 2008 at 14:38

It seems The Register is reporting that the 3G iPhone might not meet the true 3G Specifications which is why it's a lot slower than most other HSDPA devices:

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/13/iphone_not_very_3g/

Kainz · 13 Aug 2008 at 15:52

I doubt we will ever reach proper 3G speeds in the UK, whatever they are. O2's 3G stuffs around Middlesex and inner London is dead slow from my personal experience. Sod HDPSPSA, we can't even manage 3G yet!

Nikumba · 13 Aug 2008 at 18:34

Was in Peterborough with my 3g iPhone and I was getting web pages etc quicker than my Vario 3 on HSDPA

Kimbie

Teley · 15 Aug 2008 at 00:00

On the bright side most of the US gets very little coverage at all currently compared to the UK