Black iPhone 3G vs. white iPhone 3G... fight!

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 13th 2008 at 12:57PM

For many people we encountered in line on launch day, the decision had already been steadfastly made: they'd be picking up a black iPhone 3G, and no one would sway them from their path (except maybe -- maybe -- if the black was sold out by the time their number got called). We've got to say, though -- after spending a great deal of quality time with both colors, the white definitely holds a special place in our hearts. It doesn't show smudges as easily, it makes just a little bit bolder of a fashion statement, and it tells passers-by, "yo, I sprung for the 16GB model" since the 8GB is only available in black. Don't get us wrong, the black's just fine, but we figured we'd throw out some food for thought on the subject.

Gallery: Black iPhone 3G vs. white iPhone 3G... fight!

Filed under: Handsets, Apple

Tags: 3g iphone, 3gIphone, black, features, fight, iphone, iphone 3g, Iphone3g, white

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

El Frijol for realz @ Jul 13th 2008 1:19PM

I say the white iPhone wins.
You guys gonna have a giveaway??? For iPhone

Neutral

Inugami @ Jul 13th 2008 1:22PM

I don't think they can this time because of the contract being on the spot.

Highest Ranked

El Frijol for realz @ Jul 13th 2008 1:28PM

BoyGenius is giving one out contract free, non activated

Neutral

Inugami @ Jul 13th 2008 1:37PM

Oh cool! I'll go register right away and enter XD

Highly Ranked

boss-hogg @ Jul 13th 2008 10:27PM

is this really a post? or is this a joke?

Neutral

Inugami @ Jul 13th 2008 1:21PM

Hey engadget how about you supply me with one of your extra IPhone hm? Poor old me can't afford one.

Neutral

El Frijol for realz @ Jul 13th 2008 1:29PM

Check BoyGeniusReport.com

Highly Ranked

derX @ Jul 13th 2008 2:11PM

Don't worry, Inugami, you're not alone.

I'd even take a first generation one now that they have an apps store. Hopefully someone has tinkered with that keyboard because the regular portrait one is just too small for me. Although, most people say it just takes some getting used to.

Neutral

luke @ Jul 13th 2008 1:34PM

oh come on, it's a piece of colored plastic, was this really worth a complete post?

Neutral

Chris Ziegler @ Jul 13th 2008 1:35PM

'Fraid so. Where else are you going to see them side by side from every angle? We like to think this was helpful for at least a handful of people trying to make a blind decision about which color to buy.

Neutral

JPM @ Jul 13th 2008 2:22PM

Totally. Thanks for the pictures :)

Neutral

nosidam @ Jul 13th 2008 1:35PM

I got the white because everything else is black and it looks quite nice. I like being a little different.

Neutral

minh @ Jul 13th 2008 2:48PM

I got the white because I knew everyone would get the black. That was the same for the ipod and macbook. But white also looks better IMO. I just wish apple painted the bezel the same color...

Neutral

Goodman @ Jul 13th 2008 1:45PM

I got the white one too. Very sharp. Of course, it's in a protective skin anyway, so it doesn't really matter...

Highly Ranked

aj @ Jul 13th 2008 1:46PM

I am going to spring for white. I am still rolling the N95 8GB, so until August Ill keep that. White is more bold, more interesting, and more a impact then black. Its vintage Apple. And I like it. Plus, with it being plastic, I won't be worrying about those damn scratches that black gets.

Highest Ranked

derX @ Jul 13th 2008 2:08PM

Really, overall, I think the main reason why people get white it just to be different. With all other Apple products, the black one is normally the exclusive one and has a higher price, usually $100. They now make the default color black and release a white one as an option for the more expensive one, and suddenly white has regained it's appeal.

I find that interesting.

I wonder when they finally release a 32gb iPhone and drop the 8gb one, will they add another color...like dark black or light white? Give people choice and they're completely satisfied, regardless of their options.

Neutral

tnkgrl @ Jul 13th 2008 2:24PM

I did a double unboxing, black & white iPhone 3G: http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/unboxing-the-apple-iphone-3g/

Neutral

pixel @ Jul 13th 2008 4:44PM

is white one made from plain white plastic, or is it covered with transparent bevel, like ipod 4G ?

Neutral

Michael @ Jul 13th 2008 5:56PM

Thanks a lot for this gallery. I've been looking for some nice shots comparing the two and think I've decided on the white.

Neutral

Erik @ Jul 13th 2008 6:40PM

Luke ftw.
This, more than the keyboard, more than wanting to avoid all of the iRestrictions in both the OS and the plan options, is why I got a Tilt back when the iPhone came out. I don’t want to be a part of a group that revels so shamelessly in what it believe is sanctimony, but is really just garden-variety herd mentality.

Neutral

Tony2X @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:45AM

So true Erik, I did the same thing when the first gen one came out. I got myself a Blackjack and I preferred it to my friend's iPhone. I did go for the 3G one though this time around because it added the two dealbreakers, 3G & Exchange support.

Sure the battery life is crappy on the 3G (I bet your Tilt is), and the Exchange support is lacking a lot of features (which they'll fix in software i'm sure) and I'm happy to be a sheep this time around.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

PS. I got the white one, looks great.

Neutral

Angelo @ Jul 13th 2008 8:15PM

I definitely had my mind made up on the white. I saw one of the early pics of the black one and noticed the fingerprints all over the place on the back. They just don't show up as easily on the white. Luckily everyone else in line sprung for the black because the black 16gigs had sold out by the time they got to me. And I got the third to last white 16 gig.

Lowest Ranked

Jesus @ Jul 13th 2008 11:12PM

Who gives a rats ass? I died for your sins and all you fools act like idiots over a phone? Burn in hell you iSheep..

Neutral

rtfmid10t @ Jul 15th 2008 11:00AM

You said it man, nobody f's with da Jesus!

--the dude abides.

Highest Ranked

The Answer is 42 @ Jul 13th 2008 11:26PM

The white one reminds me of the eMac....
And my pale pale flesh.

Highest Ranked

Saif @ Jul 14th 2008 12:16AM

I chose the black. If the white iPhone had a white front face as well as back cover, I would have gone with it. However, it doesn't. I went with the black iPhone because it looks more unified and sleek to me, being entirely black except for the bezel and buttons. If the bezel was also black, that would have been even better, in my opinion.

Highly Ranked

Alan @ Jul 15th 2008 12:07AM

My choice/thoughts exactly. No funky looking zebra-phone for me. The white looks like a colorware job to me. If it were all white, I would've gone with white hands down. I understand why they kept the all-black front, though.

Neutral

YouKnowMe1 @ Jul 14th 2008 2:11AM

I got the white because there were no more black.But I actually like it.It's different and not my norm as far as color choice.But it does the same exact thing as the black 3G iPhone

Neutral

PEZ @ Jul 14th 2008 7:24AM

The black one i thinner. Its the slimming qualities of the blackness.

Neutral

lolwecsan @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:45AM

the 16gb is slightly thicker than the 8gb and the pictures are of an 8gb black, and a 16gb white iphone.

Neutral

alb.rod @ Jul 14th 2008 10:50AM

I chose the white one. It looks sick on the new dock.. I know great reason to pick white eh?

Neutral

Vik @ Jul 14th 2008 11:29AM

Unlike most people who got the white -- I actually picked the white over the black (was 12th in line) ... went back and forth and decided the black just got too dirty -- looks nice when clean but touch it and what a mess -- In fact I went back to the att store Sunday to look at the black again and still decided to stick with the white ... it really does look nice in person -- ps PEZ --the black one is not thinner (it may look like it is but they are exacatly the same thickness)

Neutral

jrk @ Jul 14th 2008 1:04PM

the white one looks a good bit thicker... black is definitely more slimming. mm hmm mm hmm. nothing wrong with white, it's just.. you look at the two side by side, and the white one just looks a lot thicker than the black one.

Highest Ranked

J.P @ Jul 19th 2008 11:10AM

What is wrong with being thick mmm hmm (lol that made me laugh so hard), what is this obsession with being thin. Real iphones got curves.

Neutral

GodMode @ Jul 15th 2008 11:02AM

that's why women like wearing black- it also makes them look thinner.

Just the fact that white doesn't show fingerprints was good enough for my decision. However I must say that it has been showing some lint picked from my pocket.

Neutral

Billin @ Jul 15th 2008 6:20PM

Well, you know what they say-

Once you go black...

Highest Ranked

James Mack @ Jul 15th 2008 9:48PM

What? Get eaten by a rat? Have a heart attack? Eat too much fat? Strangle a cat? I'm so confused...

Neutral

annie @ Jul 18th 2008 2:13AM

That was a jerkish and ignorant thing to say....

Neutral

Rich Bar @ Jul 18th 2008 10:34PM

thats one informative post you gave there....great job.

Highest Ranked

J.P @ Jul 19th 2008 4:59AM

We'll I went for the White for the following reasons.
1. Fingerprints not too apparent.
2. Scratches not too apparent.
3. White shows you got the most expensive one
4. Headphones, Dock, and rest of the accessories are White
5. White reflects light its doesn't absorb it, so I wouldn't feel my ear so hot in the sunlight while talking on the phone....(LOL that's so stupid but I felt like saying it)
7. White isn't discriminated as much. (because of the scratches)
8. White is sexy and matches with my White macbook. MMMM sexy.