The Beeb weigh in with an iPhone review timed for the UK launch of Apple's hyped handset. As reviews go it's a fairly light-weight affair, but it does focus on the good points and bad points of the phone without getting bogged down in too much detail, unlike some other reviews we've seen (I'm looking at you, ars technica).
First disappointment - it's a 2G not a 3G device, a serious compromise in our opinion, since the iPhone is selling itself heavily on its web capability. What use is Safari over 2G? Limited, we say. The problem is balanced by good wifi support, so as long as you're in a major connurbation and have access to wifi you should be fine.
Other cons according to the BBC's iPhone review include the lack of IM and VOIP support, lack of wireless sync, and the measly 2 megapixel camera.
But then they get onto the upside, and as ever it's the iPhone's interface and wow factor that win the reviewer over. He had the iPhone for 2 weeks prior to launch, and found it a real draw when used in public - the first time people see an iPhone being used can result in a near religious experience - or so the marketing men tell us.
They conclude by looking to the future - this iPhone may not be perfect, but future generations of the phone are guaranteed to improve and will force the competition in the market to raise their game too - good news for everyone, whether they intend to buy and iPhone or not.
Read the full BBC Apple iPhone Review
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iPhone Review @ BBC
UK iPhone review at PC Advisor
With the UK getting the iPhone some 6 moths after the US there's been a degree of hysteria about its launch in the sceptred isle.
PC Advisor were quick getting a UK iPhone review to their site, and at 9 pages it's as comprehensive as any. If you're in the UK you'll know that O2 currently have the exclusive rights to the iPhone, but there are methods of unlocking your iPhone and more options emerging.
The review waxes lyrical about the device's media player - which when you consider it's effectively a late generation iPod with a touch interface isn't surprising - but like many other reviews isn't overly enthusiastic about the iPhone's abilities as a phone. The camera is described as "decent", and they dedicate a whole page to over 50 of the Apple iPhone's biggest flaws. Some of these are ridiculous and clearly list padders (the lack of TV-out is hardly a serious flaw), others will be fixed with software updates, and only some are serious enough to feature in a buying decision.
Ultimately though they fall for the iPhone, concluding:
The future of mobile devices is here and it's called an Apple iPhone.
Read the full PC Advisor Apple iPhone Review
iPhone review at Engadget
One of the first reviews of the iPhone to be posted was over at engadget. While their iPhone review doesn't show they were bowled over by the phone, they did heap some praise on it:
It's easy to see the device is extraordinarily simple to use for such a full-featured phone and media player.Part one of the review looks at the iPhone's hardware, interface, and keyboard. As you'd expect they are effusive with praise about the styling and production quality of the phone - hold one and you'll know what they're talking about. The 480x320 display was "the most attractive we've seen on a portable device of this size".
The interface gets a good going over, with some irritating quirks emerging, but enough innovation to win the reviewer over. As with any iPhone review there's plenty of subjectivity involved.
The iPhone's call and mail applications are examined in detail, in general good but again not without their faults. No doubt many of the problems will be removed in the iPhone version 2.
Safari fares a little worse in this iPhone review, with hit-and-miss rendering, particularly where Ajax is concerned.
The highlight for engadget was clearly the iPod functionality, which "has never been easier on an iPod, or more more seamlessly integrated into a phone".
The engadget iPhone review concludes:
It's totally clear that with the iPhone, Apple raised the bar not only for the cellphone, but for portable media players and multifunction convergence devices in general.
Read the full Engadget iPhone review
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