The usual crowd has had a chance to review the 3G iPhone before anyone else (Baig, Mossberg and Pogue). The reviews heap praise on the 3G iPhone's Web-browsing speeds and improved audio quality, but battery life is a serious issue, with the device going dead before the end of one business day (at least once) for both Baig and Mossberg. In all, they say it is better than the original.

There are three reasons to be excited about the 3G iPhone. Number one, the 3G part of the equation. As long as you're covered by AT&T's 3G network, you get to browse the mobile Web at "three to five times faster" than the EDGE version, according to Mossberg. Pogue notes, though, that AT&T's 3G isn't everywhere. It is in 280 of the nation's largest markets, and will be in another 70 by the end of the year. But wide swathes of the U.S. go without 3G coverage at all.

For me, this is key, because I use the iPhone almost entirely for its mobile browsing capabilities. The problem is, there is no 3G signal from AT&T where I live (even though AT&T's coverage map says there is, and yes, I've tested it all over). Since I spend the majority of my time within about 5 miles from my house, the only times 3G would really matter to me are when I travel to areas where there is 3G coverage. All three imply that if you're not covered by AT&T's 3G signal, then perhaps upgrading -- for this reason alone -- isn't worth it.

They do say that the GPS, reason number two to be excited about the 3G iPhone, works very well. Baig, in particular, said it did a great job of directing him around.

The third reason to get excited about the iPhone is the new firmware and access to the iPhone Apps Store. None of them were able to access the store, but Mossberg said he played with some pre-loaded applications, including AOL's instant messaging program and a game that uses the iPhone's accelerometer. The problem here is, first generation iPhones will have the same access to all the applications and services that the new one does. So if you don't care about GPS and 3G, then, again, perhaps upgrading isn't for you.

To me, the biggest issue discussed in the reviews is battery life. I have to charge my iPhone every other day at a minimum. On business trips where I spend a lot of time emailing and sending text messages during the day, I have to charge each night, and sometimes even perform spot charges during the day if I run low.

Mossberg, in particular, said that his device reached the "less than 20%" warning several times before the end of the business day, and once died on him entirely before the close of a day. As we all know, the iPhone does not have a user-replaceable battery. This means if you're in a 3G-coverage area and use the phone heavily, battery life is not going to be your friend. Mossberg recommends turning off the 3G radio whenever possible, and using Wi-Fi for browsing the Web if you need high-speeds and Wi-Fi is available.

To be fair, other phones that use 3G also suffer from poor battery life. Nokia's N95 will eat through a full charge by the end of one day when it is roaming in 3G network. So the iPhone is not the only device challenged by battery life.

Is this version of the iPhone better than the original? Definitely. But some issues remain that may tip those on the fence about upgrading. Baig complains that the camera has not been upgraded and still doesn't record video, nor does it support MMS. Both Mossberg and Pogue say that AT&T's contract pricing is an issue.

Thanks to these gentlemen for their opinions.