Apple iPhone 3G S Video Review

iPhone 3G S versus Flip UltraHD
• The UltraHD records high definition and, so, has much better sharpness • The iPhone can nearly compete in other areas of video performance • Both are incredibly simple to use • Both can upload to YouTube, but the iPhone can do it over WiFi, while the Flip requires the use of a computer as an intermediary • Only the Flip has a tripod mount; the iPhone does not.
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Flip camcorders are extremely popular right now and you can bet Apple is hoping to sink its teeth into part of that market with the iPhone 3G S. Of course, while the iPhone is primarily a phone, the Flip UltraHD is just a camcorder, so the two devices aren't exactly competitors. Comparing the performance of both models, however, suggest that the two are very similar products when it comes to video. The Flip UltraHD has a huge advantage in video sharpness, although that's entirely because it can record 1280 x 720 HD video, while the iPhone is stuck in the world of standard definition. What we did garner from our testing, however, is that the iPhone 3G S is a very strong video recorder compared to the Flip series of camcorders. Its sleek design and the ease of which videos can be uploaded to YouTube makes it the first device to truly rival the Flip's simplicity. Will people start abandoning Flip camcorders in favor of the iPhone? Probably not right away, but it is safe to assume that any iPhone 3G S owner would have no use for a Flip camcorder—unless you truly desire HD video capability or prefer to mount your camcorder to a tripod. 

	Comparison Specs
	iPhone 3G S	Flip UltraHD
Price	$299.99	$199.99
Primary Recording Media	32GB internal memory	8 GB internal memory
Secondary Recording Media	None	None
Image Sensor	Unknown	1/4.5-inch CMOS
Mic Input	None	None
LCD	3.5-inch	2.0-inch
Viewfinder	None	None
Weight	135g (4.8 oz.)	170.1g (6.0 oz.)
Dimensions	62.1 x 115.5 x 12.3mm (2.4 x 4.5 x 0.48 inches)	56 x 108 x 30mm (2.19 x 4.25 x 1.17 inches)
HD	No	Yes
Frame Rates	480/30p	720/30p
Compression	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Maximum Bitrate	Unknown	9 Mbps
Optical Zoom	None	None
Stabilization	None	None
Battery	Internal Battery (ships w/ USB charger and wall adapter)	AA (ships w/ battery pack, rechargeable via USB arm)

Low Light Comparison
iPhone 3G S	Flip UltraHD

Video Sharpness Score Comparisons