Time: iPhone ‘No Better Than Most’ Cell Phones

By

post-3027-image-0922d11ab8bbf84a7b2f906620d30db6-jpg

Time Magazine has dropped the iPhone to third place in its annual poll of the top 10 gadgets. Is the luster wearing thin on Apple’s flagship product.

While crediting the iPhone for launching an “era of mobile computing,” when it comes down to performance the handset “doesn’t handle email as well as the cheapest BlackBerry, and as a telephone, it’s no better than most cell phones,” the magazine said.

“As a phone, the iPhone was never better than other handsets, and still isn’t today,” Avi Greengart, Current Analysis’ handset analyst, told Cult of Mac. The iPhone’s reception, microphone and speaker aren’t what makes the device special, Greengart said.

Apple is striving to change how people view the iPhone 3G compared to the first handset. Cupertino is encouraging journalists to describe the iPhone as a mobile computing platform, not as a phone.

In 2007, the first generation iPhone wowed Time’s reviewer, who wrote the Apple handset “changed the way we think about how mobile media devices should look, feel and perform.”

Although the iPhone dropped out of first place, the No. 1 spot in Time’s poll was given to an Apple-related product, the Optoma Pico PK-101 projector – an iPhone and iPod add-on. Second place was won by the first consumer laser TV set, the 65-inch Mitsubishi LaserVue TV.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.

34 responses to “Time: iPhone ‘No Better Than Most’ Cell Phones”

  1. Stuart Gibson says:

    In other news, the Ferrari 599 doesn’t handle luggage as well as a pickup and is no better than other cars at having four wheels.

  2. AAPLWatch says:

    Josh Quittner of Time Magazine: Yes, I’m going to bitch about the iPhone, because its cool to go against the tide. But I’m also going to put it (and no other smartphone) on the Top Ten list, because, well, I need the site hits. Please click.

  3. firesign says:

    i know that when i am looking for articles and ratings for tech products, time magazine is the first place i turn. please.

  4. the truth says:

    thats really funny because i was just thinking that Time is no better than most magazines.

  5. iphonerulez says:

    It can receive and send telephone calls, so it really isn’t unique in that respect. Time Mag didn’t get fooled at all. Still, an awful lot of iPhones are being sold for some other reasons, I suppose. It’s usefulness as a phone and an educational/gaming device should count for something.

  6. BMWTwisty says:

    Damn, guess I better sell my AAPL stock. I’m heartbroken…

  7. Sebhelyesfarku says:

    The iPhone is for dumbass Mactards and even dumber fashion lemmings.

  8. Ed Sutherland says:

    Apple doesn’t want the iPhone seen as a handset, but a “mobile computing platform.” Most iPhone owners aren’t purchasing the handset just to make and receive phone calls. Judging the iPhone against the BlackBerry then becomes akin to comparing apples and oranges – a situation Cupertino desires.

  9. Savage says:

    Sad. So no iPhone for you Sebhelyesfarku pctard?

  10. Mark says:

    “mobile computing platform” should = allow cut and paste….

  11. Sebhelyesfarku says:

    Sorry, I meant to say I’m a moron.

  12. AdamC says:

    Wow, since when is Time Magazine the arbiter of greatness, I find them siding up to tin pot dictators to get a few points, had stop reading them long ago. opinion pieces are a dime a dozen ask the tech analysts.

  13. Paul says:

    Cult of Mac no better than most when it comes to using misleading headlines to attract readers to pointless articles.

  14. david owens says:

    I had a blackberry once. It is now resting comfortably in a landfill. I once read Time. They, too, are in a landfill.

  15. Ryan says:

    I got the copy and past java hack running perfectly on my 3G iPhone. I’m sure Apple will include it in a future update, but I couldn’t wait and I love figuring that sort of stuff out. There’s also webcam and videocam software available for the iPhone. And as for the Mac mail program, it works great. What’s to complain about? I’m curious……

    What other handsets made the list? 3rd place is still an amazing position for the iPhone to hold.

    Good work Apple! Keep blowing our minds please!!

  16. Chewie says:

    The iPhone is a good hand-held games console but a totally lacking phone.

  17. Asd says:

    The iPhone is for dumbass Mactards and even dumber fashion lemmings.