Apple today lifted an embargo on iPhone 3GS reviews, as with most big product launches the usual characters have had a chance to get in an early review.
iPhone 3GS
Below is a summary of impressions about the iPhone 3GS:

Engadget

  • Speed – “If you’re an avid gamer looking for the device with more power, the difference will be crystal clear: the 3G S obviously flexes in this department.”
  • Oleophobic Display – “The most surprising thing about the tech is that it actually does what the company says it will: namely, it resists new smudges and wipes almost entirely clean with a single swipe on a pant leg.”
  • Video – “Video recording on the iPhone 3GS is really quite impressive”
  • Still Camera – “We do have some complaints about exposure, which seems to be permanently cranked to “blinding,” and while the shutter speed is faster than on the 3G, it’s still not quite snappy enough for our taste.”
  • Conclusion – “For current users, we have this to say: the iPhone 3GS is a solid spec bump to a phone you already own”

Gizmodo

  • Speed – “Safari, Email, Camera all load noticeably faster than on the iPhone 3G (both running 3.0 software). Even booting the phone takes about half the time.”
  • Oleophobic Display – “Surprisingly, the coating actually works in preventing a good deal of fingerprints and face grease, and it allows the phone to still be smooth and usable even if there are fingerprints on the surface.”
  • Video – “Even if it’s not quite 30FPS at all times, the video is smooth as hell. Recording still isn’t great in low light since it’s a physical limitation of cameras in general, but at least it’s fluid.”
  • Still Camera – “I wouldn’t say it’s a mindblowing revolutionary step for the iPhone camera, but it’s definitely more than just shoving in more megapixels and leaving it at that.”
  • Conclusion – “as a whole, the iPhone 3GS is the best all-around smartphone available.”

David Pogue – New York Times

  • Speed – “If you’re used to the old iPhone, the speed boost hits you between the eyes, especially when you’re opening programs, playing games and loading Web pages.”
  • Oleophobic Display – “It may sound like an irrational fear of yodelers, but in fact, it’s a coating that lets you wipe away fingerprints with a single rub on your clothes. It really works to keep the iPhone looking new longer”
  • Video – “sharp, smooth, 30 frames a second. Once again, it’s not quite what you’d get from a proper digital camera or a Flip camcorder—it tends to “blow out” the bright areas — but it’s darned close.”
  • Still Camera – “It still tends to blur moving subjects, and even still-lifes aren’t as crisp as from an actual camera. But the color and clarity are definitely improved, especially in low light.”
  • Conclusion – “In short, the substantially improved, still elegant iPhone 3GS makes it dangerously easy for your heart and your head to agree.”

Walt Mossberg – All Things D

  • Speed – “the new model proved dramatically snappier in every way than my iPhone 3G.”
  • Video – “The new video recorder worked well, even in low light, and lets you post videos directly to YouTube”
  • Still Camera – “didn’’t think the pictures it took were dramatically better than those on the old model”
  • Conclusion – “Both the new iPhone and iPhone OS are packed with features that make a great product even better. But, for many users, the software may be enough of a boost to keep them from buying the new model.”

Andy Ihnatko – Sun Times

  • Speed – “Everything feels faster. Safari on the iPhone 3GS seems as interactive as a desktop browser.”
  • Video – “The video quality is impressively smooth and natural given the source, and the sound quality is practically astonishing”
  • Still Camera – “Other phones might have better lenses but the iPhone 3GS might be one of the best cameraphones on the market. For one simple reason: the Camera app’s ‘tap to focus’ feature.”
  • Conclusion – “The new iPhone is more than its individual features. It’s a convincing vote of faith. Even if a current 3G owner decides to wait until his or her contract expires so they can buy the next-generation at a good incentive price, there’s little chance that they’ll switch to anything else in the interim.”
  • Set of photos taken on iPhone 3GS.