Existing users, 
Sluggish iPhone 3G interface, text input reported
Posted 17 July 2008 @ 10am in Troubleshooting
Several users are reporting inordinately sluggish system performance from the iPhone 3G, particularly with regard to scrolling, text input, and return to the home screen. The issue appears to be endemic to iPhone OS 2.0, as users of first-generation phones who have updated to the new software are also experiencing lag.
A sampling of reports from this Apple Discussions thread:
- “I did a [...] side by side test and yes the new operating system on the iPhone 3G is much slower for every application…typing is a pain because of the obvious response delay”
- “Both my wife and I are having the same problem. We both have 1st Gen iPhones which have been upgraded with the v2.0 software release.”
- “Same problems here. Sometimes the typing goes quick, but most of the times right after startup of the phone. Afterwards it goes slow.”
A series of YouTube videos, embedded below, demonstrate the issues:
Slow SMS text input:
Slowness in various interface elements:
In many cases, the lag can be eliminated by resetting the iPhone: Turn the iPhone off completely, by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button (on top of the device) for a few seconds then slide the red slider. Turn it back on by holding the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
Unfortunately, poor performance generally returns after a period of normal operation post-reset.
Feedback? info@iphoneatlas.com.
Print This Post
10 Comments
Posted by iPhone Fanatic
17 July 2008 @ 10am
I have a 1st generation iphone and when I upgraded to version 2.0, I experienced the same exact problem, but eventually it started working normally again!?!?
Posted by templetonrl
17 July 2008 @ 10am
I want to go back to v1. Apple says it cant be done. Anybody got any ideas on how to do it?
Posted by aetnde
17 July 2008 @ 12pm
I feel the most pain when I use Contacts. After the app opens I must wait between 3 and 10 seconds before I can scroll through my list. Really a bad selling point as I attempt to show off the new firmware and I end up sitting there like I am holding a Windows device. Help us Apple this hurts bad!
Posted by EarlyAdopter
17 July 2008 @ 12pm
Text input now shows each character for a moment, before it turns into a dot in a password. Just in case the nerd looking over your shoulder is a slow writer. I hope the earlier responsiveness is returned in v2.0.1/2.1 …
That wakeup delay in Contacts is really annoying.
Posted by mderosa22
17 July 2008 @ 1pm
wow that is strange…..I have had no problems with my 3G iPhone….so far so good, my only prob if with the Contacts as “aetnde” was saying it opens starts at the top then freezes for a few seconds until it jumps to the last contact i viewed….very annoying! please fix this Apple, i have faith you will
Posted by A. Nony Mouse
17 July 2008 @ 5pm
This is the 2.0 update not the hardware. Don’t worry- you all have state of the art equipment.. Apple will be addressing this problem.
Posted by flyingmeerkat
17 July 2008 @ 10pm
I tried to return my 3G iPhone because of this issue but there were no replacements available. I went home and downloaded the new built for the iPhone by doing a restore. The new built seems to have taken care of the sluggish contacts list and typing. I also had the camera upside down at first and a few other issues that the new built seems to have taken care of.
Posted by warpspeed9
18 July 2008 @ 8am
Memory Leak on the new firmware?
c’mon Apple, you can do better than this…
I bet that can be one more backdoor for the iPhone Dev Team to exploit.
Posted by Squuiid
18 July 2008 @ 9am
Yep, I have the same problem. My 1st gen iPhone on 1.x.x was fast and very responsive and the main reason I think iPhones are so revered.
2.0 on both the 1st gen and the new 3G is slow and unbelievably buggy.
Bugs I can live with, sluggish UI I certainly can’t.
Posted by catcubed--2008
18 July 2008 @ 11am
Clearing your old SMS messages helps with the sluggishness in the SMS app as it reduces the hit on the SQL lite database. Not a perfect solution especially for those who have some attachment to their SMS messages, but it seems to work.