Description
Apple iPhone 3gs 8 GB Black 3G, Carrier Returns, AT&T / H20
The entry 8GB Apple iPhone 3gs in Black, 3G WI-FI Multi-touch Touchscreen, sold for AT&T / H20 and offered as Carrier Returns: units sent back to the carrier within its return window, lightly used or unused, tested working, with whatever accessories and packaging came back. The 8 GB 3GS was the 2010 to 2012 budget model, which makes it the low-cost choice for props, classrooms, and repair training.
The Apple iPhone 3GS of June 2009 was the third iPhone and the first to record video, with a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 multi-touch screen, a 600 MHz processor, 256 MB of RAM, a 3 MP autofocus camera, Voice Control, a digital compass, and 8, 16, or 32 GB of storage behind a plastic back. It stopped at iOS 6.1.6 in 2014; its radios are GSM and 3G UMTS only, so it has no US network service today.
TG Wireless lists these AT&T units for the buyers who still want them: collectors, prop houses, schools, export to markets with live 2G/3G GSM networks, and offline uses such as media playback and legacy app preservation.
Key specifications
| Model | Apple iPhone 3GS, model A1303, released June 2009; discontinued September 2012 |
|---|---|
| Storage | 8 GB |
| Color | Black |
| Network status | AT&T |
| Operating system | iPhone OS 3.0 as shipped; final supported version iOS 6.1.6 |
| Display | 3.5-inch TFT LCD, 480 x 320 pixels, capacitive multi-touch with oleophobic coating |
| Processor | 600 MHz Samsung ARM Cortex-A8 with PowerVR SGX535 graphics |
| Memory | 256 MB RAM |
| Camera | 3 MP rear with autofocus and VGA video recording; no front camera |
| Cellular radios | GSM/EDGE quad band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz); UMTS/HSDPA 7.2 Mbps on 850/1900/2100 MHz; no LTE |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, assisted GPS, digital compass |
| SIM and port | Mini-SIM (standard size); 30-pin dock connector; 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Battery | Built-in 1,219 mAh, rated up to 5 hours of 3G talk time |
| Size and weight | 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm, 135 g; plastic back |
Condition: Carrier Returns
Carrier return units come back through a carrier channel and are tested and graded by TG on receipt. Expect a mix of open-box and lightly handled units; cosmetics and packaging are confirmed per lot by your account manager.
Network and compatibility
These phones have no usable US carrier service. Their radios are GSM, EDGE, and UMTS/HSPA only: AT&T retired its 2G GSM network in January 2017 and its 3G UMTS network in February 2022, and T-Mobile, the last US 2G GSM network, shut down on August 3, 2026, so no US carrier or MVNO can activate them. Lock state is per listing; see the network status line in the table. Any remaining cellular use is limited to the shrinking number of overseas 2G/3G GSM networks; Wi-Fi works regardless of lock.
Resale fit
- Collectors and vintage Apple resellers, where white 32 GB and sealed refurbished units are the sought-after variants.
- Film, television, and theater prop houses that need period-correct 2009-to-2012 phones.
- Export to the remaining markets with live 2G/3G GSM networks, after confirming lock state and band support.
- Offline and educational use: Wi-Fi media players, legacy iOS app and development history, repair-training donors.
Ordering from TG Wireless
TG Wireless sells to the trade. Pricing is shown to approved dealer accounts, and your account manager confirms availability, quantities, and grade mix before invoicing. Orders typically ship within 24 hours of order placement by FedEx, UPS, or DHL, within the United States and internationally. TG Wireless's 12-month warranty applies, with coverage and RMA handling per your order documentation. Resellers with a valid resale certificate are not charged sales tax. The FAQ covers account setup and shipping questions.
