One area where it’s difficult to criticise the iPhone is build quality. The company claims the glass display is scratch proof, and in the time we had it the iPhone did indeed appear indifferent to our clumsy handling, escaping without any sign of scuffs or wear. The rear of the phone is constructed from aluminium, adding to the tactile feel. At the bottom, you’ll find a black plastic strip, covering the antennas for the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters. 

The one thing we haven’t mentioned, and it’s a big issue for most people, is price. The iPhone currently costs £269 on top of a £35, 18 month contract. It includes free data rates, and connections to any of O2’s Cloud wireless hotspots, so the contract alone may save some heavy data users money. Unfortunately, for most consumers, the overall cost and lack of operator choice will be the final nail in the iPhone’s coffin.

Overall, a damn good first effort on Apple’s part, with a thoroughly usable interface. It does have some annoying foibles and missing features, but they will hopefully be rectified with the next version.

VERDICT: 8/10