iOS 4.1 on iPhone 3G - better than 4.0 (but not as good as 3)

iOS 4.0 proved to be so disappointing, performance wise, on the iPhone 3G that many users downgraded to version 3. But at last week's iPod event Steve Jobs gave iPhone 3G users hope, promising that iOS 4.1 (due this week) would address performance issues on the two-generation old iPhone.

Lifehacker informally compared iOS 4.0 to the golden master version of iOS 4.1 on an iPhone 3G, here's the video:

The (admittedly unscientific) video demonstrates the results:

• Messages: iOS 4.1 Wins (By a Little)
• Maps: iOS 4.1 Wins (By a Lot)
• Photos: iOS 4.1 Wins (Just Barely)
• Safari: iOS 4.1 Wins (Just Barely)

While iOS 4.1 marks a definite improvement over iOS 4.0 on the iPhone 3G, Lifehacker concluded that "we're still not sure it's a big enough improvement that 3G owners will want to ditch iOS 3." It appears that iOS 4 was tailor made for the iPhone 4, and without much consideration for older handsets.

iPhone 3x users are faced with a big decision: are the new features enough to justify slower performance?

iPhone 3G owners: will you upgrade to 4.1?