Apple’s iPhone 3G won’t hit store shelves until July 11, but the first reviews are already rolling in. The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today all like the new combination iPod and smartphone, and have very few complaints.

The Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg sees the iPhone 3G as a good option for iPhone holdouts that want 3G data support in addition to the slower EDGE the first generation iPhone sports -- as long as shorter battery life and higher priced service contracts aren’t a turn-off. "You might want to take the plunge, if you can live with the higher service costs and the weaker battery life," Mr. Mossberg said. "The same goes for those with existing iPhones who love the device but crave faster cellular data speeds."

David Pogue from the New York Times thinks iPhone 3G buyers will be "delighted," and first generation iPhone owners that don’t upgrade won’t feel left behind. According to Mr. Pogue, the iPhone 3G isn’t such a big leap "that it turns all those original iPhones into has-beens. Indeed, the really big deal is the iPhone 2.0 software and the App Store, neither of which requires buying a new iPhone."

USA Today’s Ed Baig tested an iPhone 3G for more than two weeks and decided it was worth the wait thanks to its faster wireless data, lower price, and better business user support. "Apple’s blockbuster smartphone already had nifty features such as visual voicemail, a splendid built-in video iPod and the best mobile Web browser I’ve ever used," Mr. Baig said. "With GPS newly added to the mix, this handheld marvel has no equal among consumer-oriented smartphones."

It looks like Apple may have found a way to add some polish to its already well-received smartphone. Enough polish, at least, to impress the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today.