The up front cost of mobile phones isn’t the only thing to consider when going purchasing your mobile handset for example there is the “total cost of ownership,” and we have a “total cost of ownership” on the iPhone 3G S, Palm Pre and T-Mobile G1 as reckoned by billshrink.

Setting aside the T-Mobile G1, the more important comparison is between the two giants who are battling it out for supremacy, the 3G S against the Palm Pre, although the comparison with the G1 is still there to see.

Basically the bottom like in this particular comparison is that dollar for dollar the Palm Pre is the better option, but then again is it the better handset?