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Apple's Iconic iPhone: A Visual History

With the 12th anniversary of the shipment of the first iPhone, let's take a look back at how Apple's groundbreaking mobile phone has evolved over the past dozen years.

By Eric Griffith
June 28, 2019
iPhone 8 + X

Twelve years ago, Apple finally released the first iPhone. Following its announcement six months earlier at MacWorld, the iPhone was promptly dubbed the "Jesus Phone" by a critical public who crucified it worshipped it like a gift from God itself. And so it began.

Over the years, the iPhone has slimmed down, bulked up, added new colors, another antenna, more carriers, a friendly yet somewhat cheeky personal assistant, and gained a few million customers.

It hasn't been a completely smooth ride; Apple would like to forget the iPhone 4 death grip, Mapgate, and iPhone 6 Bendgate, among other things.

Sure, the iPad conquered tablets, but it's always the iPhone—a device so popular, an entire city in China is dedicated to its creation—that customers love most. It's more than a phone at this point; it's an icon, even if it's a flawed one.

As you glance at the following entries, be sure to check out how the phone's basic design has gone mostly unchanged. That initial look has served Apple well, as the iPhone—along with millions of other smartphones out there—remains an incredible slab of technology that fits in your pocket.

Motorola ROKR

Motorola ROKR
This collaboration with Motorola actually predated the iPhone, and likely convinced Apple to go it alone, rather than with a partner. The ROKR E1 phone essentially flopped and is barely remembered today.

iPhone

iPhone
When Steve Jobs announced the $499 (4GB) and $599 (8GB) iPhones in 2007, consumers went nuts, lined up in droves, and spawned a new generation of fans eager to be first to own Apple's latest product. The first iPhone also saturated AT&T's network, causing years of angst until Verizon signed on in early 2011. The first iPhone also was the beginning of the end for the iPod, as 8GB of storage was enough to hold most of one's music collection.

iPhone 3G

iPhone 3G
Launched on June 9, 2008, the iPhone 3G—carrier subsidized at $199 (8GB) or $299 (16GB)— upgraded the 2G connection used by the original iPhone to a speedier 3G, adding assisted GPS in the process. That, in turn, helped the iPhone lock onto a GPS signal faster. But the real innovation was iOS 2.0, which included the App Store, MobileMe, and push email, along with other enhancements.

iPhone 3GS

iPhone 3GS
Launched on June 8, 2009, the iPhone 3GS upgraded the processor used by the iPhone 3G, and added a compass and 7-Mbit HSDPA support, to boot. But the 3GS's main addition was an upgraded camera, which finally allowed users to record 480p videos and put another nail in the coffin of the camcorder industry. Apple's iOS 3.0 also added copy-and-paste functionality, finally.

iPhone 4

On June 7, 2010, Apple announced the iPhone 4, its most controversial model yet. Of course, who can forget that Gizmodo obtained a prototype of the phone that was left in a bar, photographed it, tore it down, and was banned from Apple product launches as a result. When Apple finally launched the three models of the iPhone at $199 (16GB), $299 (32GB), and $399 (64GB), excitement was at a fever pitch. The drama escalated when the "grip of death" controversy manifested, as various outlets (including PCMag) reported that cell signals dropped in fringe areas. In 2011, Verizon was added as the iPhone's second carrier and the white iPhone made its debut.

iPhone 4s

iPhone 4s
Siri, what is this iPhone called? Why, the iPhone 4s, of course, which kept the same pricing structure as the previous model. Apple's latest iPhone added the personal assistant plus support for iCloud, although the launch was overshadowed by the death of Apple founder Steve Jobs a day later. A host of smaller improvements were also included. Following the release of the iPhone 4s, Sprint, Cricket, and other carriers added the iPhone—save for poor T-Mobile.

iPhone 5

Announced in September 2012, the iPhone 5 came with iOS 6 and a slew of controversy, such as Apple Maps not being up to snuff, chipping on the black models, and lens-flare issues with the camera. But we still loved it. It got slimmer and lighter, yet taller, than previous versions and featured a metal back rather than all glass.

The prices remained the same with a contract ($199/16GB, $299/32GB, $399/64GB) or you could spend $649-$849 to get one sans contract.

It was the first to sport the Lightning port, the new way to charge and dock the iPhone, plus the "nanoSIM" card format that wouldn't work with older SIM cards. It also moved the 3.5mm headphone jack from the top to the bottom. At least one outlet called that "the worst decision Apple ever made."

iPhone 5s

Apple announced two iPhone models in 2013, which was a first. The 5s was considered small at the time, since so many Android phablets were coming to market. Its major changes from the iPhone 5 were all inside: a faster chip running a 64-bit dual-core processor, a motion coprocessor, and one feature that truly set the bar for other smartphone makers: the Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the Home button. Dual LED flash on the back also improved pictures.

The multi-color world started to arrive as well: the back of the iPhone 5s came in white, space gray, and gold. iOS 7 made it stand out on the market, as the icon redesign gave the whole thing a new feel.

iPhone 5c

Apple's second phone that year was the iPhone 5c, aka the plastic iPhone. It was pretty much the same as the previous year's iPhone 5 inside, but with multiple color options (blue, green, pink, yellow, or white) for the polycarbonate back. In fact, it was so much like the 5 (albeit slightly thicker and heavier) that Apple discontinued the 5 and named 5c the replacement. It had a more reasonable price than the 5s, but it was still $99 for 16GB of storage (with a phone carrier contract). When it arrived, our review said it had "zero gee-whiz factor." For that, in 2013, you needed the 5s...or a Samsung Galaxy S4.

iPhone 6

Apple again announced two phones in 2014. This time iPhone 6 was the baseline model and it managed to grow a little, getting a 4.7-inch display as well as the usual internal improvements: faster camera, processor, improved Wi-Fi (802.11ac), and LTE connections.

The flat sides from the last few models became smooth and rounded. It was the first to support near field communication (NFC) that would allow for mobile payments, paving the way for Apple Pay. It also moved the standby/power button from the top to the right side and put a bulge on the rear camera to accommodate the lens. The camera also added slo-mo mode and 1080p video shooting.

iPhone 6 Plus

The second iPhone of 2014 showed that Apple knows when to cave in to demand. And the populace demanded a phablet! The 6 Plus came in at 5.5 inches, but other than a few iPad-like features, it's pretty much a bigger iPhone 6. But it sold quite well, even with "Bendgate," where it seemed to bend if it spent too much time in your back pocket.

iPhone 6s/6s Plus

2015 was a bit of a disappointing year for those who wanted some serious innovation in an iPhone. The 6s and 6s Plus represented simple dot-rev increases (which should have been expected).

Improvements were mostly invisible: a stronger chassis to prevent the bends(gate), the usual updated chips, cameras, wireless support, and improvements to Touch ID as well. The biggest change: 3D Touch enabled pressure sensitivity on the screen (see the video above), which is different from a long press. Base cost on the 6s from Verizon and T-Mobile at launch was $649 for 16GB—so long, contract subsidies—but it added a new color: Rose Gold.

iPhone SE

4.0
Editors' Choice
Apple pulled a fast one in March 2016, which is not usually when new iPhones are announced. Cupertino rolled out the iPhone Special Edition (SE). It came as a direct replacement for the iPhone 5s in fact, with practically the same look and feel, but a few key upgrades from the then-current 6s, with everything from Apple Pay to iOS 9 support. This phone let Apple play in the area of smaller-screen smartphones measuring only 4 inches. For a while it was our Editors' Choice for smaller smartphones. Now, it's gone.

iPhone 7/7 Plus

4.0

At first glance, the still-available iPhone 7 and 7 Plus look pretty much the same as the 6s and 6s Plus before them, but looks can be deceiving.

The iPhone 7 lineup added water-resistance, brighter screens, and better cameras (the Plus has dual 12-megapixel rear cameras). And the chips are faster, as usual.

The Home button became virtual; taptic feedback provides vibration response. The biggest change: Apple killed the 3.5mm headphone jack entirely, pushing users to wireless Bluetooth audio like Apple's AirPods ($99.00 at Amazon) or a dongle that connects to the Lightning port. To soften that blow, the 7 and 7 Plus come in extra colors including Jet Black (AKA the shiny fingerprint collector) and a matte black, as well as the usual gold, rose gold, and silver.

$288.00 at Visible
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iPhone 8/8 Plus

3.5
iPhone 8/8 Plus

The iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus, both still available, are even less of a change from the 7/7 Plus; they probably should have been called the 7s/7s Plus.

Mostly, this was all about the chips. At the time, the A11 Bionic processor inside was the fastest in any smartphone ever. The nicest change for many was and is that the iPhone finally supports wireless charging using the Qi standard. Get the right charging base and you can set the iPhone down on it to trickle charge without plugging anything into the Lightning port. These are both slightly heavier than their predecessors as well, partially because (to support wireless charging) they've once again got a glass back. The 8 (read our full review) and 8 Plus only come in silver, gold, or space gray.

$319.99 at Best Buy
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iPhone X

4.0

Apple saved a big change for its 10th anniversary: iPhone X (pronounced "ten"). It was the first iPhone to feature an edge-to-edge, 5.8-inch "Super Retina HD" OLED display already available on many Android phones. The Home button is gone, and Touch ID was replaced with the facial-biometric scanning known as Face ID, which adds the now familiar "notch" up top.

The price is where it really hurt. The base model shot to $999 for 64GB of storage, making the thousand-dollar smartphone the norm. It's now officially been replaced by the XS.

$999.00 at Verizon
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iPhone XS

4.0
iPhone XS
2018's update to the X was the XS (now with capital S). On the outside, the XS is practically identical to the X, and comes in silver, gray, and gold, with the same $999 base price for 64GB (up to $1,349 for 512GB). The camera bump is slightly different to accommodate new antennas inside. The screen is brighter and more color accurate. The battery is smaller but the phone is more power-efficient to off-set that. It's got the latest A12 processor and larger camera sensor inside. It's a nice upgrade all around, albeit one that got hamstrung by being launched between a cheaper iPhone and a bigger iPhone.

Read our full review.
$167.92 at Amazon
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iPhone XS Max

4.5
Editors' Choice
iPhone XS Max
It used to be the Plus moniker that indicated a bump up in size, but now Apple likes Max. In the center above, you can see the XS Max in its glory, but as we've noted before, the biggest iPhone isn't really all that much bigger. With a 6.5-inch screen that goes side-to-side, no bezels, the phone is physically smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus (by 0.02 inches across, but still.) What it does have is the most pixels packed into an iPhone screen ever, at 2,688 by 1,242 resolution. The actual 6.5-inch display is 16.08 square inches—to go bigger you need a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 or 10. It's also $100 more than the XS, making it the most expensive iPhone ever.

Read our full review.
$999.99 at AT&T Wireless
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iPhone XR

3.5
iPhone XR
The other surprise phone of 2018 was the iPhone XR. Rather than keep the super inexpensive SE around, Apple introduced the XR as the slightly-cheaper iPhone that has most of what makes the XS good, just not all of it. It's a little bigger than the XS and even the iPhone 8 (but smaller than the XS Max and the 8 Plus). It's got a decent sized screen. We've dubbed it the most gorgeous iPhone ever because it's color selection (blue, coral, red, white, yellow, or black) and rounded corners are perfect. The screen is "liquid retina" LCD, not an OLED like the XS, but you can't really see the difference even if the pixel density is less. All that for $250 less on the base price compared to the XS, starting at $749. It's major downside is the lack of connectivity from not using better antenna.

Read our full review.
$174.00 at Amazon
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Which Modern iPhone is Right for You?

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About Eric Griffith

Senior Editor, Features

I've been writing about computers, the internet, and technology professionally for over 30 years, more than half of that time with PCMag. I run several special projects including the Readers' Choice and Business Choice surveys, and yearly coverage of the Best ISPs and Best Gaming ISPs, plus Best Products of the Year and Best Brands. I work from my home, and did it long before pandemics made it cool.

Read Eric's full bio

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