Apple iPhone history: Look how much the iPhone has changed

(Pocket-lint) - It's been 15 years since the first Apple iPhone. Yes, really.

The Apple iPhone first went on sale on 29 June 2007, some five months after it was originally announced on 9 January 2007. The company's then-CEO, Steve Jobs, presented the new smartphone to a packed audience, including Pocket-lint: "This is the day I've been waiting for the last two years," he said during the keynote speech at MacWorld 2007, before making the first call on the phone to Jony Ive.

Life moves pretty fast. 15 years ago today, the world met iPhone for the first time and in a moment everything changed. Many more big moments to come. — Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) January 9, 2022

Hard to imagine now, but the first iteration of the iPhone didn't have a number of features we take for granted today, like copy and paste, 3G and definitely not 5G, or even apps. Heck, you could also only sync it via iTunes on the desktop.

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Since 2007, Apple has adapted and changed the design of the iPhone a number of times, ditching the metal design for a plastic one with the iPhone 3G and 3GS, before moving to glass for the iPhone 4. It was back to metal with the iPhone 5, before glass made its comeback for the iPhone 8 models, iPhone X and the iPhone XS models. In 2020 the company launched iPhones with 5G, upgraded cameras and much more besides, before releasing the iPhone 13 range in 2021.

The iPhone hasn't escaped criticism over the years - there's was "bendgate", "antennagate", and even a claim by some that their beard got trapped in the casing, but it's still a great success story. Here's how the iPhone has evolved over its life.

A 3.5-inch screen with 480 × 320 resolution for 163ppi and a 412MHz ARM processor. This was where it all started for the iPhone. In many ways it wasn't the first, but it was certainly the most important smartphone launch.

So, would we sign up for a 2-year contact? It's a tough one. The iPhone is a great handset, however it's also a handset that comes with multiple downsides. We are going to give it top marks, but before you sign up, you must make sure you are aware of its many limitations.

Largely identical to the original iPhone, but with slimmer metallic outer edging and the addition of 3G connectivity. Also note the appearance of the App Store icon. The shift to centralised app stores changed the way we used our phones.

Love it or hate it, there is no denying that Apple has raised the bar on the interface front. It might not be the tech spec king compared to the likes of the HTC Diamond, but from a usability point of view for the consumer, it is hard to beat. As for that BlackBerry user looking to transfer, you'll miss search, you'll miss "read all" and you'll miss cut and paste.

Despite the downbeat tune, it is a thumbs up from us, but if you've got an old iPhone and aren't fussed about 3G or GPS, the iPhone 2.0 software update will mean the "buzz" phone of the moment is all but virtually in your pocket already.

Similar to the 3G in design but with a faster 600MHz ARM A8 CPU, and fingerprint-resistant screen coating. This was about refining the experience to bring speed, with the addition of things like a digital compass and video capture.

There are so many things that work well here, making the iPhone 3GS a pleasure to use: text entry is fast and responsive; the new MMS features bring it up to date; email, calendars, and contacts are all well handled; browsing is good and fast; and the screen is sharp and bright (but not the best around). The new features like the compass and voice control make it just a little easier to use.

It may offer one of the best experiences that mobile telephony has to offer, but there is still room for improvement, meaning we can all look forward to future updates with that same palpable sense of excitement.

This is where design and power really jumped up, with a 3.5-inch 960 x 480 resolution screen and the introduction of the Retina display. The flattened glass design is now rather iconic, and it introduced a front camera with FaceTime.

The iPhone 4 isn't just a new piece of hardware. It's the next vehicle for the world of iOS 4 and the App Store. But those hardware changes are welcomed. The inclusion of a higher-spec screen is the most significant step, combined with a faster processor, meaning it can capture and playback HD content from the new 5-megapixel camera.

Is the iPhone perfect? Of course not. The experience is very well managed by Apple and many love this intuitiveness. However, many will loathe the restrictions you find in place. The design, whilst it looks nice, isn't the most comfortable phone to hold or use, and the reception problems just compound a long history of discomfort around actually making a phone call.

Apple has made its play with the iPhone 4, which we expect to be its handset for the next few years. Other manufacturers will respond in kind, but gaining the strength of the Apple ecosystem is no mean feat. While there is space to improve the iPhone, you don't necessarily feel you are missing out. What you have is a device that is an excellent multimedia platform and open to a new generation of unfolding possibilities.

Much alike to the iPhone 4, but with the addition of more speed and the introduction of Siri as the personal assistant. The iPhone 4S announced by CEO Tim Cook on 4 October 2011; Steve Jobs passed away the following day on 5 October.

The iPhone 4S is every bit a smartphone, and an excellent one at that. The range of functionality that it delivers, along with the entire ecosystem that it inhabits, still make it one of the best phones on the market. Apple has done an excellent job pushing things like the App Store and incorporating features that see wider adoption, like AirPlay, its wireless streaming system, for example.

The screen could be bigger; the battery life should be longer; iOS still could be improved; there is no NFC; and Flash support or options for memory expansion. But you have to decide whether these things are important to you. If they are, you now have many choices elsewhere. To us, the iPhone 4S feels as though it has responded to the competition.

It's adapted a better notifications system and new features, but in many ways, we can't help feeling it has adopted some of the nice things about Android. For some, the concern might be that it's adapted Android's battery management issue, too. The iPhone 4S is likely to be exactly what some people are looking for. For others, the excitement in other smartphone quarters could well draw their eye.

Another jump for Apple, with a larger 4-inch display running 1136 x 640 resolution, bringing with it a change in aspect for the iPhone. It also introduced a new connector, Lightning.

What Apple has created with the iPhone 5 is an extremely polished smartphone that oozes appeal. It's incredibly well built, easy to use, features a beautiful screen, and comes packed with enough speed and power to service all your requirements. The hardware is just stunning. It really is impressive how much is crammed into such a tiny box. On the software front the story isn't as cut and dried.

While the hardware and design here is cutting edge, the software plays it safer than we would like. For those of you that have already left the Apple eco-system for Samsung or HTC, for example, the iPhone 5 isn't likely to draw you back. You might marvel at the build and design, but Apple with the iPhone 5 has created a smartphone that is too safe for you: you'll feel too mollycoddled.

Instead Apple has created a phone that the millions of current iPhone users will want to upgrade to. iPhone owners will love it, enjoy all those new features, and appreciate all the hard work, design, and engineering that has gone into it. The iPhone 5 is a phone that makes you feel safe. A phone that you know exactly how to use as soon as you take it out of the box and that is perfect many. It's a phone that, until you start craving the iPhone 6, will serve you very well indeed.

Basically the same as the iPhone 5, but with a plastic body. The iPhone 5C was all about colour and fun, with a range of cases to make contrasting designs.

The iPhone 5C is a lovely phone that is solid in its performance and playful it its approach. The combination of the colourful exterior sits beautifully against the latest iOS 7 operating system and as an upgrade to the iPhone 4S, the 5C is a perfect option, and refreshes the iPhone 5 in a way that makes it a lot more fun than the iPhone 5 ever was.

But there is no denying that the 5C is merely a lick of paint on a year-old device, a non-upgrade to the iPhone 5. Some will see that as regressive, treading water. Yet, somehow, that still works in today's world. The phone's selection of apps, camera capabilities, and no fuss approach still means that it holds its own against the HTC One Mini devices of this world, for the right users.

This is a phone that is designed to appeal to the iPhone 4S crowd who can't afford an iPhone 5S and who don't want to go to a different brand. The iPhone 5C is not a flagship product - Apple's iPhone 5S is for that - nor does it fix any of the annoying niggles you've perhaps started to feel with your current iPhone, but if want to stick with Apple, but can't justify the 5S and its price, then this colourful option if for you. Despite initial reservations we love the iPhone 5C - it's colourful, joyful, capable and just works.

Sticking to the design of the iPhone 5, the iPhone 5S dropped the home button and introduced Touch ID, providing a way to unlock the phone and authenticate purchases from the App Store.

The iPhone 5S fulfils the pre-determined destiny of all Apple "S" devices - it's the one that's normally met by the baying crowd as "meh". But the more we've played with it, the more we've used it, and the more it's clear that Apple has made vast improvements here. In many ways Apple has released a phone for tomorrow. That's a hard sell, but it's also the exciting part.

The Touch ID scanner is yet to be fully realised, as are the A7 and M7 processors and the 64-bit support. But the potential for that power is huge - it's got more grunt than its near competitors and that makes it extra exciting. We do still have a shopping list of wants though. For one, we would like a bigger and higher resolution screen. There is still no NFC and the software, despite looking cleaner, doesn't really move the 5S on too far from where the iPhone 5 was.

If you want a phone that just works, then the iPhone 5S is a very good place to start however. Apple has made it look effortless which is no simple task, and in doing so - by making it look almost too easy - you can sometimes miss the beauty and power in your hand. It's stunning to use, there's stacks of power, it's without gimmicks and a nod to the future. It's these simple elements that make the iPhone 5S, for us, one of the best phones on the market. There's a lot to admire about that.

This model saw a jump in size to a 4.7-inch 1334 x 640 screen with 326ppi, with a shift to a metal body. It also introduced Apple Pay, but was blighted by "bendgate".

With iOS 8 and the new screen size in the iPhone 6, Apple has pretty much removed all excuses not to upgrade from older devices, as well as making the iPhone 6 a phone that's difficult to ignore for those on other platforms. Of course there is still plenty missing: you don't get the highest resolution display around, there's no wireless charging, replaceable battery, no waterproofing, and no microSD card.

There's also no real NFC beyond Apple Pay, and no wide open operating system for all to use regardless. But many won't care. The app choice of Apple is outstanding, the 128GB storage quota is enough (as long as you can afford it), and do we really need NFC pairing? Add that to an incredibly polished operating system in iOS 8 and you end up with a phone that will sell truck loads.

For iPhone 5 or 5S users looking to upgrade, the decision is a no-brainer: the iPhone 6 is superior in all aspects to previous devices sporting a better design, a better display, a better experience all around. The build quality on the iPhone 6 is exquisite, leaving you with one really tough decision: whether to go for the iPhone 6 or the much bigger iPhone 6 Plus. Regardless of which you do opt for, this is the best iPhone yet.

The same as the iPhone 6 largely except for a bigger 5.5-inch screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution for 401ppi, plus a larger 2915mAh battery to keep it running. This was Apple recognising the growing trend in big phones.

The iPhone 6 Plus is certainly one for the power users and certainly one for those looking for a big screen experience. But with a bigger battery and a bigger display comes a device that for many will be just too big overall. Having the benefit of using both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus over the last week we've kept coming back to the iPhone 6 Plus, only to return to the iPhone 6 every time.

It really comes down to how you want to use your phone. If you are normally sitting down or taking a more considered moment to check something then the 6 Plus is perfect. If you are more of an on-the-go kind of person, checking emails whilst wrestling with an umbrella, we suspect that you'll do better with the regular iPhone 6.

As for how it compares to the competition, the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note range is a very different proposition. The Note with its S Pen stylus is very good at what it does and Apple isn't trying to tackle that approach, even if, in some way, it should be. The iPhone 6 Plus is something different that some will say is confused and some won't understand. But for that niche that wants to have it all Apple and all over the big screen, then the iPhone 6 Plus is there for them.

No visual design change from the iPhone 6 but an upgrade to the aluminium used to make it stronger, along with changes in performance and battery life and advanced features like 3D Touch and 4K video capture. It stuck to the 4.7-inch 1334 x 750 pixel resolution and packed in the Apple A9 chip.

An iPhone S update year usually means a couple of new features that most people could take or leave, but the iPhone 6S is the most exciting S model for a long time. It bucks the usual trend, delivering a phone that will offer plenty to iPhone users new and old alike. In practice the Touch 3D element has proved to be a gimmick that we could easily live without though.

Improved battery life, enhanced cameras, slick operability from iOS 10 all make the iPhone 6S great to use, even if the screen resolution is still behind the current flagship curve. The addition of Live Photos, 4K video and baked-in Hey Siri might be less integral to all, but they're the kind of fun features people want and that Apple delivers well.

For iPhone 5S readers looking to upgrade you'll move leaps and bounds ahead of what you've come to expect from your phone, while even keen iPhone 6 users will see benefits too. The iPhone 6S doesn't disappoint.

The larger version of the 6S, it too offered a stronger body to fend off bendgate, while the display sat at 5.5-inches with a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, powered by the A9 chip.

Just like the original, the Apple iPhone 6S Plus is the big-scale Apple phone for the kind of user who uses two hands and isn't bothered about the weight or space needed to fit one into their pocket. Although most S upgrades bring minor tweaks, the iPhone 6S Plus sees notable advantages from 3D Touch. Whether that's to write on that large screen, or by hard-pressing to interact with iOS 9 in a slicker and quicker fashion than before, it's the S model to buck the annual trend.

There's even greater pay-off in other areas for going bigger: you'll get a lovely large, almost tablet-like screen (although it's still not flagship-matching Quad HD resolution); a fantastic camera with optical image stabilisation (which the standard 6S lacks); and a battery life that will last you well beyond a day. For some, though, those same factors will be negated by the sheer scale of the device. The 6S Plus is a lovely smartphone, but it's also a big and heavy one.

The iPhone SE made the unusual move off shifting back into the older design of the iPhone 5 models. It did so to offer a smaller, cheaper option, but it kept the powerful innards of the 6S, so the A9 chip and the latest camera, but with a 4-inch display with 1136 x 640 pixels.

The iPhone SE is a great smartphone that brings plenty of power in a small package. It's designed to appeal to those who aren't fussed by today's typically large flagship phones. If you are upgrading from the iPhone 5S or iPhone 5 and don't want a larger phone then the SE is a no-brainer. It's faster in every aspect and delivers a phone that will feel familiar but deliver the goods at today's current top-spec level.

While iPhone 6S users are likely to turn their noses up at the SE, during our review time we've really enjoyed the liberating dinkiness of the SE, especially when out running. Perhaps it's a radical idea, but we can easily see some wealthier iPhone 6S and Plus users finding appeal in the iPhone SE being a weekend or running phone.

As far as shortcomings go, the SE lacks some of the top top spec features sound in the 6S, such as 3D Touch, while the front-facing camera isn't particularly good. Plus, and it almost goes without saying, that 4-inch screen isn't going to suit everyone. Bigger is normally always better, but sometimes great things come in small packages too.

Apple didn't do a major redesign for the iPhone 7, although the introduction of Jet Black caused a stir, as did the evolution of (Product) Red. The iPhone 7 is powered by the A10 chip and adds waterproofing, while the display size and resolution remains as it was.

The iPhone 7 is not the overhaul that Apple usually presents us with every two years, but there is enough here to keep those upgrading from the iPhone 6 happy. At first glance, however, it's perhaps not the phone to draw in iPhone 6S fans who might be upset that their phone is now old and needs to be replaced - for the iPhone 7 could almost be seen as an "S" version of the iPhone 6S.

The removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack may remain briefly controversial, while the odd-looking AirPods (£159) have also raised some eyebrows. But this biggest point of change isn't really going to impact most users as much as it might sound. Ultimately it's the iPhone 7's other, more subtle changes - the new Home button and glossy/matte black finishes with better hidden antennas - that add to the refinement, without tearing up the rule book and starting again. It's also these technologies that continue to ensure the iPhone 7 is a state-of-the-art smartphone.

So, Tim Cook is right: the iPhone 7 is the company's best iPhone yet. It's just that the best is only slighter better than what we've already had for the past year.

This larger version of the phone marked its arrival by doing something that Apple hadn't done before: it presented a major difference in feature set with the introduction of the twin camera on the rear. While the rest of the phone incrementally moves on from the 6S Plus, partnering the new iPhone 7, the dual camera is all new, offering bokeh portrait and 2x optical zoom for quality close ups.

The Plus certainly gets the most new features - making it the more worthy upgrade from either the iPhone 6 Plus or the iPhone 6S Plus. The core design of the iPhone 7 Plus isn't an overhaul though, it's about refinement, with subtle changes. The new Home button and glossy/matte black finishes with better hidden antennas - elevating the design without tearing up the rule book and starting again.

The lack of a headphone jack will either infuriate you or go unnoticed. The biggest change is with the cameras. Sure, the Depth Effect is a work in progress, but it doesn't have to be used and doesn't take away from the cameras' overall excellence. Ultimately it's the resulting images that are great, and the 2x optical zoom is welcomed.

However, as we've always said of the Plus range, it's a big and heavy device that will divide opinion because of its wide body. Equally, it's an incredibly well-built device that won't disappoint - especially on the power and battery life fronts - because you'll be hard pushed to find a smartphone as capable and well-rounded elsewhere.

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The display size and resolution might be the same as the iPhone 7 in the iPhone 8 but Apple added True Tone technology, made move back to glass over metal and doubled the storage capacities available. It also added wireless charging capabilities and upgraded the processor to the A11 chip.

Compared to the iPhone 7, the iPhone 8 brings minimal upgrades. But compared to the iPhone 6/6S, wow, you'll be very pleased with the jump forward - particularly if you're seeking a familiar and compact phone. Apple isn't rocking the boat in the iPhone 8, but its feature improvements make notable improvements in all the right places. The glass back means wireless charging is possible, while the boost in power is spot on for AR applications and smooth operation from iOS 11.

However, the iPhone X that launched alongside it is hard to ignore. It might share the same processor as the iPhone 8, but that's where the similarities end. So if you're not lured in by its facial recognition Face ID, its super high-res OLED panel with near bezel-free design, or the dual cameras, then the smaller iPhone 8 will save you cash and keep you content with its more familiar form.

Overall, iPhone 8 is small, compact, powerful, and will deliver the ideal phone experience for many - especially those who aren't fussed with all the latest and greatest features and the costs associated with them. Just because it has minimal upgrades doesn't mean it doesn't deliver maximum satisfaction.

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Like the smaller model, the iPhone 8 Plus offers True Tone technology, wireless charging, a new processor over its predecessor and double the storage. It, and the smaller iPhone 8, were the last model to offer Touch ID as a biometric option with the iPhone X setting the standard for the future iPhones with Face ID.

As a successor to the iPhone 7 Plus, the iPhone 8 Plus is a logical step-up that delivers a faster experience in a new and somewhat improved shell. Wireless charging, improved cameras and the True Tone screen for HDR Netflix content are all positive new features. None of which, however, are necessarily drop-everything-and-upgrade features.

Despite its 8 Plus name, ultimately this iPhone could be seen as a "7S Plus". And with the iPhone X launched, we're half surprised that wasn't the applied naming convention. And that's the rub: we can't mention the 8 Plus without mentioning the lure of the iPhone X. Many people seem unaware the 8 Plus exists, often referring to "the new iPhone" from Apple's keynote. That's the true next-level device, which changes this year's iPhone proposition.

Overall, the iPhone 8 Plus is Apple's everyman phone. It's the perfect big phone for the masses; for the people who don't need a future-facing face-reading smartphone; for those who want that large scale familiarity and known strengths that will get the job done. For those people, the iPhone 8 Plus delivers in droves.

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The iPhone X was the 10-year anniversary iPhone, marking the biggest shift in design since the original device from 2007. It launched with an OLED display, minimal bezels and Face ID facial recognition, ditching one of the iPhone's most iconic interactions: the home button.

Apple said that this phone would kickstart the next decade of the iPhone and it wasn't wrong. All three of the new iPhones steal the iPhone X's design. The screen is stunning, the device smaller for that edge-to-edge approach, and the underlying tech is more than capable to make it shine.

The polished stainless steel, the OLED display, and the overall look and feel of the package oozes quality and premium aesthetics. This hasn't changed over a year on either. The ramifications of what the iPhone X set out to do are wide-ranging: the iPhone 8 dulls by comparison in terms of design even if it's still a very capable phone.

The only complaint is that premium cost. When it launched, the iPhone X started at £999, which is the same as the iPhone XS now. You might be able to find the X at a good price following the launch of the XS but you then have the £750 iPhone XR to consider, which offers the same processing power as the XS and XS Max, making it faster and more capable than the iPhone X, even if not as premium in build.

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The iPhone XR sits at the bottom of the 2018 iPhone X range, offering an aluminium frame over stainless steel, a single camera over dual and an LCD display over OLED. It brought plenty of power, a large display, great camera and colour though, making it a great buy for most.

Sure, the iPhone XR doesn't offer a screen or camera setup that's as good as the top-of-the-range, but that's the play in having a more affordable handset. Besides, many will be perfectly happy with what's on offer, especially as there's no compromise in power.

As an upgrade option over, say, the iPhone 7, the XR's larger display, bright colour finishes and considerable power will appeal. Yes, we've missed not being able to take a picture of our dog in Portrait Mode, but we think we can live without this feature for the most part.

For those who want Apple's latest design without spending a fortune, this is the iPhone for you.

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The iPhone XS offers an improved camera over the iPhone X, dual-SIM support, A12 Bionic chip and a 512GB storage option, as well as a longer battery life and a new Gold finish. The design remains the same as the 10-year anniversary model though.

As with all iPhone "S" model upgrades, the iPhone XS is about bringing new processing power to a phone that already looks really good. The Apple iPhone XS offers a faster experience, a tougher shell, and a much better improved camera that really impresses. It moves the iPhone forward to be a better device, to continue to hold back the competition.

The iPhone X was a breakthrough device in many ways. It introduced stainless steel as a premium body material and it moved to a display that dominated the front design, sweeping aside the home button and bringing with it Face ID. It was a celebration of 10 years of iPhone and in some ways, compared to the iPhone 8, it was risqué.

The iPhone XS gives you a technically better phone, but it isn't the huge step change we had in 2017. The XS Max is now the risqué option, the answer to Apple's size question, leaving you to decide whether the XS is enough iPhone for you. For many, we suspect that it will be: while owners of the X will probably struggle the justify the update, it oozes with appeal for those on older devices.

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The iPhone XS Max introduced the option of a bigger model of the iPhone X one year after the 10-year anniversary model, with all the same improvements as the iPhone XS but in a larger, expensive and fabulous package.

Even after more than a year using it, the iPhone XS Max is hard to fault. It's fluid, fast and effortless, and is a premium package that looks and feels great in the hand.

Of course, you could look down the spec list and say "OnePlus 7 Pro has a much better display" or "the Pixel 3 takes better photos", but neither of those elements are so noticeably different that you feel you'd miss out. What's more, iPhone still offers a fantastic all-round experience thanks to quality design, display, camera, battery life and - let's not forget - it's very strong ecosystem.

It may be too big for some, or too expensive for others, but there's always the iPhone XS for those who think the former, and the iPhone XR for those who think the latter. If you want the biggest, baddest iPhone in town, the XS Max is the one for you. It's glorious.

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The iPhone 11 succeeds the iPhone XR, and while it is identical in size, it adds a secondary camera on the rear, along with a new camera housing that has a frosted finish. There are also some great new colours. The iPhone 11 has new hardware over the XR and some great new camera capabilities thanks to the wide-angle camera.

We loved the Apple iPhone XR when it launched in 2018. It was, and still is, an excellent device. The iPhone 11 builds on that excellence.

It still makes some compromises compared to the iPhone 11 Pro models - the finish isn't as premium, the screen isn't as impressive and the camera lacks a couple of features - but overall, the iPhone 11 is a superb device that offers the biggest appeal in terms of technology and price point from the 2019 iPhones.

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The iPhone 11 Pro succeeds the iPhone XS with an all-new, somewhat polarising camera housing, a lovely frosted matte glass finish and plenty of hardware upgrades - especially in the camera department.

If you like the iPhone and the best Apple makes, then the iPhone 11 Pro is for you. It's stylish, feature packed, and will easily impress you with all the capabilities that it offers.

This is for those that don't want just the "standard" iPhone, but want to feel a little bit special, to feel they've reached a point in their life where they can justify the extra tech (and price tag), just so they can say, that they are "pro". If that's you, then this is the 2019 iPhone to get.

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The iPhone 11 Pro Max offers an identical design to the iPhone 11 Pro but on a larger scale, succeeding the iPhone XS Max. It is a 6.5-inch beauty - especially in the midnight green colour - and its camera capabilities are excellent, with Night Mode making low-light shots much better.

The iPhone 11 Pro Max is the top dog, the big daddy, the pro of the Pros when it comes to the iPhone range. When compared to the 2018 iPhone 8 or the iPhone XS, the specs on this device are monster and it's clear that Apple is pushing hard to retain dominance in the flagship space.

But the camera is the striking new feature here. The new three camera set up is very impressive, and while features like portrait mode still aren't perfect, it's a drastic improvement on what was available before. That also presents something of a problem: the iPhone 11 carries the ultra-wide camera, it also has the great night mode, and it's just about as powerful - but it's a lot less money, making it a serious consideration as a cheaper alternative.

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Some four years after the first introduction of the iPhone SE, Apple released a second version for those that where keen to have a Touch ID enabled smartphone following it being dropped from the lineup with the iPhone X and a small pocketable device without going for the full Face ID larger device as sported in the iPhone 11 that was released just 6 months earlier.

The iPhone SE (2020) is all about big power at a smaller price. It's quite remarkable what this little iPhone delivers.

Sure, it's built around three-year-old hardware, so there's not everything that the iPhone 11 models offer - but that's inevitable. If you want Night Mode, Face ID, a bigger battery, or more cameras, then the options are elsewhere in the range - but you'll have to pay more.

For an affordable iPhone, the new SE delivers the kind of power that will keep you content, without the need to upgrade in the immediate future. That's going to be incredibly appealing to all those iPhone 6, 6S, 7, 7S, and iPhone 8 users who want to upgrade, but don't want a physically larger or pricier phone.

Overall the new iPhone SE is, in every respect, on the money.

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The Apple iPhone 12 was revealed in September 2020. A smartphone that sports a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, a ceramic material frame, a new A14 Bionic chip as well as upgraded cameras. The focus of the iPhone 12 is very much on 5G - with each of the models having 5G capabilities but only using that when it's available in order to save battery.

Like the iPhone 11 before it, the iPhone 12 offers many of the important things that you want from the iPhone: a decent camera, 5G, great screen, fast processor, and leaves out many of the "nice to haves" like 60fps video recording, a telephoto lens, or the LiDAR scanner.

Look closely and there are differences, but for that group of people that want a new iPhone, but just can't justify the price of the iPhone 12 Pro range, this is a great choice without having to feel like you are settling for second best.

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The iPhone 12 saw the release of a mini version of the iPhone that featured the same technical prowess of the larger models but with a smaller 5.4-inch display. The idea was to offer all the same power but for customers who wanted something pocketable.

The Apple iPhone 12 mini might be the smallest of the iPhone 12 models, but it is a fantastic little device that shouldn't be underestimated. It has a lovely lightweight compact design, absolutely stunning display, great cameras, and delivers a smooth and fluid performance.

Its battery life isn't amazing and the lack of telephoto lens does mean you can't zoom in when taking photos without losing quality, but they are really the only things we can complain about.

For those considering upgrading from the iPhone 6, 6S, 7 or 8, the iPhone 12 mini is the perfect choice if you want to keep a small handset. It will also reignite a love for compact devices if you've gone bigger in the past though.

The iPhone 12 mini might be small, but it's certainly mighty. Sometimes the little things in life are the best.

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The premium models of Apple's iPhone 12 lineup includes the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 6.7-inch Pro Max. Each of these phones boasts a polished surgical stainless-steel casing, IP68 rating, a Super Retina XDR display and, of course, 5G capabilities.

The iPhone 12 Pro has continued to evolve with new features added and new software enhancements made. This year's model doubles down on photography further, bringing tech we've already been playing with to all the cameras on the iPhone 12 Pro rather than just a select few.

The iPhone 12 Pro does all it can to warrant that Pro label. The screen is stunning, the camera capability professional, and when you can use it, the download speeds with 5G, fast.

And that means that there are many features here that most users won't use or need, but that's okay, this isn't for the model for them, with the iPhone 12 offering much the same experience in a cheaper package.

For those that do see themselves as a "pro" user, this delivers, delivers more than enough, enough in fact that means you'll easily get the job you're doing done.

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The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max was sits at the top of the pile sporting the same processor, same 5G connectivity, and same screen tech (albeit at different sizes, of course) to the 12 Pro. The biggest difference however was the cameras and what they could do between the 12 Pro and the 12 Pro Max.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the most comprehensive and expensive iPhone in the 2020 range. That's because there's a lot here: the screen is massive, the cameras - being the main difference over the 12 Pro - are exceptional, and the overall performance is impressive.

Such a large phone won't be to everyone's liking, but if you like your phone big then this delivers that without making the form-factor awkward to hold or use. It's more-or-less the same size as its predecessor, despite offering an even bigger screen.

The changes to the cameras compared to the other phones in the range are noticeable - the main sensor is physically larger and adds in-body stabilisation for better results, while the telephoto lens has a longer reach - but not to the extent that you have to buy this model to achieve great photographs. For many, we believe the iPhone 12 Pro will be more than good enough.

If you want the maximal iPhone experience - enhanced photo abilities, large screen and all - then the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a big-screen dream.

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The iPhone 13 saw tweaks over the previous iPhone 12 with a new camera housing, new processor, and refinements to the notch at the top of the display. The 13th model in the range, its the latest iPhone to be released.

Although the iPhone 13 isn't drastically different from its iPhone 12 predecessor, it does boost the battery life to deliver what will be an ideal choice for those who want a big screen device - something you won't get in the mini, obviously - with plenty of power and features.

Sure, you do miss out on a handful of nice-to-have features compared to the iPhone 13 Pro - including the telephoto zoom lens, macro mode, 120Hz fast-refresh display, and 1TB storage option - but the iPhone 13 is still an excellent all-round device that, importantly, doesn't cost quite as much.

The iPhone 13 is the balanced choice to make - without really having to feel like you're settling for second best - thanks to that combination of power, big screen and value for money.

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Like the iPhone 12 mini - the iPhone 13 mini followed the same tradition and delivered a small iPhone but with the same power as the larger iPhone 13.

We have so much love for this small-screen iPhone. It delivers performance well beyond its size - matching the iPhone 13 in that regard - and has great cameras, all wrapped into a pocketable and lightweight design that makes for a refreshing change compared to typically larger devices.

No, the iPhone 13 mini's battery life isn't nearly as great as the larger iPhones, and the rear camera housing does stand out a little more on this compact form-factor - but don't let those points put you off entirely, because they're things you'll learn to live within a matter of days.

If you're someone who likes a 6.5-inch or larger display for watching movies, and want better battery stamina, the iPhone 13 mini probably won't be your bag. But for everyone else, you shouldn't underestimate the power of small - as this handset is a pocket powerhouse with massive potential.

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Apple's flagship handset, the iPhone 13 Pro, came with a new processor, the same 5G, and many refinements including a faster refresh rate on the screen and a smaller "notch" at the top of the display. There is also a new colour for those keen to show off the new model.

"That looks like your last phone," was the comment we got when showing family members the new iPhone 13 Pro. And they would be right. Unless you look closely, you'll be hard pushed to notice the differences over its predecessor.

Start to use the iPhone 13 Pro, however, and you'll slowly begin to notice those small but important changes. The increased battery life is an obvious benefit, the smoother screen experience is great (and the more entry iPhone 13 lacks this ProMotion feature), and that updated notch is less noticeable too. It's just all-round better.

Ultimately it feels like Apple's 2021 iPhones are all about refining rather than offering anything brand new. While that's not exciting for those eager to get all the new toys and tech, the iPhone 13 Pro is still as a refined an Apple phone as you can buy - so if you're in the market for an upgrade from an older generation then it'll feel genuinely impressive.

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Unlike previous years, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max featured an identical setup to the iPhone 13 Pro making this really about screen size rather than other things like the camera. That approach was welcomed by many who had previously felt they had to opt for the larger model to get all the new features of the iPhone.

In previous years the iPhone Pro Max model had always offered extra features - such as image stabilisation or a greater zoom lens - to help set it apart from the pack. For 2021 it's a more level playing field, the only difference over the Pro model being the Pro Max's bigger screen and longer battery life.

That big screen and battery are certainly useful for various tasks, but not all: the sheer size and weight of the device mean it's not something you can easily slip into your jeans pocket. Still, we've enjoyed using it to shoot video and photos more than any other iPhone 13 model because of the larger-scale visuals.

Although the iPhone 13 Pro Max doesn't move the experience along hugely over its 2020 predecessor - much as we love the smoothness provided by ProMotion faster screen refresh - it's still the ultimate choice if you want all the features and all the stamina.

Writing by Stuart Miles and Britta O'Boyle.

iPhone X: How Apple's Jony Ive Designed It

Apple helped bring personal computers into the home with its early Macs, revolutionized the way we listen to music with the iPod, and put a supercomputer in everyone’s pocket with the iPhone. In 2017, the Cupertino, Calif. company came for the smartphone—again —with its iPhone X, one of TIME’s 25 Best Inventions of the Year.

It’s the biggest change Apple has made to the iPhone in years, and a necessary one for the world’s most valuable brand. Apple still makes the lion’s share of profits in the smartphone industry: Strategy Analytics estimates that Apple made up 70% of global smartphone operating profit share during the third quarter of 2017. But over the past few years its iPhones have received mostly incremental upgrades, such as faster processors, camera improvements, and water resistance. Meanwhile, Android phone-makers were busy experimenting with more exciting concepts like borderless screens and designs that are meant to be future-proof.

The iPhone X, with its edge-to-edge glass and facial recognition system, will undoubtedly be seen as a response to critics who periodically question Apple’s capacity to innovate. (It’s also pronounced “iPhone 10.”) But the iPhone X is less about answering those immediate questions—whether the phone will outpace rivals like Samsung and yield blockbuster sales amidst reports of production issues. Apple executives say the iPhone X is about charting a course for where Apple’s products are headed. “This phone really sets us up well for the next 10 years,” says Dan Riccio, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering.

Getting there will mean letting go of some of the things we’ve gotten used to about our smartphones. To make the iPhone X’s screen as expansive as possible without enlarging the phone itself, for instance, Apple had to get rid of the home button. “There were these extraordinarily complex problems that needed to be solved,” says Jonathan Ive, Apple’s chief design officer.

Among those challenges was deciding how exactly to replace a button that all iPhones have had in common for the last ten years. Cutting that circular key from the iPhone X’s design meant Apple had to rethink how to execute basic tasks like unlocking the phone, pulling up Siri and launching Apple Pay, among other actions. Since there’s no home button, Apple implemented a series of swipe gestures into the iPhone X’s software for navigating its interface. But getting there isn’t always easy. When Apple designers get stumped on how to solve a given problem, they look to the past for guidance. “Paying attention to what’s happened historically actually helps give you some faith that you are going to find a solution,” says Ive, a soft-spoken 50-year-old Englishman. “Faith isn’t a surrogate for engineering competence, but it can certainly help fuel the belief that you’re going to find a solution. And that’s important.”

Apple has an affinity for moving away from legacy technologies before the world may be ready to abandon them. The decision to axe the round button below the iPhone’s screen comes after Apple eliminated the 3.5mm headphone jack on last year’s iPhone 7. Back in 1998, Apple was among the first computer makers to ditch the floppy drive.

How does Apple decide when it’s time to move on? It’s not a decision to get rid of an existing technology as much as it’s a willingness to accept that what’s familiar isn’t always what’s best. “I actually think the path of holding onto features that have been effective, the path of holding onto those whatever the cost, is a path that leads to failure,” says Ive. “And in the short term, it’s the path the feels less risky and it’s the path that feels more secure.”

He’s not wrong: Some felt so strongly about Apple’s choice to remove the headphone port last year that a petition to keep it circulated online. (It currently has more than 300,000 signatures.) Some iPhone X reviewers criticized the new navigational features Apple created to replace the home button. (Fast Company called the phone a “user experience nightmare,” Quartz’s reviewer lamented “the simplicity of pressing a button.”) Ive is aware of those consequences. “It’s not necessarily the most comfortable place to be in when you believe there’s a better way,” he admits. “[Because] that means moving on from something that has felt successful.”

Behind these changes and cuts, there is often some evidence of Apple’s fanatical attention to detail. Even if it sometimes comes at a price. For example, when the company nixed the headphone jack, it offered a $159 alternative in its AirPod wireless headphones, which pair with your phone instantly as soon as you open the earbuds’ case. Talking to Ive, it’s clear where this obsession with detail comes from. He says he not only considers the elements that users will immediately notice, such as the iPhone X’s Face ID, but also the ones that they won’t. “There are certain things that you’re very conscious of as a user, and other things that you’re aware of but subconsciously,” says Ive. “Perhaps the subconscious example is just the nature of the way the iPhone X’s display is integrated into the stainless steel and glass body.”

The iPhone X has marked several firsts for Apple’s smartphone besides being the first without a home button. It’s also the first iPhone with an OLED screen (which Android phone makers like Samsung have been using on their devices for years), and it’s the first iPhone to cost $999, making it just as expensive as a MacBook Air. To Ive, the logic is straightforward: better technology is simply more expensive. “As you would expect, there’s a financial consequence to integrating the sheer amount of processing power into such a small device,” he says.

Apple points to the iPhone X’s less expensive siblings, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus as well as the other older smartphones it sells, as evidence that it understands not everyone is willing to pay $1,000 for a new phone. “Our goal is always to provide what we think is the best product possible, not always the lowest cost,” says Riccio.

When addressing the issue of price, Ive reminds me of how the world perceived the initial iPhone when it was unveiled in 2007. At the time, $500 was a high price for a smartphone. But that’s because Apple always perceived the iPhone as being more than a phone. Jobs famously introduced the device by calling it “an iPod, a phone, and an Internet communicator.” “People hadn’t necessarily experienced the product because there was the word ‘phone’ in the product name,” Ive says.

It’s fitting really that so much of a discussion of the iPhone X ends up being one about the original iPhone. After all, Apple has been open about the fact that its goal has been to create a device that’s entirely screen since day one. From there, thanks to a bounty of rumors and a few patent documents, it’s easy enough to imagine some future iPhone with a screen that wraps around its shell or a camera that can detect gestures. Ive and Riccio aren’t telling, except for to say that there’s a “clear vision” for what’s next from Apple. Or as Ive puts it, “This is just in some sense a completion of a chapter.”

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Preferência jovem: iPhone é o celular favorito de 87% dos adolescentes nos EUA

Uma nova pesquisa publicada pela Piper Sandler indica que o iPhone é o celular favorito de 87% dos jovens nos EUA, e este número está crescendo com as novas gerações do celular, que também já foi indicado como o smartphone mais desejado pelos brasileiros em estatísticas fornecidas pela Pelando.

Os resultados foram obtidos pela Piper Sandler a partir de entrevistas com 7.100 jovens de 44 estados do EUA durante o mês de março de 2022. Os números indicam que 87% deles já têm um iPhone e que a mesma porcentagem quer que o seu próximo smartphone seja da Apple, independente da marca do celular atual.

Dentre os jovens que já têm um celular da Apple, 18% deles são de última geração, ou seja, da linha iPhone 13. Essa porcentagem vem crescendo, pois em 2021 ela era de 12%.