Apple's iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are now available online and in Apple stores. Here's a look back at the evolution of the consumer smartphone that started it all, along with release dates for every iPhone and key turning points along the way.
Evolution of Apple’s iconic iPhone: 2007 to 2016
Earlier this month, Apple announced its latest iPhone models: The top-of-the-line iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The following slides offer a high-level look at the evolution of Apple’s now industry-standard smartphone, along with a timeline of notable events, early sales numbers for each model and technical specifications that set them apart from their predecessors.
(Editor’s note: This slide show was updated on Sept. 28, 2016, to include additional information on the iPhone 5s, 5c, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE, 7 and 7 Plus.)
Apple iPhone 5 — The first ‘Retina’ display
Image by Apple
Announced: Sept. 12, 2012
Released: Sept. 21, 2012 in the United States
Notable specs: 4-inch “Retina” display; Apple A6 processor; 4G LTE support; 8MP camera, and new, proprietary Apple “Lightning” port.
Notable iPhone 5 fact: The iPhone 5 was the first iPhone with a display larger than 3.5 inches.
Sales: Apple said it sold 5 million iPhone 5 devices in the three days following its launch.
Apple iPhone 5s — TouchID with the swipe of a finger
Image by REUTERS/Kim Kyung Hoon
Announced: Sept. 10, 2013.
Release: Sept. 20, 2013, in the United States.
Notable specs: Apple A7 chip with 64-bit processor core; Touch ID fingerprint sensor and support for wide array of 4G LTE bands.
Notable iPhone 5s fact: The iPhone 5s introduced what is now one of Apple’s most compelling features: Touch ID. The finger-based authentication system would evolve to not only unlock an iPhone, but securely authorize online payments, as well as in-store payments via Apple Pay, and access secure applications, such as banking apps and password managers.
Sales: Apple said it sold 9 million new iPhone 5s and 5c devices during the three days following its Sept. 20 launch.
Apple iPhone 5c — iPhone gets a color bath
Image by REUTERS/Adrees Latif
Announced: Sept. 10, 2013.
Release: Sept. 20, 2013, in the United States.
Notable Specs: Colorful casing with internal frame made of reinforced steel; Apple A6 processor; support for wide array of 4G LTE bands.
Notable iPhone 5c fact: With the iPhone 5c, Apple honed in on a new target demographic: mid-range consumers who valued fun, colorful looks and affordability over top-of-the-line tech specs. Though the brightly colored body would eventually be phased out in favor of the iPhone SE’s iPhone-5-like design, the iPhone 5c was the most colorful iPhone to date. Before the iPhone 7, it was the only iPhone to come in five different color options: blue, green, pink, yellow and white.
Sales: Three days after its iPhone 5s and 5c launch, Apple said it sold 9 million new devices. It did not break out sales numbers for the different device models.
Apple iPhone 6 — Apple Pay bring mobile payments to the masses
Image by REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Announced: Sept. 9, 2014.
Released: Sept. 19, 2014, in the United States.
Notable Specs: Apple’s A8 chip with second-generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture; Apple Pay support; 4.7-inch Retina HD display with 1334 x 750 resolution; M8 motion coprocessor that collects motion data from an accelerometer, gyroscope, compass and barometer; support for voice calls over LTE (VoLTE), Wi-Fi calling (dependent on carrier availability), and up to 20 LTE wireless bands; up to 128GB of storage.
Notable iPhone 6 fact: iPhone 6 was the first Apple phone to feature the less-boxy, rounder form factor that’s still largely in use in 2016 with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Sales: Three days after the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch, Apple said it sold more than 10 million new devices. It did not break out sales numbers for the different device models.
Apple iPhone 6 Plus — Apple’s first ‘phablet’
Image by REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Announced: Sept. 9, 2014.
Released: Sept. 19, 2014, in the United States.
Notable Specs: Apple’s A8 chip with second-generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture; Apple Pay support; 5.5-inch Retina HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution; M8 motion coprocessor collected motion data from an accelerometer, gyroscope, compass and barometer; support for voice calls over LTE (VoLTE), Wi-Fi calling (dependent on carrier availability) and up to 20 LTE wireless bands; up to 128GB of storage.
Notable iPhone 6 Plus facts: In 2010, Apple cofounder Steve Jobs said during an Apple press conference that “no one’s going to buy” a big phone “you can’t get your hand around.” Jobs proved prescient in many cases, but that wasn’t one of them. The first Apple “phablet” was popular, though it did suffer some early challenges, namely “bendgate.”
Sales: Three days after the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch, Apple said it sold more than 10 million new devices. It did not break out sales numbers for the different device models.
Apple iPhone 6s — a familiar design in a brand new color
Image by REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach
Announced: Sept. 9, 2015.
Released: Sept. 25, 2015, in the United States.
Notable Specs: Apple’s A9 chip with third-generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture; 7000 series aluminum body, or “the same alloy used in the aerospace industry,” according to Apple; same 4.7-inch Retina HD display with 1334 x 750 resolution as iPhone 6; pressure sensitive display and new “3D Touch” features; camera support for 4K HD video, with resolution up to 3840 x 2160; support for up to 23 LTE bands.
Notable iPhone 6s fact: The iPhone 6s looked identical to the iPhone 6, but it came in a flashy new “rose gold” option that proved popular among both female and male customers.
Sales: Three days after the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus launch, Apple said it sold more than 13 million new devices. It did not break out sales numbers for the different device models.
Apple iPhone 6s Plus — a refined phablet
Image by REUTERS/Robert Galbraith
Announced: Sept. 9, 2015.
Released: Sept. 25, 2015, in the United States.
Notable Specs: Apple’s A9 chip with third-generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture; 7000 series aluminum body, or “the same alloy used in the aerospace industry,” according to Apple; same 5.5-inch Retina HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution as iPhone 6 Plus; pressure sensitive display and new “3D Touch” features; camera support for 4K HD video, with resolution up to 3840 x 2160; support for up to 23 LTE bands.
Notable iPhone 6s Plus facts: Besides the obvious size and weight differences between the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the larger phone also had an optical image stabilization (OIS) camera feature not found in the smaller iPhone 6s. The phablet also didn’t experience the same screen durability issues as the iPhone 6 Plus. And it was available in rose gold.
Sales: Three days after the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus launch, Apple said it sold more than 13 million new devices. It did not break out sales numbers for the different device models.
Apple iPhone SE — iPhone 5 on the outside, iPhone 6s inside
Image by REUTERS/Stephen Lam
Announced: March 21, 2016.
Released: March 31, 2016.
Notable Specs: Same 64-bit A9 chip as in iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus; 4-inch Retina display; camera can capture 4K HD video at a resolution of 3840 x 2160; M9 motion co-processor; support for VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling (carrier dependent); up to 64GB of storage; and Apple Pay support for Touch ID.
Notable iPhone SE facts: Apple quietly replaced the mid-range iPhone 5c with the iPhone SE and its familiar form factor, which was nearly identicial to the iPhone 5 and 5s design. The phone had many of the same internal componets as the larger, pricier iPhone 6s and 6s Plus devices, with the notable exception of 3D Touch.
Sales: Apple didn’t officially announce initial iPhone SE sales numbers.
Apple iPhone 7 — black is the new rose gold
Image by REUTERS/Edgar Su
Announced: Sept. 7, 2016.
Released: Sept. 16, 2016, in the United States.
Notable Specs: Apple A10 Fusion chip; “brighter” 4.7-inch display, with 1334 x 750 resolution; new low-light camera; enhanced stereo speakers; IP67 water and dust resistance; 7MP front-facing camera; Quad-LED True Tone flash; support for up to 25 LTE bands; new, “fixed” home button; up to 256GB storage.
Notable iPhone 7 facts: Both the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus come in two new black color options: a shiny “jet black” and an anodized matte black. The two devices are also the first iPhones without standard audio ports. The iPhone 7s use Apple’s Lightning port for audio. However, Apple included a 3.5mm-to-Lightning adapter with every new iPhone.
Sales: Apple chose not to release iPhone 7 sales numbers.
Apple iPhone 7 Plus — An advanced telephoto camera
Image by REUTERS/Jason Reed
Announced: Sept. 7, 2016.
Released: Sept. 16, 2016, in the United States.
Notable specs: Apple A10 Fusion chip; “brighter” 5.5-inch Retina HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution; new low-light camera; additional 12MP telephoto camera that offers advanced optical and digital zoom options; enhanced stereo speakers; IP67 water and dust resistance; 7MP front-facing camera; Quad-LED True Tone flash; support for up to 25 LTE bands; new, “fixed” home button; up to 256GB storage.
Notable iPhone 7 facts: The iPhone 7 Plus has a more advanced camera than the iPhone 7. The larger phone has an additional telephoto camera lens that allows for twice the level of optical zoom for photos and 10 times digital zoom as the smaller iPhone 7. The larger iPhone’s camera will also receive a software update in the future to enable a new “portrait mode” that blurs the background of certain images.
Sales: Apple chose not to release iPhone 7 sales numbers.
