A history of iPhones: How has the iPhone changed over time?
THE iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X are a far cry from the first iPhone. Here’s how the smartphone has changed over 10 years.
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WHEN the first iPhone reached Australia 10 years ago, we marvelled at its touch screen.
Now, touch screens are the rule, and when every new generation is announced, we’re itching to find out the updates.
Apple’s latest products — iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone x — are the most expensive yet, and are the biggest leap from the original.
At the recent launch, Apple CEO Tim Cook reflected over the last 10 years of Apple products.
“No other device in our lifetimes have had the impact on the world that the iPhone has,” Mr Cook said.
“Nothing else has put so much power in people’s hands than the iPhone. It’s truly amazing how much the iPhone impacts the world each and every day.”
Notably, these iPhones will be charged on a wireless pad, there’s no longer a home screen button, and you can access it via 3D facial recognition.
WHAT’S NEW? READ ALL DETAILS ON THE IPHONE 8, 8 PLUS AND X
But is each generation of iPhone really so different?
From price and display size to resolution (level of detail in an image) and computer memory (RAM), here’s how the iPhone has changed up until now.
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The First iPhone
The first iPhone was launched in 2007. Looking back at the quality of the first iPhone is like watching an old VHS tape. Yes, it was revolutionary tech, but doesn’t meet today’s standards.
Starting price: $622
Resolution: 320 x 480
Display size: 9cm (3.5 inch)
RAM: 128MB
Storage: Up to 16GB
Camera quality: 2 megapixels
Weight: 136 grams
iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS
iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS were introduced in 2008 and 2009. These saw the first App Store, and the first iPhones with 3G internet.
Starting price: $747
Resolution: 320 x 480
Display size: 9cm (3.5 inch)
RAM:
3G: 128MB
3GS: 256MB
Storage:
3G: Up to 16GB
3GS: Up to 32GB
Camera quality:
3G: 2 megapixels
3GS: 3 megapixels
Weight:
3G: 132 grams
3GS: 136 grams
iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S
In 2010, Apple introduced this technology as the first with “retina display” — image resolution so high, a user can’t distinguish individual pixels. It also accelerated selfie culture, introducing the front camera.
And the 4S, which was brought to the market a year later, introduced the world to our computer friend, Siri.
Starting price:
4: $747
4S: $809
Resolution: 960 x 640
Display size: 9cm (3.5 inch)
RAM: 512MB
Storage:
4: Up to 32GB
4S: Up to 64GB
Camera quality:
4: 5 megapixels
4S: 8 megapixels
Weight:
4: 136 grams
4S: 141 grams
iPhone 5, iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C
iPhone 5 came out in 2012. iPhone 5S and 5C followed in 2013. This time, Apple made the screens half an inch taller for the first time, improved the internet and brought us the touch ID fingerprint sensor.
Released alongside the 5S, the iPhone 5C was a cheaper, plastic alternative.
Starting price:
5: $747
5S: $747
5C: $684
Resolution: 1136 x 640
Display size: 9cm (3.5 inch)
RAM: 1GB
Storage:
5: Up to 64GB
5S: Up to 64GB
5C: Up to 32GB
Rear camera quality: 8 megapixels
Weight:
5: 113 grams
5S: 113 grams
5C: 131 grams
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S
In 2014 and 2015, these iPhones grew another 1.7cm from their predecessor, making their display size 12cm. An optional extra size was also added at a pocket-busting 14cm.
They also featured larger batteries, and the 6S introduced “3D touch”, where the screen can perceive different touch forces to activate different functions.
Starting price: $649
Resolution: 1334 x 750
RAM:
6: 1GB
6S: 2GB
Storage:
6: Up to 128GB
Rear camera quality: 12 megapixel
Weight:
6: 127 grams
6S: 141 grams
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
Both versions were released it the same time in 2016, and controversially, this brand of iPhone didn’t include a headphone jack, instead requiring many of its users to buy new products, such as wireless headphones. The front-view camera quality also leapt to 7 megapixels.
The iPhone 7 Plus can withstand dust and is water-resistant.
Starting price:
7: $809
7 Plus: $959
Resolution:
7: 1334 x 750
7 Plus: 1920 x 1080
Display size:
7: 12cm
7 Plus: 14cm
RAM:
7: 2GB
7 Plus: 3GB
Storage: Up to 256GB
Rear camera quality: 12 megapixels
Weight:
7: 136 grams
7 Plus: 186 grams
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