The Evolution of iPhones over the years
The Evolution of iPhones over the years
The right answer is 2007. Can you believe that it has been 13 years?
iPhones have come a long way since the start of technology and it is one of the more popular types of phones among many others. In the past 13 years, Apple has released 29 iPhone models, including iPhone SE, iPhone Plus, and iPhone X. Let us take a look at how iPhones have evolved over the years.
2007: iPhone
Introduced in January 2007 and released in June 2007, the first model of iPhone has a capacity of up to 16GB, which is considered to be low in today’s time. The camera in the phone runs on 2 megapixels and it can only capture images.
2008: iPhone 3G
This model of iPhone got its name as it is able to connect to 3G networks. Though it looks similar to the first version of iPhone, iPhone 3G was the first device to have the App Store in it!
2009: iPhone 3GS
iPhone 3GS is the upgraded version of iPhone 3G. The newer version has a larger phone capacity of 32GB and the video recording function was introduced in this model. iPhone 3GS also features Voice Control (in case you do not know, Voice Control is an older version of Siri).
2010: iPhone 4
3 years after iPhones were released, Apple finally released front-facing cameras. This year (2020) also marks the 10th birthday of FaceTime.
2011: iPhone 4s
The introduction of iPhone 4s came shortly after Steve Jobs stepped down from his position as CEO. Apple released several new functions, such as a larger capacity (64GB), 1080p video recording, and Siri.
2012: iPhone 5
In the first week of iPhone 5’s release, 5 million units were sold. This iPhone model was the first to get a size-upgrade, from 5 rows of apps to 6. Additionally, iPhone 5 has LTE connectivity and this was when the dock USB chargers were changed to lightning cables.
2013: iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s
Introduced in September 2013, the new Apple CEO, Tim Cook, announced the launch of two iPhones simultaneously. Instead of the usual black or white phones, there is a range of colours available for iPhone 5c (white, blue, pink, green, yellow).
Though iPhone 5s does not have a variety of colours, it has new features such as Touch ID, AirDrop, slow-motion videos, and more.
2014: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus
With its curved edge made from glass, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is larger as compared to iPhone 5. In these two models, the phone capacity is now doubled to 128GB. Retina HD was introduced in these two iPhones too.
2015: iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus
A major difference between iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s is the camera. The newer version has 12 megapixels while the older one only has 8 megapixels. Touch ID was upgraded to 3D Touch in iPhone 6s.
2016: iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone SE looks similar to iPhone 5s, just that its internal capacity is more similar to iPhone 6s than iPhone 5s.
iPhone 7 marks a new design to iPhone – buttonless. The home button was changed to a haptic-based virtual button and the audio jack was removed. A second camera was also added in iPhone 7 models.
2017: iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus came with glass back, and this was when wireless charging started to gain its fame. True-tone, a function where blue-light will be reduced, was also introduced. This is the last model to have the home button on it.
If you enjoy taking selfies, you should purchase an iPhone X. This iPhone model has an extra front-facing camera which allows the user to take images in Portrait mode. Facial recognition started to become a part of iPhones too.
2018: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR
iPhone XS and XS Max have an improved dual-camera, higher processing power and lowered amount of battery drain. In this model, the smallest chip was used – A12 bionic chip.
Similar to iPhone 5c, iPhone XR has a range of colours available too. This model of iPhone is smaller than iPhone XS and XS Max. What makes this different is its LCD screen (instead of OLED) and Liquid Retina Display.
2019: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone 11 has the OLED screen, just like iPhone XS. This model features a wide and ultra-wide camera lens, 6.1” Liquid Retina Display, and new colours (purple and green).
The Pro and Pro Max versions have three cameras instead of two. The 12 megapixels camera has wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses.
2020: iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro Max
With the 1st generation introduced 4 years ago, the 2nd generation is a favourite among those who prefer smaller phones. Though it might be smaller, it still has its A13 Bionic chip and other features which are in the newer models.
iPhone 12 marks the start of 5G networking. iPhone 12 is estimated to have a video playback of 17 hours while iPhone 12 mini has around 15 hours. For those photography lovers who do not want to get a DSLR, Pro and Pro Max are your go-to options with its camera upgrades – improved Night mode, RAW photos, 60 frames per second of Dolby Vision, and LiDAR scanning.
A large part of what makes the iPad Mini so popular is its tiny frame combined with insane processing power. Apple knew their target demographic well when tweaking the specs for this recent release, and it really shows. Catered towards people working on the go, and creatives who spend a lot of time drawing and sketching for work, this 6th generation iPad Mini checks all the boxes for a powerful and portable tablet suited for work and play.
Apart from the changes to case material, the new design language of the iPad Mini 6 features a larger edge-to-edge screen, along with narrow borders and minimum bezel space. Although we’ve seen bezel-less devices from Apple for the better half of a decade, this is the first time the iPad Mini has gotten such an upgrade. In addition to looking much sleeker, this change is felt even more coupled with the new 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide colour, and ultra-low reflectivity.
The end result is a gorgeous dynamic screen that makes the iPad Mini 6 a practical choice indoors and outdoors. Not to mention the support of Apple Pencil 2, which feels amazing on the low latency screen. All these facets add up to make a difference larger than the sum of each individual part, resulting in the new iPad Mini feeling like the perfect device for anyone wanting a portable and adaptable workhorse tablet.
Apart from the changes to case material, the new design language of the iPad Mini 6 features a larger edge-to-edge screen, along with narrow borders and minimum bezel space. Although we’ve seen bezel-less devices from Apple for the better half of a decade, this is the first time the iPad Mini has gotten such an upgrade. In addition to looking much sleeker, this change is felt even more coupled with the new 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide colour, and ultra-low reflectivity.
The end result is a gorgeous dynamic screen that makes the iPad Mini 6 a practical choice indoors and outdoors. Not to mention the support of Apple Pencil 2, which feels amazing on the low latency screen. All these facets add up to make a difference larger than the sum of each individual part, resulting in the new iPad Mini feeling like the perfect device for anyone wanting a portable and adaptable workhorse tablet.
It wouldn’t be an Apple upgrade if they didn’t improve the camera capabilities on the device. If anything, that’s the least we expect from the tech giant’s annual keynote events. This time, the iPad Mini has received blessings in both the front and back cameras on the device. Boasting a 12MP camera on both the front and back of the 6th-Gen iPad Mini, this is a massive boon compared to the relatively sub-par 7 and 8-megapixel cameras on the respective front and back of the 5th-Gen iPad Mini. The newer Mini also has the ability to record in 4k and capture higher-quality images, courtesy of the new Smart HDR 3 function in the A15 Bionic chip.
Knowing that video calls are also more popular now than even in the time of COVID-19, Apple’s implementation of CentreStage for a more natural video call experience also feels like a natural feature to have as well.
A ton of well-deserved updates to the iPad Mini makes it feel right at home alongside Apple’s latest generation of tablets. If you’re still wondering if you should still get the new iPad, the make or break factor here really is the size and portability of the iPad Mini 6.
Historically, the Mini was always viewed as the cheaper and lower-spec cousin of the flagship iPad. Not this time – the iPad Mini 6 proves a worthy contender for the individual who’s constantly on the move, looking for an all in one device that fits comfortably in the palm of their hand.
