History of iPhone from 2007 to 2026:How the iPhone evolved, changed its lineup, and shaped Apple’s biggest milestones

What started as a phone, iPod, and internet device in 2007 has grown into a smartphone used for everything from photography and payments to gaming, work, and AI. Over nearly two decades, Apple has changed the iPhone’s design, cameras, display, security, charging system, and performance. The iPhone has gone from a 3.5-inch touchscreen and 2MP camera to today’s large displays, 48MP cameras, 5G, Face ID, USB-C, and Apple Intelligence. As Apple’s ‘Surprise and shine’ event approaches, it is worth looking back at everything the company has launched so far in the iPhone lineup. So, before looking at what Apple does next, let’s go back to where it all started. 2007: The original iPhone changed the phone forever Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone on January 9, 2007, calling it a combination of a phone, an iPod, and an internet device. It had a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a 2MP camera, and a physical Home button. Unlike many phones at the time, it relied heavily on touch controls instead of a physical keyboard. The original iPhone was not officially launched in India. In the US, it started at $499. Key change: Multi-touch touchscreen, visual voicemail, and a phone-iPod-internet combination. 2008: iPhone 3G brings the App Store The iPhone 3G arrived with 3G connectivity and GPS. But its biggest contribution was the App Store. This allowed people to download third-party apps and turned the iPhone from a phone into a platform for games, social media, shopping, and other services. Key change: 3G, GPS, and App Store. 2009: iPhone 3GS focuses on speed The iPhone 3GS looked similar to its predecessor but was faster. It introduced a 3MP camera with video recording, along with voice control. The ‘S’ was associated with speed, as Apple focused on improving performance rather than changing the design. Key change: Faster performance, video recording, and voice control. 2010: iPhone 4 brings Retina display and FaceTime The iPhone 4 brought one of the biggest design changes yet. It had a glass body, stainless-steel frame, and Apple’s first Retina display. It also introduced a front camera, which helped bring FaceTime video calling to the iPhone. Key change: Retina display, front camera, and FaceTime. 2011: iPhone 4S introduces Siri The iPhone 4S kept the design of the iPhone 4 but brought major improvements inside. It introduced the A5 chip, an 8MP camera, and Siri, Apple’s voice assistant. Siri became one of the most recognisable features of the iPhone. Key change: Siri, 8MP camera and 1080p video recording. 2012: iPhone 5 gets bigger and lighter The iPhone 5 brought a taller 4-inch display and a slimmer aluminium body. It also moved from the old 30-pin connector to Lightning. It added 4G LTE support, making mobile internet much faster for compatible networks. Key change: Bigger display, Lightning port and 4G LTE. 2013: Touch ID arrives Apple launched the iPhone 5s alongside the colourful iPhone 5c. The 5s introduced Touch ID, allowing users to unlock the phone using their fingerprint. It also featured Apple’s first 64-bit smartphone chip, the A7. The iPhone 5c, meanwhile, brought a colourful plastic design to the lineup. Key change: Touch ID and 64-bit chip. 2014: iPhone gets bigger with iPhone 6 Apple finally embraced larger screens with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, offering 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays. The phones also introduced Apple Pay, allowing users to make contactless payments where supported. Key change: Larger displays and Apple Pay. 2015–2016: 3D Touch, Live Photos and better cameras The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus improved performance with the A9 chip and introduced 3D Touch, which allowed the screen to respond differently depending on how hard users pressed it. They also introduced Live Photos. In 2016, Apple launched the first iPhone SE, combining the smaller iPhone 5s design with newer hardware. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus later removed the headphone jack and added water resistance. The 7 Plus also introduced a dual-camera system and Portrait mode. Key changes: 3D Touch, Live Photos, water resistance, and dual cameras. Also read: Apple confirms ‘Surprise and Shine’ event for September 9:It’s that time of the year as tech giant expected to launch foldable iPhone and iPhone 18 series

2017: iPhone X removes the Home button The iPhone X marked one of the biggest changes in iPhone history. Apple removed the Home button and introduced an almost all-screen design. It also brought Face ID, powered by the TrueDepth camera system. At the same time, Apple launched the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, which retained the older Home button design but added wireless charging. Key change: Face ID, edge-to-edge display, and gesture-based navigation. 2018: iPhone XR brings the new design to more users Apple launched the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. The XS models offered OLED displays and improved performance, while the XR offered a more affordable way to get the newer Face ID design. The XR also came in several bright colours. Key change: Face ID design across more of the lineup and a larger Max display. 2019: iPhone 11 makes cameras a bigger focus The iPhone 11 series included the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 11 added a dual-camera system, while the Pro models brought a triple-camera setup. Night mode also improved low-light photography. Key change: Better cameras, Night mode, and stronger battery life. 2020: iPhone SE returns and iPhone 12 brings 5G Apple launched the second-generation iPhone SE with a familiar Home button design but newer internals. Later that year, the iPhone 12 series brought 5G to the iPhone. It also introduced a flat-edge design and MagSafe, allowing compatible accessories to attach magnetically. Key change: 5G and MagSafe. 2021: iPhone 13 improves cameras and video The iPhone 13 lineup introduced Cinematic mode, allowing users to create videos with a depth-of-field effect. Apple also improved battery life and camera performance. The entry-level storage was increased to 128GB, double the previous starting capacity. Key change: Cinematic mode, better cameras, and more starting storage. 2022: Dynamic Island changes the top of the iPhone The iPhone 14 series brought important safety features such as Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite. The Pro models introduced the Dynamic Island, replacing the traditional notch with an interactive area around the front camera system. The iPhone 14 Pro also became the first iPhone with a 48MP main camera and an always-on display. Key change: Dynamic Island, 48MP camera, and satellite safety features. Also read: Tim Cook’s 15-year Apple CEO stint comes to an end: From supply-chain expert to tech giant’s longtime leader, is he completely leaving?

2023: USB-C finally replaces Lightning The iPhone 15 series brought another major change: Apple replaced the Lightning port with USB-C. The standard iPhone 15 models also received the Dynamic Island and 48MP main camera, while the Pro models moved to the A17 Pro chip and titanium design. Key change: USB-C, 48MP camera, and titanium Pro models. 2024: Apple brings AI to the iPhone The iPhone 16 series focused heavily on Apple Intelligence. The lineup introduced the Camera Control button, allowing users to quickly open and control the camera. The standard models also received the Action button. Apple Intelligence added features such as writing assistance, notification summaries, Clean Up in Photos, and visual intelligence on supported devices. Key change: Apple Intelligence, Camera Control, and A18 chip. 2025: iPhone 16e, iPhone 17 and iPhone Air Apple added the iPhone 16e in 2025 as a more affordable member of the iPhone 16 family. It brought the A18 chip, Apple Intelligence, and Apple’s first in-house cellular modem, the C1. Later, the iPhone 17 series arrived. The iPhone 17 introduced a 6.3-inch ProMotion display, A19 chip, 48MP Dual Fusion camera system, and a new Center Stage front camera. It started at ₹82,900 in India. Apple also introduced iPhone Air, a thinner and lighter model with a 6.5-inch ProMotion display. It starts at ₹1,19,900 in India. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max moved further into the pro-performance space with the A19 Pro chip, a new aluminium unibody design, and improved cameras. They start at ₹1,34,900 and ₹1,49,900 respectively. Key changes: Center Stage camera, ProMotion on the standard model, iPhone Air, and A19/A19 Pro chips. 2026: iPhone 17e completes the latest lineup Apple introduced the iPhone 17e as a more affordable option in the iPhone 17 family. It comes with a 6.1-inch display, A19 chip, C1X modem, MagSafe, and a 48MP Fusion camera. Apple currently lists it from ₹64,900 in India. Key change: A19 performance, MagSafe and Apple Intelligence at a lower price. iPhone 18 Pro
The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to bring a refined design, a smaller Dynamic Island, a more powerful A20 Pro chip, and camera upgrades, including a possible variable-aperture main camera.
One of the biggest changes could be the colour lineup, with Apple reportedly testing a Dark Cherry/Burgundy shade to replace the iPhone 17 Pro’s striking Cosmic Orange, although the final lineup remains unconfirmed until Apple’s launch. From a phone to an everyday computer The iPhone’s biggest change over these years is not just its screen, camera or processor. In 2007, it was mainly a new way to make calls, browse the internet, and listen to music. Today, the iPhone can be used for banking, payments, photography, gaming, video editing, navigation, work and AI-powered tasks. Also read: Apple reveals salary of new CEO and executive chairman: John Ternus to get ₹551 crore, Tim Cook ₹447 crore in new pay packages

What’s next for the iPhone? The iPhone’s journey began under Steve Jobs, continued through Tim Cook’s 15-year leadership, and has now entered a new chapter with John Ternus as Apple’s CEO. Ternus is taking charge at a crucial moment, with the iPhone 18 lineup set to be among his first major product launches as CEO.
Apple has already teased the September 9 event as ‘Surprise and shine,’ while Ternus has described the future of Apple with optimism.
After nearly two decades of iPhone evolution, the big question now is what Ternus’ first chapter will look like. Will the iPhone 18 bring another major shift to the series? We’ll find out soon.