Today marks 15 years since Apple released its flagship device: the iPhone. Announced to an eager audience in 2007, the iPhone has revolutionized how we communicate and even how we live day to day. A decade and a half later, few products have managed to reach a similar level of brand recognition.
The iPhone was released in the United States in June 2007 and in six countries in November (but notably not in Australia).
From the launch of Mac computers in the 1970s to the iPod in 2001, Apple already knew how to engage with its audience and encourage extraordinary levels of hype when launching a product.
Early reviews for the iPhone were almost universally glowing, applauding Apple’s attention to detail and style. The only problem flagged was network connectivity – an issue with slow speeds on phone carrier networks rather than the device itself.
Consumers’ appreciation of the iPhone’s style was no surprise. It indicated an emerging trend towards smartphones with large-format screens (which still reflected the form of a phone). The Nokia N95 was another example that hit the market the same year.
The original iPhone offered wifi, supported 2G EDGE connectivity, and had internet download speeds below 500Kbps (compared to multi Mbps speeds today).
It was also limited to 4GB or 8GB models. This might sound pitiful compared to the 1TB options available today, but it’s enough to hold hundreds of songs or videos and was revolutionary then.
The iPhone 3G was rolled out globally in July 2008, with significantly improved data speeds and the addition of the Apple App Store. Even though it offered a mere 500 apps at launch, the app store marked a significant improvement in phone functionality.
And just as users started getting used to 3G, it was superseded by the iPhone 3GS about a year later.
This cycle of regularly pushing out new products was critical to Apple’s success. By releasing regular updates (either through whole product iterations or more minor functionality improvements), Apple managed to secure an enthusiastic audience eager for new releases each year.
Also, since older products would often be passed down within families, Apple’s product pipeline helped it establish a multi-generational user base. This pipeline continues to operate today.
The iPhone family has delivered size, speed, and storage improvements over its 15-year history. Some of its “new” features weren’t necessarily new to the market, but Apple excelled at delivering them in highly integrated ways that “just worked” (as founder Steve Jobs would say).
In 2013, the iPhone 5S introduced Touch ID, which allowed users to unlock their phones with a fingerprint. While this was first presented with the Fujitsu F505i in 2003, Apple delivered a robust feature implementation. Of course, it wasn’t long before enterprising individuals learned to bypass the mechanism.
The iPhone 8, released in 2017, brought the face ID feature with it. This still had weaknesses but was at least immune to being unlocked with a photo.
Beyond security, the iPhone series has also produced year-on-year improvements in camera technology. While the original model sported a paltry two-megapixel camera, later models featured multiple lenses, with resolution boosted to 12 megapixels – rivaling many digital cameras.
Wireless charging was introduced with the iPhone 8 (although preceded by Samsung as early as 2011). And the bezel-less design of the iPhone X, released in 2017, is built on features found in the Sharp Aquos S2 from the same year.
Nonetheless, the iPhone has not been without problems. The introduction of the iPhone 7 in 2016 saw the removal of the standard 3.5mm headphone socket – and many weren’t happy.
While an adaptor was initially provided for customers to connect their regular headphones, it was only free for about two years. After that, it had to be purchased. In 2016 there were indications of a spike in wireless headphone sales. Perhaps somewhat conveniently, Apple launched its AirPods (wireless Bluetooth earbuds) simultaneously.
A similar change came in 2020 with the release of the iPhone 12. Arguing consumers had a multitude of spare devices – and perhaps trying to ride on the green reuse agenda – Apple removed chargers from the unboxing experience.
Users still received a charging cable, but it was a USB Type-C to lightning cable, whereas previous iPhone chargers would have a USB-A socket (the standard USB port).
The justification for iPhone users would have a box full of old chargers overlooking the fact that none of them would be likely to support the newer and faster USB Type-C cable.
So you could use your old USB-A lightning cable and charger to charge your shiny new phone, but you’d be limited to slower charging speeds.
If the past 15 years are anything to go by, the iPhone will likely continue with annual product releases (as we write this article, many will anticipate the iPhone 14, due later this year).
These models will probably improve speed, weight, battery life, camera resolution, and storage capacity. However, it’s not likely we’ll be seeing many groundbreaking innovations in the next few years.
The latest iPhones are already highly sophisticated mini-computers, so there’s limited scope for fundamental enhancement.
Perhaps the most radical change will be the shift from Apple’s proprietary lightning connection to US Type-C charging, thanks to a new European Union directive. And while a common power connector standard is widely considered a positive move, Apple wasn’t convinced: We believe regulations that harmonize smartphone chargers would stifle innovation rather than encourage it.
Apple may turn to the clam-shell phone design as display technologies evolve, with a fully foldable display screen.
Samsung has already brought this to the market. But in true fashion, Apple will likely wait until the technology (particularly the glass) has evolved to deliver an experience in line with what iPhone users have expected.
While we can’t predict what the iPhone will look like in another 15 years (although some have tried), the demand for Apple products will likely still be driven by Apple’s strong brand loyalty.