One of the leading phones on the market today is the Apple iPhone. This smartphone has been leading the phone industry since the iPhone 1st generation was released in June of 2007. Since that release there have been nine additional Apple iPhone releases. This article will explore those iPhones and what each new generation brought to the table.
IPhone 1st Generation
This new device was meant to redesign the cell phone world, and that is exactly what it accomplished. This phone was originally described as a wide screen ipod that had touch features, an internet communicator, and could be used as a mobile phone. The single button form that was developed for this first generation phone is used to this day.
IPhone 3G
The iPhone 3G was the second generation iPhone to be created and was introduced in June of 2008. The 3G was very similar to the original but it had a few features that made it an improvement, first of which was the iPhone OS 2.0. The phone included new hardware such as an internal GPS with turn by turn navigation and 3G data capabilities. This was the first operating system to introduce the App Store, which is Apple’s distribution platform for any third party applications.
IPhone 3GS
The iPhone 3GS was released in June of 2009 as a third generation iPhone. Changes to this phone were mainly internal. The 3GS operating system was much faster, and was capable of operating at twice the speed of its predecessor. Some new hardware features were also released this generation, for example a video camera became present and it was the first generation to feature a digital compass.
IPhone 4
The iphone 4 was unveiled in June of 2010 as the thinnest smartphone available in the world at the time. This generation introduced a new hardware that consisted of a non-insulated stainless steel frame that doubled as an antenna. Apple’s high resolution retina display was also introduced, along with iOS 4, which allowed for multitasking and most notably introduced Facetime video chat. This model was the first iPhone to have a front facing camera and the previously lacking LED flash.
Shortly after the iPhone 4 was launched, some reports were given that the signal strength of the phone was reduced when touching the lower left edge of the phone. Owners of this phone were dissatisfied as this problem was resulting in dropped calls.
IPhone 4s
The iPhone 4s is the next in the line of iPhones that was introduced in October of 2011. The 4s kept the external look of the previous iPhone, keeping the majority of the upgrades to internal aspects. Most notably was the 8 megapixel camera with 1080p video recording and an intelligent personal assistant named Siri. The operating system, iOS 5, also introduced features like imessage and icloud while operating at a faster speed than the prior versions.
IPhone 5
Released in September of 2012, the iPhone 5 featured some major design changes. These changes included an aluminum-based body which was thinner and lighter than previous models, with a taller screen. This generation was the first to feature LTE support and a new dock connector that moved away from the old 30 pin design of the previous models.
IPhone 5c
The iPhone 5c was released in September of 2013 as the first iphone to be released by all cell phone carriers. The 5c uses much of the same hardware as the iPhone 5, with some iOS 7 optimization like slightly improved battery life. This generation also supports photo taking, video recording, and digital zooming. The 5C uses a hard plastic casing instead of the metal used previously which allows the case to come in a variety of colors including blue, green, yellow, white, and even pink.
IPhone 5s
The iPhone 5s was also released in September of 2013. The phone maintains a very similar design to the iPhone 5, except the introduction of a new home button design. The 5s also introduced touch ID, a fingerprint recognition system designed as a way to unlock the phone and confirm Apple purchases. The 5s was the first Apple device to feature iOS 7 and introduce the concept of a 64 bit processor being used on a smart phone.
IPhone 6 and IPhone 6 Plus
These latest generation iPhones were released September of 2014 with iOS 8 included. The iPhone 6 is a 4.7 inch phone which features a larger screen and an ultra thin body, while the iPhone 6 Plus is an incredible 5.5 inch phone. Both phones offer similar features including a longer battery life, a faster processor, and a better camera that has optical image stabilization and new burst mode capabilities. A new Retina HD display is being used for better outdoor viewing when taking pictures or looking at the screen for any reason. There’s also a fingerprint resistant coating on the screen. For videos recording there is a new slow motion option that shoots at 240 frames per second. Apple’s new Apple Pay payment system is also a new feature on both of the new generation phones.
Shortly after the release of these new phones reports began to surface claiming the iPhones were bending in the pocket of the owner. Though said to be an extremely rare occurrence, it’s best to keep the phones in a hard case or out of the pocket of the iPhone owner to prevent the bending from happening.
The iPhone has evolved a lot since the original one was released back in 2007. From a new technology at the time that was only able to do emails and simple browsing to an incredible mobile device today with features that include a top-of-the-line camera and video recording technology. There are many other phones types available, but Apple iPhones strive to bring the consumers the new technology they desire with each new generation.
