Recently, Apple admitted a surprise drop in iPhone sales. The company attributed the drop in its core smartphone sales to the speculation on the 10^th anniversary edition of iPhone. As iPhone turns 10, many users are postponing their purchase-decision to avail the 10^th anniversary edition of iPhone. At present, the popularity of iPhone is on decline. But Apple transformed the mobile phone landscape in 2007 by launching the first model of iPhone.

The company has been launching new iPhone models in September each year by targeting the festive season. Apple is yet to confirm the 10^th anniversary edition of iPhone. The popularity of individual editions of iPhone differs. Also, various models of iPhone differ from each other in terms of features and performance. But many users still wait eagerly for the upcoming iPhone model. They even browse through various websites to know the latest rumours, speculations, and information shared by unconfirmed sources.

iPhone Turns 10: The iPhone Journey So Far

iPhone

The first iPhone model was announced by Steve Jobs at the Macworld convention in January 2007. Apple subsequently started shipping first iPhone in June 2007. The first model of iPhone was supporting only 2G. It came with a 128 MB RAM, 1.9 megapixels rear camera, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, and cellular radio. The smartphone was available in a single color – aluminum (gray). The users had option to choose from iPhone with storage capacity of 4 GB, 8 GB, or 16 GB. The specifications appear substandard in 2017. But Apple ushered the age of smartphones by launching the iconic device in 2007.

iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS

Apple introduced second generation of iPhone in June 2008. In addition to supporting 3G connectivity, iPhone 3G also came with an array of new hardware features including GPS and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA. Apple announced the third-generation of its smartphone in June 2009. The model was called iPhone 3GS, where S stood for speed. IPhone 3GS was running on iOS 3 platform. It also came with a 3 megapixels camera and a multi-touch display. IPhone 3GS even supported 7.2 Mbit/s HSDPA downloading.

iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S

Apple unveiled iPhone 4 at its Worldwide Developer Conference 2010. The company subsequently started shipping iPhone 4 in June 2010. IPhone 4 was powered by iOS 4 and featured the high resolution retina display. It was the first even iPhone model to feature a front camera and use Apple’s new A4 system-on-chip. Apple subsequently unveiled iPhone 4S in October 2011. Despite inheriting major features of iPhone 4, iPhone 4S used Apple’s intelligent voice assistant Siri exclusively.

iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s

Apple unveiled and released iPhone 5 in September 2012. The sixth generation of iPhone featured 1.22 megapixels front camera, 8.0 megapixel rear camera, 1 GB RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, and cellular radio. In September 2013, Apple announced two new models of its core smartphone – iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s. IPhone 5c used the same hardware specification as iPhone 5. But the new model was available in an array of colours and designed with a hard-coated polycarbonate shell. Apple marketed iPhone 5S as the high-performing and expensive counterpart of iPhone 5c. Despite sharing external design with iPhone 5, iPhone 5S came with an array of new features including touch ID support, AirDrop and iTunes Radio. The device was further powered by iOS 7 exclusively at the time of shipping.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

In September 2014, Apple simultaneously launched two new models of its smartphone – iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. IPhone 6 was designed with a 4.7 inch retina HD display, whereas iPhone 6 Plus featured a 5.5 inch retina HD display. Both smartphones were powered by A8 chip. Also, each smartphone was designed with several new features including ultrafast wireless technologies, Apple Pay support, and iSight and FaceTime HD cameras. Also, both iPhone models were running on iOS 8. While launching iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Tim Cooks called them as “the biggest advancement in iPhone history.”

IPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

In September 2015, Apple released the upgraded editions of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s Plus. Both iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus featured retina HD displays. But both models, unlike their predecessors, were using 64-bit A9 chip. IPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus further featured live photos. The new approach enabled users to capture moments in motion. At the same time, the users also had option to interact with their iPhones in a new and distinct way through 3D touch technology.

iPhone SE

In March 2016, Apple released iPhone SE with a 4-inch screen size. Despite featuring a smaller screen size, iPhone SE shared several hardware specifications with iPhone 6s including A9 processor and 12 MP rear camera. It further supports Apple Pay, Live Photos, and Siri. But iPhone SE, unlike its predecessors, does not support 3D Touch. It further comes with a lower-quality front camera. In March 2017, Apple increased the storage capacity of iPhone SE to 32 GB and 128 GB. Apple has been selling iPhone SE at discounted prices to compete with various Android devices.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

In September 2017, Apple introduced iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus at a time. Both devices use A10 Fusion chip which deliver enhanced battery life significantly. Each device further enables users to shoot high quality photos and videos 24 hours a day using a new advanced camera system. At the same time, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus also come with a myriad of new features. But the two iPhone models differ from each other in the categories of RAM and cameral specs. Many analysts consider the new models as upgraded versions of iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

According to the leaks and rumours posted on various websites, Apple is planning to launch iPhone 8 in September 2017. The upcoming model will mark the 10^th anniversary of Apple’s iconic smartphone. The upcoming edition of iPhone will reportedly come with 3D camera, new touch sensors, curved screen, and augmented reality (AR) features. Hence, iPhone 8 may be a game changer Apple needs to regain its lost worldwide smartphone market share.