The Apple iPhone is likely one of the most modern innovations of the twenty first century. So far, greater than 2.3 billion iPhones have been bought worldwide. That is most likely one of the crucial modern gadgets ever created. Virtually 19 years after the primary iPhone, it is easy to get misplaced in what number of iPhone generations there are. Apple has launched a number of iPhone sequence through the years and new telephones are launched yearly regardless. Under is a chronological listing of all iPhones launched to this point. The newest iPhone is the iPhone 17e, so we’ve got to disclose its in depth historical past from 2007 to 2026.
Earlier era iPhone
What era is the iPhone?
In whole, 27 completely different iPhone generations. The primary iPhone debuted in 2007, and at the very least one new mannequin has been launched yearly since then. This listing additionally counts different fashions from the mainstream iPhone generations, such because the Plus or Max sequence, but in addition contains newer fashions such because the iPhone SE 2, iPhone XR, and the brand new iPhone Air as separate entries.
Launch order of iPhone generations
iPhone – June 29, 2007
The revolutionary first iPhone was launched on June 29, 2007. Launched as a tool with iPod, phone, and Web capabilities, the iPhone was a significant step within the smartphone market as we all know it in the present day. Apple has taken an enormous departure from conventional cell telephones, opting to remove the keyboard and provide in-screen digital choices. With its 3.5-inch show and 2-megapixel built-in digicam, iPhone is a enjoyable system to look again on and altered the world of know-how without end.
iPhone 3G – July 11, 2008
The second iPhone ever launched was the iPhone 3G. This system brings 3G capabilities to the iPhone, providing you with considerably sooner speeds when utilizing mobile information. Moreover, this iPhone is the primary to incorporate the Apple App Retailer, permitting builders to create purposes for the telephone.
iPhone 3GS – June 19, 2009
The iPhone 3GS was the primary iPhone to introduce a digicam improve, with a brand new 3-megapixel digicam on the again of the telephone. This permits for sharper pictures and permits smartphones to interchange conventional cameras. Moreover, we have launched new storage choices that enable customers to obtain extra apps within the App Retailer. The general efficiency can be claimed to be twice as quick because the iPhone 3G.
iPhone 4 – June 24, 2010
FaceTime is the star of the iPhone 4, permitting customers to make video calls between gadgets from wherever. iPhone 4 has a 5-megapixel digicam that permits you to seize HD video for the primary time. The digicam additionally featured an LED flash, one thing no earlier iPhone had. Along with these options, the iPhone 4 provided Apple’s first Retina show, making the show crisper and making textual content a lot simpler to learn.
iPhone 4S – October 14, 2011
Most notably, the iPhone 4S is greatest identified for the debut of Siri. Digital assistants have turn into a staple of the Apple ecosystem, however it began right here. The iPhone 4S additionally featured 1080p video seize, because of an 8-megapixel onboard digicam. Different main software program equivalent to iCloud and iMessage additionally debuted right here on the iPhone 4S.
iPhone 5 – September 21, 2012
iPhone 5 was the primary iPhone to help LTE know-how, creating the chance to carry out large-scale duties and content material over mobile information. There’s additionally a deal with audio, with the addition of a brand new microphone for crystal clear audio for each calls and FaceTime. The system can be the primary iPhone with a Lightning port, which is an enormous departure from the earlier 30-pin adapter.
iPhone 5S – September 20, 2013
iPhone 5S is the primary to characteristic Contact ID, a brand new know-how that allows you to unlock your iPhone by urgent your finger on the Dwelling button. This turned a staple for all future fashions as much as the iPhone X. Along with this characteristic, the iPhone 5S now has an A7 processor and new digicam know-how.
iPhone 5C – September 20, 2013
The iPhone 5C was Apple’s first budget-oriented iPhone. Launched similtaneously the iPhone 5S, the 5C got here in brilliant colours and attracted the eye of passersby. Beneath the hood, the system makes use of the identical {hardware} as 2012’s iPhone 5, permitting Apple to supply the 5C at a less expensive, extra approachable value level, making it one of many least expensive iPhones round.
iPhone 6 – September 19, 2014
The iPhone 6 broke away from the boxy design of the previous three generations to supply a slim system that matches completely in any pocket. Maybe the largest characteristic of the iPhone 6 is none apart from Apple Pay, which makes use of the NFC know-how constructed into the telephone. This was additionally the primary iPhone era to introduce a number of fashions, with the iPhone 6 Plus providing a bigger 5.5-inch display.
iPhone 6S – September 25, 2015
The flagship characteristic of the iPhone 6S was 3D Contact. This can be a know-how that enables the system’s display to measure and settle for various quantities of stress. This lets you carry out a number of instructions relying on how exhausting you press the display, permitting new gestures all over the place. Moreover, the iPhone 6S was the primary iPhone with 4K video capabilities, paving the way in which for the usage of iPhone for pictures.
iPhone SE – March 31, 2016
iPhone SE (Particular Version) brings again the iPhone 5S physique model and is full of new and up to date options. iPhone 6S options like 4K video are constructed into the SE, providing you with a high-quality, compact choice at a lower cost. This was the primary iPhone SE, with two extra generations produced since 2016.
iPhone 7 – September 16, 2016
The iPhone 7 was launched within the fall of 2016 to nice controversy. Apple has determined to get rid of the headphone jack. This strikes the shifted audio over Bluetooth or the Lightning port. Along with a sturdy house button that leverages Apple’s Taptic Engine for haptic suggestions, this era additionally added water resistance to the iPhone. Lastly, the iPhone 7 Plus was the primary iPhone to supply a twin digicam system.
iPhone 8 – September 22, 2017
The iPhone 8 had an almost similar design to the iPhone 7, however there have been some stable enhancements made to make the system stand out. First, wi-fi charging was added by inserting a glass panel on the again of the iPhone. For the primary time, you now not have to cost your telephone through the Lightning port. Moreover, the iPhone 8 was the primary telephone to introduce a True Tone show. This show adjustments the colour and brightness of your system relying on the encircling atmosphere.
iPhone X – November 3, 2017
The iPhone X was vastly completely different from earlier fashions and served as the corporate’s imaginative and prescient ten years after the launch of the unique iPhone. This system has finished away with the house button in favor of a telephone that consists solely of a display. A brand new facial recognition know-how referred to as Face ID has been unveiled, permitting customers to unlock their iPhone X simply by trying instantly at it. The iPhone X formed each mannequin launched afterward, and every new iPhone utilized an analogous show and Face ID know-how.
iPhone XS – September 21, 2018
The iPhone XS was a minimal enchancment over the iPhone X, however there are some respectable upgrades that future fashions may even profit from. Water Resistance An typically neglected new characteristic of the iPhone XS was the addition of a twin SIM tray. This allowed a number of SIM playing cards to be loaded right into a single iPhone, which was a godsend for worldwide vacationers.
iPhone XR – October 26, 2018
The iPhone XR served because the reasonably priced iPhone mannequin of 2018. This system utilized an LCD show as a substitute of the OLED show discovered on the iPhone X and iPhone XS. Additionally, just like the iPhone 8, it solely had a single digicam on the again. General, the iPhone XR provided an analogous expertise to the premium iPhone X and iPhone XS at an reasonably priced value.
iPhone 11 – September 20, 2019
iPhone 11 will increase the usual display dimension throughout the bottom mannequin to six.1 inches and strikes from a Tremendous Retina show to a Liquid Retina show. The system additionally opted for an ultra-wide-angle digicam as a substitute of the telephoto digicam featured on earlier dual-camera fashions. The iPhone 11 was additionally the primary era to supply a Professional mannequin with a Tremendous Retina show, triple digicam setup, and HDR help.
iPhone SE (2nd era) – April 24, 2020
The iPhone SE 2 is a big enchancment over the primary SE mannequin, with the brand new A13 Bionic chip delivering vital efficiency enhancements. The display dimension has been elevated from 4 inches to 4.7 inches and incorporates a True Tone show to offer one of the best picture high quality in any atmosphere. As well as, the iPhone SE 2 has added haptic contact, which was not current within the first mannequin.
iPhone 12 – October 23, 2020
iPhone 12 launched MagSafe, a characteristic that permits you to magnetically join sure chargers and equipment to the again of your iPhone. The bottom mannequin comes with a Tremendous Retina XDR show, providing you with a beautiful OLED panel at an reasonably priced value. The iPhone 12 additionally added Ceramic Protect, which is harder than glass and has confirmed to be far more sturdy over time.
iPhone 13 – September 24, 2021
iPhone 13 has considerably improved battery life with as much as 19 hours of video playback. We have additionally launched new options for pictures, together with Cinematic mode, which robotically focuses on objects for excellent transitions each time. The iPhone 13 Professional fashions featured ProRes video, a sort of seize that enables for uncooked 4K30 video.
iPhone SE (third era) – March 18, 2022
The iPhone SE 3, launched in spring 2022, introduced again the house button for the primary time in 5 years. As well as, this mannequin included 5G connectivity to reap the benefits of new 5G towers that began showing in 2021. Most of the photograph options launched between SE 2 and SE 3, equivalent to evening mode and photograph types, have been added to this mannequin.
This may seemingly be the final era of iPhone SE we see, as Apple launched the iPhone 16e in 2025 to interchange the SE.
iPhone 14 – September 16, 2022
iPhone 14 now contains new options equivalent to Emergency SOS, which makes use of satellite tv for pc connectivity to contact response groups in an emergency. Moreover, the digicam techniques on all fashions have acquired vital upgrades, together with improved ultrawide and zoom lenses. This era additionally introduced again the Plus mannequin, which is the usual iPhone 14 with a bigger display.
iPhone 15 – September 22, 2023
The earlier era iPhone is now iPhone 15. As with the iPhone 14, Normal, Plus, Professional, and Professional Max fashions are all obtainable for buy. The most important adjustments on this era primarily happen on the Professional mannequin, which incorporates a new lens, a titanium body, and an motion button that replaces the mute change. The most important change, after all, is the change from Lightning to USB-C attributable to new EU rules.
iPhone 16 – September 20, 2024
Apple formally introduced iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Professional, and iPhone 16 Professional Max in September 2024. The most important updates to the newest era iPhone are sooner CPU efficiency, customizable motion buttons, and Apple Intelligence integration.
In our assessment of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional Max, we detailed all of the variations that the newest telephones have acquired in comparison with the earlier era.
iPhone 16e – February 28, 2025
Apple introduced that it’ll introduce the brand new iPhone 16e in February 2025 and exchange the older iPhone SE sequence beginning in 2022. As the most affordable new iPhone, it is priced at $599, simply $200 lower than the usual iPhone 16. It was the primary telephone to characteristic Apple’s C1 mobile modem, now adopted by the iPhone 17e’s C1X.
iPhone 17 – September 19, 2025
The newest iPhone 17 telephones have been simply unveiled on the September 2025 Apple occasion, and all are scheduled to go on sale from September nineteenth. The most important replace this yr got here to iPhone Professional fashions, which now characteristic a vapor chamber welded to the chassis to assist dissipate warmth. All three cameras on the Professional are “Fusion cameras” and the primary lens features a 48MP telephoto lens. The iPhone 17 begins at $799, and the Professional begins at $1,099. There isn’t any iPhone Plus on this era because it has been changed by the brand new iPhone Air.
iPhone Air – September 19, 2025
Though introduced alongside the iPhone 17 fashions, the iPhone Air is a brand new era of Apple cell phones that was developed individually. The iPhone Air is eSIM solely, and the headroom permits it to incorporate a battery that ought to help all-day battery life. Beneath the hood is the A19 Professional, which Apple says will ship “MacBook Professional-level efficiency.” With a 6.5-inch show and a shatter-resistant glass again, the brand new telephone is being touted as essentially the most sturdy iPhone ever.
iPhone 17e – March eleventh
The iPhone 17e is Apple’s newest price range telephone, at present scheduled to be launched on March eleventh. Based on Apple’s press launch, the brand new telephone could have some vital upgrades from final yr’s 16e. This contains MagSafe wi-fi charging at 15W and the addition of a brand new pink coloration. It’s going to even have a extra highly effective A19 chip and 256GB of entry-level storage.
When will iPhone 18 be launched?
There is no official data on when Apple will launch its iPhone 18 lineup, however because of its observe file up to now, we’ve got a reasonably good concept of ββwhat to anticipate. We are able to count on Apple to announce its subsequent era cell phone someday in September 2026.
Rumors are nonetheless flying round as to what these telephones will really seem like and when they are going to be launched. Resulting from current reminiscence shortages, Apple is rumored to be splitting the launch of latest telephones from fall 2026 to spring 2027. Based mostly on these rumors, Apple will launch the iPhone 18 Air, Professional, and Max, the brand new iPhone Fold will launch in September, and the usual iPhone 18 and 18e will each launch within the spring.
Noah Hunter is a contract author and critic with a ardour for video games and know-how. He co-founded Ultimate Weapon (2019), an outlet targeted on no-nonsense Japanese gaming, and has contributed to writing in regards to the medium for varied publishers. A few of his favourite sequence embody Xeno and Ultimate Fantasy.