Evolution of the iPhone: Early Models & Capabilities

Evolution of the iPhone

Released on June 29, 2007, the iPhone has seen multiple new hardware iterations with new iOS releases since.

User Interface and Connectivity

The user interface is built around the device's multi-touch screen, including a virtual keyboard. The iPhone has Wi-Fi and can connect to cellular networks.

Core iPhone Features

An iPhone can:

• Shoot video (standard feature from the iPhone 3GS)
• Take photos
• Play music
• Send and receive email
• Browse the web
• Send and receive text messages
• Follow GPS navigation
• Record notes
• Perform mathematical calculations
• Receive visual voicemail

Other functionality, such as video games, reference works, and social networking, can be enabled by downloading mobile apps.

The App Store Ecosystem

As of January 2017, Apple's App Store contained more than 2.2 million applications available for the iPhone.

Early iPhone Models

Apple has released eleven generations of iPhone models, each accompanied by one of the eleven major releases of the iOS operating system. The text mentions the following early models:

• Original first-generation iPhone: A GSM phone that established design precedents, such as button placement that has persisted throughout all releases and a screen size maintained for the next four iterations.
• iPhone 3G: Added 3G network support.
• iPhone 3GS: Followed the 3G with improved hardware.
• iPhone 4: Featured a metal chassis, higher display res...