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https://scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3027576/how-apples-iphone-has-set-smartphone-standard-very Tech & Design
How Apple’s iPhone has set the smartphone standard from the very beginning
‘This is only the beginning’, was how Apple described its first-generation iPhone on its release in 2007. Little did they realise how true that slogan would prove to be
CEO Tim Cook unveils Apple’s iPhone 11 models at its headquarters in Cupertino, California on September 10, touting upgraded, ultra-wide cameras as it updated its popular smartphone line-up and cut its entry price to US$699.
Walk down the street for a few minutes and you’ll see countless people with their eyes glued on their iPhones. The iPhone has set the standard for the smartphone market since its introduction in 2007. In honour of this latest model, the iPhone 11, here’s a brief history of Apple’s iconic smartphone.
The first generation breaks ground
The first-generation iPhone’s slogan couldn’t have been more accurate: “This is only the beginning”. What a beginning it was. This iteration, released in June 2007, boasted only 4GB of space and couldn’t connect to 3G – but that didn’t stop Apple from selling 6 million iPhones. Soon the iPhone 3G and 3Gs hit the market touting new speed capabilities and more storage space.
The iPhone 4 changes everything
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Less than half an inch thick and with gorgeous retina display, the iPhone 4 was an improvement on its predecessors in all ways. It was such a good-looking phone that its design would be essentially duplicated on the 4S, 5, 5S and SE models.
When the 4S dropped, people quickly realised that the 4 and 4S were fairly similar aside from one major change: the introduction of Siri. This intelligent personal assistant has lasted through all subsequent iPhone generations and stands next to Steve Jobs as one of the most iconic “figures” associated with the Apple brand.
The iPhone 5 is bigger … but is it better?
iPhone 5S. Photo: Facebook
Within 24 hours of the announcement of the iPhone 5’s launch in 2012, two million pre-orders were made. The hype was justified. The iPhone 5 was advertised as a thinner version (just 0.30 inches thick) of the iPhone 4S but with a bigger screen.
One major criticism of this phone emerged during the doomed launch of Apple Maps, which misdirected many frustrated users. The headaches continued when mixed reviews greeted the iPhone 5C and 5S. Were Apple’s smartphone competitors going to catch up?
The iPhone 6 offers a welcome redesign
In September, 2014, the iPhone 6 hit stores with a new look and vastly improved battery life. While it might have been prettier than previous versions, some strange hardware issues presented themselves. Users soon realised that their iPhone would bend when it was put under pressure. This mishap was dubbed “bendgate”.
The makers of the iPhone 6S corrected this issue and Apple went on to sell a staggering 13 million phones during its launch weekend. Crisis averted.
Say goodbye to your headphone jack
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The iPhone 7 courted controversy when it was revealed that it would no longer feature a headphone jack. The iPhone 8 continued the trend of sudden changes with the introduction of wireless charging. While these changes to the iPhone’s hardware had people talking, critics began to wonder if the iPhone’s design was getting a bit dull.
iPhone X switches things up
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Apple confronted critics with the iPhone X. It featured no home button, all-new design, and Face ID authentication. It seems the 10th generation iPhone lives up to its slogan: “say hello to the future”.
With a hugely impressive camera and a supersized version (the XS), the iPhone X remains popular to this day. So will Apple be able to raise its game once again with the iPhone 11? We’ll know more when it hits stores in a few weeks.