Time for a techie time-lapse.
Unlike you and I, who’ve evolved slowly and painfully from a single cell over the course about 2.1 million years, iPhone burst into existence in 2007.
Since then, we've seen new designs, revolutionary technology, cameras that have changed the game for mobile photography and so much more.
The latest additions to the Apple family are the incredible iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max.
We don't know about you, but we're eager to see where it all started. We decided to take a look at the most iconic iPhones from over the years.
So, care to take a trip down memory lane with us? The only right answer here being yes.
iPhone (1st generation)
Introduced all the way back in 2007, the original iPhone truly revolutionised the smartphone industry.
During his keynote address where it was first unveiled, Steve Jobs claimed that ‘Apple is going to reinvent the phone’.
Jobs certainly had visions of grandeur, and it turned out that he found an actual recipe for grandeur, too.
At the time, iPhone was definitely the best looking mobile phone on the market, with very little competition really. It was minimalistic, fairly compact and built with the most premium elements.
This iPhone featured a 2MP camera, 3.5-inch display with a 480 x 320 resolution and a 500MHz.
These specs almost seem laughable when we look at where we're at now, but it's all got to start somewhere, right?
iPhone 3G
The success didn't stop there for Apple. iPhone 3G was the next to drop in 2008 and it boasted a number of hard upgrades as well as software upgrades too.
For those of you completely immersed in the world of 5G, 3G may seem like something from the stone age. But this seriously changed the game for the world of mobile.
iPhone 4
iPhone 4 introduced a whole new design concept by Apple, with Steve Jobs going so far to claim it was the thinnest smartphone around, at the time.
Scrapping the slightly dated design that the previous three generations had, the iPhone 4 model was much thinner, with glass panel faces and a premium metal frame.
We are skipping a couple of years here, all the way to 2010. But this was the year that we were first introduced to Apple's Retina display.
Its pixel arrangement was far denser than ever before, with a resolution of 960 x 480. Compare this to iPhone 3GS which packed a resolution of 480 x 320, and we're all the more impressed.
iPhone 4 was the first to house a front-facing camera and with it, this smartphone introduced FaceTime – meaning you have iPhone 4 to thank for staying connected with your nearest and dearest.
iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c
Its 2013 launch seemed, for Apple, to be all about breaking the mould. The tech giants unveiled two iPhone models (iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c), starting a whole new tradition.
This was the moment Apple changed from metal to plastic, describing both iPhones as "unapologetically plastic".
However, with a whole bunch of new and refreshing colours, nobody complained. iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c appeared in white, pink, yellow, blue and green.
Beneath its glossy and colourful shell, iPhone 5c very much mirrors iPhone 5, with the added benefits of a better battery life and an improved front-facing camera.
iPhone 5s however, delivered an A7 processor with 64-bit support and an M7 motion processor.
The camera, like its two predecessors, shot at 8MP but had a larger pixel size and larger aperture. This results in a light sensitivity increase of around 33% - major news way back when.
As you are surely aware, iPhone 5s introduced Apple’s Touch ID feature to the world.
Artfully integrated into the home button, iPhone 5s was the first iPhone to scan your finger (or thumb) as a method of unlocking the device.
This was the beginning of all things gold. As the first gold iPhone, it came as no surprised that iPhone 5s became hugely popular with Apple fans.
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
When Apple unveiled its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, a media storm ensued.
In launching a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, both with a stunning ‘Retina HD’ display, Apple raised the famous debate; does size really matter?
Not only did both of these iPhones look more attractive than anything up until that point, they were also thinner, with iPhone 6 measuring just 6.9mm, and iPhone 6 Plus 7.1mm.
In this case, both iPhones were packed with similarly powerful components, making either a sound choice - so which would it be?
The battery life saw huge increases, too. iPhone 6 packed a 25% superior battery, whilst iPhone 6 Plus trumped even that at an improvement of 100%.
The camera, on the face of things, could’ve been mistaken for the same 8MP unit on earlier models of the iPhone. But in true Apple fashion, it was much better.
It featured a newer, wide-angle lens, true tone flash, f/2.2 aperture, improved facial recognition technology, better noise reduction and “Focus Pixels” that enabled iPhone 6 and 6 Plus to autofocus twice as quickly.
Apple Pay is a part of every day life now. We use it to shop online, to buy things in store and on far too many nights out. But it's worth noting that iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were the first to introduce this digital method of paying.
At this point, it worked with the all-impressive Touch ID and quickly became the new norm, rendering wallets useless. What would you have got your dad for his birthday then?
iPhone SE (Special Edition)
Launched in the same generation as the iPhone 6s, in 2016 Apple announced iPhone SE.
Sporting an A9 chip, larger battery capacity, a 12-megapixel camera and 4K video, this compact iPhone packed a punch. It restored faith in the statement; good things come in small packages.
Dubbed at the time “the most powerful 4-inch phone ever”, and arguably one of the most successful iPhone models, iPhone SE was one of the last to also sport a 3.5mm headphone jack on an iPhone - which we all miss terribly.
Launched with four colours, the model came in a 16GB or 64GB variant and ran on iOS 9.3 out the box. Still to this day, iPhone SE remains a popular choice for many iPhone fans.
iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X
In 2017, for the first time, Apple released three iPhone devices in a single launch, including its anniversary special iPhone X (marking 10 years since the first iPhone).
New features included Qi wireless charging, a faster and improved A11 Bionic processor and camera enhancements, including 4K video.
On iPhone X, we were introduced to OLED screen tech for the first time on an iPhone, as well as the epic launch of Face ID and Animoji.
iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone XR
September 2018 saw Apple turn things up another ‘notch’ with its triple-threat release of the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone XR.
The barley-there bezel look, on all three models, featured a new notch display. This provided larger OLED and LCD displays - with more screen for viewing.
The main difference between iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max were their size. They boasted the same iOS 12 software, Face ID, HDR displays and advanced camera features with 4K video recording.
iPhone XR was launched with six colours; black, white, blue, yellow, coral and PRODUCT(RED). We also saw a return of three storage size variants for iPhone XR in 2018 (64GB, 128GB, and 256GB), giving customers more choice.
iPhone SE (2020)
Everyone loved iPhone SE so much that Apple decided to release an updated version in 2020.
This iPhone is known as a pocket rocket iPhone and for good reason! It gives you a taste of what Apple has to offer, without the hefty price tag.
As we've learned, Apple are known for their incredible camera tricks and skills, but iPhone SE actually holds the title as boasting the best single-lens camera ever to be seen.
The photos it shoots are just as impressive too. Enjoy advanced portrait mode and add an arty touch by blurring out the background – bringing your subject to life.
Apple also kept the small design that we saw on the original iPhone SE. The 4.7-inch screen delivers the best view with HD resolution and True Tone technology.
We're skipping into the future a little bit here, but iPhone SE also boasts the very same processor as iPhone 11 Pro - but we'll get to that later.
Most advanced feature
Isn't it obvious? The best single-lens camera seen on iPhone of course. Getting a great shot on iPhone SE is easy - it's a customer favourite for a reason.
iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max
That's right people, 2020 was the year of four brand new iPhones. So, what was so special about the iPhone 12 series? You ask.
5G that's what. These four iPhones brought 5G to the world of Apple and delivered an advanced 5G experience on a global scale.
This seriously changed the way gamers gamed and streamers streamed. The key difference between the four models is the size, which entertainment lovers should bear in mind.
iPhone 12 mini boasts a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display, iPhone 12 and 12 Pro has a 6.1-inch display and the 12 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display.
Introducing Ceramic Shield. 2020 saw the introduction of this design element, that delivered a 4x better drop performance than previous models.
We're back to talking about two cameras. The dual 12MP camera system on iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 features an epic wide lens and an ultra-wide lens.
The 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max both boast an extra lens, making room for even more epic photo ops.
As well as a wide and ultra-wide lens, Apple delivered an additional telephoto lens that makes it easier to capture vivid details. Throw in night mode on all lenses and Dolby Vision video recording and you're onto a winner.
iPhone 13 mini, 13, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max
The iPhone 13 series is the latest to join the rest of the Apple family. In 2021, iPhone 13 mini, 13, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max were unveiled and they blew our minds.
iPhone 13 and 13 Pro both boast a flawless 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display while iPhone 13 mini features a smaller 5.4-inch screen, with the same epic technology.
iPhone 13 Pro Max is the display for those who think bigger is always better. When you compare the 6.7-inch with that of the first generation iPhone, you quickly see how much Apple advanced.
All four of these models were designed with durability in mind. Boasting an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, along side Ceramic Shield these iPhones are both easy on the eye and super-tough.
We're at the peak of Apple performance here, with more 5G bands, the A15 Bionic chip and additional battery life compared to previous models.
Not to mention a whopping amount of storage - including up to 1TB on iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max.
This is absolutely necessary with the epic camera on all four models. Keeping with tradition, iPhone 13 mini and 13 boast the same 12MP dual camera while iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max take things to the next level.
They feature Apple's biggest camera advancement yet with less noise, faster shutter speed and epic night mode.
An Apple a day
We hope you've enjoyed this trip down Apple's memory lane as much as we have. It's amazing to see how advanced technology has got since the first generation iPhone.
If we've got you feeling like you're in need of a new iPhone, you're in luck. We've got a number of unmissable deals on the very best from Apple. We'll even throw in free delivery.
