Apple is undoubtedly one of the most successful smartphone brands of all time. However, from the first-generation iPhone to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, Apple has had many ups and downs (but mostly ups) when it comes to its phone releases.
This article is all about the iPhone models, their features, and what makes each one of them unique. So, let’s dive into Apple’s long and turbulent history of smartphones.
33. iPhone (original)
Released: 2007
Storage: 4/8 GB
Camera: 2 MP
Screen Size: 3.5 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The original iPhone was the only one to feature a two-tone design. It paved the way for modern smartphones with its multi-touch display, which was used to control everything
Did You Know?
Most Americans at the time were aware of the iPhone’s release, and millions wanted to buy one. Thus it was dubbed, the “Jesus Phone”.
32. iPhone 3G
Released: 2008
Storage: 8/16 GB
Camera: 2 MP
Screen Size: 3.5 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The first iPhone to feature the App Store, the iPhone 3G, was released with a new slimmer design. However, this meant it had less space inside and a smaller battery.
Did You Know?
It got its name because it was the first iPhone to support a 3G network.
31. iPhone 3GS
Released: 2009
Storage: 8/16/32 GB
Camera: 3 MP
Screen Size: 3.5 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone 3GS featured a new processor with double the speed of the 3G and an upgraded camera that could record video and had autofocus.
Did You Know?
The 3GS was also released in a white color that ended up having severe discolorations from overheating.
30. iPhone 4
Released: 2010
Storage: 16/32 GB
Camera: 5 MP
Screen Size: 3.5 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The iPhone 4 features the iconic square design, an upgraded Retina display, and is the first iPhone to have a selfie camera.
Did You Know?
The iPhone 4 had its specifications fully leaked before launch because an Apple engineer misplaced his prototype iPhone 4 in a bar.
29. iPhone 4S
Released: 2011
Storage: 16/32/64 GB
Camera: 8 MP
Screen Size: 3.5 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone 4S was a relatively minor upgrade to the 4, with an updated dual-core processor and a new 8 MP camera that could shoot 1080p video.
Did You Know?
According to Apple, the S in the name of the 4S stood for Siri, as the iPhone 4S was the first to feature Apple’s voice assistant.
28. iPhone 5
Released: 2012
Storage: 16/32/64 GB
Camera: 8 MP
Screen Size: 4.0 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone 5 came in a new design that featured a larger 4-inch Retina display. It was also the first iPhone to introduce the Lightning charging port, which is still used in iPhones today.
Did You Know?
The iPhone 5 was so successful that it sold 20 times faster than its predecessors, the 4 and the 4S.
27. iPhone 5S
Released: 2013
Storage: 16/32/64 GB
Camera: 8 MP
Screen Size: 4.0 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Apart from the upgrades in speed and camera quality, the iPhone 5S was the first one to support a Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the home button.
Did You Know?
The iPhone 5S came in an all-new gold color, which was a first for Apple.
26. iPhone 5C
Released: 2013
Storage: 16/32/64 GB
Camera: 8 MP
Screen Size: 4.0 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
2013 was the first year that Apple released more than one iPhone model, with the 5C being a cheaper and more colorful option. It also had the same internals as the iPhone 5.
Did You Know?
People speculated about what the C stood for in its name. The most likely candidates are color and cheap.
25. iPhone 6
Released: 2014
Storage: 16/64/128 GB
Camera: 8 MP
Screen Size: 4.7 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone 6 featured a brand-new rounded design and a big 4.7-inch Retina screen. The iPhone 6 lineup is also the top-selling iPhone of all time and one of the most sold phones.
Did You Know?
Three years after its original release, Apple decided to release a 32 GB variation of the gold iPhone 6 for the Asian market.
24. iPhone 6 Plus
Released: 2014
Storage: 16/64/128 GB
Camera: 8 MP
Screen Size: 5.50 inches
photo source: Unsplash
2014 was the first year that Apple released two sizes of the iPhone. The iPhone 6 Plus featured the same internals as the 6, with a larger display and a bigger battery.
Did You Know?
The iPhone 6 Plus became notorious for its construction flaw that made it bend. It was recently revealed that Apple was aware of the increased bending risk of the device.
23. iPhone 6S
Released: 2015
Storage: 16/64/128 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 4.70 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone 6S was a significant upgrade to the 6 with double the RAM and a new technology called 3D Touch that distinguished between normal and prolonged taps on the screen.
Did You Know?
A small number of iPhone 6S devices had faulty batteries. This led Apple to issue a free battery replacement program for those affected.
22. iPhone 6S Plus
Released: 2015
Storage: 16/64/128 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 5.50 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The iPhone 6S Plus provided some much-needed structural integrity with its reinforced aluminum design.
Did You Know?
Despite not having a proper waterproof certification, the internal design of the iPhone 6S Plus made it significantly water-resistant.
21. iPhone SE
Released: 2016
Storage: 16/64 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 4.0 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone SE was a surprising mid-cycle release that combined the small form factor of the 5S with the A9 chip and 12 MP camera found on the 6S.
Did You Know?
In 2017, Apple upgraded the SE with double internal storage at the same price.
20. iPhone 7
Released: 2016
Storage: 32/128/256 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 4.70 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone 7 was a revolutionary model for a few reasons. Apart from the upgraded internals, the phone was the first without a physical home button or a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Did You Know?
The iPhone 7 was the first iPhone to have an official IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
19. iPhone 7 Plus
Released: 2016
Storage: 32/128/256 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 5.50 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
What made the iPhone 7 Plus different from previous Plus versions was the 3 GB of RAM and the additional telephoto camera.
Did You Know?
Some iPhone 7 Plus users experienced hissing noises from their phones, apparently due to the processor inside.
18. iPhone 8
Released: 2017
Storage: 64/128/256 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 4.70 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The iPhone 8 featured a new aluminum and glass design and an updated display with True Tone, an automatic brightness adjustment according to ambient lighting.
Did You Know?
In April 2018, Apple released the Product RED iPhone 8 to aid its campaign against AIDS.
17. iPhone 8 Plus
Released: 2017
Storage: 64/128/256 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 5.50 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The larger iPhone 8 Plus was equipped with a wide-angle main camera and an upgraded telephoto lens. Also, the glass back allowed for wireless charging.
Did You Know?
The iPhone 8 Plus’ camera was able to record video in different modes, including 4K at 60fps.
16. iPhone X
Released: 2017
Storage: 64/256 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 5.80 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The iPhone X was designed in a new and revolutionary way. It featured an OLED display with no home button, very narrow bezels, and the new FaceID technology.
Did You Know?
The iPhone X is the fastest discontinued iPhone ever, lasting only ten months.
15. iPhone XS
Released: 2018
Storage: 64/256/512 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 5.85 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone XS was a significant upgrade to the X in terms of speed. It featured the first 7nm processor, the A12 bionic, and 4 GB RAM.
Did You Know?
Users of the iPhone XS lineup couldn’t charge their phones if the screen was off for a prolonged time.
14. iPhone XS Max
Released: 2018
Storage: 64/256/512 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 6.46 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone XS Max was equipped with a larger display than the X and a better camera that could record stereo audio in videos.
Did You Know?
The iPhone XS lineup was the first to offer dual-sim support.
13. iPhone XR
Released: 2018
Storage: 64/128/256 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 6.06 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone XR was Apple’s affordable option with the same specs as the XS. It featured an LCD display and came in plenty of colors.
Did You Know?
The iPhone XR was a huge hit one year after its release, becoming the best-selling smartphone of 2019.
12. iPhone 11
Released: 2019
Storage: 64/128/256 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 6.06 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The iPhone 11 was the cheapest of the 11 series and can be considered an upgrade to the XR. It featured Apple’s latest A13 Bionic chipset and a larger battery than the XR.
Did You Know?
The iPhone 11 was the smartphone with the most sales in 2020.
11. iPhone 11 Pro
Released: 2019
Storage: 64/256/512 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 5.85 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The iPhone 11 Pro featured huge upgrades with a new Super Retina XDR display and a triple camera setup with an ultrawide lens.
Did You Know?
The launch event for the iPhone 11 Pro was the first to be live-streamed on YouTube.
10. iPhone 11 Pro Max
Released: 2019
Storage: 64/256/512 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 6.5 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The larger size of the iPhone 11 Pro Max allowed it to have a significantly better battery life compared to the 11. Also, it came with a much faster 18 W charger.
Did You Know?
The new “Midnight Green” color option for the iPhone 11 Pro Max originally received some backlash for being ugly.
9. iPhone SE (2020)
Released: 2020
Storage: 64/128/256 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 4.7 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The fan-favorite iPhone SE got an update in 2020. It featured the same footprint as the iPhone 8 with a 4.7-inch screen, but with the new A13 Bionic chip.
Did You Know?
The iPhone SE (2020) is the cheapest and smallest iPhone currently sold.
8. iPhone 12 Mini
Released: 2020
Storage: 64/128/256 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 5.42 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone 12 Mini introduced a new compact design reminiscent of the iPhone 5S. It features a 5.4 inch OLED display with a Ceramic Shield coating to reduce scratches.
Did You Know?
The iPhone 12 Mini did not do well in sales, leading Apple to cut down its production a few months after release.
7. iPhone 12
Released: 2020
Storage: 64/128/256 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 6.06 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The iPhone 12 introduced new features that were missing from previous iterations. It was the first iPhone to support the 5G network and wireless charging through MagSafe.
Did You Know?
The iPhone 12 was also the first iPhone to ship without a charger or Earpods.
6. iPhone 12 Pro
Released: 2020
Storage: 128/256/512 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 6.10 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The iPhone 12 Pro was an upgrade to the 11 Pro in terms of specs with 6 GB RAM, and in the camera with the new LiDAR sensor for better-augmented reality.
Did You Know?
The OLED display on the iPhone 12 Pro had problems with flickering.
5. iPhone 12 Pro Max
Released: 2020
Storage: 128/256/512 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 6.70 inches
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
The iPhone 12 Pro Max brought even more enhancements to the camera than the 12 Pro, with a larger primary sensor and sensor-shift stabilization.
Did You Know?
Apple was criticized for not including a fingerprint sensor when the use of face masks hindered FaceID.
4. iPhone 13 Mini
Released: 2021
Storage: 128/256/512 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 5.42 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The iPhone 13 Mini is a significant upgrade to the 12 mini in terms of battery and camera. It features the larger sensors found in the 12 Pro lineup, and extended better battery life.
Did You Know?
It is rumored that the iPhone 13 Mini will be the last one in the Mini lineup.
3. iPhone 13
Released: 2021
Storage: 128/256/512 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 6.1 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The iPhone 13 has improved cameras over the 12 with sensor-shift stabilization and the new Cinematic Mode, which uses software for better focus.
Did You Know?
The notch on the iPhone 13 is about 20% smaller than previous generations.
2. iPhone 13 Pro
Released: 2021
Storage: 128/256/512/1024 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 6.1 inches
photo source: Unsplash
The iPhone 13 Pro features an all-new ProMotion display with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. It also comes with a 5-core GPU, as opposed to the 4-core GPU in the 13.
Did You Know?
Apple has included additional 5G bands in the iPhone 13 Pro for better network coverage.
1. iPhone 13 Pro Max
Released: 2021
Storage: 128/256/512/1024 GB
Camera: 12 MP
Screen Size: 6.7 inches
photo source: Unsplash
Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max comes with a new ProRes video codec that will enable up to 8K video recording. It also uses algorithms to create different photographic styles.
Did You Know?
The iPhone 13 Pro Max currently has the best battery life compared to other smartphones.
