iPhone

Updated: 12/10/2023 by Computer Hope

An iPhone may refer to any of the following:

Apple iPhone

1. The iPhone is a smartphone created by Apple that was announced on January 9, 2007. The first demonstration of the iPhone was on January 29, 2007, at the Macworld Conference & Expo. The iPhone utilizes a touch screen, giving it features in addition to that of a regular cell phone such as an on-screen keyboard. Additionally, because the iPhone has a full-fledged operating system (iOS) it can run millions of different software apps, available for download and purchase through the Apple App store.

Note

iPhone was featured as a top term of 2007.

Versions of the iPhone

Below lists iPhone versions with a summary of the new features and their respective release dates.

  • iPhone 3G - The iPhone 3G was the first iPhone with 3G support; it was released on June 19, 2009.
  • iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s - These two iPhones were released on June 24, 2010, and October 14, 2011, respectively. The iPhone 4s introduced the Siri voice assistant.
  • iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s - Both phones included an increase in screen size to 4 inches; the 5s includes a fingerprint reader. These two versions were released on September 21, 2012, and September 20, 2013, respectively.
  • iPhone 5c - A version of the iPhone 5 which was sold at a lower price point. The phone features a plastic back rather than the traditional aluminum design. This allowed the phone to be sold with multiple color variations.
  • iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s - The iPhone 6 saw a screen size increase to 4.7 and 5.5 inches on the "Plus" model. These two phones were released on September 19, 2014, and September 25, 2015, respectively.
  • iPhone SE - Released in March 2016, the iPhone SE was smaller and more affordable than the iPhone 6. Although its internal hardware was comparable to the larger and thinner iPhone 6S, its form factor was more like its predecessor, the iPhone 5.
  • iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus - The iPhone 7 saw the removal of the traditional 3.5 mm headphone jack. It included water resistance technology, and improved performance with dual rear cameras on the 7 Plus. These two phones were released on September 16, 2016.
  • iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus - The iPhone 8 included a glass back and the ability to charge wirelessly. These versions were released on September 22, 2017.
  • iPhone X and iPhone XS (iPhone 10) - The iPhone X brought a full OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screen, top face sensors for Face ID, and the removal of the traditional home button. It was released on November 3, 2017. The iPhone XS was an upgraded version of the X released on September 21, 2018.
  • iPhone XR - A version of the iPhone X introduced at a lower price point. The iPhone XR is made of plastic instead of glass, features a lower resolution 720p screen, and a single rear camera rather than a dual camera.
  • iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max - Released in September 2019, the iPhone 11 kept the same notch design found on the X and XR. The iPhone 11 starts at a lower price point than the flagship 11 Pro and Pro Max, the larger of which has three rear cameras.
  • iPhone SE (second generation) - A revamped version of the original iPhone SE, released on April 24, 2020. This version of the phone brings iPhone 11 specifications to a phone with the size and form factor of the iPhone 8. It features an A13 Bionic processor, 4.7-inch Retina HD display, and Touch ID. It includes a single, 12-megapixel camera, in contrast to the dual or triple cameras on previous iPhone models.
  • iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro , and iPhone 12 Pro Max - Released on October 23, 2020, the iPhone 12 family has 5G connectivity, MagSafe wireless charging, and adopts the flat-sided design of previous iPhones, like the iPhone 4. The iPhone 12 Mini is a smaller, thinner version of the original, while the iPhone 12 Pro is a higher specification version of the phone. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is a larger version of the 12 Pro, and the flagship device out of this lineup.
  • iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max - Released on September 24, 2021, the iPhone 13 family features a diagonal camera layout that captures 40% more light and provide up to 2 1/2 hours of more battery life. All iPhone 13 models come with the new A15 Bionic processor and a 128 GB or larger storage capacity. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro models include a 28% brighter screen, and have a cinematic video mode for improved video recording. The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max models include a new telephoto camera, featuring a 3x optical zoom.
  • iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max - Released on September 16, 2022, the iPhone 14 supports satellite emergency calls when you have no cellular service. It also contains a new force sensor for detecting if you've been in a car crash. The iPhone 14 has an improved version of the A15 Bionic processor, and the Pro versions have the new A16 Bionic chip.

2. Created by Linksys (a subsidiary of Cisco), the iPhone is a mobile handset that connects to a Wi-Fi network. It enables users to make wireless phone calls through their home computers using Skype. This phone enables users to use Skype anywhere in their home or office (within Wi-Fi range), similar to the traditional cordless home phone.

Because of the obvious trademark conflict with Apple, Cisco filed a trademark infringement against Apple shortly after its release. However, shortly after filing the trademark infringement, the companies came to terms and agreed to share the name between the two products.

App, Apple terms, Cell phone, Hardware terms, iPod, Jailbreaking, lowerCamelCase, Nextel, Phone terms, Purple, Smartphone, Touch screen, Wi-Fi calling