The original iPhone was the first mobile phone to usemulti-touch technology. Throughoutits history, the iPhone has gained larger,higher-resolution displays,video-recording functionality,waterproofing, and manyaccessibility features. Up to theiPhone 8 and 8 Plus, iPhones had a single button on the front panel, with theiPhone 5s and later integrating aTouch ID fingerprint sensor. Since theiPhone X,[note 2] iPhone models have switched to a nearlybezel-less front screen design withFace ID facial recognition in place of Touch ID for authentication, and increased use of gestures in place of the home button for navigation.
The iPhone, which operates using Apple'sproprietary iOS software, is one of the two major smartphoneplatforms in the world, alongsideAndroid. The first-generation iPhone was described by Steve Jobs as a "revolution" for the mobile phone industry. The iPhone has been credited with popularizing theslate smartphone form factor, and with creating a large market for smartphone apps, or "app economy", laying the foundation for theboom of the market for mobile devices. In addition to theapps that come pre-installed on iOS, there are nearly 2 million apps available for download from Apple's mobiledistribution marketplace, theApp Store, as of August 2024[update].
Development of anApple smartphone began in 2004, when the company started to gather a team of 1,000 employees led by hardware engineerTony Fadell, software engineerScott Forstall, and design officerJony Ive,[1] to work on the highly confidential "Project Purple".[2][3]
Then Apple CEOSteve Jobs steered the original focus away from a tablet (which was later revisited in the form of theiPad) towards a phone.[4] Apple created the device during a secretive collaboration withCingular Wireless (later renamedAT&T Mobility) at an estimated development cost of US$150 million over thirty months.[5] According to Jobs in 1998, the "i" word in "iMac" (and thereafter "iPod", "iPhone" and "iPad") stands for internet, individual, instruct, inform, and inspire.[6][7]
Apple rejected the "design by committee" approach that had yielded theMotorola ROKR E1, a largely unsuccessful "iTunes phone" made in collaboration withMotorola. Among other deficiencies, the ROKR E1's firmware limited storage to only 100iTunes songs to avoid competing with Apple'siPod nano.[8][9] Cingular gave Apple the liberty to develop the iPhone's hardware and software in-house, a rare practice at the time,[10][11] and paid Apple a fraction of its monthly service revenue (until the iPhone 3G),[12] in exchange for four years of exclusive U.S. sales, until 2011.[13]
Jobs unveiled thefirst-generation iPhone to the public on January 9, 2007, at theMacworld 2007 convention at theMoscone Center in San Francisco.[14] The iPhone incorporated a 3.5-inchmulti-touch display with few hardware buttons, and ran theiPhone OS operating system with a touch-friendly interface, then marketed as a version ofMac OS X.[15] It was the first mobile phone to use multi-touch technology.[16] The device launched on June 29, 2007, at a starting price of US$499 in the United States, and required a two-year contract withAT&T.[17] The price was reduced by a third after two months. The resulting complaints forced Jobs to issue an apology and offer a partial rebate toearly purchasers of the Phone.[18]
Worldwide iPhone availability:
iPhone available since its original release
iPhone available since the release of theiPhone 3G
On July 11, 2008, at Apple'sWorldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2008, Apple announced theiPhone 3G, and expanded its launch-day availability to twenty-two countries, and it was eventually released in 70 countries and territories.[19][20] The iPhone 3G introduced faster3G connectivity, and a lower starting price of US$199 (with a two-year AT&T contract).[21] It proved commercially popular, overtakingMotorola RAZR V3 as the best selling cell phone in the U.S. by the end of 2008.[22] Its successor, theiPhone 3GS, was announced on June 8, 2009, at WWDC 2009, and introduced video recording functionality.[23]
TheiPhone 4 was announced on June 7, 2010, at WWDC 2010, and introduced a redesigned body incorporating astainless steel frame and a rear glass panel.[24] At release, the iPhone 4 was marketed as the "world's thinnest smartphone";[24] it uses theApple A4 processor, being the first iPhone to use an Apple custom-designed chip. It introduced theRetina display, having four-times thedisplay resolution of preceding iPhones, and was the highest-resolution smartphone screen at release;[24] a front-facing camera was also introduced, enabling video calling functionality viaFaceTime.
Users of the iPhone 4 reported dropped/disconnected telephone calls when holding their phones in a certain way, and this issue was nicknamed "antennagate".[25] In January 2011, as Apple's exclusivity agreement with AT&T was expiring,Verizon announced that they would be carrying the iPhone 4, with a model compatible with Verizon'sCDMA network releasing on February 10.[26][27]
TheiPhone 4s was announced on October 4, 2011, and introduced theSirivirtual assistant, a dual-coreA5 processor, and an 8 megapixel camera with1080p video recording functionality. TheiPhone 5 was announced on September 12, 2012, and introduced a larger 4-inch screen, up from the 3.5-inch screen of all previous iPhone models, as well as faster4G LTE connectivity.[28] It also introduced a thinner and lighter body made ofaluminum alloy, and the30-pin dock connector of previous iPhones was replaced with the new, reversibleLightning connector.[28]
TheiPhone 5s andiPhone 5c were announced on September 10, 2013. The iPhone 5s included a64-bitA7 processor, becoming the first ever 64-bit smartphone;[29] it also introduced theTouch ID fingerprint authentication sensor.[30] The iPhone 5c was a lower-cost device that incorporated hardware from the iPhone 5, into a series of colorful plastic frames.[31]
On September 9, 2014, Apple introduced theiPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and included significantly larger screens than the iPhone 5s, at 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch respectively; both models also introduced mobile payment technology viaApple Pay.[32]Optical image stabilization was introduced to the 6 Plus' camera. TheApple Watch was also introduced on the same day, and is asmartwatch that operates in conjunction with a connected iPhone. Some users experienced bending issues from normal use with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, particularly on the latter model, and this issue was nicknamed "bendgate".[33]
TheiPhone 6s and 6s Plus were introduced on September 9, 2015, and included a more bend-resistant frame made of a stronger aluminum alloy, as well as a higher resolution 12 megapixel main camera capable of4K video recording.[34] Thefirst-generation iPhone SE was introduced on March 21, 2016, and was a low-cost device that incorporated newer hardware from the iPhone 6s, in the frame of the older iPhone 5s.[35]
TheiPhone 7 and 7 Plus were announced on September 7, 2016, which introduced larger camera sensors,IP67-certified water and dust resistance, and a quad-coreA10 Fusion processor utilizingbig.LITTLE technology;[36] the 3.5 mmheadphone jack was removed, and was followed by the introduction of theAirPods wireless earbuds.[37] Optical image stabilization was added to the 7's camera. A second telephoto camera lens was added on the 7 Plus, enabling two-times optical zoom, and "Portrait" photography mode which simulatesbokeh in photos.[38]
TheiPhone 8, 8 Plus, andiPhone X were announced on September 12, 2017, in Apple's first event held at theSteve Jobs Theater inApple Park. All models featured rear glass panel designs akin to the iPhone 4,wireless charging, and a hexa-coreA11 Bionic chip with "Neural Engine"AI accelerator hardware. The iPhone X additionally introduced a 5.8-inchOLED "Super Retina" display with a "bezel-less" design, with a higherpixel density andcontrast ratio than previous iPhones with LCD displays, and introduced a stronger frame made of stainless steel. It also introducedFace ID facial recognition authentication hardware, in a "notch" screen cutout, in place of Touch ID;[39][40] the home button was removed to achieve the “bezel-less” design, replacing it with a gesture-based navigation system.[41] At its US$999 starting price, the iPhone X was the most expensive iPhone at launch.[42]
TheiPhone XR,iPhone XS, and XS Max were announced on September 12, 2018. All models featured the "Smart HDR" computational photography system, and a significantly more powerful "Neural Engine".[43] The XS Max introduced a larger 6.5-inch screen. The iPhone XR included a 6.1-inch LCD "Liquid Retina" display, with a "bezel-less" design similar to the iPhone X, but does not include a second telephoto lens; it was made available in a series of vibrant colors, akin to the iPhone 5c, and was a lower-cost device compared to the iPhone X and XS.[44]
TheiPhone 11,11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max were announced on September 10, 2019. The iPhone 11 was the successor to the iPhone XR, while the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max succeeded the iPhone XS and XS Max. All models gained an Ultra-Wide lens, enabling two-times optical zoom out, as well as larger batteries for longer battery life.[45][46] Thesecond-generation iPhone SE was introduced on April 17, 2020, and was a low-cost device that incorporated newer hardware from the iPhone 11, in the frame of the older iPhone 8, while retaining the home button and the Touch ID sensor.[47]
2020s
TheiPhone 12, 12 Mini,12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max were announced via alivestream event on October 13, 2020. All models featured OLED "Super Retina XDR" displays, introduced faster5G connectivity, and theMagSafe magnetic charging and accessory system; a slimmer flat-edged design was also introduced, which combined with strongerglass-ceramic front glass, added better drop protection compared to previous iPhones.[48][49] The iPhone 12 Mini introduced a smaller 5.4-inch screen, while the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max had larger screens of 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch respectively. The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max additionally added aLidar sensor for better accuracy inaugumented reality (AR) applications.
TheiPhone 13, 13 Mini,13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max were announced via a livestream event on September 14, 2021. All models featured larger camera sensors, larger batteries for longer battery life, and a narrower "notch" screen cutout.[50] The iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max additionally introduced smoother adaptive 120 Hzrefresh rate "ProMotion" technology in its OLED display, and three-times optical zoom in the telephoto lens.[51] The low-costthird-generation iPhone SE was introduced on March 8, 2022, and incorporated theA15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13, but otherwise retained similar hardware to the second-generation iPhone SE.
TheiPhone 14, 14 Plus,14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max were announced on September 7, 2022. All models introducedsatellite phone emergency calling functionality. A new 14 Plus model introduced the large 6.7-inch screen size, first seen on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, into a lower-cost device.[52] The iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max additionally introduced a higher-resolution 48-megapixel main camera, the first increase in megapixel count since the iPhone 6s; it also introducedalways-on display technology to thelock screen, and an interactive status bar interface integrated in a redesigned screen cutout, entitled "Dynamic Island".[53]
TheiPhone 15, 15 Plus,15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max were announced on September 12, 2023. Starting with this group of devices, all models switch to usingUSB-C as their power connector to comply withEuropean Commission regulations, replacing Apple's proprietaryLightning connector after eleven years of use in previous models.[54] The 15 and 15 plus now feature the Dynamic Island, which debuted with the iPhone 14 Pro (effectively retiring the "notch" display cutout), a 48-megapixel main camera, slightly curved edges, and a color-infused frosted glass back.[55][56][57] The 15 Pro and Pro Max also replace the mute switch with the "Action" button, and stainless-steel material to titanium.[57]
TheiPhone 16, 16 Plus,16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max were announced on September 9, 2024. The former two introduced a vertical camera layout with refined "Fusion" and Ultra-Wide cameras.[58] The 16 Pro and Pro Max have larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, a 48-megapixel Ultra-Wide camera, and the largest batteries in an iPhone up to that point.[59] All models now include access to newApple Intellegence AI features,[60] a refined thermal system, support forWi-Fi 7, and a new button dubbed the "Camera Control", allowing easier access to camera features. On February 19, 2025, the 16e was announced as the newest member of the 16 family. This model is going to have a longer battery life thanks to the A18 chip and the new Apple C1, which is the first cellular modem designed by Apple.[61] It will have a 6.1-inch screen, and the same 48-megapixel camera as previous models, but lacks the wider shot option due to its cheaper purchasing price.[62]
^Last regular iOS version (probably with feature updates), in parentheses: last iOS supported
^Min / max amount of time Apple support is/was available
^Maximal support lifespan = current or support ended date - released date
^Minimal support lifespan = current or support ended date - discontinued date
Production
Up to theiPhone 4, all iPhones and other devices, such asiPod Touch models andiPads, were manufactured byFoxconn, based inTaiwan. In 2011, new CEOTim Cook changed Apple'smanufacturing strategy to diversify its supply base. TheiPhone 4s in 2012 was the first model to be manufactured simultaneously by two stand-alone companies: Foxconn andPegatron, the latter also based in Taiwan. Although Foxconn still produces more iPhones, Pegatron's orders have been slowly increased: the company made part of theiPhone 5c line in 2013, and 30% ofiPhone 6 devices in 2014. The 6 Plus model was produced solely by Foxconn.[64] In 2019, Apple investigated reports that some Foxconn managers had used rejected parts to build iPhones.[65] InIndia, Apple paysWistron, a Taiwan-based manufacturer with a plant nearBangalore, to assemble iPhones to sell in the region.[66]
In 2022, Apple announced that a portion of theiPhone 14 would be manufactured inTamil Nadu,India, as a response to China's "zero-COVID" policy that has negatively affected global supply chains for many industries.[67] Apple has stated that they plan to shift 25% of iPhone production to India by 2025.[68]
Apple directly sub-contractshardware production to externalOEM companies, maintaining a high degree of control over the end product. The iPhone contains most of the hardware parts of a typical modern smartphone. Some hardware elements, such as3D Touch and theTaptic Engine, are unique to the iPhone. The main hardware of the iPhone is thetouchscreen, with current models offering screens of 4.7 inches and larger. All iPhones include a rear-facing camera; the front-facing camera dates back to theiPhone 4. TheiPhone 7 Plus introduced multiple lenses to the rear-facing camera. A range of sensors are also included on the device, such as aproximity sensor,ambient light sensor,accelerometer,gyroscopic sensor,magnetometer,facial recognition sensor orfingerprint sensor (depending on the model) andbarometer. In 2022, Apple added satellite communications to the iPhone, with the release of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro.[69]
The iPhone runs iOS.[70] It is based on macOS'sDarwin and many of its userlandAPIs, withCocoa replaced byCocoa Touch, andAppKit replaced byUIKit. The graphics stack runs onMetal, Apple's low-level graphics API. The iPhone comes with a set of bundled applications developed by Apple,[71] and supports downloading third-party applications through theApp Store.[72]
Apple provides free updates to iOS over-the-air, or throughFinder andiTunes on a computer.[73] Major iOS releases have historically accompanied new iPhone models.[74][75] The most recent version isiOS 18.[76]
AtWWDC 2007 on June 11, 2007, Apple announced that the iPhone would supportthird-partyAjax web applications that share the look and feel of the iPhone interface.[77] On October 17, 2007, Steve Jobs, in an open letter posted to Apple's "Hot News"weblog, announced that asoftware development kit (SDK) would be made available to third-party developers in February 2008.[78] The iPhone SDK was officially announced and released on March 6, 2008.[79] The App Store was launched with the release of iPhone OS 2.0, on July 11, 2008.[80]
Apple requires all third-party apps to be downloaded from the App Store, with exceptions for ad-hoc apps used within enterprises. Developers must pay a yearly $99 fee as part of Apple's Developer Program;[81] if their membership expires, their apps are removed from the App Store, though existing users retain the ability to redownload the app.[82] Developers can release free apps, or paid apps for which Apple takes a 30% cut of proceeds.[83] Developers earning less than $1 million in annual sales qualify for the App Store Small Business Program, with Apple only taking a 15% fee.[84]
Though iOS has far lower market share than Android, its app ecosystem has been described as superior, with higher-quality apps, and more iOS-exclusive releases.[85] Android'sversion fragmentation,[86] less uniform hardware, and lower app revenues have been cited as key factors.
All apps must pass Apple's app review process before being distributed in the App Store.[87] Apple may also stop distributing apps it deems inappropriate. For example, in 2009, Apple rejected theNewspapers app due toThe Sun's "obscene" topless Page 3 girls.[88] In 2018, Apple removedTumblr from the App Store, citing illegal content, causing Tumblr to ban all adult content from their platform.[89] The App Store's review process has been criticized by developers as "frustrating", "anti-competitive", and "asinine".[90][91][92][93]
Users can also install native apps outside of the App Store throughjailbreaking,[94] or throughexploits, such as TrollStore. Jailbreaking may cause security issues, and is not supported by Apple.[95]
As of October 2013[update], Apple has passed 60 billion app downloads.[96] As of September 2016[update], there have been over 140 billion app downloads from the App Store.[97] In January 2017, the App Store had over 2.2million apps for the iPhone.[98][99] As of August 2024, Apple'sApp Store contains nearly 2 million applications.[100]
Apple restricts the installation of unapproved third-party apps and does not allow full access to the iPhone's filesystem. According toJonathan Zittrain, the emergence of closed devices like the iPhone has made computing moreproprietary than it was in the PC era.[101] Jailbreaking allows users to install apps not available on the App Store, customize their device in ways not allowed by Apple, and bypass SIM locks without carrier approval.[102] Some jailbreak tweaks were later copied by Apple and implemented into iOS, like multitasking, widgets, and copy and paste.[103]
Apple attempted to use theDMCA to fight jailbreaking; however in 2010, the U.S. found jailbreaking to be legal.[104] Jailbroken iPhones are at higher risk of malware due to Apple's lesser control of the app ecosystem.[105] In the United States, Apple cannot void an iPhone's warranty solely due to jailbreaking.[106] Jailbreaks rely onexploits. Apple has improved the iPhone's hardware and software security, making these exploits harder to find; as a result, recent iPhones cannot currently be jailbroken.[107]
Accessibility
The iPhone contains a range of accessibility features to support users' visual, auditory, and motor needs. iPhones can notify users through onscreen banners, audio alerts, vibrations, or the LED flash; vibration patterns can be customized by users. SinceiOS 15,Siri can read notifications out loud through earphones, and, sinceiOS 16, through the device's speakers.[108]
Users with motor needs can use Assistive Touch to customize the way they navigate through menus; it can assist users who have difficulties with some gestures, like pinching, and makes these gestures available by tapping on a menu. The user can create their own gestures and customize the layout of the AssistiveTouch menu. If the user has trouble pressing the Home button, it can be set so that it can be activated with an onscreen tap. Gestures, like rotate and shake, are available even when if the iOS device is mounted on awheelchair. Head Tracking can be used to control an iPhone using facial movements recognized by the front camera.[109]
Low-vision users can enable VoiceOver, ascreen reader which describes what is on the screen, whileSiri allows for hands-free interaction. The iPhone also supports wirelessbraille displays to help users read its interface. Text can be enlarged system-wide. The Magnifier app uses the iPhone'sLidar scanner to identify objects, for example doors, people, and objects, and can describe them to the user, as well as their distance. Door Detection can alert the user through sound, speech, and haptics.[109]
Hearing aids that are part of the Made for iPhone program can be controlled from an iPhone. These hearing aids also feature Live Listen, which enables the iPhone to act as a directional microphone, beaming its audio to compatible hearing aids.[110] Live Listen can help the user hear a conversation in a noisy room or hear someone speaking across the room.[111] Apple built Live Listen support into all AirPods, which can also relay audio from a connected iPhone's microphone.Closed captioning and externalTTY devices are supported, while Live Caption can transcribe audio across all apps and display it onscreen. Sound Recognition can recognize surrounding noises, including door bells, kettles, water running, and babies crying, and notify the user with an onscreen alert.[109]
Guided Access helps people withautism,ADHD, orsensory challenges stay focused on a single app. With Guided Access, a parent, teacher, or therapist can limit an iOS device to stay on one app by disabling the Home button and limit the amount of time spent in an app. The user can restrict access to the keyboard or touch input on certain areas of the screen.
Marketing
The original iPhone was heavily promoted before its official announcement, creating buzz and anticipation.[112] Upon its release, it was marketed heavily in television, web and print ads created in partnership withTBWA\Chiat\Day.[113]
TheApple ecosystem has been described as a keymoat that increases iPhonebrand loyalty.iMessage has especially been singled out with its "green bubbles" phenomena. In iMessage, SMS messages from Android users appear as green bubble, rather than the blue bubbles used for texts from other iPhone users. Group chats between iOS and Android are poorly supported; reactions display as text, rather than bubbles, and images are sent throughMMS, which degrades image quality. Some teens have described being "ostracized" after switching to Android,[117] which Google has labeled "bullying".[118] This has been described by critics as a key factor leading 87% of U.S. teenagers to use iPhones.[119]
Retail
SIM unlocking
Many iPhones bought through a monthlycarrier contract areSIM locked, restricting their use to one particular carrier.[120] While the iPhone was initiallysold in the U.S. only on the AT&T network with a SIM lock in place, various hackers found methods to bypass that SIM lock.[121] More than a quarter of first-generation iPhones sold in the U.S. were not registered with AT&T. Apple speculated that they were likely shipped overseas and unlocked, a lucrative market before the iPhone 3G's worldwide release.[122][123] Today, many carriers either remove the SIM lock automatically after a certain period, or do it upon request, either for free or for a small fee.[124] iPhones bought from Apple are not SIM locked.[120] Many carriers also sell the iPhone unlocked when purchased outright rather than on a long-term contract.
Retail strategy
Since 2013, iPhone buyers can obtain a trade in discount when buying a new iPhone directly from Apple. The program aims to increase the number of customers who purchase iPhones at Apple Stores rather than carrier stores.[125] In 2015, Apple unveiled the iPhone Upgrade Program, a 24-month leasing agreement, whichFortune described as a "change [in] iPhone owners' relationships with mobile carriers".[126]
Repairability
iPhone 6s's interior; the side on the left contains the display and the side on the right contains hardware and battery
OnlyApple Stores andApple Authorized Service Providers are allowed by Apple to perform genuine replacements.[127] Apple has taken steps to make third-party repairs more difficult. iPhone components are soldered, and many are glued together.[128] iPhones receive low repairability scores, in part due to the difficulty of obtaining genuine parts, and the difficulty undertaking each repair.[129] This has given rise to theright to repair movement, aimed at giving users cheaper options for repairing their phones. Apple has lobbied against right to repair legislation.[130] Multiple jurisdictions aim to introduce right to repair laws, including theEU,[131]UK,[132] and U.S.[133]
In the past, Apple brickediPhone 6 models after their home buttons were replaced, displaying anError 53 message; Apple called this a bug, and released an update to address the issue.[134] On iPhones with a Touch ID sensor, the home button cannot be replaced by users or independent repair shops without losing Touch ID functionality, since Apple has not made their calibration tool public.[135]
Starting with theiPhone XR, Apple displays warnings in the Settings app if the battery, display, or camera are replaced by a third party.[136] Additionally, some features are disabled when a part labeled "non-genuine" is detected, like True Tone, or the battery health measurement.iFixit notes that a proprietary, cloud-linked System Configuration tool is required to "complete" a part repair, meaning that even replacing a genuine part with another genuine part will fail Apple's "genuine parts" check unless said tool is used.[137]
In 2022, Apple rolled out a self-service repair program, allowing any user to buy parts, rent repair tools from Apple, and obtain repair manuals. The program received a degree of praise by iFixit and repair advocates, who also critically noted that Apple maintains control over the parts supply.[138][139]
Privacy
Tracking prevention
Apple introduced App Tracking Transparency (ATT) with iOS 14.5 in April 2021. ATT requires apps to ask for explicit permission before being allowed to track the user across other apps and websites. If the user refuses, the app cannot access Apple'sIdentifier for Advertisers (IDFA), an identifier used to serve personalized ads.[140] ATT does not prevent personalized ads that are based on the user's behavior within the app itself.[141] The feature has been criticized by some as anti-competitive, including Facebook, whose shares fell by 26% after its rollout.[142] Apple exempts their own apps from their anti-tracking measures, which has led to anti-trust investigations by the French and German governments.[143][144]
Location tracking controversy
In July 2010, Apple claimed that it collected iPhone users' GPS coordinates and nearby Wi-Fi networks twice a day; aWall Street Journal investigation found that Google's Android sent this data "several times an hour".[145][146]
In September 2010, forensic expert Christopher Vance discovered ahidden unencrypted file named "consolidated.db" that contained a record of iPhone users' locations.[147][148] The file was added with the June 2010iOS 4 update, though previous versions of iOS stored similar information in a file called "h-cells.plist".[149] On April 20, 2011,The Guardian publicized research by Alasdair Allan and Pete Warden, who found that anyone with physical access to an iPhone could obtain a detailed record of its owner's location and movements over the past year.[150] Moreover, the file was automatically backed up by iTunes onto any computer the iPhone was synchronized with.[151] AWall Street Journal investigation found that users' locations were still stored when location services are disabled.[152] The controversy led to U.S. congressional scrutiny and an FCC investigation,[148] and was dubbed "Locationgate" by the media.[153]
Apple responded on April 27, 2011, claiming that the data was used to cache nearby Wi-Fi hotspots and cell towers in order to improve location speed and accuracy. The company also claimed that locations being collected when location services were off, and being stored for more than a year, were both bugs.[153] Apple issued an update for iOS (version4.3.3, or 4.2.8 for the CDMA iPhone 4) which reduced the size of the cache, encrypted it, stopped it being backed up to iTunes, and erased it entirely whenever location services were turned off.[154] Nevertheless, in July 2014, a report on state-owned China Central Television called iPhone tracking a "national security concern".[155]
Currently, iPhones contain a "Frequent Locations" database which records where users have been, along with exact times they arrived and left, raising concerns that the data could be used in court.[156] This feature can be turned off.[157]
Child safety controversy
In August 2021, Apple announced plans to scan iCloud Photos forchild abuse imagery (through an algorithm called "NeuralHash"), and filter explicit images sent and received by children using iPhones (dubbed "Conversation Safety"), to be rolled out later that year.[158] More than 90 policy and human rights groups wrote an open letter to condemn both features.[159] Apple's plan to implement NeuralHash on-device rather than in the cloud led the EFF and security experts to call it a "backdoor" that could later be expanded to detect other types of contents, and would decrease users' privacy.[160] Apple claimed the system was "misunderstood",[161] but announced in December 2022 that the photo-scanning feature would never be implemented.[162] The other feature, Conversation Safety, was added iniOS 15.2.[163]
Security
Apple's iOS operating system is regarded by some security experts as more secure against common malware than Android.[164] Less than 1% of mobile malware targets iOS.[165]
Prior to 2014, the iPhone stored all "messages, pictures and videos, contacts, audio recordings [...] and call history" in unencrypted form, enabling easy access by law enforcement.[166] This changed with iOS 8, which adoptedfile-based encryption. Apple does not hold the decryption key, and cannot be compelled to turn over user data, even when presented with a government warrant.[167] Companies likeGrayshift andCellebrite developedexploits that enable law enforcement to extract user data from iPhones without needing the user's passcode.[168][169]
In 2015 and 2016,a dispute unfolded between Apple and theFBI. The FBI had recovered the iPhone 5c of one of theSan Bernardino attackers, andiCloud backups of that phone from a month and a half before the shooting. The U.S. government attempted to obtain a court order under theAll Writs Act compelling Apple to produce a modified version of iOS that would allow investigators tobrute force the device passcode.[170][171] Tim Cook responded on the company's website, outlining a need for encryption, arguing that abackdoor would compromise the privacy of all iPhone users.[172] TheDOJ withdrew its request after the FBI bought an exploit to bypass the iPhone's passcode.[173] As a countermeasure, Apple implemented USB Restricted Mode,[174] which was subsequently exploited too.[169]
In 2016,researchers discovered thePegasus suite ofexploits targeting iOS and Android, which led to significant international media coverage.[175] Some Pegasus exploits arezero-click, meaning that they can fully compromise the device with no user interaction, for example by sending a malformediMessage to the user that would not even trigger a notification.[176] Pegasus can collect most data, including chats, passwords, and photos, and can turn on the phone's microphone and camera remotely.[177][178] Apple quickly issued an update fixingFORCEDENTRY and other known Pegasus exploits,[179] though Pegasus continued to be used, relying on new exploits.[180] Apple announced a newbug bounty for vulnerabilities, and added an optional Lockdown Mode toiOS 16 that reduces the iPhone'sattack surface.[181][182] Many security researchers have criticized Apple's bug bounty for underpaying researchers, being uncommunicative, and being slow to fix vulnerabilities, and two Apple employees toldThe Washington Post that the company "has a massive backlog of bugs that it hasn't fixed".[183]
Prominent victims of Pegasus includeJamal Khashoggi, and numerous activists, businessmen and politicians.[184] Pegasus has been widely used since 2011,[185] and is still used by law enforcement and governments as of July 2022.[186]
Reception and legacy
Theoriginal iPhone has been described as "revolutionary",[187] a "breakthrough handheld computer",[188] and "the best phone that anybody has ever made".[189] It is now Apple's bestselling product, and has been credited with helping to make Apple one of the world'smost valuable publicly traded companies by 2011.[190] Newer iterations have also received praise and awards.[191][192]
Before the iPhone, smartphones were mostly used for texting, calls, and email; more advanced functions were harder to use and inconvenient on a small screen.[193] They were also hard to develop for, and lacked a thriving app ecosystem like theApp Store (released in 2008).[194][195] Many phones were heavily customized by mobile carriers, which led to feature fragmentation and prevented these phones from turning into thrivingsoftware platforms.[196] In contrast, Apple'siPhone SDK provided a wide range of APIs, made mobile development far more accessible,[197][198] and was instrumental in turning the iPhone into a "Swiss army knife" with a wide range of features and apps.[193]
SuccessiveiPhone models have generated significant fan enthusiasm, with many customers queuing up in front of Apple Stores on launch day.[199] As of 2021, the iPhone has higher brand loyalty than any other smartphone.[200]
The iPhone's success has led to the decline of incumbentsNokia,BlackBerry, andMotorola.[201][202] RIM,Symbian andMicrosoft all attempted to develop more modern operating systems to compete with the iPhone, likeMaemo,Windows Phone, andBlackBerry 10; all were unsuccessful. Google successfully started over on their Android project,[193] and designed it for mass adoption by carriers and phone hardware manufacturers.[203] Today, iOS and Android account for 99% of smartphones used worldwide.[204]
Sales
Steve Jobs's initial target was to reach 1% of phone market share in 2008.[205] Apple sold 6.1 million units of the original iPhone betweenQ3FY2007[note 3] and Q4 FY2008, and 11.3 million units of the iPhone 3G in Q4 FY2008 and Q1 FY2009.[206] In 2008, the iPhone reached 1.1% of worldwide mobile phone market share,[207] and 8.2% of the smartphone market.[208] During this time it was quickly becoming relevant in North America, and in market share was ranked second in the U.S. in 2009, behind theBlackBerry;[209] in 2010 theiPhone 3GS was the best-selling smartphone in the U.S., the first time that an iPhone device reached top spot in that market.[210]
iPhone sales grew continuouslyyear-over-year since its introduction until Q2 FY2016.[211][212] The iPhone briefly surpassedBlackBerry in Q4 FY2008,[213] and permanently overtook it starting in Q3 FY2010.[214] By 2011, Apple sold 100 million iPhones worldwide,[215] and became the largest mobile phone vendor in the world by revenue, surpassing long-time leaderNokia.[216] Q1 FY2012 marked Apple's best quarterly earnings in its history, with 53% of the company's revenues coming from iPhone sales.[217] Phone sales are strongly seasonal, peaking in the holiday season (Apple's Q1). With the release of the iPhone 13 in Q1 FY2022, Apple temporarily topped Samsung, with 84.9 million units shipped compared to Samsung's 68.9 million. In most quarters, Apple is the second largest smartphone vendor by units.[214][note 4] Apple sold 223 million iPhones in its financial year 2023 ending September 24.[218][219]
Today, Samsung and Apple dominate the smartphone market, with 21.8% and 15.6% worldwide market share respectively.[220] Due to Apple's small lineup, Apple often dominates the list of bestselling smartphone models.[221][222] Despite its lower market share, the iPhone's premium positioning has led it to capture nearly half of global smartphone revenue,[223] and 80% of global smartphone profits, with Samsung taking the other 20%.[224] Carriers compete with each other to subsidize iPhone upgrades, which is seen as a significant factor in iPhone sales, though this has reduced carrier profits.[225] On July 27, 2016, Apple announced that it had sold their 1 billionth iPhone.[226] As of January 1, 2024, more than 2.3 billion iPhones have been sold.[227]
Compared to other high-tech products, a greater proportion of iPhone users are female.[228] The iPhone has been adopted by both consumers and business users.[229] iPhone users are wealthier and spend more time on their phones than Android users on average.[230][231] The iPhone is especially popular in the U.S., where it has a 50% market share,[232] and is used by 87% of teenagers.[119] Worldwide, the iPhone accounts for 78% of the high-end ($1,000+) smartphone market.[232]
Android overtook the iPhone's installed base in 2010, according toNPD Group.[233] During Apple'searnings call on January 27, 2021, Tim Cook said that 1 billion iPhones were being actively used worldwide.[234]
Emerging markets
While other manufacturers make separate entry-level phones, Apple's entry-level phones are the previous years' models, part of an effort to increase its market share in emerging markets without diluting its premium brand.[235][236] It also considers emerging market tastes in its product designs; for example, it introduced a gold iPhone after finding that gold was seen as a popular sign of aluxury product among Chinese customers.[237] In 2017, Apple started manufacturing previous years' iPhone models in India; in 2022, it began manufacturing the current iPhone 14 there too.[238] Analysts have speculated that this was partly caused by Apple's desire to reduce its dependence on China, and to overcome Indian import duties.[238][239] In 2023, the Chinese government banned the use of iPhones by government civil servants in what was seen as an effort to reduce dependence on foreign technology and strengthen cybersecurity.[240]
In May 2024 Iranian president Mokhber banned imported iPhone 14 and newer models, in November the ban was lifted and replaced with 30% customs tariff to the phones.[241][242]
^The naming of the iPhone X (Roman numeral "X" pronounced "ten") marked the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, thus skipping the iPhone 9.
^Each company may choose different quarters for theirfiscal year. Apple's fiscal quarters correspond to the following months: Q1 ends in late December, Q2 ends in late March, Q3 ends in late June, and Q4 ends in late September.All references to quarters in this section reference Apple's fiscal year quarters. The holiday quarter, the fourth quarter of the calendar year, is referred to as Apple's Q1.Since 2011, iPhone releases have consistently occurred in September at the end of Q4, meaning that sales of a new model are mostly reflected in Q1 of the following fiscal year, covering October to December.
^Note that Statista presents data in calendar year quarters; Q4 in Statista data corresponds to Apple'sFY Q1.
^"Apple Inc. Q3 2007 Unaudited Summary Data"(PDF) (Press release). Apple Inc. July 25, 2007. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on May 29, 2008. RetrievedJune 6, 2008.Consists of iPhones and Apple-branded and third-party iPhone accessories.
^"Apple Introduces the New iPhone 3G" (Press release). Apple Inc. June 9, 2008. Archived fromthe original on May 1, 2011.iPhone 2.0 software will be available on July 11 as a free software update via iTunes 7.7 or later for all iPhone customers
^"Program Renewal".Support – Apple Developer.Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. RetrievedOctober 3, 2022.If your Apple Developer Program membership expires, your apps will no longer be available for download and you won't be able to submit new apps or updates. [...] However, your apps will still function for users who have already installed or downloaded them, and you will still have access to App Store Connect and free development resources.
^Vance, Christopher (October 9, 2010)."iPhone iOS4 GPS Data".Cellular.Sherlock. Archived fromthe original on October 9, 2010. RetrievedOctober 19, 2022.
^Cox, Joseph (July 5, 2018)."Leaked Emails Show Cops Trying to Hide Emails About Phone Hacking Tools".Vice Media.Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. RetrievedJuly 6, 2018.Leaked emails from one of these communities showed how some members were confident that Grayshift, the company behind the GrayKey product, had already found a workaround to a new security feature from Apple called USB Restricted Mode.
^Tim Cook."A Message to Our Customers". Archived fromthe original on February 17, 2016.The United States government has demanded that Apple take an unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers. We oppose this order, which has implications far beyond the legal case at hand.
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