Apple is a brand everyone has heard of. Whether it be their phones, iPads, or computers, everyone knows who they are.
Apple released its first product, the Apple 1, a personal computer, in 1976. 31 years later, they released the start of a new era, the iPhone 2G. The iPhone 2G was put in stores on June 29, 2007. The new iPhone consisted of a 3.5-inch screen, 4GB, and a starting price of $499.
“My first phone was an iridescent Samsung Galaxy 5,” junior Kenedi Clevenger said. “I got my first iPhone in 6th grade.”
Only 1 year and 18 days later, Apple released the iPhone 3G. The only addition to that phone was faster internet and a GPS component. Less than a year later, 3GS was released. This phone came with a better quality camera and faster speeds.
By 2010, the iPhone 4 was released. It had a selfie camera, as well as many new internal upgrades. In 2011, Apple released the 4s with only minor upgrades, where Siri was officially introduced. In 2012, Apple released a new and improved iPhone 5. The screen was upgraded to 4 inches and decorated with a glass back plate. With the release of this phone, a new charger was also introduced. Although many were upset about this new charger situation, Apple went on to sell 70 million phones. The iPhone 5s and 5c both came out on Sep. 20, 2013. Same as the iPhone 5, but with Touch ID and a variety of colors.
“My first iPhone was iPhone 11,” junior Ava Brewer said. “And now I’ve upgraded to the iPhone 14 Pro.”
By the time 2014 rolls around, Apple will make a statement. Apple was receiving backlash due to their small screen sizes, so they improved. They released the iPhone 6 and 6s with screens of 4.7 and 5.5 inches. Many users had problems with this phone, though, because of its stability. Users had complained that their iPhones had bent and warped, so Apple made adjustments. They released the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in 2015.
The next iPhone released was the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in 2016. This phone had louder speakers, more storage, and was water-resistant.
“No, I don’t think they should make new phones,” junior Charlotte Heffington said. “They’ve been making too many.”
2017 was when it all started to change. Apple released 2 different models at the same time. The iPhone 8 and iPhone X (10). The iPhone 8 barely had any changes from the iPhone 7, but the X had many. Apple introduced the ‘no-button’ feature as well as Face ID. iPhone X sold for $999, the most expensive iPhone yet.
“I feel like they should make, like, iPads and computers,” senior Geo Dilworth said. “We have enough phones.”
In 2019, the iPhone 11 (and 11 models) launched. This was the largest iPhone yet with multiple high-end features and different color options. On one version of this phone, they shared the 3-camera advantage.
By late October 2020, Apple released the iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max. It was much like the 11, but it was a more boxy shape. There were a few upgrades and changes to this phone.
“The 16s look the same as the 11s,” Heffington said. “The 17 looks bulky.”
By fall 2021, Apple had released another similar iPhone to the 11 and 12. The iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max. There were some subtle changes to the phone, but nothing that caught anyone’s eye. In September 2022, Apple released yet another iPhone similar to the 12. The iPhone 14, 14 Plus, Pro, and Pro Max all had similar features to the past 2 phones.
“My first iPhone was an iPhone 13,” Dilworth said. “I was a junior when I got it.”
In 2023, the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max were released. They were a hit, considering a new USB-C port was introduced. The battery life lasted longer than it ever had before.
On September 20, 2024, Apple released the iPhone 16, which had minor updates. The phone was almost the same as the previous 15, but it came with a larger camera. After users saw this brand-new camera, they wondered what the next iPhone would bring.
“I think they should start focusing on other things,” Brewer said. “I feel like their name is getting dissed on recently.”
Finally, on September 19, 2025, Apple released its biggest controversy yet. The iPhone 17 has an Android look to it, which makes some users upset via Apple’s past unique phone looks. Many are not impressed with the new look, as well as numerous individuals are complaining about their device being “easily scratchable.”
“Oh, I think it’s so ugly,” Clevenger said. “I think they should keep making new phones, but make them look good and not make stupid phones.”
“I think it looks ridiculous. It kinda looks like a Samsung in a way,” Brewer said. “But I’m sure it’s cool. I feel like all of the companies base their phones on each other.”
Many PHS students think the same about the new iPhone 17: It’s ugly. Students think that instead of Apple’s unique look, they’re starting to look similar to all the other phone brands in the world.
“It looks like those phone cases that have the slider for the cameras,” junior Kamryn Schuler said. “The whole phone reminds me of that.”
Whether it be their change in mechanics, camera quality, or even looks, Apple gives its customers much to talk about. Although there has been a lot of controversy around many of their phones, Apple continues to be one of the most popular phone brands in the world.
