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Discontinued: 2008
The iPhone (1st Generation) was released on June 29, 2007, and discontinued on July 15, 2008.
It revolutionized the mobile phone industry by combining three essential tools—a phone, an iPod, and access to the Internet—into a single device with a touchscreen.
When launched, the iPhone, with a 4GB model priced at $499, sold 6.1 million units despite its premium cost.
During the iPhone’s early development, Apple maintained such extreme secrecy that many engineers worked on individual components without knowing they were building a phone—some believed they were working on an iPod project—with only a small cohort of people with complete product vision.
Discontinued: 2010
The iPhone 3G (2008-2010) brought 3G connectivity, GPS capabilities, and the App Store ecosystem.
It featured a plastic back for improved signal reception and dramatically lowered the entry price to $199 with carrier contracts. This helped make iPhones accessible to everyday consumers.
However, it had a horrible launch day where its activation system collapsed completely, leaving thousands of consumers unusable devices for days.
Discontinued: 2012
The iPhone 3GS was Apple’s first “S” model, with the “S” standing for “Speed.”
It doubled its RAM to 256MB, added video recording with a 3MP camera, and introduced voice control.
It was the last iPhone to support iOS 6.
Discontinued: 2013
The iPhone 4 (2010-2013) introduced the high-resolution Retina display and pioneered Apple’s iconic “glass sandwich”design with a stainless steel frame.
It launched FaceTime video calling.
This phone is most infamous for its “Antennagate,” where holding the phone in a certain way—the “death grip”—caused the signal loss, prompting Steve Jobs to controversially advise customers to simply “not hold it that way.”
Discontinued: 2014
The iPhone 4S was Apple’s fifth-generation smartphone that introduced Siri voice assistant and an improved 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video recording.
Powered by the dual-core A5 chip, it doubled its predecessor’s processing power.
Sadly, the 4S was the last iPhone announced before Steve Jobs’ death—he passed away just one day after its announcement.
Discontinued: 2013
The iPhone 5 was Apple’s first 4-inch display and switched its Lightning connector.
Its aluminum unibody design offered a thinner, lighter profile with improved A6 chip performance.
The 5 sold over five million units in its first weekend.
This iPhone saw the disastrous Apple Maps launch that prompted CEO Tim Cook to issue a rare public apology.
The phone also spawned the mocking internet meme “Apple invents a taller screen... for taller people,” which ridiculed the company’s marketing of what was essentially just a dimensional change.
Discontinued: 2015
The iPhone 5c (2013-2015) was Apple’s first attempt at a budget-friendly smartphone, featuring a colorful plastic shell instead of aluminum.
Despite clever marketing as “unapologetically plastic,” the device underperformed in sales as consumers viewed it as less premium.
Apple spent over 600 hours testing its outer shell—then on the electronic components inside.
Discontinued: 2016
The iPhone 5s (2013-2016) introduced its Touch ID fingerprint authentication and the first 64-bit mobile processor.
The gadget maintained the 4-inch display while adding significant performance improvements.
Apple gave consumers a gold color option, which became an unexpected status symbol, while the fingerprint sensor sparked urban legends about thieves cutting off fingers.
Discontinued: 2018
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus (2014-2016/2018) were Apple’s first larger-screen smartphones, featuring 4.7” and 5.5” displays respectively.
Apple Pay was introduced.
The model came with a thinner aluminum design and was its top-selling phone for this era.
However, these models became notorious for “Bendgate” — a structural flaw that caused devices to permanently bend under minimal pressure.
Discontinued: 2018
The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus (2015-2018) introduced 3D Touch technology and 12MP cameras with 4K video recording.
Powered by Apple’s A9 chip, these models delivered 70% faster CPU performance than previous generations.
Apple manufactured these iPhones with two different processors (Samsung and TSMC), creating a “chipgate” controversy when users discovered the TSMC version offered better battery life.
Discontinued: 2018
The iPhone SE (First Generation) packed the iPhone 6s’s powerful A9 chip into the iPhone 5s's compact 4-inch body.
It was sold at $399 and satisfied users who preferred smaller phones.
Apple never officially explained what “SE” stood for, though most assumed it meant “Special Edition.”
Discontinued: 2018
The iPhone X revolutionized Apple’s smartphone design by eliminating the home button in favor of an edge-to-edge OLED display with Face ID.
Despite its innovative features and premium construction, Apple discontinued it after just 10 months—one of the shortest lifespans for any flagship iPhone.
Most folks called it “iPhone Ex,” whereas Apple intended it to be pronounced “iPhone Ten.”
Discontinued: 2019
The iPhone XS and XS Max were Apple’s introduction to premium smartphones featuring the A12 Bionic chip and enhanced cameras.
The XS Max offered a then-record 6.5-inch display with a perfect gold finish on the stainless steel frame.
This iPhone had a staggering $1,099 starting price.
Discontinued: 2020
The iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max (September 2019-October 2020) were Apple’s first “Pro” smartphones, featuring a breakthrough triple-camera system and the A13 Bionic chip.
Despite their technical excellence, Apple discontinued them after just 13 months.
The midnight green color option became unexpectedly difficult to manufacture, as its specialized PVD coating required extremely precise application to achieve the distinctive forest-like hue.
Discontinued: 2021
The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max was Apple’s first phone to offer 5G connectivity, LiDAR technology, and Ceramic Shield displays within a revived squared-edge design.
These iPhones featured A14 Bionic chips and advanced triple-camera systems.
Apple promoted them with a Pac-Man-themed advertisement that highlighted their angular aesthetic.
Discontinued: 2025
The iPhone 14 (September 2022-February 2025) featured modest camera and performance upgrades over its predecessor but was discontinued when Apple launched the iPhone 16E with its A18 chip and Apple Intelligence.
The iPhone 14 was the final model to use Apple’s Lightning charger, ending the proprietary charging port’s 13-year reign as Apple shifted to USB-C compliance with EU regulations.
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