Since the debut of the original iPhone in June 2007, Apple has rapidly innovated and revamped its flagship device, at times rolling out multiple models in a single year.

This past Friday, preorders for the latest model, the iPhone 16, officially began.

The new iPhone 16 features the A18 chip for improved performance and offers extended battery life. The camera system has also been enhanced, now boasting a feature named Camera Control, which facilitates quicker photo and video captures and allows for easy adjustments at your fingertips.

A key highlight is the introduction of Apple Intelligence, launching this fall. This AI technology can streamline tasks by summarizing voice memos, enhancing writing before sending, and condensing messages.

Take a look at how the iPhone has evolved and advanced through the years:

iPhone 16 preorders launched Friday

As per Apple’s announcement, Kaiann Drance, the company’s vice president of worldwide iPhone product marketing, mentioned, “The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus bring significant improvements that will notably enhance our customers’ everyday experiences. With new methods for capturing moments using Camera Control; a 48MP Fusion camera offering two optical-quality cameras in one; improved battery longevity; and impressive, efficient performance from the A18 chip, it’s an ideal moment for users to upgrade or transition to iPhone.”

iPhone 15, the initial model to feature USB-C connectivity

Farewell to the lightning connector. Future models will now utilize a USB-C connector, which is a widely adopted standard for charging and data transfer. This transition allows all compatible devices to use a singular cable.

The iPhone 15 is the first standard iPhone to incorporate the Dynamic Island feature, an area at the top of the screen that displays essential notifications and information.

iPhone 14 brings new technology for enhanced safety and emergency service connectivity

The iPhone 14 introduced Crash Detection technology, which is capable of sensing a serious vehicle collision and will automatically call emergency services if the user is incapacitated. Additionally, it featured Emergency SOS, allowing a direct satellite connection for messaging emergency services outside of cellular or Wi-Fi range.

iPhone 13 enhances image quality, particularly in low-light conditions

The new Wide Camera, equipped with a larger sensor and a dual-camera setup, could capture 47% more light in a scene compared to earlier models.

In 2020, Apple embraced the 5G network with the iPhone 12

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini were launched in five stylish aluminum colors: blue, green, black, white, and (PRODUCT)RED. The arrival of 5G marked a new chapter for the iPhone: “The introduction of 5G signifies a groundbreaking era for iPhone, and we are excited to offer these remarkable new features to our customers with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini,” stated Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing in October 2020.

iPhone 12 features a faster chip and longer battery life

Powered by the A13 Bionic chip, the iPhone 11 handled demanding tasks efficiently while managing a full day on a single charge. It was offered in six colors: PRODUCT(RED), black, white, yellow, green, and purple.

iPhone Xs, the advantage of dual cameras

The iPhone Xs brought a 12-megapixel dual camera setup featuring dual optical image stabilization, 2x optical zoom, and a quicker sensor. Smart HDR technology improved photos with better highlights and shadow detail while larger pixels enhanced image clarity and low-light performance.

Apple launched the iPhone 8 and iPhone X just months apart

iPhone 8: This all-glass device boasted a sharper 4.7-inch Retina HD display, enhanced 12-megapixel rear and 7-megapixel front cameras, a quicker A11 processor, and the capability for wireless charging.

iPhone X: With a revolutionary redesign, the iPhone X featured a stunning edge-to-edge 5.8-inch Super Retina HD OLED display, FaceID facial recognition, more advanced camera systems, and wireless charging capabilities. Notably, the home button and TouchID sensor were eliminated.

2016 introduced the iPhone SE and iPhone 7

The iPhone SE: The device offered up to 14 hours of 3G talk time, a robust 4.0-inch display, and was powered by the 64-bit A9 chip. It included features like Live Photos and Panorama (up to 63 megapixels) and supported 720p HD video recording.

iPhone 7: This model featured a home button with enhanced input recognition and improved water resistance. Notably, the headphone jack was removed, leading users to connect headphones through the Lightning port or use Bluetooth wireless options.

iPhone 6s introduced the Live Photos feature

The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus unveiled Live Photos, a feature that animated still images by capturing moments in motion.

Offered in various colors like silver, gold, rose gold, and space gray, the 6s was equipped with a 64-bit A9 chip, delivering 70% faster computing speeds and 90% greater graphics processing efficiency than previous versions. It also had 4K HD video capabilities with 8 million pixels and a 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera.

iPhone 6 introduced the innovative 3D Touch technology

The iPhone 6 featured a 4.7-inch display, an upgraded iSight camera, and included Apple Pay for mobile payments.

This model was equipped with cutting-edge advancements, including a system built on near-field communication (NFC) technology.

Additionally, it introduced 3D touch technology, allowing users to access different functions depending on how firmly they pressed the screen.

iPhone 5s introduced Touch ID for easy phone access

The iPhone 5S became the first device equipped with Touch ID, a fingerprint sensor that enables users to unlock their phones simply by placing a finger on it.

iPhone 5 brought significant improvements in speed and display size

The iPhone 5 showcased a 4-inch display, a step up from the previous 3.5-inch screens. This extra space permitted a new fifth row of icons on the home screen. It was also the first iPhone to support 64-bit architecture.

“Hey Siri”: iPhone 4s introduced Apple’s voice assistant

The iPhone 4s marked the debut of ‘Siri’, Apple’s voice-activated assistant. Additionally, it featured an A5 dual-core processor, iMessage, integrated Twitter functionality, and reminders based on location.

iPhone 4 made FaceTime widely recognized

The iPhone 4 enabled users to initiate video calls with FaceTime. It came with a 5-megapixel camera, iBooks, and the ability to record HD videos.

iPhone 3Gs introduced voice command capabilities

This model included the initial voice control feature that eventually led to Siri. With voice control, users could play music by artist, album, or playlist, and even activate the Genius feature by saying “play more songs like this.” It could also respond to commands such as pausing music, skipping tracks, enabling shuffle, or asking, “What’s playing right now?” according to a 2009 press release. The iPhone 3Gs was equipped with a 3-megapixel autofocus camera.

iPhone 3G: “Double the speed at half the price”

“Just a year after the iPhone’s release, we’re unveiling the iPhone 3G, which is twice as fast and priced at half that of the original,” stated Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO in 2008. The 8GB model was available for $199, while the 16GB model was available for $299. These models provided access to the App Store, enabling users to download various native applications, including games, business tools, news, sports updates, health apps, reference materials, and travel resources.

2007 marked the launch of the original iPhone

The press release announced, “Apple Reinvents the Phone with iPhone,” leading to the birth of a new era for mobile devices. Apple described the iPhone as “a groundbreaking mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and an innovative Internet communications device that merges desktop-quality email, web browsing, searching, and mapping capabilities—all in one compact handheld device.” It featured a 3.5-inch multi-touch screen, orientation sensors, and a 2-megapixel camera. The pricing was set at $499 for the 4GB version and $599 for the 8GB version.