Honestly, trying to track every single iPhone release is a bit like trying to count raindrops in a storm. Since Steve Jobs stood on stage in 2007 and told us he was introducing three products—a wide-screen iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator—Apple has actually pushed out over 50 different models.
It's wild. You've probably got an old one sitting in a junk drawer right now.
But it isn't just about "better cameras" anymore. Looking at the iPhone models by year, you start to see the actual shifts in how we live. We went from a 3.5-inch screen that felt huge at the time to the literal tablets we carry in our pockets today.
The era of the "Jesus Phone" (2007–2009)
The original iPhone, often called the iPhone 2G, hit the scene on June 29, 2007. It didn't even have an App Store. Think about that for a second. You were stuck with what Apple gave you. It was basically a very pretty brick that could browse the web.
Then came the iPhone 3G in 2008. This was the real game-changer because it brought the App Store. Suddenly, developers could build whatever they wanted. It changed everything. A year later, the iPhone 3GS dropped. The "S" stood for speed. It was the first one that could actually record video.
When design became the main character (2010–2013)
In 2010, the iPhone 4 arrived with that "Retina" display. It was sharp. It was glass. It was also the center of "Antennagate" because if you held it wrong, you lost signal. Apple ended up giving out free rubber bumpers to fix it.
The timeline started getting crowded around 2013. That’s when we got the iPhone 5s and the colorful, plastic iPhone 5c. The 5s gave us Touch ID, which felt like sci-fi at the time. No more passcodes? Just a thumbprint? It was huge.
The "Plus" size and the notch (2014–2018)
Apple finally caved to the "big phone" trend in 2014 with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. People loved them, but some found out the hard way that the 6 Plus could bend in your back pocket. "Bendgate" was a massive headache for Apple’s PR team.
Fast forward to 2017. This was a weird year. We got the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, which looked old the second they came out because Apple also released the iPhone X. That was the tenth-anniversary model. It killed the Home button. It introduced the notch. It brought us Face ID.
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The following year, 2018, brought the XS, XS Max, and the XR. The XR was the "budget" flagship that ended up being a massive bestseller because it came in cool colors like coral and blue.
5G, ProMotion, and the "Mini" experiment (2019–2021)
By 2019, the naming got a bit more professional. iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. Night Mode finally made it possible to take photos in a dark bar without everything looking like a grainy mess.
In 2020, Apple went all-in on 5G with the iPhone 12 series. They also tried something new: the iPhone 12 mini. Small phone fans (myself included) were stoked. Unfortunately, the general public didn't buy it much.
The iPhone 13 series in 2021 kept the mini alive for one last year, but the real star was the Pro models getting ProMotion. That 120Hz refresh rate made scrolling feel like butter. If you've used one, it’s really hard to go back to a standard 60Hz screen.
The Modern Era: Dynamic Islands and AI (2022–2026)
The iPhone 14 Pro in 2022 finally ditched the notch for the "Dynamic Island." It's basically a pill-shaped cutout that moves and grows to show you timers or music.
Then came the iPhone 15 in 2023. The big news? USB-C. Apple finally ditched the Lightning cable because the EU basically forced their hand. The Pro models also got a titanium frame, making them noticeably lighter.
Last year, in 2024, the iPhone 16 lineup focused almost entirely on Apple Intelligence. We saw the new Camera Control button—a physical slide-and-click button on the side—and the introduction of the iPhone 16e, which replaced the old SE.
Now that we’re in 2026, the iPhone models by year list includes the 2025 releases:
- iPhone 17: The base model now featuring a 6.3-inch screen.
- iPhone Air: A super-thin 5.6mm device that replaced the "Plus" model.
- iPhone 17 Pro: Equipped with the A19 Pro chip.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: The absolute behemoth with a 6.9-inch display.
The iPhone Air is probably the most interesting shift we've seen in years. It’s not about having the most cameras; it’s about being incredibly light and sleek. It uses high-density battery cells to stay thin without dying by noon.
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Quick reference: iPhone models by year release dates
If you're looking for a specific year, here's how the timeline actually shakes out:
- 2007: iPhone (Original)
- 2008: iPhone 3G
- 2009: iPhone 3GS
- 2010: iPhone 4
- 2011: iPhone 4s
- 2012: iPhone 5
- 2013: iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c
- 2014: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus
- 2015: iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus
- 2016: iPhone SE (1st Gen), iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus
- 2017: iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X
- 2018: iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
- 2019: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
- 2020: iPhone SE (2nd Gen), iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
- 2021: iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
- 2022: iPhone SE (3rd Gen), iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max
- 2023: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max
- 2024: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e
- 2025: iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max
Why the release cycle is changing
There are rumors that 2026 might be the year Apple breaks the September tradition. Some analysts, like those mentioned in recent Macworld reports, suggest Apple might split the launches. We could see "standard" models in the spring and "Pro" models in the fall.
This would be a massive shift. For nearly two decades, September has been "iPhone month." If they move to a staggered schedule, it’s likely to keep the hype train moving year-round and give the manufacturing plants a bit of a breather.
What you should actually do with this information
If you’re sitting on an iPhone 13 or older, you’re at the point where the battery is likely struggling and you're missing out on the AI features that started with the 16.
First step: Check your battery health in Settings. If it’s below 80%, you’re going to notice significant slowing down.
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Second step: Decide if you actually care about the "Pro" features. Honestly, for most people, the standard iPhone 17 or even a discounted iPhone 16 is more than enough. You don't need a telephoto lens to take a photo of your lunch.
Third step: Look at the trade-in values. Apple’s trade-in prices are usually lower than selling it yourself on a site like Swappa, but it's a lot less of a headache. If you have an iPhone 14 Pro, you can still get a decent chunk of change toward a newer model.
The iPhone isn't just a phone anymore—it's basically our primary computer. Whether you want the thinnest possible device with the new iPhone Air or the massive screen of the Pro Max, the evolution from that 2007 plastic-and-aluminum slab is pretty incredible. Just don't feel like you have to upgrade every single year. The jumps aren't as big as they used to be.