The first iPhone, released on June 29, 2007, revolutionized the smartphone industry and set the standard for modern mobile devices. Designed by Apple Inc., under the visionary leadership of Steve Jobs, it marked the beginning of a new era in mobile technology with its sleek design and advanced features for its time.

Design and Build

• The original iPhone featured a 3.5-inch LCD display with a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels at 163 PPI, which was considered high-quality for the era.
• It had a multi-touch capacitive touchscreen, which was highly innovative, offering pinch-to-zoom functionality, smooth scrolling, and effortless navigation.
• The build quality was premium, with an aluminum back, a black plastic base, and a silver metal rim, giving it a polished look.

Hardware

• Processor: The first iPhone was powered by a Samsung S3C6400 ARM11 CPU, running at 412 MHz, which was combined with 128 MB of RAM. While modest by today’s standards, this was impressive for the time and provided a smooth user experience.
• Storage: Available in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB storage options, though the 4GB model was discontinued shortly after launch due to low demand.
• Camera: It had a 2-megapixel rear camera, but it lacked advanced features like video recording, flash, or front-facing capabilities, making it basic by today’s standards.

Operating System and Software

• The iPhone ran on iPhone OS 1 (later rebranded as iOS), which introduced a user-friendly interface featuring multitouch gestures, a virtual keyboard, and seamless integration with iTunes.
• It included pre-installed apps such as Safari (web browser), Mail, YouTube, Calendar, and the revolutionary Visual Voicemail feature, which allowed users to select voice messages from a list, something unheard of at that time.

Connectivity and Features

• The original iPhone supported 2G (EDGE) network connectivity, along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0.
• Notably, it lacked 3G, which was a common criticism. However, it featured the now-iconic iPod functionality, allowing users to play music, videos, and access their iTunes library on the go.

Impact and Legacy

The first iPhone was a game-changer, combining a phone, an iPod, and an internet device into one. It sold over 6.1 million units during its lifetime, paving the way for future iPhones and transforming how people interact with technology. The original iPhone set the foundation for the App Store, which was introduced a year later, expanding the functionality of smartphones forever.

Fun Fact

• Steve Jobs famously described the iPhone as "a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communicator," emphasizing the convergence of multiple devices into one revolutionary product.

The original iPhone's influence on technology cannot be overstated. It redefined the concept of mobile phones, shaping the industry into what it is today and making it one of the most iconic consumer electronics products of all time.