Original iPhone (2007): the beginning of the touchscreen era

THE IPHONE ARCHIVE · 2007

The original iPhone is best understood as the beginning of an interface, rather than a smaller version of today’s phone. Its importance lies in how much everyday activity it placed behind one screen.

Official product image: Apple. The image may include finishes introduced after the original announcement.

Introduced 9 January 2007. This archive entry is filed under the model’s announcement date. Retrospective guide prepared in November 2026.

What changed with this iPhone?

Apple introduced a phone, touch-controlled music player and internet device in one product. The 3.5-inch Multi-Touch screen replaced a fixed keyboard, while Safari, email and maps made the display useful beyond calls. It used EDGE cellular data and Wi-Fi, with a 2-megapixel rear camera.

At a glance	Original generation
Screen	3.5-inch Multi-Touch
Connectivity	GSM / EDGE and Wi-Fi
Camera	2 MP rear
Launch storage	4 GB or 8 GB

Why the interface mattered more than the specifications

A physical keyboard commits space to the same controls all the time. A screen can become a keyboard, an album cover or a web page as the task changes. That is the most useful way to read this launch: the hardware made room for software to define the controls. For a visitor comparing generations, the first iPhone is therefore a reference point for interaction design, rather than a meaningful performance rival to a recent model.

Understanding this generation

There was no Pro, Plus or mini range to untangle. Storage capacity was the main choice in the original announcement. When comparing surviving examples, distinguish original launch configurations from capacities added later. For a collection, matching the device, packaging and stated capacity matters more than a seller’s use of the word “rare”.

Looking at one today

Treat this as a historical or collecting device. If the aim is to display the original design, cosmetic originality and a working screen may be priorities. If the aim is to demonstrate its software, ask what actually works on that particular unit rather than assuming present-day services will operate as they do on a new phone.

For a used device, ask the seller to demonstrate normal operation before payment. Check the exact model, storage, charging port and battery condition, and make sure the device can be set up by its next owner. A clean exterior alone does not establish its condition.