Remember when no-one knew what 'an app' was?
It's hard to remember, we know, but believe it or not there was a time before the iPhone. It's a long time ago though as today, June 29, marks nine whole years since the debut Apple handset dropped and changed the smartphone space forever.
It's been a busy nine years, with 13 different iPhones dropping in that time. And with the eagerly awaited iPhone 7 next on the predicted launch roster, we thought it was time to get a little nostalgic. This is everything iPhone that's come so far, and if the future of the device is as fascinating as its past (the smartphone that reinvented an industry and sparked hundreds of copycat devices) then we're in for a treat.
The original iPhone: What the heck's 'an app'?
Squat, boxy and dated by modern standards, the original iPhone was a revelation when introduced back in 2007 by a trademark turtleneck-wearing Steve Jobs.
With a capacitive touch display that laid the groundwork for all future handsets, the device paired its 3.5-inch panel with a metal chassis and app-based interface (app? Wait, what the heck's an 'app'?). It's hard to overstate just how much of an impact this phone has had on the past eight years of the smartphone space - if only Nokia and BlackBerry had realised the size of the threat they faced.
iPhone 3G (my first iPhone): Almost twice as fat as the current iPhone 6
Today no-one would consider going near a phone that lacks 4G connectivity, but back in 2008 Apple was only just starting to support 3G signals and a world of moderately prompt internet access.
While the original's metal back was ditched in favour of a chunky, 12.3mm plastic rear - almost twice as fat as the current, 6.9mm slim iPhone 6 - GPS joined the mix to let you show your mates exactly where you were in real time, watching that little Maps-based dot move with witchcraft levels of precision.
The App Store took on new levels of importance too thanks to the addition of third-party developer support, a feature that forced the rest of the industry to follow suit.
iPhone 3GS: 'Cut and paste' arrives. Thumbs audibly sigh with relief
It already sounds farcically antiquated, but it took until the iPhone 3GS for Apple to introduce cut, copy and paste features to its iPhone line for the first time - yes, really.
In a handset almost physically identical to its predecessor, the company's first incrementally updated, S-suffixed smartphone moved to a lofty 3-megapixel camera and added the ability to shoot video.
iPhone 4: The Second Coming
It was time for a dramatic transformation, and wow, what a transformation it was. The iPhone 4 was, and remains to this day, one of the most visually stunning and iconic smartphones ever made.
The metal-framed, glass-backed handset saw Apple completely revolutionise the smartphone space for the second time in four years, making the phone line move from a luxury to a necessity in many peoples' eyes. The days of the BlackBerry were numbered.
The rear-mounted camera jumped to 5 megapixels (with an accompanying LED flash), while a forward-facing camera was introduced alongside FaceTime video calling tech and a HD Retina display. This was the phone the world coveted - just please, whatever you do, don't hold it that way.
iPhone 4S: World, meet Siri
A late 2011 showing saw Apple return to minor updates, although the antennagate concerns of its predecessor were a long-forgotten thing of the past thanks to a new, dual-antenna design.
Physically identical, it was under the hood that the iPhone 4S stood out from its predecessor, with an improved processor and 8-megapixel camera joining the mix. Oh, some gobby little PA called Siri made its debut here too, spending the next year frustrating owners with its "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that" 'assistance' and letting you kill hours with juvenile questions.
These minor updates let the competition close the gap, with the Samsung Galaxy S2 and latest HTC Desire being tipped as the latest 'iPhone killers'.
iPhone 5: Bigger and better, but with wonky Apple Maps
For years Apple insisted the world was happy with 3.5-inch phones despite the Android industry pushing into increasingly oversized offerings. The iPhone 5 was the company's first compromise; moving to a 4-inch design and a sleek, metal bodied finish.
Further improving the phone's form, Apple's now long forgotten bulky proprietary charger was canned in favour of the compact Lightning port still in use today.
Introducing Apple Maps, the iPhone 5 wasn't all sunshine and lollipops, converting the world into a mass of melted buildings, misplaced landmarks and lost towns – turn left at the warped road and continue to the inverted roundabout.
iPhone 5S: Biometric TouchID sensors become commonplace
Another modest improvement on the previous year's dramatic smartphone revolution, the iPhone 5S touched down in 2013 with improved software, a customary CPU bump, oh, and who could forget the birth of the gold smartphone?
However, the phone's big selling point was the inclusion of the biometric TouchID sensor. Letting you unlock your device with envy-inducing levels of mystery, companies had been sticking fingerprint sensors into kit for years, but it took Apple to make it appeal to the masses. Again, the Android onslaught edged closer.
iPhone 5C: The one with colourful plastic cases
2013 wasn't just a year of minor updates, though. Not exactly the 'budget' offering many expected, the iPhone 5C was still Apple's first smartphone to pursue a radical, and colourful, new look and feel.
Gone were the days of stoic black and white handset options as blue, green, yellow and pink became acceptable smartphone schemes overnight. The plastic-clad device had a decent collection of specs too, echoing the previous year's iPhone 5.
As the iPhone became the office handset of choice, the iPhone 5C let you show you're still cool and not just another 9-5 drone.
iPhone 6: Hitting back at Android
Continuing to add the inches and creep up the size charts, the iPhone 6 saw Apple move to a 4.7-inch form factor and a stunningly curvaceous form. Specs improved too, with screen, camera and processor enhancements making the cut.
Apple's most successful and popular phone to date, it wasn't a launch without issue.Bendgate woes plagued the phone's early weeks of availability, with skinny jeans wearers discovering the all-too fragile nature of their latest device when sitting down.
iPhone 6 Plus: The original Apple phablet
The first time Apple debuted two flagship phones simultaneously, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus was Apple's answer to increasingly popular phablet lines such as the Samsung Galaxy Note.
Screen size and resolution aside, the Plus is identical to the iPhone 6 - you'll just need a bit of extra cash and more pocket space.
iPhone 6S: Pink! There's a pink iPhone!
WTF! Apple blew the minds of many last September when it launched its iterative iPhone 6 update, the predictably named iPhone 6S.
It's not the phone's all powerful A9 processor or new, stunning 12-megapixel camera that amazed many though, but the arrival of a new pink, sorry, rose gold colour scheme alongside the traditional silver, space grey and gold models.
iPhone 6S Plus: Bringing photos to life
An iterative update on Apple's first phablet, the 6S Plus added all the same improvements as its little brother, the iPhone 6S, while keeping its optical image stabilised camera skills to itself.
It's Live Photos, also available on the 6S, that were the phone's big selling point though. Capturing a brief video clip either side of a still shot, tapping on the snap in gallery brought these images to animated life.
iPhone SE: When old meets new
Well this looks familiar... almost four years since Apple first introduced the iPhone 5 format factor, it's be rehashed yet again, acting as the body for the new, more affordable iPhone SE.
Although it looks a little long in the tooth compared with the sleek, sexy iPhone 6S, by adopting a tried and tested format factor, the SE has been able to line up as the big-A's most affordable smartphone ever. It doesn't skimp on features either, packing the same 12-megapixel camera and A9 processor as its big brother - nice.
What's next? Cue the upcoming iPhone 7
We might still be only a month out from another iPhone launch, but the iPhone 7 chatter is already coming thick and fast. Expected to drop next month, the iPhone 7 has been tipped to adopt an all new design - about time, right.
This refinished form won't be all sleek line sunshine and lollipops though. Multiple leaks have suggested Apple could cause outrage by dropping the traditional 3.5mm audio jack in order to slim down the device - ouch.