In order to properly appreciate the brand-spanking-new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, you first have to examine its lineage. 2007's OG iPhone introduced iOS to the masses, and 2013 saw the release of two separate models for the first time. Today, the long-rumored successors to those 5s and 5c handsets was unveiled, and with them comes new aesthetic tools that continue Apple's lineage of design prowess. Let's take a gander back at the full line, and examine the finer points that made each one unique.
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iPhone (2007)
The original arrived in 2007, but rumors started swirling way back in late 2004. When the first entry into the gadget line made its debut, then Editor-in-Chief Ryan Block noted that the iPhone brought with it "the most beautiful industrial design of any cellphone we've ever seen," setting a high standard for its successors in the years to come.
A stainless steel rim wrapped the edges of the 3.5-inch display, with an aluminum rear shell similar to what we'd already come to expect on MacBooks. That backside was a two-tone affair with a band of black plastic along the bottom matching the iconic Apple branding up top and the edge-mounted buttons. Folk who splurged for the AT&T-exclusive handset may also recall the 3.5mm audio jack that only seemed to accept the included earbuds and not much else. On the bottom, dual speakers were situated on either side of the charging connector -- a location they'd remain at until today's newfangled models (that have a single speaker grille to the right of the connector).
All of the navigation was sorted via the phone's touchscreen, with a single -- and now easily recognizable -- "home" button on the front.