IPhone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
iPhone

Front face of the latest model, the iPhone 16 Pro
Developer	Apple
Manufacturer	Contract manufacturers: Foxconn Pegatron Wistron Tata Group
Type	Smartphone
Units sold	2.3 billion (as of January 1,  2024 (2024 -01-01)[update])
Operating system	iOS
Power	Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Storage	64, 128, 256, 512 GB or 1 TB flash memory (current models)
Sound	Bluetooth stereo speaker (iPhone 7 and up) microphone 3.5 mm headphone jack (until iPhone 7) 30-pin dock connector (until iPhone 5) Lightning port (iPhone 5–iPhone 14) USB-C port (iPhone 15)
Online services	App Store Apple One iCloud Apple Pay
Related articles	iPad (comparison)

The iPhone is a popular type of smartphone made by a company called Apple. These phones use Apple's own special computer program, called iOS. The very first iPhone was shown to the world by Apple's boss, Steve Jobs, on January 9, 2007.

Since that first phone, Apple has brought out new iPhone models and updated its iOS software every year. By 2018, over 2.2 billion iPhones had been sold around the world. In 2022, iPhones made up about 15.6% of all smartphones sold globally.

The iPhone was the first mobile phone to use a special screen that lets you use more than one finger at a time, called multi-touch. Over time, iPhones have gotten bigger screens, cameras that record video, and can even be used near water. They also have many features to help people with disabilities.

Older iPhones (up to the iPhone 8) had a single button on the front. Newer ones, like the iPhone X and later, have a screen that covers almost the whole front. They use Face ID (facial recognition) to unlock and gestures to switch between apps. Some cheaper models, like the iPhone SE, still use Touch ID (fingerprint sensor).

The iPhone is one of the two biggest smartphone types in the world, along with phones that use Android. iPhones are often seen as high-end or luxury items. They have made a lot of money for Apple, helping it become one of the world's most valuable companies. The first iPhone was called a "revolution" for phones. Later models have also been praised. The iPhone helped make smartphones and their flat, rectangular shape very popular. It also created a huge market for phone apps, known as the "app economy." By 2017, Apple's App Store had over 2.2 million apps for the iPhone.

iPhone History

Apple has released many different iPhone models over the years. Each new model usually comes with a major update to the iOS operating system. The very first iPhone was a GSM phone, which was a common type of mobile network at the time.

The iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max were announced on September 12, 2023. These new phones started using a USB-C port for charging and connecting. This change was made to follow new rules from the European Commission. It replaced Apple's own Lightning connector, which had been used for eleven years. All these new models also brought back the "Dynamic Island," a feature that was only on the iPhone 14 Pro before.

How the iPhone Was Developed

Work on what would become the iPhone started in 2004. Apple put together a secret team of 1,000 employees. This team included Jony Ive, who designed the iMac and iPod. Their secret project was called "Project Purple."

Apple's boss, Steve Jobs, first wanted to make a tablet computer. But he changed his mind and decided to focus on a phone instead. Apple worked secretly with a phone company called Cingular Wireless (now AT&T Mobility). It cost about $150 million and took two and a half years to develop the first iPhone.

Steve Jobs explained that the "i" in names like "iMac," "iPod," "iPhone," and "iPad" stands for internet, individual, instruct, inform, and inspire.

Jobs showed the iPhone to everyone on January 9, 2007, at a big event in San Francisco. The first two models had either 4 GB or 8 GB of storage. They cost $499 or $599 and required a two-year phone contract. They went on sale in the United States on June 29, 2007. Hundreds of people waited in long lines outside stores to buy one. From 2007 to 2011, Apple spent $647 million just on advertising the iPhone in the US.

On October 4, 2011, Apple announced the iPhone 4S. More than 1 million iPhone 4S models were sold in just the first 24 hours after it came out. Because so many iPhones were made and they sold for a high price, Apple became the company that made the most money from mobile phones in 2011. They even passed Nokia, which had been the leader for a long time.

iPhone Models

There have been 42 different iPhone models made so far. The models listed in bold are the newest ones available right now.

How iPhones Are Made

Until the iPhone 4, all iPhones and other Apple devices like iPod Touch and iPads were made by a company called Foxconn in Taiwan. In 2011, the new Apple CEO, Tim Cook, decided to use more than one company to make iPhones. This way, Apple would not rely on just one supplier.

The iPhone 4s in 2012 was the first model made by two companies at the same time: Foxconn and Pegatron, which is also in Taiwan. Foxconn still makes most iPhones, but Pegatron's share has slowly grown. For example, Pegatron made some of the iPhone 5c in 2013 and 30% of the iPhone 6 in 2014. The 6 Plus model was made only by Foxconn.

In India, Apple pays Wistron, another Taiwan-based company, to put iPhones together. These iPhones are then sold in India. In 2022, Apple announced that some of the iPhone 14 models would be made in Tamil Nadu, India. This was because China's "zero-COVID" rules were causing problems for factories. Apple plans to move 25% of its iPhone production to India by 2025.

iPhone Hardware

Apple works with other companies to make the physical parts of the iPhone, called hardware. But Apple still controls how the final product looks and works. An iPhone has most of the parts you would find in a modern smartphone. Some parts, like 3D Touch and the Taptic Engine, are only found in iPhones.

The main part of an iPhone is its touchscreen. Current models have screens that are 4.7 inches or larger. All iPhones have a camera on the back. The front-facing camera for selfies was added starting with the iPhone 4. The iPhone 7 Plus was the first to have more than one camera lens on the back.

iPhones also have many sensors. These include a proximity sensor (to turn off the screen when you hold it to your ear), an ambient light sensor (to adjust screen brightness), an accelerometer (to detect movement), a gyroscopic sensor (for rotation), a magnetometer (for compass), and a barometer (for air pressure). Depending on the model, they also have a facial recognition sensor or a fingerprint sensor. In 2022, Apple added satellite communication to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. This lets you send emergency messages even when there's no cell service.

Operating System

The iPhone uses a special computer program called iOS. This program is based on Apple's macOS, which is used on their computers. iOS comes with many apps already built-in by Apple. You can also download many more apps from the App Store.

Apple provides free updates for iOS. You can get these updates wirelessly on your phone, or by connecting your phone to a computer using Finder or iTunes. New major iOS updates usually come out when new iPhone models are released.

iPhone Marketing

The first iPhone was talked about a lot even before it was officially shown. This created a lot of excitement. When it came out, it was advertised heavily on TV, online, and in print.

Because Apple sells the iPhone as a high-quality product, it is often seen as a sign of status.

Apple's "ecosystem" is a big reason why people stay loyal to iPhones. This ecosystem includes all the Apple devices and services that work well together. iMessage is a good example. When iPhone users text each other, their messages appear in blue bubbles. But if someone with an Android phone texts an iPhone user, their messages appear in green bubbles. Group chats between iPhones and Androids don't work as smoothly. Some teenagers have said they felt left out or "ostracized" if they switched to an Android phone. This has been called "bullying" by Google. Critics say this is a big reason why 87% of U.S. teenagers use iPhones.

Retail Strategy

Since 2013, if you buy a new iPhone directly from Apple, you can get a discount by trading in your old iPhone. This program helps more people buy iPhones from Apple Stores instead of phone company stores. In 2015, Apple started the iPhone Upgrade Program. This lets you lease an iPhone for 24 months. A magazine called Fortune said this changed how iPhone owners deal with their phone companies.

iPhone Repairability

Only Apple Stores and Apple-approved repair shops are allowed by Apple to use genuine replacement parts. Apple has made it harder for other repair shops to fix iPhones. Many iPhone parts are soldered together, and many are glued. iPhones often get low scores for how easy they are to repair. This is partly because it's hard to get real Apple parts and because the repairs themselves are difficult.

This situation has led to the "right to repair" movement. This movement wants to give people cheaper ways to fix their phones. Apple has tried to stop laws that support the right to repair. However, many places, like the EU, the U.K., and parts of the U.S., are trying to pass these laws.

In the past, Apple made some iPhone 6 models stop working if their home buttons were replaced by someone other than Apple. An "Error 53" message would appear. Apple said this was a bug and released an update to fix it. For iPhones with a Touch ID sensor, if the home button is replaced by anyone other than Apple, the Touch ID fingerprint feature will stop working. This is because Apple has not shared the special tools needed to set it up.

In newer iPhone models, starting with the iPhone XR, Apple shows warnings in the Settings app if the battery, screen, or camera are replaced by a non-Apple repair shop. Also, some features might not work if a "non-genuine" part is found. For example, True Tone (which adjusts screen colors) or the battery health information might be disabled. iFixit, a company that provides repair guides, says that a special Apple tool is needed to "finish" a repair. This means even if you use a real Apple part, it won't pass Apple's check unless this tool is used.

In 2022, Apple started a self-service repair program. This program lets users buy parts, rent repair tools from Apple, and get repair manuals. This program was praised by iFixit and others who support the right to repair. However, they also pointed out that Apple still controls where the parts come from.

iPhone Security

Experts in security generally think that the iPhone is safer from common harmful software (malware) than Android phones. Less than 1% of mobile malware targets iOS.

Images for kids

• 

  Aerial view of Apple Park, Apple's headquarters in California

• 

  An iPhone XS

• 

  Steve Jobs showing off the iPhone 4 in 2010

• 

  A comparison of iPhone sizes from the iPhone 5s to the iPhone 12

• 

  Steve Jobs introduces the iPhone in 2007

• 

  The inside of an iPhone 6s

See also

In Spanish: IPhone para niños

• History of the iPhone
• Apple Newton, an early personal digital assistant and the first tablet platform developed by Apple
• Pocket-sized computer