• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechFortune 500

Apple’s iPhone, Now and Then: Comparing the 2007 iPhone to the iPhone 7

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 29, 2017, 7:00 AM ET

It might be hard to believe, but 10 years ago today, Apple’s iPhone was officially released, setting off a firestorm in the international mobile phone market.

The original iPhone was a decidedly groundbreaking device, combining Apple’s (AAPL) services with a touchscreen-based handset that would prompt countless others to deliver copycats. The original iPhone kicked off the past decade’s smartphone surge, and still serves as one of the industry’s most legendary products.

Still, if the 2007 iPhone were on store shelves today, you’d laugh at it.

The device would appear bulky, its screen too dull, and its processing power would be a joke. Simply put, the technology world is racing along at lightning speed, and the original iPhone, release 10 years ago today, is about as obsolete as it gets.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

Here’s a look at how the original iPhone compares to Apple’s most recent handset, the iPhone 7:

A Pocket-Ready Device?

The original iPhone was a bulky little bugger. It was about 11.6 mm thick, making it substantially thicker than the 7.1mm-thick iPhone 7. And although the iPhone 7 is about an inch taller and a third of an inch wider, it weighs about the same at 4.8 ounces.

A (Dis)satisfying Display

If you picked up the original iPhone right now, you might be disappointed by its screen. The device’s display measured just 3.5 inches—a tiny screen compared to the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus. But the bigger problem is that the original iPhone had a 480-by-320-pixel resolution and 163 pixels per inch. While that was fine for the day, nowadays, it would be abysmal. The iPhone 7, for instance, comes with a 1,334-by-750-pixel resolution and has 326 pixels per inch.

Customers take a look of the new iPhone 7 smartphone inside the Apple Inc. store in New York
Customers take a look of the new iPhone 7 smartphone inside the Apple Inc. store in New York on September 16, 2016.Eduardo Munoz — Reuters
Eduardo Munoz — Reuters

The Power Question

It’s hard to quantify just how much more powerful the iPhone 7 is than the original iPhone, but suffice it to say that you’d be waiting an awful long time to do even the simplest of things with Apple’s first handset.

That smartphone came with a processor with a 620MHz clock speed that Apple actually underclocked, or reduced its speed, to 412MHz. The iPhone 7’s processor has a 2.34GHz clock speed. So what does all that mean? The iPhone 7 is far more powerful and faster than the original iPhone.

Is This Thing On? (Probably Not)

Battery life matters greatly in a world dominated by smartphones. But it also mattered in 2007. Too bad the iPhone’s battery could only muster about five hours of talk time. The iPhone 7, on the other hand, delivers up to 14 hours of talk time. The iPhone 7 Plus can deliver 21 hours of talk time.

A Different iOS Experience

Apple’s original iPhone delivered a dramatically different software experience to users. It didn’t have so many built-in apps, like Apple Maps, News, the flashlight, or even the App Store. And the apps it did offer have been dramatically overhauled, so if you picked up the device today, you might be lost trying to navigate its software.

Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs holds new iPhone in San Francisco
Jobs holds the new iPhone in San Francisco, California on January 9, 2007.Kimberly White — Reuters
Kimberly White — Reuters

Where My Selfies At?

This seems relevant in a selfie-dominated world: the original iPhone didn’t have a front-facing camera. In fact, it wasn’t until the iPhone 4, a device Apple released in 2010, that the company offered a front-facing camera in its handset. The iPhone 7, on the other hand, comes with a 7-megapixel front-facing camera and can record video in 1080p. Oh, how times have changed.

What Is This Headphone Jack Thing?

Now that Apple has called the headphone jack obsolete and removed it from the iPhone 7, it might shock you to discover the original iPhone actually had one. Yes, that means you could have plugged your headphones into the iPhone and listened to audio all day long without worrying about dongles or Bluetooth connectivity.

Did someone say, courage?

U.S.-NEW YORK-IPHONE 7-IPHONE 7 PLUS-RELEASED
This photo taken on Sept. 16, 2016 shows the iPhone 7 Plus in an Apple Store at the Grand Central Terminal in New York.Li Muzi—Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images
Li Muzi—Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

Pricing and Availability

Apple’s original iPhone wasn’t cheap. In fact, it came in two variants with 4GB and 8GB of onboard storage. The 4GB model, which was ultimately discontinued later in the year due to poor demand, cost $499. The 8GB option went for $599.

However, those prices are for a device that was locked in a two-year contract only with AT&T (T). There were no installment plans, no rebates, and for sure, no opportunities to bring the smartphone to another carrier.

Apple’s iPhone 7 starts at $649 and the iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769. But here’s the kicker: it’s available unlocked, allowing you to bring it to the carrier network of your choosing.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

TOKYO, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 3: Open AI CEO Sam Altman speaks during a talk session with SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son at an event titled "Transforming Business through AI" in Tokyo, Japan, on February 03, 2025. SoftBank and OpenAI announced that they have agreed a partnership to set up a joint venture for artificial intelligence services in Japan today. (Photo by Tomohiro Oh
CybersecuritySam Altman
From Molotov cocktails to data center shutdowns, the AI backlash is turning revolutionary
By Eva RoytburgApril 14, 2026
49 minutes ago
Dow COO Karen Carter wearing a white lab coat and sitting while smiling
C-SuiteNext to Lead
Dow’s CEO pick elevates a seasoned insider at a pivotal moment for the chemical giant
By Ruth UmohApril 14, 2026
3 hours ago
Anthropic’s Mythos reveals a growing security gap: AI finds flaws far faster than companies can patch them
AIEye on AI
Anthropic’s Mythos reveals a growing security gap: AI finds flaws far faster than companies can patch them
By Sharon GoldmanApril 14, 2026
3 hours ago
Sam Altman’s attacker had a kill list of AI executives. Experts warn this is just the beginning
AIchief executive officer (CEO)
Sam Altman’s attacker had a kill list of AI executives. Experts warn this is just the beginning
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 14, 2026
5 hours ago
Nava founders Brianna Montgomery and Vyas Krishnan pose for a photo
CryptoCryptocurrency
Nava raises $8.3 million in seed funding to keep AI financial agents from going off the rails
By Jack KubinecApril 14, 2026
7 hours ago
AI
AIdisruption
‘I don’t need help’: Meet some of the AI resisters who smell their own extinction
By Matt O'Brien, Linley Sanders and The Associated PressApril 14, 2026
7 hours ago

Most Popular

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated again—a week after gifting millions to a college, she's just given $70 million to Meals on Wheels America
Success
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated again—a week after gifting millions to a college, she's just given $70 million to Meals on Wheels America
By Fortune EditorsApril 13, 2026
1 day ago
Retirees are facing a $345,000 bill they never saw coming — and most aren't prepared
Commentary
Retirees are facing a $345,000 bill they never saw coming — and most aren't prepared
By Fortune EditorsApril 14, 2026
11 hours ago
He was coding at 12 like Elon Musk and became one of Google’s youngest-ever CMOs—but now says Gen Z is better off ice skating than learning to code
Success
He was coding at 12 like Elon Musk and became one of Google’s youngest-ever CMOs—but now says Gen Z is better off ice skating than learning to code
By Fortune EditorsApril 14, 2026
14 hours ago
Current price of gold as of April 13, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of April 13, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 13, 2026
1 day ago
‘I’m not going to force you’: Duolingo CEO backs off from evaluating employees on their AI usage 
Workplace Culture
‘I’m not going to force you’: Duolingo CEO backs off from evaluating employees on their AI usage 
By Fortune EditorsApril 13, 2026
1 day ago
'People are trying to be creative': Tariff-battered American companies are so cash-starved they are using refund claims as collateral for loans
Economy
'People are trying to be creative': Tariff-battered American companies are so cash-starved they are using refund claims as collateral for loans
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.