I remember all the whines and moans when the first iPhone was introduced. Some people are perpetually unhappy.
iPhone 4 Turns 10: 'Stop Me If You've Already Seen This'
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I remember all the whines and moans when the first iPhone was introduced. Some people are perpetually unhappy.
NickName99
macrumors 6502a
Same happened to me, my home button was becoming unreliable. I took it into an Apple store, they checked it out for a few minutes, handed me a new iPhone 4. Crazy good support.
It's a reminder of the age of Johnny Ive, where the design team got the final say despite the warnings from the engineering team (the events were explained in Job's biography).
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It was unheard of during its time, where phones were mostly plastic. Apple pushed the envelope on "premium" by using metal and glass.
And yes, I agree that the iPhone X was another one, now sporting stainless steel frame (again, uncommon even today as the rest of premium phones are still using aluminum frame).
Avenged110
macrumors 6502a
Ah, the good old days when iOS wasn't hideous. Still the most beautiful iPhone design (though I'm partial to the 5 overall).
lkalliance
macrumors 65816
"Aluminium."
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That's an interesting nostalgia exercise, and one I'd have trouble with now. I used to think (still do think?) that the 6-series were the worst. Now I have a new SE. Actually, I can still consider them the worst without throwing my current one under the bus, as I have a case, problem solved, lol.
I'll give it a go:
1. iPhone 4(S)
2. iPhone 5c*
3. iPhone X(S/R/11)**
4. iPhone 3G(S)
5. iPhone 5(S/SE)
6. iPhone 2G
7. iPhone 6(S/7/8/SE)
*Your original list references only "flagship" phones, and the 5c was clearly not a flagship...but remains my favorite in-use iPhone ever. The 4(S) is my favorite visual design, though.
**I'm lumping both the 11 series and XR in with the X, though perhaps the XR would stand as its own design like I've listed the 5c here. Unlike all the other ones on this list, I haven't owned any of the X/11/XR phones, so I have a tough time ranking them at all, just going on how they look to me, I guess.
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groove-agent
macrumors 68020
I don't miss the 30 pin dock connector, that's for sure.
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Ironically Apple to this day still has huge bezels although is slowly phasing them out.
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Ironically Apple to this day still has huge bezels although is slowly phasing them out.
NickName99
macrumors 6502a
People forget how long ago 2010 was in terms of phone progression.
Compact cameras were still a thing, since they were so much better than phone cameras.
It was years before TouchID. You had to enter in your 4 digit PIN to unlock, every time.
Typical phone screen resolution was 75dpi, ew.
Compact cameras were still a thing, since they were so much better than phone cameras.
It was years before TouchID. You had to enter in your 4 digit PIN to unlock, every time.
Typical phone screen resolution was 75dpi, ew.
quatermass
macrumors 6502
Still using my 4S... no issues at all!
iReality85
macrumors 65816
Wow, the Redwood bar fiasco was 10 years ago already? I remember the internet went nuts haha.
I actually took out my iPhone 4 the other day, which sits dead in my nightstand drawer. The craftsmanship and design was so good. It still makes my 5S and 7 Plus look cheap. And the heft!
I actually took out my iPhone 4 the other day, which sits dead in my nightstand drawer. The craftsmanship and design was so good. It still makes my 5S and 7 Plus look cheap. And the heft!
lkalliance
macrumors 65816
This may be the thing I miss the most. The iPhone 4 was dense. You held it, and you felt you were holding a solid piece of tech. It was still small and thin so that density didn't translate to a really heavy thing in your pocket, but it felt like a real thing. The 5, by comparison, felt like a movie prop. It was disconcertingly light (that was one of the reasons I was attracted to the 5c instead of the 5S: it was just a hair heavier which helped maintain that feeling of quality).
dzankizakon
macrumors regular
That retina screen with 326dpi was just unbelievable to look at. It was hard not to be impressed when you saw the beautifully rendered razor sharp text for the first time.
quagmire
macrumors 604
I did love my 5( despite the initial quality issues with the band discoloration). The chamfered edges was really a nice design touch and quite liked the glass/metal/glass back. I just find it a small downgrade from the 4 due to going from stainless steel to aluminum and I still prefer the design of the glass/steel band/glass look.
The bad thing about these bigger phones is that it has made me cover the beautiful design of the X era with a case. iPhone 4 and 5 were naked and I would use one of those old iPod socks to protect it when it was in my pocket/not in use.
It certainly was.
I debated between the placement of the Original iPhone and the iPhone 6 era. As hinted above why I put the 5 below the 4 and X, materials was obviously better on the iPhone 6 era. The original iPhone had that plastic bottom which you would touch frequently since that is how you held it. Obviously it was needed for the antenna design and I do quite like the two-tone it gave. Overall the design of the original, was more intriguing and the 6 was blander. Would also be fair to say nostalgia played a role because the Original iPhone is what started it all( the original iPhone has so far been the only one I have held onto).
3G has been the biggest downgrade in term design/materials. Go from nice aluminum to plastic. Yuck.....
Motionblurrr
macrumors 65816
Man I remember the feeling of looking at the Retina display for the first time, it kind of felt like wearing prescription glasses for the first time and actually seeing things clearly; definitely blew my mind
I have a white 4S and the screen still look great actually! Very sharp, you can get used to it easily. Then when you use a 6.5 OLED iPhone it feels like an IMAX theatre 😂
I have a white 4S and the screen still look great actually! Very sharp, you can get used to it easily. Then when you use a 6.5 OLED iPhone it feels like an IMAX theatre 😂
IMO, the 3G/3GS look amazing when new, but the plastic is just not durable. Most now have cracks and are just scratched up terribly. The white also has a lot of discoloration problems. A lot of people have said since the 4 came out that the 3G series was easier to hold, which I disagree with. While it is curved, the plastic felt slippery to me and when I sweat it was terrible to hold onto. The original iPhone was the most comfortable one to me. Although there was a strange issue with the one I had, the screen wasn't smooth anymore and felt rough. This also happened on my first 3G. Not due to scratches, so I don't know what happened to them.
turbineseaplane
Contributor
It sure has fallen a long ways as they've grown.
I feel like like the Genius Bar is now the "litigation and demand bar"...
I can go there with a real legit issue and seemingly have to "make the case" for the support that should be getting offered.
Personally, I think it's all part of the edict from the head bean counter.
Analog Kid
macrumors G3
This was the phone that convinced me to buy an iPhone— it felt so good in my hands, and had enough mass to it to feel well built. I never had a reception or any other problem with it. I never really liked the 5, and I skipped everything else until the X returned to the glass front and back.
turbineseaplane
Contributor
Oh man - You had to hit my sore spot didn't ya'?
I *loved* the 5C and to this day I feel that there should be a parallel line of iPhones that are more "fun" like the 5c was.
It would be so nice to have the "fun", the "whimsy", the "cute and wildly colorful", the "alternative to all glass and metal and cold"...
jtrenthacker
macrumors regular
In my opinion, the 4 is still the best form factor. Had some heft to it and the edges were sharp so you could get a good grip.
