(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc.'s new iPhone 7 isn't a major upgrade on the previous version, despite its various updates and features—and the well-flagged news that the smartphone has no headphone jack.
That said, the iPhone has been a game-changer. It helped Apple become the world's most valuable company and has swept aside many a rival device over its lifespan, contributing to the decline of household names from BlackBerry to Nokia. Here's a look at its evolution over the years.
Introducing the iPhone
The first model debuts in 2007, ushering in the era of smartphones. While other devices had featured touchscreens, Apple's was the first to package the technology so that it worked seamlessly.
.jpg "Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs introduces the iPhone at Macworld on Jan. 9, 2007. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Getty Images)")
iPhone 3G
The iPhone gets its first upgrade, with 3G offering faster wireless connections. The newly-launched App Store is a key element in enhancing the capabilities of the device.
.jpg "The iPhone 3G. (Photographer: Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images)")
iPhone 3GS
The iPhone 3GS in 2009 isn't a major upgrade, offering only marginal improvements in speed.
.jpg "The iPhone 3GS. (Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)")
iPhone 4
The iPhone 4, which debuts in 2010, is Apple's first radical redesign of the device. The launch also results in Antennagate: the design of the case leads to some dropped calls and forces the company to offer free antenna bands to mitigate the problem.
iPhone 4S
The iPhone 4S is another minor upgrade, helping to solve the antenna issue and boosting performance.
.jpg "The Siri function on the iPhone 4S. (Photographer: Matthew Lloyd/Bloomberg)")
iPhone 5
The iPhone 5 in 2012 marks Apple's move toward bigger screens and proves a smash with consumers, delivering rapid revenue growth for Apple.
.jpg "Apple CEO Tim Cook presents the iPhone 5 in San Francisco on Sept. 12, 2012. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)")
iPhone 5C and 5S
The iPhone 5S upgrade isn't a surprise. It's the introduction of the more affordable iPhone 5C that raises eyebrows; designed to appeal to emerging markets, it doesn't prove to be a big hit.
.jpg "The iPhone 5C in a variety of colors. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)")
iPhone 6 and 6 Plus
The debut of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2014 is the right move at the right time. The bigger smartphones wow customers in Asia and put Apple into the top spot in China.
.jpg "The iPhone 6 Plus, left, and iPhone 6. (Photographer: Yuriko Nakao/Bloomberg)")
iPhone 6S
The iPhone 6S upgrade doesn't change much—a bit faster, a bit better.
.jpg "Apple Inc. iPhone 6s smartphones were released in 2015. (Photographer: Xaume Olleros/Bloomberg)")
iPhone SE
Earlier this year, Apple surprises by reviving the iPhone 5's size and shape in the form of the iPhone SE. A cheaper, mid-range phone, it sells better than expected in places such as Latin America, but isn't enough to reverse a revenue decline.
.jpg "The iPhone SE, top, compared with the iPhone 6 Plus. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)")
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
The iPhone 7 is a break from Apple's two-year upgrade cycle, with the size and shape almost unchanged from its predecessor. It sports a better camera, faster performance and, in a new twist, gets rid of the headphone jack.
To contact the authors of this story: Edwin Chan in Hong Kong at echan273@bloomberg.net, Reed Stevenson in Tokyo at rstevenson15@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Elaine To at eto11@bloomberg.net, Kristine Servando
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