The original iPhone launched on June 29, 2007
Apple released the first iPhone on June 29, 2007, nearly a decade before the company introduced the security and privacy controls that matter to you now. Steve Jobs announced the device in January of that year, and the first model arrived in stores with a 2G network connection, a 2-megapixel camera, and 4 or 8 gigabytes of storage. That original iPhone ran OS X (later renamed iOS), which Apple has continuously updated with stronger privacy settings and device controls ever since.
The phone cost $499 for the 4GB model and $599 for the 8GB version — prices that were high for 2007 but low compared to what competitors charged for smartphones at the time. Within three months, Apple dropped the price to $399, which frustrated early buyers enough that the company offered store credit to those who had paid full price.
Understanding when the iPhone launched matters because it shows how recent many of the security features you rely on actually are. The original iPhone had no App Store, no fingerprint sensor, no Face ID, and no granular permission system. Every feature that lets you control what apps can access — your location, your contacts, your camera — came later, added through iOS updates as privacy concerns grew.
Key Takeaways
- The first iPhone launched on June 29, 2007, with 4 or 8 gigabytes of storage and a 2-megapixel camera.
- Apple's original iPhone cost $499 to $599 and ran a version of OS X that later became iOS.
- Modern security features like app permissions, Face ID, and granular privacy controls did not exist on the original iPhone and were added through later iOS updates.
- The iPhone's evolution from a basic touchscreen phone to a device with strong privacy controls took more than a decade.
How the iPhone changed what people expected from phones
Before the iPhone, most phones had physical keyboards, small screens, and separate devices for music and internet browsing. The original iPhone combined all three into one touchscreen device, which forced other manufacturers to rethink their entire approach. Within a few years, every major phone maker — including Nokia, BlackBerry, and Microsoft — either switched to touchscreen designs or stopped making phones altogether.
The iPhone's success also created the market for mobile apps. The original iPhone could run only Apple's built-in applications, but in July 2008 — about a year after launch — Apple opened the App Store with 500 apps available. That store became the model for how people read and install software on phones, and it also became the reason Apple needed to build permission systems: apps wanted access to your photos, location, contacts, and microphone, and users needed a way to say no.
When major iPhone models arrived and what changed
The timeline of iPhone releases shows how security features rolled out over time. The iPhone 3G arrived in July 2008 and added faster network speeds. The iPhone 3GS (2009) added a compass and voice control. The iPhone 4 (2010) introduced the Retina display and a front-facing camera for video calls. None of these early models had the permission system you see today.
The permission system began to take shape with iOS 4 in 2010, which let users control whether apps could access location data. iOS 6 (2012) added controls for contacts and photos. iOS 8 (2014) expanded permissions to include the microphone and camera. Face ID arrived with the iPhone X in 2017, replacing the fingerprint sensor and offering a faster way to unlock the phone. Each update reflected growing concern about what apps could see and do on your device.
The most recent major shift came with iOS 14 in 2020, which added App Tracking Transparency — a feature that forces apps to ask permission before tracking your activity across other apps and websites. This feature angered companies like Facebook that relied on tracking data, but it gave users direct control over their own information.
Why the original iPhone had almost no privacy controls
The original iPhone shipped with minimal security because the threat model was different in 2007. Phones were not yet central to people's lives the way they are now. The iPhone had no GPS, no microphone for calls through apps, and no way to install third-party software. Apple controlled everything that ran on the device, so the company did not need to let users block apps from accessing sensitive data — there were no third-party apps to worry about.
As the App Store grew and phones became more powerful, the risk changed. Apps could now request your location, read your contacts, access your photos, and listen through the microphone. Users had no way to grant permission to some features while blocking others. Apple responded by building the permission system you see today, where each app must ask before accessing sensitive information, and you can revoke permission at any time.
How to check which iOS version your iPhone runs
Your iPhone's security and privacy features depend on which version of iOS it runs. Newer versions include more controls and stronger protections. To see your iOS version, open Settings, tap General, then tap About. The number next to "Software Version" is your current iOS.
If your phone is more than five or six years old, it may no longer receive iOS updates. Apple typically supports iPhones for about five to seven years after release, depending on the model. Once your phone stops receiving updates, it will not get new security patches or privacy features. If you are concerned about security and your phone is older, updating to a newer model gives you access to the latest protections.
What the original iPhone could not do that modern iPhones can
The original iPhone had no way to control app permissions because there were no apps to control. It could not use Face ID because it had no front-facing camera and no neural engine to process facial recognition. It could not encrypt messages end-to-end because it had no Messages app — people texted through SMS, which carriers could read. It could not prevent app tracking because there were no apps tracking users across the web.
Modern iPhones can do all of these things. iMessage encrypts your messages so that only you and the recipient can read them. App Tracking Transparency stops apps from following you across the internet. The App Privacy Report shows you which apps accessed your location, photos, or microphone in the past few days. Face ID is faster and more find than the fingerprint sensor that came later. These features exist because Apple learned from years of security problems and user concerns.
Why Apple's approach to privacy changed over time
Apple's privacy stance evolved because the company faced pressure from users, regulators, and competitors. In the early years, privacy was not a major selling point — phones were new, and people were still getting used to them. By the 2010s, as phones became more powerful and collected more data, privacy became a concern. Apple began marketing privacy as a feature that set it apart from Android phones, which gave users fewer built-in controls.
The turning point came around 2020, when Apple introduced App Tracking Transparency and began making privacy a central part of its marketing. The company also started publishing privacy labels for every app in the App Store, showing users what data each app collects. These changes were not purely altruistic — they also helped Apple differentiate itself from competitors and gave the company a reason to restrict what other companies could do on iPhones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year did the first iPhone come out?
The first iPhone launched on June 29, 2007. It cost $499 for the 4GB model and $599 for the 8GB version. Apple dropped the price to $399 three months later.
Did the original iPhone have an App Store?
No. The original iPhone could run only Apple's built-in apps. The App Store opened in July 2008, about a year after the iPhone launched, with 500 apps available. This is when third-party apps first became possible.
When did iPhones get permission controls for apps?
Permission controls rolled out gradually. iOS 4 (2010) added location controls. iOS 6 (2012) added contacts and photos. iOS 8 (2014) added microphone and camera controls. App Tracking Transparency, which stops apps from tracking you across the web, arrived with iOS 14 in 2020.
How long does Apple support an iPhone with updates?
Apple typically supports iPhones for five to seven years after release, depending on the model. Once your phone stops receiving updates, it will not get new security patches or privacy features. Older iPhones may still work, but they lack the latest protections.
Can I turn off app tracking on my iPhone?
Yes. Open Settings, tap Privacy, then tap Tracking. You will see a list of apps that have asked for permission to track you. You can toggle each one off individually, or turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track" to block all tracking requests at once.