On June 29, 2007, Apple released the original iPhone in the United States, marking a pivotal moment in technological history. The device, unveiled by then-CEO Steve Jobs earlier that year, drew massive public attention, with many observers at the time unaware of the profound shifts it would catalyze. As a social media post reflected, "People seeing iPhone for the first time - June 29th, 2007," with "onlookers having no idea just how radically the device before them would change technology, global governance, and the spread of information."
The groundbreaking device was first announced by Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, at the Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco. It featured a 3.5-inch multi-touch display, a 2-megapixel camera, and ran on the innovative iPhone OS, a touch-friendly version of Mac OS X. Upon its release, the iPhone was priced at $499 for the 4GB model and $599 for the 8GB model, both requiring a two-year contract with AT&T.
The launch was met with immense anticipation, leading to long queues outside Apple stores nationwide. The device quickly proved its market appeal, with Apple selling one million iPhones within just 74 days of its release. Despite an initial price reduction that caused some customer complaints, the iPhone's immediate success underscored a burgeoning demand for advanced mobile computing.
The iPhone's introduction fundamentally reshaped the mobile phone industry and broader society. It popularized the smartphone concept, making sophisticated mobile technology accessible to the mass market and ushering in the era of mobile computing. While the App Store would launch with the iPhone 3G in 2008, the original iPhone laid the groundwork for an expansive ecosystem of mobile applications that have since transformed how individuals access information, communicate, work, and engage with entertainment.
Its enduring legacy is evident in the continued evolution of mobile technology and its pervasive influence on daily life. The iPhone inspired a wave of innovation across the industry, setting new standards for user experience and functionality. As of July 2025, over 3 billion iPhones have been sold globally, solidifying Apple's position as the largest vendor of mobile phones since 2023 and cementing the original iPhone's status as a true technological watershed.