No, the original iPhone, retroactively known as the iPhone 1 or iPhone 2G, did not have built-in GPS capabilities when it first launched in 2007. The first iPhone model to include GPS was the follow-up iPhone 3G released in 2008. But the original iPhone was still a revolutionary product that catalyzed the smartphone revolution and paved the way for technologies like GPS we take for granted today.
When Steve Jobs first unveiled the original iPhone in January 2007 after years of rumors and speculation, it was unlike any phone the world had ever seen. With its massive 3.5” touch display and radically simplified software interface entirely controlled by touch gestures, the original iPhone made every other mobile phone seem archaic in comparison.
It may seem comical now, but the original iPhone lacked features that are considered standard inclusions on smartphones today – there was no app store, no 3G connectivity, no GPS, no copy and paste, no third party apps, and no video recording. But make no mistake – the original iPhone was a seminal product that reshaped consumer technology and set Apple on a trajectory towards becoming the most valuable company in the world.
Let’s take a deeper look back at the original iPhone, what it offered for its time, how much it costs then versus now, and the lasting impact it has had on the smartphone industry.
The Revolutionary Original iPhone – Specs and Features
When it debuted in 2007, the original iPhone had groundbreaking hardware and software:
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3.5” touchscreen display – The large touchscreen with pinch, swipe, and tap gestures made for an entirely new user experience.
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2MP camera – While paltry today, a 2MP camera on a phone was decent in 2007.
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4GB/8GB storage – The iPhone provided built-in storage for music, videos, photos, and data – unusual for phones at the time.
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Quad-band GSM – Allowed connecting to cellular networks worldwide.
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WiFi and Bluetooth – Enabled connecting to wireless networks and accessories.
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Web browser – The mobile-optimized web browser was a revelation in 2007. Surfing real web sites on a phone was unheard of.
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HTML email – Allowed rich, desktop-like email experience.
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Media playback – You could store and play music, videos, and photos on your phone itself – revolutionary compared to phones before it.
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Phone and texting – Basic calling and SMS were included, of course. Visual voicemail made accessing messages easier than ever.
While almost laughably limited compared to today’s iPhones, the original iPhone was far ahead of anything else available in 2007. The combination of multi-touch input, large display, web browsing, media features, design, and iOS software cohesiveness was a total game-changer.
iPhone 3G Introduced GPS and the App Store
In 2008, a year after the original iPhone went on sale, Apple followed it up with the iPhone 3G.
As the name suggests, the iPhone 3G added faster 3G cellular data. But importantly, it also marked the introduction of built-in GPS on the iPhone. suddenly allowed turn-by-turn navigation, mapping, and location-based apps thanks to the inclusion of a proper GPS chip.
The iPhone 3G also ushered in the revolutionary App Store, allowing third party apps to be installed. This transformed the iPhone into an endlessly versatile pocket computer. Overnight, the App Store changed the game and birthed the modern mobile software ecosystem.
So in many ways, it was the follow-up iPhone 3G model in 2008 that brought two key capabilities we now associate with iPhones – GPS and app store capabilities.
Original iPhone Sales, Pricing, and Current Value
When it was first released in 2007, the original iPhone was only available in the US at launch. It was initially priced at $499 for the 4GB model and $599 for 8GB. This required a 2-year contract with AT&T, the exclusive carrier for iPhone in the US at the time.
Apple went on to sell 1.4 million original iPhones by the end of 2007. While impressive then, Apple now sells over 50 million iPhones every quarter in the present day.
Considering its limitations by today’s standards, you may be surprised at the collector value attained by original first generation iPhones today:
| iPhone 1 Model | Original Price | Current Used Value |
|---|---|---|
| 4GB | $499 | $100-$300 |
| 8GB | $599 | $150-$350 |
The coveted original iPhone in brand new, factory sealed condition can fetch exponentially more, with mint units selling for as much as $10,000 to $15,000 at auction to avid collectors. In extremely rare cases, sealed units have sold for even higher.
So while the original iPhone may seem archaic and limited today, it still carries cultural cachet and nostalgia that helps it retain surprising collector and resale value. For context, most 13-15 year old mobile phones have virtually no value today, but the iconic status of the original iPhone makes it an exception.
The iPhone Revolutionized the Smartphone Industry
When Steve Jobs introduced that first iPhone in 2007, its impact was not fully apparent at the time. But make no mistake – the iPhone revolutionized the smartphone industry and would turn Apple from a niche computer company into the most profitable technology company in the world.
Here are some of the lasting ways the original iPhone changed technology:
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Mainstream Touchscreens – The iPhone popularized touchscreens and multi-touch gestures, making them standard across smartphones today.
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Mobile Internet – With its real web browser, the iPhone made the internet truly mobile for the first time, not the “baby internet” of crippled mobile browsers before it.
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Apps Ecosystem – The later App Store model paved the way for third party mobile apps becoming big business.
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Sleek Industrial Design – The iPhone design was a sharp contrast to the clunky plastic of competitors, inspiring the premium metal and glass aesthetics prevalent across flagships today.
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Apple’s Rebirth – The iPhone propelled Apple’s rise from a niche computer maker to the world’s biggest technology company, worth over $2 trillion today.
While Apple did not necessarily invent all the individual technologies used in the iPhone, it was their combination and integration that made the iPhone revolutionary and game-changing. The original iPhone in 2007 reshaped the destiny of Apple as a company and revolutionized the entire smartphone landscape as we know it today.
