iOS Design Evolution

A Mobile Revolution

The original iPhone was a revolutionary product that changed the trajectory of mobile computing forever. As such, we attempted to document almost every app on the first version of the OS in visual detail.

The first three generations of iPhones had a screen resolution of 320x480. As such, the image quality of the screenshots from these early versions is not stellar, particularly for the original iPhone. We looked for the best quality images we could, and used those accordingly. If you're aware of higher quality images, please drop us a line.

Steve Jobs with the original iPhone (2007)

Steve Jobs with the original iPhone (2007)
Source: REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico

iPhone OS 1 (2007)

The operating system on the original iPhone didn't technically have an official name, but Steve Jobs mentioned that it ran a version of Mac OS X. It was sometimes referred to as "iPhone OS 1" and later versions used that moniker in sequential order until version 4 in 2010. Version 4 was named iOS 4, and that brand name has remained until present day.

iPhone OS 1 lock screens (2007)

iPhone OS 1 lock screens (2007)
Source: anandtech.com

iPhone OS 1 home screen (2007)

iPhone OS 1 home screen (2007)
Source: nodivisions.com, iclarified.com

iPhone OS 1 dialer, contacts, and visual voicemail (2007)

iPhone OS 1 dialer, contacts, and visual voicemail (2007)
Source: anandtech.com

iPhone OS 1 dialer, contacts, and visual voicemail (2007)

iPhone OS 1 dialer, contacts, and visual voicemail (2007)
Source: anandtech.com

iPhone OS 1 email inbox, attachment viewing, and email settings (2007)

iPhone OS 1 email inbox, attachment viewing, and email settings (2007)
Source: anandtech.com

iPhone OS 1 Safari browser (2007)

iPhone OS 1 Safari browser (2007)
Source: crackberry.com, nodivisions.com, linkedin.com

iPhone OS 1 calendar app (2007)

iPhone OS 1 calendar app (2007)
Source: anandtech.com

iPhone OS 1 SMS app (2007)

iPhone OS 1 SMS app (2007)
Source: anandtech.com

iPhone OS 1 Google Maps app (2007)

iPhone OS 1 Google Maps app (2007)
Source: engadget.com, flickr.com, nodivisions.com, electrony.net

iPhone OS 1 YouTube app (2007)

iPhone OS 1 YouTube app (2007)
Source: coolsmartphone.com

iPhone OS 1 Camera Roll, Notes app, Stocks app, Weather app, and World Clock (2007)

iPhone OS 1 Camera Roll, Notes app, Stocks app, Weather app, and World Clock (2007)
Source: crackberry.com, anandtech.com, engadget.com

iPhone OS 1 Settings (2007)

iPhone OS 1 Settings (2007)
Source: engadget.com

iPhone OS 1 setup after purchase from AT&T store in US (2007)

iPhone OS 1 setup after purchase from AT&T store in US (2007)
Source: anandtech.com

iPhone OS 2 (2008)

The sophomore version of the iPhone OS brought some improvements, the most prominent by far being the existence of the App Store and the 3rd party software development kit for developers. Apple's App Store launched with about 500 apps, many from notable entities such as the New York Times, Facebook, and Google. Other major improvements throughout the life of OS 2.0 included push email notifications, podcasts in iTunes, GPS location and Street View in the Google Maps app, emoji support, a scientific calculator, and a location-aware camera app.

iPhone OS 2 was launched with the iPhone 3G.

iPhone OS 2 Home screen and App Store on iPhone 3G (2008)

iPhone OS 2 Home screen and App Store on iPhone 3G (2008)
Source: applemust.com, imore.com

iTunes App Store on a Mac Desktop (2008)

iTunes App Store on a Mac Desktop (2008)
Source: applegazette.com

Super Monkey Ball app info page on iTunes  (2008)

Super Monkey Ball app info page on iTunes (2008)
Source: imore.com

iPhone OS 2 App Store categories, new apps, top paid apps, and app info page (2008)

iPhone OS 2 App Store categories, new apps, top paid apps, and app info page (2008)
Source: imore.com

iPhone OS 2 Settings, General Settings, and About screen (2008)

iPhone OS 2 Settings, General Settings, and About screen (2008)
Source: imore.com

iPhone OS 2 Push Data settings (2008)

iPhone OS 2 Push Data settings (2008)
Source: imore.com

iPhone OS 2 scientific calculator in landscape mode (2008)

iPhone OS 2 scientific calculator in landscape mode (2008)
Source: imore.com

iPhone OS 2 Camera app asking for location consent (2008)

iPhone OS 2 Camera app asking for location consent (2008)
Source: imore.com

iPhone OS 2 multi-color calendar (2008)

iPhone OS 2 multi-color calendar (2008)
Source: imore.com

iPhone OS 2 Google Maps GPS Location dot (2008)

iPhone OS 2 Google Maps GPS Location dot (2008)
Source: imore.com

iPhone OS 2.2 Google Maps Street View (2008)

iPhone OS 2.2 Google Maps Street View (2008)
Source: imore.com

iPhone OS 2 Podcasts (2008)

iPhone OS 2 Podcasts (2008)
Source: imore.com

iPhone OS 2.2 Emoji support for Japanese users (2008)

iPhone OS 2.2 Emoji support for Japanese users (2008)
Source: venturebeat.com

This page is a work in progress

This page was last updated on July 5, 2019. There's a lot to cover in iOS, and Version Museum is adding to this page over time. Check back in the future for updates.
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