This video presents a chronological ranking of every base model Apple iPhone, from the original 2007 release to a speculative iPhone 17. The narrator categorizes each phone based on its design, features, and market impact, drawing a sharp contrast between the universally praised Steve Jobs era (iPhone 1-4S) and the subsequent Tim Cook era. The later period is characterized by what the narrator calls "greed," highlighting controversial decisions like removing the headphone jack and charger, hardware flaws like "Bendgate," and years with minimal innovation. Major technological leaps are acknowledged, but the video's credibility falters significantly near the end by presenting unconfirmed rumors and pure speculation about the iPhone 16 and 17 as established facts. As far as I can tell, this part is just wrong.
A Chronological Ranking of Every iPhone Model
0:00:44 The "Legend" Era Begins: The original iPhone, iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, and 4S are all placed in the highest tier. They are praised for establishing the modern smartphone with features like the App Store, 3G, FaceTime, and Siri, marking the innovative Steve Jobs era.
0:04:26 Post-Jobs Innovation: The iPhone 5 is highly rated for its taller design, aluminum back, 4G support, and the introduction of the Lightning cable. The iPhone 5S is also lauded for introducing Touch ID and the first 64-bit smartphone processor.
0:06:43 The Big Screen and "Bendgate": The iPhone 6 is recognized for its massive sales and for introducing a larger screen size and Apple Pay, but is also noted for the "Bendgate" scandal where the thin aluminum body could easily bend.
0:08:00 The "Greed Era" and Controversial Removals: The iPhone 7 marks a turning point, criticized for the removal of the headphone jack to upsell dongles and AirPods. This trend continued with the iPhone 12, where the in-box charger was removed under the questionable pretext of environmentalism.
0:08:54 A New Design Language: The iPhone X is considered a "legend" for establishing the modern iPhone design with its notch, Face ID, and OLED display, but also for beginning the era of four-figure pricing. It completely overshadowed the iPhone 8, dubbed "the forgotten one."
0:10:57 Value and Stagnation: The iPhone 11 is hailed as one of the "greatest" for offering a premium experience, a powerful chip, and Night Mode at a relatively affordable price. In contrast, the iPhone 14 is heavily criticized as a "copy-paste" of the iPhone 13 with no meaningful upgrades.
0:13:01 Modern Upgrades and Persistent Flaws: The iPhone 15 is ranked as "great" for bringing the Dynamic Island, a 48MP camera, and USB-C to the base model, but is criticized for retaining an outdated 60Hz display.
0:13:28 Speculation Presented as Fact: The video's conclusion is unreliable. It discusses the iPhone 16 and 17, presenting rumors about new buttons, AI features, and a 120Hz display on the base iPhone 17 as if they are confirmed facts. This is misleading.