The iPhone has been around for over a decade, and its naming convention has evolved significantly over time. The first iPhone was simply called "iPhone", released in 2007.
This straightforward naming convention changed with the release of the iPhone 3G in 2008, which marked the beginning of a more complex naming system. The iPhone 3G was followed by the iPhone 3GS, and the iPhone 4.
The iPhone 4 was notable for its sleek design and high-resolution display. It was also the first iPhone to feature FaceTime, a video calling feature that allowed users to connect with friends and family.
Naming Conventions
Apple's iPhone naming convention has been a bit of a mess, and it's all because they tried to diversify their portfolio and offer more affordable options.
The "R" and "S" in iPhone XR and XS didn't stand for anything, they were just marketing gimmicks.
People thought they stood for "Retina" and "Super Retina", but that was just a misconception.
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Apple learned a valuable lesson from the iPhone XR and has made some changes to their naming convention.
They've dropped the "S" cycle for now, and the successor to the iPhone XR is simply called iPhone 11.
This is because Apple wants the iPhone 11 to be the center of their lineup, leaving the "Pro" variants for pro consumers.
The "S" branding is likely done for good, and next year's iPhones will follow a new pattern.
The next iPhones will likely be called iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, following the existing pattern for major cosmetic changes.
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History of iPhone Naming
The first-generation iPhone was colloquially known as the iPhone 2G, a retronymic name that highlights its distinction from the second-generation iPhone, which was simply called the iPhone 3G. This naming convention continued with subsequent models.
The iPhone 4 did not support 4G connectivity, but the iPhone 5 was the first model to feature LTE support, marking a significant upgrade in mobile networking capabilities.
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Timeline
The iPhone's naming convention has been a bit confusing over the years, but it's actually quite straightforward once you understand the pattern. The 1st-generation iPhone was colloquially known as the iPhone 2G.
One of the reasons for this naming convention is that Apple started using the "G" suffix to indicate the type of cellular network the iPhone supported. For example, the 2nd-generation iPhone was the iPhone 3G, which supported 3G networks. This continued with the iPhone 4, which didn't support 4G, and the iPhone 5, which was the first to support LTE.
Here's a quick rundown of the early iPhone models and their corresponding network support:
As you can see, the "G" suffix is used to indicate the type of network support, and the model number corresponds to the generation of the iPhone. This pattern has continued to the present day, making it easy to understand the naming convention of the iPhone.
Models Never Made
The iPhone naming convention has had its fair share of interesting quirks over the years. There were no models called the iPhone 2, iPhone 7S, iPhone 8S, or iPhone 9 ever produced.
The iPhone 9 was actually the rumored name for the iPhone SE (2020), a model that didn't quite live up to its predecessor's hype in my opinion.
The 1st-generation iPhone was colloquially known as the iPhone 2G, a name that stuck due to the 2nd-generation iPhone being the iPhone 3G.
The iPhone 4 didn't support 4G, a fact that might seem surprising given its name. The iPhone 5 was the first model to bring LTE support to the table, a game-changer at the time.
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Confusion and Clarification
Apple's iPhone naming scheme has been a source of confusion for many consumers. The iPhone SE was released in 2016, and its name was chosen to maintain the iPhone margin, but it was also known as the iPhone 5 to many regular consumers.
One of the reasons for the confusion was the introduction of the iPhone 5C, which was a mid-segment iPhone that was released to avoid selling old iPhones. The "C" stood for nothing, and it was Apple's first major naming dilemma.
The iPhone SE was essentially a heavily upgraded iPhone 5s, with a 12MP camera, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and iOS 9.3. However, its name and design made it difficult for people to understand its significance.
Apple's senior vice president of marketing confirmed that the iPhone SE should be referred to as the "Special Edition", but the company didn't provide an explanation of what makes this smaller, lower-cost iPhone so special.
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Nomenclature and Style
The iPhone naming style has undergone significant changes over the years. The letter suffixes S, R, and C were previously used, but have since been dropped or replaced.
The "S" suffix was used to denote a slight upgrade, but it's been phased out, with iPhone XS and XS Max being the last models to feature it.
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The "R" suffix was used for the lower-priced iPhone XR, which is the only iPhone with "R" in its name.
The "Plus" suffix indicated a physically larger iPhone model, often with higher-end features.
The "SE" suffix stood for "Special Edition", used in the entry-level iPhone SE line.
iPhones are now named with "iPhone" followed by a number, which denotes the iPhone generation, and sometimes a suffix like Plus, Pro, or Pro Max.
The "Air" suffix is used for a thin and lightweight model that replaces the "Plus" models.
The "Pro" suffix indicates the premium model, while "Pro Max" indicates the larger model of the "Pro" line.
The "e" suffix indicates the entry-level model, as seen in the iPhone 16e.
Models with just a number, like iPhones 11 through iPhone 17, indicate the flagship of the iPhone.
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