iPhone Models, iOS Versions, and Xcode (2007–2025)

Year-by-year comparison of Apple’s main iPhone model, its launch iOS version, and the Xcode version. Each year’s entry also highlights key hardware and software innovations introduced with that iPhone and iOS.

Year	iPhone Model	iOS Version (launch)	Xcode Version
2025	iPhone 26 (exp.)	iOS 26	Xcode 26
2024	iPhone 16	iOS 18.0	Xcode 16.0
2023	iPhone 15	iOS 17.0	Xcode 15.0
2022	iPhone 14	iOS 16.0	Xcode 14.0
2021	iPhone 13	iOS 15.0	Xcode 13.0
2020	iPhone 12	iOS 14.0	Xcode 12.0
2019	iPhone 11	iOS 13.0	Xcode 11.0
2018	iPhone Xs	iOS 12.0	Xcode 10.0
2017	iPhone 8 / iPhone X	iOS 11.0	Xcode 9.0
2016	iPhone 7	iOS 10.0	Xcode 8.0
2015	iPhone 6s	iOS 9.0	Xcode 7.0
2014	iPhone 6	iOS 8.0	Xcode 6.0
2013	iPhone 5s	iOS 7.0	Xcode 5.0
2012	iPhone 5	iOS 6.0	Xcode 4.5
2011	iPhone 4S	iOS 5.0	Xcode 4.0–4.1
2010	iPhone 4	iOS 4.0	Xcode 3.2
2009	iPhone 3GS	iPhone OS 3.0	Xcode 3.1 (3.1.3)
2008	iPhone 3G	iPhone OS 2.0	Xcode 3.1
2007	iPhone	iPhone OS 1.0	Xcode 2.5

2025 (Expected)

As of WWDC 2025, Apple has announced iOS 26 and Xcode 26. The anticipated “iPhone 17” is expected in fall 2025, but details are not yet public.

2024: iPhone 16

iPhone 16 (Sept 2024) rolled out with a 6.1″ base model and 6.7″ Plus. It introduced Apple’s new A18 Bionic chip and “Apple Intelligence” features. Key hardware novelties included the Action Button (now with more programmable actions), “Camera Control” for finer photography adjustments, and a 48 MP Fusion camera. Battery life was significantly extended. iOS 18 launched alongside, focusing on personalization and intelligence (e.g. Journal app, smarter autocorrect). Xcode 16 (Swift 6 beta in 2024) supports iOS 18 development.

2023: iPhone 15

iPhone 15 (Sept 2023) continued with 6.1″/6.7″ OLED models (Plus). It introduced an A16 Bionic chip to the base model, a 48 MP main camera (enabling 2× telephoto), USB‑C connector, and an Action Button (customizable shortcuts). It also brought Dynamic Island to the non-Pro lineup, and a new Roadside Assistance via satellite feature. iOS 17 launched on this lineup (offline Siri, Live Voicemail, StandBy mode). Xcode 15 (Swift 5.9) was used for iOS 17 development.

2022: iPhone 14

The iPhone 14 (Sept 2022) introduced two sizes (6.1″ and a larger 6.7″ “Plus”) without a Pro notch. It used the A15 Bionic with 5‑core GPU and added new safety features: Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite. Camera hardware saw upgrades (larger sensors, Photonic Engine for low-light). It launched with iOS 16 (new Lock Screen customization, Live Text in videos). The Dynamic Island was introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Xcode 14 (Swift 5.7) supported iOS 16’s new widgets and APIs.

2021: iPhone 13

iPhone 13 (Sept 2021) brought smaller notches, sensor-shift stabilization, and a brighter 6.1″ OLED display. It introduced Cinematic mode (rack‑focus video) and Photographic Styles in its dual cameras, powered by the A15 Bionic chip. Battery life improved over the 12. iOS 15 debuted with improved FaceTime, Focus modes, and Live Text in camera. Xcode 13 (with Swift 5.5) added async/await and enhanced SwiftUI; it was used for iOS 15 apps.

2020: iPhone 12

iPhone 12 (Oct 2020) ushered in 5G on iPhone and a return to squared-off edges. It used a Ceramic Shield front cover (for drop protection) and OLED Super Retina XDR displays on both 5.4″ (mini) and 6.1″ models. The A14 Bionic chip (5nm) powered new computational photography features, and MagSafe magnets were added for wireless accessories. It ran iOS 14, which introduced Home Screen widgets and App Clips. Xcode 12 (with Swift 5.3) supported these features and iOS 14’s App Clip/Widget development.

2019: iPhone 11

The iPhone 11 (Sept 2019) (heir to the XR line) featured a 6.1″ LCD and introduced a dual‑camera system with an ultra-wide lens and Night mode photography. It used Apple’s A13 Bionic chip, the “fastest, most powerful chip ever in a smartphone”. Battery life improved noticeably. It launched with iOS 13, which introduced Dark Mode, Sign in with Apple, and Core ML 3. Developers used Xcode 11 (with SwiftUI introduced at WWDC 2019).

2018: iPhone Xs

In 2018, Apple shifted focus to Face ID models. We take iPhone Xs (Sept 2018) as the main model: it had a 5.8″ OLED “Super Retina” display (edge-to-edge notch design) and the first 7nm A12 Bionic chip. Its dual-camera system added Smart HDR, wider stereo sound, and dual‑SIM support. It ran iOS 12, which improved performance, Screen Time, Memoji, and ARKit 2. Xcode 10 (for iOS 12) included support for Vision and Core ML enhancements.

2017: iPhone 8 / iPhone X

iPhone 8 (Sept 2017) was announced alongside the iPhone X, marking Apple’s 10th anniversary of the iPhone. While the iPhone X introduced a bold new design with Face ID, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus retained the traditional form factor with Touch ID and LCD displays. The iPhone 8 featured a 4.7″ Retina HD LCD (5.5″ on the 8 Plus) with True Tone and returned to a glass back to support Qi wireless charging. Both models were powered by Apple’s A11 Bionic chip—the same chip used in the iPhone X. The dual-camera system on the 8 Plus enabled Portrait Lighting effects. The devices launched with iOS 11, which introduced ARKit, a customizable Control Center, and drag-and-drop multitasking on iPad. Developers used Xcode 9 for iOS 11, which added support for ARKit and enhanced Swift tooling.

2016: iPhone 7

iPhone 7 (Sept 2016) was the first water-resistant iPhone (IP67) and removed the 3.5 mm headphone jack. It introduced stereo speakers and a wide‑color (P3) display. Camera enhancements included a larger-aperture 12 MP iSight camera (dual cameras on 7 Plus). It used Apple’s A10 Fusion chip (quad-core CPU) for very high performance and battery life. It shipped with iOS 10, focusing on advanced Messages, revamped Apple Music and Maps, and Siri SDK. Xcode 8 (with Swift 3 support) was used for iOS 10, and Apple also announced ARKit (augmented reality) that year (available in Xcode 9 for iOS 11).

2015: iPhone 6s

The iPhone 6s (Sept 2015) introduced 3D Touch (pressure-sensitive display) and Live Photos on its 4.7″ screen. It used a stronger 7000-series aluminum alloy and introduced Rose Gold color. Core hardware bumps included Apple’s A9 chip for better performance and a new 12 MP camera capable of 4K video. It ran iOS 9, which brought features like Low Power Mode, Night Shift, public transit in Maps, and split-view multitasking on iPad. Developers used Xcode 7 for iOS 9, which added Swift 2.0 and new debugging tools.

2014: iPhone 6

iPhone 6 (Sept 2014) dramatically increased screen size to 4.7″ (and introduced the 5.5″ 6 Plus) with “Retina HD” displays. The thin new design used anodized aluminum, and it added NFC for Apple Pay mobile payments. Other upgrades included Apple’s A8 CPU, improved cameras (Focus Pixels auto-focus), and a barometer sensor. It shipped with iOS 8, which added Continuity (Handoff between devices), HealthKit, HomeKit, and introduced Swift language support in Xcode 6. (Xcode 6 itself was a major update supporting Swift and Interface Builder improvements.)

2013: iPhone 5s

The iPhone 5s (Sept 2013) introduced 64‑bit processing to smartphones via the new A7 chip and M7 motion co‑processor. It also debuted Touch ID (fingerprint sensor) and an improved 8 MP camera with True Tone flash. This model launched with iOS 7, a major redesign of the OS featuring a flat interface, Control Center, revamped Notification Center, AirDrop, and better multitasking. Xcode 5 was used for iOS 7 development and supported 64‑bit build targets required by the A7 processor.

2012: iPhone 5

iPhone 5 (Sept 2012) featured a taller 4.0″ Retina display (1136×640) and a new aluminum unibody design. Other hardware advances included Apple’s A6 chip (improved CPU/GPU), LTE cellular, a Lightning connector, and a thinner/lightweight chassis. It shipped with iOS 6, which introduced a new Apple Maps app with turn‑by‑turn navigation, Facebook integration, Passbook (for tickets/boarding passes), and enhanced Siri and Mail features. iOS 6 development used Xcode 4.5.x.

2011: iPhone 4S

The iPhone 4S (Oct 2011) upgraded to Apple’s dual-core A5 processor and an improved 8 MP camera with advanced optics and 1080p video. It introduced Siri, the first mainstream voice assistant, for natural-language control. The 4S launched with iOS 5, which added Notification Center, iMessage, iCloud support (for backup, Photo Stream, etc.), and Notification banners. In development, Xcode 4 (including Xcode 4.2 by late 2011) supported iOS 5 and the new Armv7s CPU.

2010: iPhone 4

iPhone 4 (June 2010) brought a radical redesign: an ultra-thin glass-and-stainless‑steel enclosure and the new “Retina” display (3.5″ at 960×640, 326 ppi). It added FaceTime (Wi‑Fi video calling) and the first front VGA camera, along with a 5 MP rear camera (with LED flash and 720p HD video). Under the hood was Apple’s A4 chip and a new gyroscope sensor. Software shipped with iOS 4.0 (rebranded from “iPhone OS”), featuring over 100 new APIs: multitasking, app Folders, unified inbox, iBooks, and FaceTime support. Xcode 3.2 was the main tool for iOS 4 development.

2009: iPhone 3GS

The iPhone 3GS (June 2009; “S” for speed) was a performance boost: Apple touted it as twice as fast as the 3G with better graphics (OpenGL ES 2.0). It added new hardware: an autofocus 3‑megapixel camera capable of video recording, voice control (touch to talk), digital compass, and up to 7.2 Mbps HSDPA. It launched with iPhone OS 3.0, which introduced copy/paste, MMS messaging, Spotlight search, landscape keyboards, and other features apple.com . (Xcode ~3.1.x was current for building iOS 3 apps.)

2008: iPhone 3G

The iPhone 3G (July 2008) added 3G cellular and GPS to the original design. It retained the 3.5″ multi-touch screen but introduced a plastic back, and ran iPhone OS 2.0. Crucially, iPhone OS 2.0 brought the App Store and enterprise features (e.g. Exchange ActiveSync), enabling hundreds of third-party apps. The hardware upgrade to 3G data speeds and built‑in GPS expanded location‑based services. At this time Xcode 3.1 (and the new iPhone SDK 2.0) was used for development.

2007: iPhone

Apple’s first iPhone (released June 29, 2007) redefined the smartphone with a large 3.5‑inch multi-touch display and a new finger-based UI. It combined a phone, iPod, and Internet device; hardware included a 2‑megapixel camera, quad-band GSM (no 3G, but EDGE and Wi‑Fi), Visual Voicemail and integrated iPod/Mail/Safari apps. Software-wise, it ran “iPhone OS 1.0,” introducing Safari and desktop-class email on mobile. (At launch developers used Xcode ~2.5 on Mac OS X to build iPhone apps.)

Sources: Official Apple press releases and announcements provide the data above apple.com