PCMag Retrospective: 19 Years of iPhone and the Leap to Foldables
A look back at the original iPhone's launch validates an early prediction as Apple enters the foldable market with the iPhone Duo.
PCMag has published a retrospective reflecting on its original review of the first iPhone from 19 years ago. The piece examines how a nearly two-decade-old prediction about the device's trajectory has manifested in the current mobile landscape.
In its original analysis of the first iPhone, PCMag predicted that the device would eventually lead to "some insanely great products." According to the publication, this early assessment proved accurate as the smartphone evolved from a disruptive novelty into the central pillar of modern computing. This reflection comes as Apple continues to expand its hardware lineup, most recently with the release of the iPhone 18 series and the iPhone Duo, which marks Apple's first entry into the foldable phone market.
The Shift in Mobile Computing
The original iPhone, launched in 2007, triggered a fundamental shift in the mobile industry. Before its arrival, the market was dominated by devices featuring physical keyboards and styluses. Apple's introduction of a multi-touch interface and an app-centric ecosystem forced a total redesign of how users interacted with mobile hardware. This transition moved the industry away from specialized handheld tools toward general-purpose computers that fit in a pocket, setting the stage for the iterative improvements seen over the last 19 years.
The Trajectory of Innovation
This retrospective underscores the long-term trajectory of the smartphone industry and validates the prescience of early tech journalism. By contrasting the limitations of the 2007 model with today's capabilities, PCMag frames the current era of foldable screens and AI integration as the next logical step in the lineage of "insanely great products." The transition from the rigid glass slabs of the early 2010s to the flexible displays of the iPhone Duo represents a continuation of the disruption started by the original iPhone.
The Next Chapter
As the industry moves forward, the focus shifts to how foldable technology and advanced AI will further redefine the user experience. While the iPhone 18 Pro Max continues to refine the traditional smartphone formula, the iPhone Duo suggests a new direction for Apple's hardware strategy. Observers will now watch to see if foldables become the new standard for the mass market or remain a premium niche, continuing the cycle of innovation that began nearly two decades ago.