Do you remember the 10 iPhone features that were cut by Apple?

After so many upgrades, do you still remember the features that the iPhone once had?

The iPhone is often considered the iconic device that gave birth to the modern touchscreen smartphone. Since its release in 2007, the iPhone has undergone many "makeovers" and new features have emerged one after another, such as Face ID, which was first introduced last year. But the question is, do you still remember the features that the iPhone once had?

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Nowadays, when people mention iPhone, they may first think of new iPhone models such as iPhone X, iPhone XS and iPhone XR. They may have forgotten what Apple brought to users with the first generation iPhone, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 5. This week, foreign media TechRadar counted the 10 iPhone features that were cut by Apple. Let's review them together.

Skeuomorphic design

First appeared: 2007, iPhone OS 1

Last seen: 2012, iOS 6

The skeuomorphic interface of iOS designed by Apple chief designer Jonathan Ive can be said to be one of the early features of the iPhone. The text icons of almost everything provide a unique aesthetic, although such a design can sometimes be a bit confusing.

The design quickly became a favorite of many Apple fans, and the media and fans were in an uproar when Apple completely revamped the interface with iOS 7 in 2013. However, like most changes in the tech world, after about a year, the skeuomorphic interface was quickly forgotten and the new iOS interface was accepted as the new standard for the iPhone.

30-pin connector

First appeared: 2007, the original iPhone

Last seen: 2011, iPhone 4S

Although Apple considers the 30-pin connector on the original iPhone a point of pride, it is nothing new for the first generation of Apple phones. The 30-pin connector first appeared on Apple's iPod series, and anyone who bought any iPhone (iPod) dock/speaker/stereo in the early 21st century should have a deep impression of this connector.

This 30-pin port makes it very convenient for users to dock their iPhone (or iPod) with other docking products. However, it is also a large port, which takes up a lot of valuable space in the limited size of smartphones. So when Apple switched to the Lightning port, the new port gave users the ability to plug in both ways, and a few years later, USB-C also imitated this feature.

However, despite Lightning's many advantages over the 30-pin connector, its thinner form factor means it's more fragile and susceptible to damage, and people may miss the original 30-pin connector when the Lightning connector causes some accessories to break.

Plastic body

First appeared: 2007, the original iPhone

Last seen: 2013, iPhone 5c

Plastic is cheap, lightweight, and highly malleable, making it an ideal material for smartphones. Before using metal bodies and glass shells, the iPhone also used a plastic body design. About one-fifth of the back of the first iPhone was made of plastic, while the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS were made entirely of plastic. In 2013, plastic (more precisely, polycarbonate) bodies appeared again on the iPhone 5c, but that was the last time Apple used it. After the iPhone 5c, Apple also stopped developing the "C" type phone.

Game Center App

First appeared: 2010, iOS 4.1

Last seen: 2015, iOS 9

The release of iOS 4 brought a lot of new features to Apple's mobile operating system, one of which was Game Center, which actually arrived with the iOS 4.1 update. The app made iPhone gaming more competitive, allowing you to compete against your friends to see who could unlock the most achievements.

The Game Center app was removed from Apple's mobile operating system with the iOS 10 update. However, the functionality is still there, and if you open your iPhone's settings and scroll down, you'll find that Apple still keeps Game Center in iOS.

Aluminum body

First appeared: 2007, the original iPhone

Last seen: 2016, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

Except for one-fifth of plastic, the back of the original iPhone was basically made of aluminum, but it was not until the iPhone 5 in 2012 that Apple actually adopted aluminum as the body material of the iPhone.

It was a difficult transition, but more importantly, aluminum looked and felt great, helping the iPhone become one of the most popular consumer products. However, the mobile device market soon changed, and glass backs became the new favorite. Apple didn't start with an all-glass body, but the design eventually appeared on the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X in 2017.

Headphone jack

First appeared: 2007, the original iPhone

Last seen: 2016, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

In terms of iPhone changes, Apple's most controversial move was probably the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7, although the switch from the 30-pin interface to the Lightning interface also caused a lot of controversy.

In the months before Apple was ready to launch the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, there were rumors that Apple would remove the 3.5mm headphone jack. It is worth mentioning that before the release of the iPhone 7, some Android phones had already taken this step, but it did not cause much sensation. However, when the iPhone 7 really removed the 3.5mm headphone jack, Apple fans have been complaining, and even today there are still users who hope that Apple can reintroduce this interface. However, Apple and most manufacturers in the Android market have basically reached a consensus that it is time to cut off the headphone jack.

Physical Home Button

First appeared: 2007, the original iPhone

Last seen: 2015, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

Since the release of the iPhone, the circular Home button below the screen has been an iconic design of Apple phones. However, using such a physical button takes up a lot of valuable internal space of the phone. In 2016, Apple used a new Home button design on the iPhone 7 series of mobile phones, changing to a touch-type pressure-sensing button. Apple added a Taptic Engine vibration motor near the chin of the phone to simulate the feedback of a real physical Home button. What we didn't know at the time was that Apple didn't just want a physical Home button, they didn't even want a Home button.

Capacitive Home Button

First seen: 2016, iPhone 7

Last seen: 2017, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

Starting with last year's iPhone X, Apple began to use a full-screen design, and this year's three new iPhones also adopted this design, and the Home button has completely become a thing of the past. The 2017 iPhone 8 series was the last time the Home button appeared on the iPhone. A year after the introduction of the capacitive Home button, Apple turned to a gesture-based operating system. Smartphones have entered the era of full screens, and the Home button is unlikely to make a comeback.

Touch ID

First seen: 2013, iPhone 5s

Last seen: 2017, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

Touch ID brings an accurate, fast, and easy-to-use fingerprint recognition experience to iPhone users. Although Apple is not the first company to implement fingerprint recognition on smartphones, it can be said that Apple is the first company to truly realize this function. However, with the launch of iPhone X in 2017, the removal of the Home button marked the end of Touch ID, and Face ID became the authentication method for new iPhones. Users who are accustomed to using fingerprints to unlock iPhones may hope that Apple will continue to launch models using Touch ID. Previously exposed Apple patents show that Apple seems to be exploring ways to allow Face ID and Touch ID to coexist.

Large border

First appeared: 2007, the original iPhone

Last seen: 2017, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

Once upon a time, the thick bezels above and below the iPhone's display were almost as iconic as the Home button. The uniform look ensured that Apple's phones stood out, even as its competitors launched many similar devices over the years. However, as Android phone screen sizes continued to grow, Apple finally abandoned the large bezels on the iPhone X launched in 2017, and the iPhone 8 series became the last appearance of the large bezel design.

The above are the 10 iPhone features that have been cut by Apple as listed by TechRadar. At the same time, the website also stated that it is inevitable that as Apple and the entire mobile phone industry progress, our smartphones will give up more functions in the name of innovation. The following iPhone features that still exist may be abandoned by Apple.

SIM card tray

First appeared: 2007, the original iPhone

Apple first provided users with dual SIM card function on the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR launched in 2018. Users can use eSIM on these three iPhones. Currently, domestic devices do not support eSIM. Only iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR can use dual SIM cards.

The eSIM works similarly to a traditional physical SIM card, but instead of being physically inserted into the phone, it's built in. While it may be a few years before we see physical SIM cards disappear completely, the introduction of eSIMs in the latest iPhones could spell the beginning of the end.

LCD display

First appeared: 2007, the original iPhone

With the launch of the latest generation of iPhones, Apple has almost completely abandoned LCD screen technology and switched to OLED panels. Currently, only the iPhone XR still uses an LCD display. Compared with LCD displays, OLED displays have better color reproduction, lower power consumption and smaller size, making them ideal for smartphones. TechRadar expects that the iPhone XR will be the last iPhone model equipped with an LCD display, and all new iPhones in 2019 will use OLED displays.

Lightning connector

First seen: 2012, iPhone 5

There have been rumors that the next iPhone will ditch the Lightning port in favor of a USB-C port. Apple already uses this connection on its MacBook line of laptops, and the latest iPad Pro has also switched to a USB-C port. For those who already use other USB-C-equipped devices, switching from Apple's dedicated Lightning port to USB-C may be good news, at least they no longer have to prepare a charging cable specifically for the iPhone. Apple is expected to completely cancel Lightning in 2019.

Screen notch

First seen: 2017, iPhone X

The screen notch is still a relatively new feature on smartphones, but its days may be numbered. We've already seen some Android phone makers experiment with full-screen, notch-less, borderless displays (like the Vivo Nex and Oppo Find X), and we expect Apple to follow suit in the coming years. There are still many technical hurdles to overcome for the iPhone to fully achieve its goal of no notch, full screen, such as where the speakers, TrueDepth camera system, and various sensors will move to.

Mute switch

First appeared: 2007, the original iPhone

For years, a staple physical feature of the iPhone design has been the mute switch on the side of the phone, which lets you quickly toggle between silent and ring. However, its days may be numbered. Apple has removed the home button and headphone jack, both of which helped achieve a more streamlined iPhone design, and with that in mind, the mute switch is now more obtrusive than ever.