Apple products

How Apple products have evolved over the years

 

Apple is known for its incredible product design, led by Jony Ive. But Apple's hardware has come a long way to the sleek minimalism it's known for today.

Apple products used to be bulky, boxy devices that took up your entire desk. Some devices turned out to be duds. Now they make smartphones and tablets recognizable worldwide.

Here's a look at how Apple products have evolved over the years...

1. How Apple products have evolved over the years

Apple's first device was a computer named Apple I, released in 1976. It all began with this.

2. How Apple products have evolved over the years

Apple II, by comparison, was much better-looking than its predecessor.

3. How Apple products have evolved over the years

Fast-forward to 1980, when Apple released Apple III. It was considered a failure by many.

4. How Apple products have evolved over the years

In 1984, Apple released its first personal computer, the Macintosh. This is where Apple's success in consumer hardware really began.

5. How Apple products have evolved over the years

Then came Macintosh Portable in 1991, Apple's first try at a laptop. The clamshell design would feature prominently in every Apple laptop since then.

6. How Apple products have evolved over the years

Newton Message Pad released in 1993 foreshadowed Apple's push into mobile devices, though the Newton itself was a flop.

7. How Apple products have evolved over the years

Apple's PowerBook 500, released in 1994, was a lot less clunky than the Mac Portable.

8. How Apple products have evolved over the years

Then came iMac G3 in 1998, which attracted consumers with a sleek plastic case and colour options.

9. How Apple products have evolved over the years

The next year, Apple came out with iBook, which looked like a clamshell.

10. How Apple products have evolved over the years

Apple also developed peripherals like this cinema display, designed to mimic the aesthetics of PowerBook G4.

11. How Apple products have evolved over the years

iBook laptop was updated in 2001. Note that by now Apple had largely abandoned the colours used in previous iMacs.

12. How Apple products have evolved over the years

That year, Apple also released its biggest game-changer since the Macintosh: iPod. Its wheel actually spun around!

13. How Apple products have evolved over the years

iMac G4 made waves for its display, which appeared to float above the computer's base.

14. How Apple products have evolved over the years

In 2003, Apple released its first aluminum-body laptop, PowerBook G4. Apple also released a titanium version.

15. How Apple products have evolved over the years

The third-generation iPod abandoned the movable wheel. This one made it to the Caribbean!

16. How Apple products have evolved over the years

iPod Mini came out in 2004. It would thrive until iPod Nano came out the next year.

17. How Apple products have evolved over the years

Mac Mini came out in 2005 and provided consumers an alternative to tower-style desktops.

18. How Apple products have evolved over the years

iPod Nano unseated iPod Mini and ushered in an era of ultra-small MP3 players.

19. How Apple products have evolved over the years

The first MacBook Pro came out in 2006. Now MacBook Pro is Apple's flagship laptop.

20. How Apple products have evolved over the years

  

The sleek iPod Hi-Fi also came out that year, though the speaker system was a dud.

21. How Apple products have evolved over the years

In 2007, Apple shocked consumers again with the first-generation iPhone.

22. How Apple products have evolved over the years

The company also revised the Mighty Mouse.

23. How Apple products have evolved over the years

By 2007, iPod was on its sixth generation and was simply known as iPod Classic.

24. How Apple products have evolved over the years

The ultra-thin MacBook Air came out in 2008, making MacBook Pro look chunky by comparison.

25. How Apple products have evolved over the years

In 2009, Apple released iPhone 3GS, which looked fairly similar to the original version.

26. How Apple products have evolved over the years

By 2009, iMac had matured into having an aluminum unibody design.

27. How Apple products have evolved over the years

In 2010 came iPad, which appeared to many people as just being a larger version of iPhone.

28. How Apple products have evolved over the years

August 19, 2014

2010 also saw the introduction of the second generation of Apple's set-top box, Apple TV.

29. How Apple products have evolved over the years

iPhone 4, released in 2011, was a slimmer version of its predecessor.

30. How Apple products have evolved over the years

In 2013, Apple unveiled the third-generation MacBook Pro, also known as Retina MacBook Pro.

31. How Apple products have evolved over the years

  

Apple also released iPad Air, the current version of iPad.

32. How Apple products have evolved over the years

Apple released a couple of product updates in 2013, including iPhone 5C.

33. How Apple products have evolved over the years

iMac got a facelift, too.