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Up to the iPhone 4 , all iPhone models, as well as other iOS devices were manufactured exclusively by Foxconn , based in Taiwan. In , after Tim Cook became CEO of the company, Apple changed its outsourcing strategy, for the first time increasing its supply partners. The iPhone 4s in was the first model which was manufactured simultaneously by two stand-alone companies: Foxconn as well as Pegatron , also based in Taiwan.
The 6 Plus model is being produced solely by Foxconn. The touchscreen on the first five generations is a 3. The iPhone 5 model's screen results in an aspect ratio of approximately The touch and gesture features of the iPhone are based on technology originally developed by FingerWorks.
The iPhone 3GS and later also feature a fingerprint -resistant oleophobic coating. The iPhone has a minimal hardware user interface, with most models featuring five buttons. The only physical menu button is situated directly below the display, and is called the "Home button" because its primary function is to close the active app and navigates to the home screen of the interface.
Earlier models included a rounded square , reminiscent of the shape of icons on the home screen, however, new models which include Apple's fingerprint recognition feature Touch ID which use the Home button as the fingerprint sensor have no symbol. It serves as the unit's power button, and also controls phone calls.
Situated on the left spine are the volume adjustment controls. The iPhone 4 has two separate circular buttons to increase and decrease the volume; all earlier models house two switches under a single plastic panel, known as a rocker switch, which could reasonably be counted as either one or two buttons.
This switch does not mute alarm sounds from the Clock application, and in some countries or regions it will not mute the camera shutter or Voice Memo sound effects. The touchscreen furnishes the remainder of the user interface. A software update in January [] allowed the first-generation iPhone to use cell tower and Wi-Fi network locations trilateration , [] despite lacking GPS hardware. Since the iPhone 8 it supports Galileo. The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, introduced in , feature 3D Touch displays which allows the screen to recognize how hard it is being pressed using pressure sensitive multi-touch technology.
Haptic touch retains some of 3D Touch's features but is based on a long press instead of a hard press. A proximity sensor deactivates the display and touchscreen when the device is brought near the face during a call. This is done to save battery power and to prevent inadvertent inputs from the user's face and ears. An ambient light sensor adjusts the display brightness which saves battery power and prevents the screen from being too bright or too dark. A 3-axis accelerometer senses the orientation of the phone and changes the screen accordingly, allowing the user to easily switch between portrait and landscape mode.
The 3. It is also used for fitness tracking purposes, primarily as a pedometer. Starting with the iPhone 5S, this functionality was included in the M7 Motion coprocessor and subsequent revisions of the embedded chip. A magnetometer is built-in since the iPhone 3GS, which is used to measure the strength and direction of the magnetic field in the vicinity of the device.
Sometimes certain devices or radio signals can interfere with the magnetometer requiring users to either move away from the interference or re-calibrate by moving the device in a figure-eight motion. Since the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone also features a Compass app, which was unique at time of release, showing a compass that points in the direction of the magnetic field.
Beginning with the iPhone 4, Apple's smartphones also include a gyroscopic sensor , enhancing its perception of how it is moved. Some previous iPhone models contained a chip capable of receiving radio signals ; [] however, Apple has the FM radio feature switched off because there was no antenna connected to the chip.
Later iterations of the iPhone starting with the iPhone 7 , however, do not contain radio chips at all. Until , iPhone models starting from iPhone 5S excluding the iPhone 5C featured Apple's fingerprint recognition sensor. It is located in the home button. Included on the iPhone 6 and later excluding the iPhone SE , a barometer used to determine air pressure, and elevation from the device.
Starting with the iPhone X , a facial recognition sensor, named the TrueDepth camera system is featured. It is used for unlocking the device and for authenticating purchases using Face ID. It can also be used for Animojis and AR. On the bottom of the iPhone, there is a speaker to the left of the dock connector and a microphone to the right. There is an additional loudspeaker above the screen that serves as an earpiece during phone calls.
The iPhone 4 includes an additional microphone at the top of the unit for noise cancellation , and switches the placement of the microphone and speaker on the base on the unit—the speaker is on the right. Cars equipped with an auxiliary jack allow handsfree use of the iPhone while driving as a substitute for Bluetooth. The iPhone 7 and later have no 3. Apple's own headset has a multipurpose button near the microphone that can play or pause music, skip tracks, and answer or end phone calls without touching the iPhone.
Some third-party headsets designed for the iPhone also include the microphone and control button. The built-in Bluetooth 2. Stereo audio was added in the 3.
When the Voice Control screen appears, let go of the Home button before speaking a command. Better late than never: Trackpad support is exactly what the iPad needed. Restrictions and other terms apply. Use of eSIM in iPhone may be disabled when purchased from some carriers. Back Answers Index.
Composite [] or component [] video at up to i and stereo audio can be output from the dock connector using an adapter sold by Apple. The iPhone did not support voice recording until the 3.
The iPhone features an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Like an iPod, but unlike most other mobile phones at the time of its launch, the battery is not user-replaceable.
Alternatively, a USB to AC adapter or "wall charger", also included can be connected to the cable to charge directly from an AC outlet. Some models of the iPhone support wireless charging. Apple runs tests on preproduction units to determine battery life. The battery life of early models of the iPhone has been criticized by several technology journalists as insufficient and less than Apple's claims.
Power and Associates customer satisfaction survey, which gave the "battery aspects" of the iPhone 3G its lowest rating of two out of five stars.
If the battery malfunctions or dies prematurely, the phone can be returned to Apple and replaced for free while still under warranty. The battery replacement service and its pricing was not made known to buyers until the day the product was launched; [] [] it is similar to how Apple and third parties replace batteries for iPods. Since iOS These changes came in the wake of reported issues with unexpected shutdowns on certain iPhone models following the release of iOS In response to criticism over the practice, including concerns over this being a form of planned obsolescence , Apple announced that it would offer discounted battery replacements for iPhone 6 and newer in , and that it would add additional battery health information on a future version of iOS iOS Since July , third-party battery replacement kits have been available [] at a much lower price than Apple's own battery replacement program.
These kits often include a small screwdriver and an instruction leaflet, but as with many newer iPod models the battery in the first generation iPhone has been soldered in. Therefore, a soldering iron is required to install the new battery. The iPhone 3G uses a different battery fitted with a connector that is easier to replace. A patent filed by the corporation, published in late July , revealed the development of a new iPhone battery system that uses location data in combination with data on the user's habits to moderate the handsets power settings accordingly.
Apple is working towards a power management system that will provide features such as the ability to estimate the length of time a user will be away from a power source to modify energy usage and a detection function that adjusts the charging rate to best suit the type of power source that is being used. The first-generation iPhone and iPhone 3G have a fixed-focus 2. It has no optical zoom, flash or autofocus , and does not natively support video recording. Video recording is possible on the first-generation iPhone and iPhone 3G via a third-party app available on the App Store or through jailbreaking.
The iPhone 3GS has a 3. The iPhone 4 introduced a 5. It also has a backside-illuminated sensor that can capture pictures in low light and an LED flash that can stay lit while recording video.