Apple famously skipped the iPhone 9, jumping from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone X (pronounced "ten") in 2017 to celebrate the iPhone's 10th anniversary, signifying a major redesign and technological leap, not just an incremental update. More recently, in 2025, Apple reportedly skipped iOS 19 through iOS 25, going straight from iOS 18 to iOS 26, unifying its software naming across devices for a new era.
For tech companies, 10 feels like a perfect, complete number — it signals innovation, advancement, and a fresh new era. Apple wanted the iPhone X (10) to mark the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, so skipping 9 made sense symbolically.
And in the spirit of bringing all devices together, Apple wanted to have one naming system for all its software. That's why 2025 marked the transition from iOS 18 to iOS 26, skipping out software versions 19 through to 25.
Skipping from iOS 18 to 26 in September wasn't a bug or a typo—it was a deliberate, strategic renumbering designed to align all of Apple's operating systems (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS) under a unified version scheme.
Apple's omissions are deliberate branding choices: ``iPhone 2'' was bypassed because feature-based names (3G) made more sense at the time; ``iPhone 9'' was skipped to elevate the tenth-anniversary iPhone to a distinct, milestone product (X/10) and to separate incremental from flagship lines.
The iPhone (also known as the iPhone 1st generation or iPhone 2G) is a smartphone developed and marketed by Apple as the first device in the iPhone lineup of smartphones. It features a Samsung S5L8900 SoC (90 nm), a 3.5 in multi-touch display, and a web browser (Safari).
iPhones have sold for over $100,000, primarily factory-sealed, first-generation 4GB models from 2007, considered "Holy Grail" collectibles due to extreme rarity, with one selling for nearly $200,000 in 2023. Luxury customized versions by companies like Caviar, featuring gold and diamonds (like the iPhone 11 Pro), also reach this price point, but the highest values are for original, unopened iPhones.
The iPhone 11 may date back to 2019, but its design, processor, and camera performance still hold up well in 2025. It's now the most affordable route into Apple's ecosystem without compromising the basics of build quality, smooth performance, or photographic reliability.
Mainstream software support for the iPhone 7 was dropped when iOS 16 was released. But, it still receives iOS 15 security updates (as of September 15 2025). The current version of iOS to support iPhone 7 is iOS 15.8. 5.
Apple uses skipping a number to signify like a big jump for. Like going from the iPhone eight the iPhone nine doesn't seem like a big jump but going from the iPhone eight to the iPhone X seems massive.
No, the iPhone 7 is not good in 2025 for most users; it's outdated due to lacking current iOS updates, leading to major app incompatibility, significant security risks, poor performance, and terrible battery life, making it a frustrating and vulnerable device for modern use despite its low price on the used market. It's best to upgrade to a newer model, like an iPhone 11 or newer, for long-term security and functionality, as the 7 is stuck on iOS 15 and struggles with new apps.
iOS 18 supports iPhones from the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR models up to the latest iPhone 16 series, including all iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 models, plus the iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd Gen). While older devices get core updates, advanced features like Apple Intelligence are exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and newer (iPhone 16 models).
So by abandoning Windows 9, Microsoft aimed to distance itself from the mixed reception of Windows 8 and present Windows 10 as a fresh start. Another reason for skipping Windows 9 was to avoid potential confusion with “Windows 9x” (a reference to Windows 95 and 98), and “Windows 9” that could have caused conflicts.
The iPhone 8 runs on the A11 Bionic chip, which was powerful when launched but now struggles with modern apps and multitasking. Compared to newer budget options, it falls behind in: Speed and responsiveness, especially with multiple apps open. Camera quality, as it lacks Night Mode and advanced AI image processing.
Everyone is pointing out that they skipped iPhone 9, which is true; as they wanted to release the iPhone X as a tenth anniversary edition. What people are forgetting is that they also skipped the iPhone 2 and 3… they didn't really start numbering until iPhone 4.
What is the Oldest iPhone That is Still Supported? As of 2024, the oldest iPhone models still receiving iOS updates are the iPhone XS and XS Max, which were released in 2018. While these older models can still run the latest iOS version, users might notice some trade-offs.
An iPhone 12's value varies significantly by condition, storage, and model (Mini, Pro, Pro Max), generally falling from around $200 to over $500+ USD (or equivalent in other currencies) on the used market, with Pro models fetching more; expect lower values for trade-ins and higher for private sales, though battery health and screen condition are key factors.
Currently, we provide support for and recommend using the following devices: Android running OS 5.0 and newer. iPhone running iOS 15.1 and newer.
Truth is we don't know for sure, but on the basis that Apple supports phones for five to seven years after they are removed from sale: iPhone XS (2018-2019) – Approx 2024-2026. iPhone XR (2018-2021) – Approx 2026-2028. iPhone 11 (2019-2022) – Approx 2027-2029.
The iPhone 13 has a more vibrant display with its OLED screen. The iPhone 11 is slightly bulkier and heavier. The iPhone 13 camera supports Night Mode on both lenses of the dual camera, whereas the iPhone 11 only supports it on the main wide lens. The iPhone 13 offers better battery life.
2. Gresso Luxor Las Vegas Jackpot: $1 Million. Gresso, the luxury smartphone and eyewear brand, certainly teased the boundaries by creating a million-dollar phone back in 2010. Plated with 180 grammes of gold, 45.5 carats of black diamonds symmetrically border the phone screen.
Gen Z is buying dumb phones to combat digital addiction, improve mental health, and regain focus by reducing constant notifications and social media comparison, allowing for more present, intentional tech use with simpler devices that offer calls/texts without the overwhelming features of smartphones, leading to better sleep, productivity, and less anxiety, says www.abc.net.au. This trend is a conscious move towards digital wellness, prioritizing real-world connections and reducing "compare and despair" cycles from curated online lives, The Guardian.
Apple's iPhone 16 remained the world's best-selling smartphone for the second consecutive quarter, further extending its lead over the iPhone 16 Pro variants, which followed in the next two positions. Apple's latest smartphone, the iPhone 16e, entered the top 10 in Q2 2025 owing to strong sales in Japan and the US.