Apple's iPhones have come a long way since their original introduction in 2007. The evolution of this iconic product line over the last 15 years is truly remarkable. Every year, with each new iPhone release, Apple has brought something unique to the line-up.
As much as we appreciate all the changes and new additions, we cannot forget about some features that Apple slowly removed from the product line over time. While today's iPhones are still some of the best smartphones you can buy, we feel they'd be complete with a few old features.
1. Touch ID
For most of you, this would be at the top of the list of iPhone features you miss the most. Touch ID had to go away when Apple decided to ditch the iconic Home button with the iPhone X. While it's true that we got accustomed to Face ID in recent years, we need Touch ID more than ever right now.
Face ID isn't convenient in a world where wearing face masks is considered the norm. You cannot use Face ID to unlock your iPhone with a face mask on, and instead, you have to type in your passcode. This wouldn't be an issue at all if Touch ID was available as an option today.
While we don't want the Home button to make a return, there are other ways Apple can bring back Touch ID. For example, Apple can integrate Touch ID into the side button just like the iPad Air. Or, the company could take notes from Android flagships and implement an in-display scanner.
2. Headphone Jack
The removal of the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 marked Apple's entry into the wireless future with AirPods, which are now the most popular wireless earbuds on the market. Some of you may say this was a great marketing move to push the AirPods sales, and you wouldn't really be wrong.
For many of us who chose not to go that route, using the included Lightning to 3.5mm adapter to connect our existing pair of headphones was our only option. It hasn't been easy to live a dongle life, but we miss this feature even more now since Apple released lossless audio in Apple Music.
The surprising part is that wireless headphones, including the AirPods, aren't supported. You need a wired connection to headphones or speakers, meaning you'll have to use the lightning to 3.5mm adapter to experience lossless audio. The worst part is that Apple doesn't supply these dongles with the iPhones anymore.
3. EarPods
Despite removing the headphone jack from the iPhone, Apple included EarPods with the Lightning connector to make the transition easier. However, the company stopped including them with the iPhone 12 lineup in a move to reduce the packaging and minimize e-waste.
So, if you want to use a wired headphone without a dongle, you'll need to spend $19 on the classic EarPods. And you know what's funny? These headphones, unlike the AirPods, support lossless audio in Apple Music. We don't expect Apple to bring the EarPods back, but bundled headphones in smartphone packaging are something we'll always miss.
4. Power Adapter
Power adapters are missing from the new iPhones as well. The only thing that Apple includes in the packaging apart from the iPhone itself is the USB-C to Lightning charging cable. Oh, and of course, the paperwork. So, if you're a new iPhone user, you will need to spend extra money to charge your device.
While Apple did this to cut down on electronic waste, this move is still surprising considering it was exactly a year after fast chargers were first bundled with the iPhones. If you don't own an iPhone 11 Pro model, you're still likely using Apple's standard 5W charging brick unless you purchased one separately.
On the bright side, Apple currently sells the 20W fast charger for the same price as the standard power adapter---$19. So, make sure you add it to your cart when you purchase your next iPhone.
5. All Black iPhone
Apple hasn't released an all-black flagship iPhone in several years. To be more specific, the iPhone 7 was the last flagship model that featured black color variants.
At the moment, the black color option is limited to the non-Pro iPhone models for some reason. However, we still think many people who purchase the higher-end iPhones would be interested in a black variant. Do you remember the hype for the Jet Black and Matte Black colorways of the iPhone 7 models?
Despite the huge demand, Apple doesn't produce a black variant of the modern iPhones for some reason. All we get right now is the traditional space grey color, which looks muted in comparison to the darker iPhones we've had before. Hopefully, Apple listens to its fans and launch a pitch-black iPhone 13 Pro model.
6. Notch-Less Display
The older iPhones had a big chin and forehead for sure, but at least they didn't have a screen with a protruding notch. Ever since Apple revamped the design with the iPhone X, the notch has hindered the content viewing experience for many of us. Of course, we've gotten accustomed to it in the last few years, but we certainly miss the notch-less design that the older models had.
We're probably years away from a notch-less iPhone, but Apple can take notes from Android smartphones that have managed to get rid of the notch. Smartphone manufacturers have adopted hole-punch designs and pop-out cameras to push towards a truly bezel-less screen. Considering Apple likes to take its sweet time to make major changes like these, don't expect anything similar on the iPhones anytime soon.
The iPhone Could Be Complete With These Features
Most of the items mentioned here are never coming back to iPhones, like the headphone jack and the in-box charger, for example. However, features like Touch ID and black-colored variants can realistically make an appearance in one of the upcoming iPhones sooner rather than later.
Having said that, an iPhone needs to have all these features to be considered a complete package. But, it looks like we'll never get the perfect iPhone we want. So, what's Apple planning to remove next? The charging port? Well, we'll see when the time comes.
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