iPhone 5
A taller 4-inch display, LTE, thinner aluminum body, and Lightning define a major physical reset.
Open productTechnology thread
Lightning
Reversible digital connector introduced on iPhone 5.
- 25 related products
- 25
- 5 product families
- 5
Product sequence
Where this technology appears.
Dated product nodes are ordered by announcement date. Direction labels are shown only where the underlying research explicitly records one.
iPod nano (7th generation)
Nano stretches back into a larger media-player shape with a 2.5-inch Multi-Touch display, Home button, Bluetooth and Lightning.
Open productiPad mini (1st generation)
The introduction of the compact 7.9-inch iPad line in an ultra-thin 7.2 mm aluminum unibody that established the design language for future iPads.
Open productiPad (4th generation)
Swift generational correction bringing the Apple A6X chip with double CPU/GPU performance, Lightning connector, FaceTime HD camera, and expanded global LTE.
Open productiPad Pro (12.9-inch) (1st generation)
The inaugural iPad Pro introduces an expansive 12.9-inch 5.6-million-pixel Retina display, Apple Pencil active stylus support, the magnetic Smart Connector, and four-speaker spatial audio driven by the desktop-class A9X chip.
Open productAirPods (1st generation)
Custom Apple W1 silicon, optical in-ear detection, and seamless one-tap setup define the wireless audio era for Apple devices.
Open productiPad Pro (10.5-inch)
Redefines the compact Pro form factor with a 10.5-inch reduced-bezel Retina display debuting 120Hz ProMotion technology, driven by the six-core A10X Fusion chip.
Open productiPad (6th generation)
The first entry-level iPad to support Apple Pencil, democratizing precision stylus input and AR creation for education and mainstream users.
Open productiPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
Redefines the modern iPad paradigm with an edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display, Face ID in any orientation, USB-C, and magnetically paired Apple Pencil 2.
Open productiPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
Reduces chassis volume by 25% while maintaining a 12.9-inch canvas, introducing Face ID in any orientation, USB-C, and Apple Pencil 2.
Open productiPad Air (3rd generation)
Revives the iPad Air brand by bringing a 10.5-inch laminated True Tone display, Smart Keyboard support, and A12 Bionic to the mid-tier price point.
Open productiPad mini (5th generation)
Revitalizes Apple's ultra-compact tablet with A12 Bionic performance, a True Tone wide-color display, and Apple Pencil support in the classic 7.9-inch form factor.
Open productAirPods (2nd generation)
Apple H1 silicon brings hands-free "Hey Siri", 50% more talk time, faster device switching, and Qi wireless charging options to the classic open-ear form factor.
Open productiPad (7th generation)
Retires the historic 9.7-inch screen size in favor of a 10.2-inch Retina display and introduces Smart Keyboard support to the $329 entry-level tier.
Open productAirPods Pro (1st generation)
Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and custom-fit silicone tips establish a professional in-ear tier in the AirPods lineup.
Open productiPad Air (4th generation)
Debuts Apple's 5nm A14 Bionic chip and pioneering Top Button Touch ID, bringing the modern all-screen design and USB-C to the mid-tier iPad Air.
Open productiPad (8th generation)
Brings Apple's Neural Engine and a 40% CPU jump to the budget iPad line via the A12 Bionic processor.
Open productAirPods Max
Dual Apple H1 chips, custom 40mm dynamic drivers, a Digital Crown, and luxury materials bring computational audio to high-fidelity over-ear headphones.
Open productiPad mini (6th generation)
Reinvents the iPad mini with an all-screen 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, Top Button Touch ID, USB-C, Apple Pencil 2 magnetic charging, 5G, and A15 Bionic.
Open productiPad (9th generation)
The final iPad generation with a physical Home button and headphone jack, upgrading the front camera to 12MP Ultra Wide with Center Stage, doubling base storage, and adding True Tone.
Open productAirPods (3rd generation)
Contoured ergonomic redesign, force sensor controls, Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, and Adaptive EQ bring Pro-tier acoustic capabilities to the open-ear standard branch.
Open productAirPods Pro (2nd generation)
The Apple H2 chip delivers double the Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Transparency, Touch volume controls, and later transforms into a clinical-grade hearing aid.
Open productiPad (10th generation)
Redesigns the foundational iPad with an all-screen flat-edge enclosure, top-button Touch ID, USB-C, and Apple's first landscape front-facing camera.
Open productApple TV 4K (3rd generation)
Reduced physical volume by 20% and weight by half through an energy-efficient fanless A15 Bionic architecture, introduced HDR10+ and USB-C remote charging, and dropped the entry price to $129.
Open productAirPods 4
Apple H2 silicon, a 50-million-point ergonomic redesign, Voice Isolation, and the introduction of Active Noise Cancellation redefine the open-ear AirPods standard.
Open product
Historical context
Moments that explain the wider transition.
These editorial records are source-backed context. They do not automatically imply that every listed product owns every technology in the event.
Lightning starts Apple's next connector transition
iPhone 5 replaced the long-running 30-pin dock connector with the smaller reversible Lightning connector, beginning a hardware-accessory transition that would spread across Apple's mobile products.