Macintosh to iPhone X: Iconic Apple gadgets that shaped the world we live in

Apple has always done more than launch products. The company creates moments that ripple through culture, lifestyle, design, and daily life. These devices aren’t mere milestones in the company’s history but also markers of how technology became inseparable from who we are.

In 2025, their impact is still felt every time we swipe, stream, or pop in a pair of earbuds. Ahead of the launch of the new iPhone series, let’s look back the most iconic Apple gadgets of all time.

1. Macintosh (1984): Making computers human

When the first Macintosh was introduced in 1984, it wasn’t just another beige box. It brought the graphical user interface (GUI) and the mouse into the mainstream, turning computers into tools that ordinary people could actually use. The Mac made technology visual, approachable, and even a little friendly.

Every tap, drag, and scroll we take for granted today, whether on a laptop, tablet, or phone, traces back to that moment. It set the stage for computing to become a part of everyday life, not just the domain of techies.

2. iMac G3 (1998): When tech got a personality

By the late ’90s, the iMac G3 entered the scene. Its translucent, candy-coloured design was as far from a dull grey PC tower as you could imagine. It made computers fun, approachable, and yes, even fashionable.

The iMac G3 redefined consumer electronics design across the industry. Suddenly, gadgets weren’t just about function, they were style statements. It even gave Apple a second life (when the company really needed it) and cemented the idea that technology could inspire desire as much as utility.

3. iPod (2001): A soundtrack for your life

Before the iPod, MP3 players were clunky and uninspiring. Apple changed that with a sleek white rectangle and the promise of “a thousand songs in your pocket”. Overnight, music became portable in a way that felt effortless and personal.

ALSO READ: 5 inspiring Steve Jobs quotes that ring true in Apple devices even today

The iPod reshaped how we listened to music and rewrote the entire music industry itself. From the rise of iTunes to the cultural iconography of white earbuds dangling from ears, the iPod blurred the line between gadget and lifestyle accessory. Even today, streaming on Spotify or Apple Music feels like an extension of that first revolution.

4. iPhone (2007): The pocket-sized revolution

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone as “an iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator”, the audience laughed. Then it clicked. This wasn’t three devices, but one. The iPhone redefined communication, media, and work in a single glass-and-metal slab.

ALSO READ: Every iPhone ranked: From the original iPhone to the iPhone 16 Pro Max

The modern smartphone era was born here. Apps became industries, social media became culture, and the way we connect with the world shifted forever. The iPhone is obviously more than a device; it’s the blueprint for how billions live their daily lives.

5. iPad (2010): The tablet nobody needed, until we did

Skeptics dismissed the iPad as a giant iPhone. Then it quietly carved out its own niche as the in-between device, part laptop, part phone, part entertainment hub. From content consumption to digital painting, from classrooms to cockpits, it proved that sometimes a “middle child” can change everything.

The iPad normalised tablet computing, paving the way for an entire category of devices. And its simplicity is exactly what made it a household essential.

6. AirPods (2016): Ushered in the wire-free era

When Apple killed the headphone jack, the AirPods arrived as the bold alternative. Initially mocked for their look, they quickly became a phenomenon. AirPods soon became a symbol of being modern, connected, and on the go.

They didn’t just make wireless audio mainstream, they made it cool. The AirPods harkened a whole new market for true wireless earbuds and turned something as simple as listening to music or taking a call into a lifestyle marker. Today, spotting someone without earbuds feels almost unusual.

7. iPhone X (2017): A glimpse of the future

A decade after the first iPhone’s launch, Apple proved it could still surprise. The iPhone X ditched the iconic home button, embraced edge-to-edge OLED, and introduced Face ID. It was a monumental leap forward that set the stage for the future of smartphones.

Everything from bezel-less displays to facial recognition as the default form of security traces back to the iPhone X. It made futuristic tech feel natural, reshaping how we unlock, pay, and interact with devices today.

Living in Apple’s world

From the first Mac that made computers intuitive to AirPods that turned wireless earbuds into a cultural phenomenon, Apple’s devices don’t just live in our pockets and homes, they live in our culture. Each one is a reminder that design and technology can change not just how we use devices, but how we live our lives.

In 2025, whether you’re sketching on an iPad, navigating your world through an iPhone, or drowning out the noise with AirPods, you’re experiencing Apple’s true legacy; creating technology that feels inseparable from daily life.