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Nearly two decades after Apple introduced the first iPhone, its influence remains visible across the smartphone industry. Most smartphones still follow the template established by Apple.

Apple’s lasting industry influence

The iPhone’s long-term impact is not limited to Apple’s own products. Its approach has become a reference point for the wider smartphone market, with competing devices continuing to reflect the company’s template.

That enduring influence helps explain why differentiation remains an important challenge for smartphone brands. Companies competing with Apple must operate in a market where many products are shaped by a model that has been established for years.

Why the template matters

The continued use of Apple’s template shows how strongly the first iPhone affected the direction of the industry. Nearly 20 years later, it remains part of the framework used to understand and build modern smartphones.

For the market, the central fact is clear: Apple’s original iPhone approach continues to influence smartphone competition long after its launch.