The Golden iPhone: A Retrospective on Apple’s Iconic Release and its Skyrocketing Prices 12 Years On

The debut of the first-ever Apple iPhone in gold sent shockwaves through the market, creating an instant frenzy and driving prices skyward.

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This year, the iPhone 16 in Desert Gold has been a standout. After a short pre-order period, this color option sold out. While this model is in high demand, Apple has released several other striking gold iPhone models in the past that have excited fans.

iPhone 5S

When the iPhone 5S was released in 2012, it was considered one of the best smartphones in the world. It refined the design of its predecessor, the iPhone 5, while packing a powerful performance punch. It was the first iPhone to feature a modern fingerprint unlock system and AirDrop, a revolutionary wireless file-sharing feature.

The iPhone 5S boasted a high-end configuration for its time, including the new A7 chip, a larger pixel size for improved image quality, and an f/2.2 aperture lens capable of shooting HD video at 120 frames per second.

The first iPhone to offer a gold color option.

Even years later, the iPhone 5S is still regarded as one of the most innovative iPhone models, especially with its three color options: champagne gold, space gray, and silver. The champagne gold color, in particular, sold out quickly due to its auspicious connotations.

Those who pre-ordered the iPhone 5S in champagne gold through Apple’s website had to wait until October to receive their devices. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, acknowledged the high demand and assured customers that they were working to assemble more devices to meet this demand.

At one point, the iPhone 5S in gold was sold for as much as $10,100 USD on the global market, which is approximately 250 million VND according to current exchange rates.

iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

Building on the success of its predecessor, Apple demonstrated once again that iPhones are their golden geese. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus sold over 220 million units, making them the best-selling iPhone models in history and among the most successful phones of all time.

The previous generation’s success carried over to the iPhone 6 series, which offered Gold and Rose Gold color options, in addition to the standard Gray and Silver.

Specifically, the iPhone 6 came in Gray, Silver, and Gold; the iPhone 6S introduced a new Rose Gold option, in addition to the existing Gold, Gray, and Silver; and the iPhone 6 Plus was available in Gray, Silver, and Gold.

The iPhone 6 sold an impressive 220 million units worldwide.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus featured a design evolution, adopting the iPad Air’s aesthetics with curved glass edges and aluminum backs with plastic antenna bands. The iPhone 6 was also the thinnest smartphone in the world at the time of its release, and it introduced a new placement for the power button on the right side instead of the top.

In terms of specifications, both models were upgraded with the Apple A8 chip and the M8 motion coprocessor, which included a barometer for measuring altitude changes. The A8 chip offered a 25% boost in CPU performance, 50% better graphics performance, and reduced heat generation compared to the A7 chip in the iPhone 5S.

Both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were equipped with an 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and an f/2.2 aperture. The iPhone 6 also featured optical image stabilization. Other camera features included a True Tone flash, automatic HDR, and image stabilization for videos.

The camera lens was crafted from sapphire crystal, ensuring durability. The front-facing camera had a 1.2-megapixel resolution and could capture 720p HD video. It also offered improved face detection, automatic HDR for photos and videos, and slow-motion video support.

Both models could record 1080p HD video at 30 or 60 frames per second, and slow-motion video at 120 or 240 frames per second. Additionally, they offered 3x zoom during video recording.

iPhone 8 Plus

Seven years ago, Apple unveiled its new iPhone lineup, including the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the revolutionary iPhone X. While the iPhone X stole the show with its full-screen design and groundbreaking features like Face ID, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus were more subtle upgrades from the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

However, Apple ensured that the iPhone 8 series still had a strong appeal with its beautiful design and color options, outshining the iPhone X, which was only available in black and white.

The iPhone 8 Plus in Gold with its glass back design created a sensation in 2017. (Image source: Pcmag)

The iPhone 8 Plus, in particular, was offered in three colors: Space Grey, Silver, and Gold. What set this generation apart was the introduction of a glass back design, which, combined with the gold color option, resulted in a sleek, premium, and modern aesthetic, marking a departure from Apple’s traditional aluminum construction.

In terms of specifications, the iPhone 8 Plus featured a powerful A11 Bionic processor with six cores and 3GB of RAM, along with storage options of 64GB or 256GB.

It had a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a Full HD resolution and supported True Tone technology.

For photography, the iPhone 8 Plus boasted a dual 12-megapixel camera system with 2X optical zoom, portrait mode, and Quad LED flash. It could record 4K video at 60fps and slow-motion video at 1080p and 240fps. The wide-angle lens had an aperture of f/1.8, while the telephoto lens had an aperture of f/2.8. The front-facing camera was a 7-megapixel shooter with Retina Flash and Full HD video recording capability.

Additionally, the iPhone 8 Plus incorporated a 2675mAh battery and supported fast charging, wireless charging (with a separate accessory), and IP67 water resistance.

iPhone XS Max

Introduced in 2018, the iPhone XS Max impressed with its A12 Bionic chip, a large 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED display, and a combination of glass and stainless steel construction, resulting in a sleek and durable design. The stainless steel frame provided enhanced durability and a secure grip.

The iPhone XS Max featured a dual-camera system with a standard lens and a 2X zoom lens, delivering versatile photography capabilities. While the iPhone 14 Pro Max may offer more advanced features like 4K video recording and Cinematic mode, the XS Max still holds its own in terms of image quality.

The iPhone XS Max also featured a stunning gold color option.

The iPhone XS Max was offered in three colors, including a beautiful gold option, which was notably absent from the iPhone X released the previous year.

Despite being discontinued, the iPhone XS Max remains a favorite among many users due to its sufficient performance for everyday tasks, elegant design, and attractive color options. Its sturdy stainless steel frame also contributes to its enduring appeal.

iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max in Gold

The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max in Gold are sure to captivate you from the moment you lay eyes on them. These are Apple’s most advanced smartphones, featuring large 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively, along with a trio of ultra-sharp, high-resolution wide-angle cameras.

At the time of their release, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max were the pinnacle of mobile photography and videography, delivering exceptional image and video quality.

With features like Center Stage and Cinematic Mode, they capture impressive footage. Both models are powered by Apple’s A16 Bionic chip, ensuring smooth performance.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is available in four stunning colors.

The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max come in four color options: Black, Silver, Gold, and Deep Purple. The Deep Purple option, being a new color, quickly sold out during the initial launch, similar to the situation with the gold option for previous iPhone models.

With the iPhone 15 Pro models only offering White Titanium, Black Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium color options, the gold option for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max is once again generating interest in 2023.

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