5 Features iPhone Owners Originally Hated That Became Fan Favorites

The iPhone has been around for almost 20 years now. During that time, it went through several iterations, design changes, and bold ideas that were sometimes initially hated by iPhone owners and turned out to be the right decision years later. There are also examples of good features that suffered from terrible execution and were ultimately done well, like Siri. The Assistant was considered so innovative when it released, then it received a lot of backlash because it lagged behind the competition for years, and now Apple is finally redeeming itself with the upcoming Siri AI on iOS 27. Features like larger screens, swipe gestures, and the notch on the iPhone X were all originally hated.

All these features eventually became popular and gradually users upgraded their devices to enjoy these same benefits. Steve Jobs believed that customers don’t know what they want until they’re presented with something new, so innovating and refining those innovations despite backlash seems to be Apple’s way of operating.

With rumors of the all-new foldable iPhone and a complete redesign in 2027 for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, Apple will surely face more backlash for being too innovative or not innovative enough, but then, as customers have done throughout these years, they will likely accept the changes.

Back then, the iPhone had a 3.5-inch screen. When phone makers decided to compete with Apple, they started focusing on larger screens. However, truth be told, the Android operating system struggled in its early years and the touchscreen capabilities were not comparable to those of the iPhone. Going for larger screens was the only way for them to project an advantage over Apple. With the iPhone 5 and the second major iPhone design change, Apple upgraded the screen to a 4-inch option. In the introductory video, the company highlighted how easily users could press everything with their thumb from one side of the screen to the other.

Over the next two years, Android makers continued to bet on larger screens and Apple kept saying it was a bad idea – until it introduced the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, moving to 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens. At the time, many customers complained that holding these devices wasn’t as comfortable and that Apple had made a bad decision.

On the other hand, the biggest iPhone you can buy today has a 6.9-inch screen. Although some users would still prefer the small form factor, users have generally embraced the larger devices for their bigger batteries, convenient video viewing, better games, and more. Looking back, it’s strange to think about how Apple was able to sell a 3.5-inch screen on its iPhone for so long.

If you bought a new iPhone in the last few years, you probably have a smartphone with swipe gestures. If you’re reading this and thinking “Yeah, so what…?” That’s because you may not remember the significance of when Apple redesigned the way users interacted with their iPhones. Starting with the iPhone

While swipe gestures were just a natural evolution for some, others really hated losing the home button. The company still offers a bar at the end of the screen to help users return to the home screen. More interestingly, Apple offered an iPhone with Touch ID, the third-generation iPhone SE, until the iPhone 16e was released in 2025. Even though Apple introduced the iPhone she also respects customers’ time to get used to what she thinks technology should evolve into.

The iPhone X also brought another big change that many customers didn’t like at first: Face ID. Apple’s facial recognition feature is still unmatched, and while most Android manufacturers offer somewhat similar functionality, none are as secure as Apple’s implementation. Back then, people were really complaining about how loved ones could unlock the phone or how fast Touch ID felt.

Although Touch ID has improved over the years, having Face ID is an unparalleled experience because you don’t have to worry if your hands are dirty or wet. On top of that, Face ID works when it’s dark or even if you’re lying down, meaning it’s always handy. The only time using Touch ID would have been better was during the pandemic because we had to use masks all the time. However, Apple released a software update that allowed anyone with an Apple Watch to unlock the phone whenever a mask was detected, which was very convenient.

Face ID is also very good at recognizing you on days when you use a lot of makeup or if you might look a little different for a specific reason. On top of that, Face ID is constantly improving and learning about your appearance every time it verifies your identity.

For the longest time, the iPhone was that device with edges at the top and bottom of the screen that everyone loved. Then Apple introduced the notch with the iPhone X in 2017. This cutout on the screen was responsible for Face ID, but people had strong opinions about it. They said it was ugly, and many brands, like Samsung, mocked Apple for this cutout on its “all-screen” phone. While manufacturers eventually followed with their own versions of a screen cutout, Apple decided to give the notch another chance with the iPhone 14 Pro by introducing the Dynamic Island.

While people also complained about Dynamic Island’s design and empty feeling, users eventually got used to both design changes. Software updates have also improved Dynamic Island, as it now shows information about what you’re listening to, a file you’re exporting, or an Instagram story you’re downloading. This cutout also houses the all-new Siri AI in iOS 27, as if you swipe down on Dynamic Island, you can interact with Siri and find an app or ask a question.

What’s interesting is that at first Apple didn’t embrace the notch, then a few years later decided that adopting the cutout was the best way to promote how unique the iPhone still is. That’s why you can still find this cutout instead of having a bezel at the top of the phone.

Last but not least, people love to hate the shock of the iPhone’s camera. This trend started when the iPhone 6 was launched with a protruding camera bump. Over the years, Apple has continued to increase the camera volume by adding larger lenses and improved sensors. So much so that we now have the camera tray, a huge bump on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air.

While this may not have been the prettiest decision Apple has ever made, and adding a non-aligned clear MagSafe case to these devices makes everything worse, they are still so good that after the initial reaction many customers decided to upgrade to these phones. After all, with three 48MP cameras, the iPhone has never taken better photos. Additionally, Apple has gradually opened up additional features that users and developers can take advantage of to make photos and videos look as good as if they were using proper cameras. That being said, while people may object to some of the changes Apple has introduced to the iPhone over the years, they often tend to embrace them.