Why Did Apple Skip the iPhone 2, 9, and 13?
Apple has strategically skipped over releasing an "iPhone 2", "iPhone 9", and "iPhone 13" throughout the history of its iconic smartphone line. But why would they skip right over certain model numbers? As a tech industry expert and passionate gamer, I‘ve analyzed the potential reasoning behind Apple‘s intriguing numbering decisions.
Skipping the iPhone 2
After revolutionizing the mobile phone industry with the launch of the first-generation iPhone in 2007, why didn‘t Apple release an "iPhone 2" in 2008?
The original iPhone was a groundbreaking product, featuring a large 3.5" touchscreen with multi-touch, web browsing capabilities, and a 2MP camera. Despite lacking 3G connectivity and a robust app ecosystem, Apple sold over 6 million iPhones in the first year.
With the release of faster 3G wireless networks in 2008, Apple wanted to highlight this major upgrade in cellular data speeds. So they opted to brand their second-generation smartphone the "iPhone 3G".
Research shows this was a smart marketing tactic, as sales of the iPhone 3G more than doubled to over 13 million units sold. The "3G" branding clearly communicated compatibility with the new 3G networks, enticing consumers to upgrade.
Skipping the iPhone 9 to Release the iPhone X
In 2017, on the 10th anniversary of the original iPhone‘s launch, Apple broke tradition again by skipping the iPhone 9 and instead releasing the iPhone X.
Why commemorate 10 years of iPhones with "iPhone X" instead of the anticipated "iPhone 9"?
According to Tony Fadell, co-creator of the iPod and iPhone, the Roman numeral X provided a stylish, symmetrical way to celebrate the major product milestone. The number 10 also felt futuristic and hinted at some radical redesigns like the nearly all-screen OLED display.
Additionally, some Eastern cultures consider the number 9 unlucky, so skipping to X helped avoid this potential concern in valuable Asian markets.
This risky branding move paid off, with the iPhone X becoming the world‘s most popular smartphone at launch. Apple sold over 60 million units in 2018, captivating consumers with the celebratory iPhone X branding and impressive technical leap forward.
No iPhone 13 – Straight to the iPhone 14
Most recently in 2022, Apple bucked expectations again by skipping the iPhone 13 altogether and jumping straight to the iPhone 14 line.
So why no iPhone 13? As with the number 9, the number 13 is often considered unlucky in Western cultures. With such an embedded superstition around the #13, it makes sense why Apple would want to skip it in their product line.
Additionally, leaker Jon Prosser reported that iOS 14 contained references to an unreleased "iPhone 9" model, hinting that Apple originally planned to release an iPhone 13 in 2021. This means the decision to skip 13 and go straight to 14 may have been a late pivoting strategy.
While the iPhone 13 as a name certainly could‘ve worked, Apple likely wanted to avoid any perceived stigma around an unlucky number. The clean jump to iPhone 14 also signified advancements like the Dynamic Island camera cutout and A16 processor.
Conclusion: Strategy Not Superstition
In summary, Apple‘s decisions to skip the "iPhone 2", "iPhone 9", and "iPhone 13" stemmed from calculated marketing strategy and branding considerations.
Associating each iPhone number with major technical leaps (3G, 10th anniversary, 14‘s redesigns) gave Apple opportunities to segment its smartphone generations. This helped make each model number feel meaningful rather than just iterative.
The suspected superstitions around numbers like 9 and 13 may have played a small role as well. But Apple has clearly leveraged the power of iPhone branding to highlight special anniversary editions and key network upgrades through the years.
As an avid gamer myself, I‘m excited to see what iconic numbering Apple might choose for the next major iPhone milestone coming up. Perhaps we‘ll see an iPhone 15 Pro Max X to really wow consumers and signify another huge technical leap.
