Three times Apple broke the mould

iMac (1998)

The Bondi Blue beauty dropped at a time when prior Macs, and PCs of the era, were distinctly beige – and in the heyday of translucent blue plastic – turning the Mac into an iconic desktop essential.

iPod (2001)

Apple’s first major step outside its comfort zone wasn’t the first hard drive MP3 player, but it defined what said device could be. Superb control, a great interface, and Dieter Rams-esque looks.

iPhone (2007)

Smartphones were floundering when the iPhone launched, mainly due to Microsoft’s abysmal mobile OS. Apple took a leap, set the standard, and everyone else was forced to follow.