Before the Apple iPhone… Before the Motorola Razr… There were cell phones that were so bulky (such as the Motorola DynaTAC— born in 1983), that you could hardly hold them up!
Motorola MicroTAC 9800X
This phone came out in 1989 and was one of the first true portable phones — not to mention the most popular of its time!
Motorola StarTAC
This had one of first display screens in 1996 and a more convenient and portable cell with the ability to close.
Nokia 5110 Released in 1998, this was a very popular cell phone for some time. Also, the first phone I remember getting from my parents after they were done with it!
Nokia 8310
In 2001, Nokia introduced this phone with more added features then the ones previous including a calendar!
PalmOne Treo 600
Before Blackberry became very popular, this phone was a great color phone adapted in 2003. It was a very popular multi-task phone among business professionals.
Motorola Razr V3
The infamous Motorola Razr! In 2004 this phone was introduced and raised the bar for sleek phones of its time. Equipped with a camera and many other features, the Razr has been improved a few more times, due to its popularity.
iPhone
Although there are many other competitors to the iPhone, such as HTC and LG phones, the iPhone still remains one of the most popular cell phones on the market today, beginning in 2007.
Of course this list is just a scratch on the surface of all the cell phones that have come out throughout the years. Check out the gallery to see other popular adaptions.
What cell phone was your favorite back then and now?
Image source, Image source, Image source, Image source, Image source, Image source, Image source, Image source





guest
Ya’know, I believe that would have to be the rotary cellphone.
orchid / 248 posts
I got my first cell phone when I was 15, so 2006-2007, it was a basic samsung flip phone, it still works the same as when I first bought it. I bought myself a limegreen LG Rumour slide phone which I LOVED and it broke within a year
I still miss that phnoe
guest
Hmm I remember all those when they first came out heh.
magnolia / 1054 posts
the very first phone that I had was a sidekick 2… that thing was a brick!!
guest
I got my first phone in like, 2002. It was actually quite advanced for the age – it had internet capabilities but they weren’t enabled on my contract, it was colour screen, it had a bunch of games and a camera. It was a brick compared to today though, haha.
guest
The first phone I ever got, I got when I was 17. I have never in my life owned a phone that was realllly expensive (well, you know such as Iphone). But I could really care less. I use my computer if I want to go onto the internet. My phone atm has internet, it’s not set up though and Id rather not try it cause its atleast 5 years old haha.
@xx_ng_xx@xanga - The phone I own right now is a Sidekick 3… Hahahah
guest
@Trueinnerbeauty - One thing I noticed about the “nicer, more expensive phones”? (especially touch screens) is that they break so easily! That’s why I own an old one that’s dropped like, 100 times but still works fairly decently lol. My boyfriend got a touch screen phone and within a week, the screen broke all because he had like.. his wallet or something in his pocket with the phone
guest
I prefer life before the cellphone. I wrote letters to people I knew that lived far away. I used payphones in an emergency. If someone didn’t know where I was, there was a reason.
guest
haha LG is no competition to iphone. and HTC is barely a threat. Samsung is their only true competitor. not the point, i know. i just had to throw it in there.
my first phone was one of the green-screen flip phones. i thought i was so awesome when i picked that bear up. now i’m so fascinated by the technology they put into these devices that i can’t help but spend the extra buck to get the top of the line whenever i can.
guest
@bbanmen420@xanga - that’s why protective covers were invented. i’ve dropped my SGS2 a good number of times and it’s fine. but companies are working on integrating a new kind of touch screen that is a flexible material instead of the thick glass screens now, so broken screens are on their way to becoming a thing of the past. pretty cool stuff.
guest
ahh, the nokia aka brick phone — able to survive the highest hights and atom bombs.
guest
Unbelievable job mates, I enjoy going through your articles.
motorola free unlock