We live in an age where technology is advancing faster than ever, and it’s easy to forget that not too long ago, phones were considered a luxury item. Today, the average person owns a smartphone, but it wasn’t always like this. There have been some phones that have been ahead of their time, and here are the top 10 phones that were ahead of their time.
10- Motorola Star Trec
Feature: First Clamshell Mobile
Photo Credit: Mobilenet
Motorola StarTAC was ahead of its time, allowing users to make calls without being tethered to a landline. It was the first ever true mobile phone, with a clamshell design to protect the keys and display. The phone featured an antenna, LCD display, and a rechargeable battery. It featured advanced features such as SMS messaging, Caller ID, and even a built-in calculator. It was also the first phone to feature a vibrate alert, and it even had a “Headset Jack” for hands-free use. Its small size and light weight made it popular with business people and those who needed to stay connected. The phone quickly gained popularity and it was seen as a symbol of the mobile revolution.
9- Samsung Note 2
Feature: First 5-inch Display
The Samsung Note 2 was ahead of its time, offering an array of features that set it apart from other phones. It had a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED HD display, which provided a vibrant and clear picture. Its 1.6GHz quad-core Cortex-A9 processor was fast and reliable. It also had an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. The phone was packed with features such as S Beam, Pop-up Play, Multi-Window, and S Pen. It also had a long-lasting 3,100mAh battery and a microSD card slot for storage expansion. The Samsung Note 2 was a great choice for those who wanted a powerful, feature-filled phone. It was an impressive device with its large display, fast processor, and long battery life.
8- Samsung Galaxy Round
Feature: First Curved Display
The Samsung Galaxy Round was a revolutionary device for its time. It was the first phone to feature a curved OLED display, offering a unique experience to users. Its design was sleek and modern, allowing for easy one-handed operation. Its advanced camera allowed for high-quality pictures and videos, while its speakers provided immersive sound. The phone also featured an array of apps and features that made it a powerful device. Its fast processor and large battery gave it plenty of power to meet users’ needs. Additionally, it had an intuitive user interface that made navigation simple.
7- Nokia Lumia 1020
Feature: First Larger Camera
Photo Credit: Tech Prolonged
The Nokia Lumia 1020 was a phone ahead of its time. Its 41MP PureView camera was groundbreaking for its time, providing crisp, clear photos. The Windows Phone 8 operating system offered a smooth experience with its intuitive user interface. The polycarbonate body was robust and resistant to scratches, making it the perfect choice for the modern lifestyle. Its 4.5-inch AMOLED display was vibrant and sharp, with a resolution of 1280 x 768. The battery life was solid, lasting up to 12.5 hours of talk time, and the device was 4G-ready, allowing for faster internet browsing. The powerful dual-core 1.5GHz processor and 2GB of RAM made multitasking possible. Its 32GB of storage was ample for all of your music, photos and videos. The device was also a great choice for gamers, with access to a variety of Xbox Live games.
6- Apple iPhone
Feature: First Swipe Touchscreen
Photo Credit: Igotooffer
The Apple iPhone was a phone ahead of its time when it first launched in 2007. It was revolutionary in its design, featuring a sleek and stylish look, and a touchscreen that operated with a simple swipe of a finger. It also had a wide range of features, including email, internet access, and a camera that could take photos and videos. With its groundbreaking technology, the iPhone made a huge impact on the mobile phone industry. Its influence was felt not only in the way people interacted with their phones, but also in the way they interacted with each other. The iPhone changed the way people communicated and connected with each other, and ushered in a new era of digital communication. Its cutting-edge features made it a must-have accessory for people who wanted to stay connected. The iPhone quickly became a status symbol, and a symbol of modernity and sophistication.
5- HTC Dream
Feature: First Android Smartphone
The HTC Dream was a phone ahead of its time. It was the first phone to feature the Android operating system. With a 3.2-inch touchscreen, a 528 MHz Qualcomm processor, and a full QWERTY keyboard. It was also the first phone to feature Google Maps and YouTube. The Dream was a revolutionary device that changed the way people interacted with their phones. It allowed users to access the internet, play music, and send emails. The Dream was a huge success and it paved the way for the modern smartphone. It was a phone that was ahead of its time and it set the standard for the phones of the future. The HTC Dream was truly a revolutionary device that changed the way we use our phones.
4- Sony Ericson W800i
Feature: First phone with Better Camera
The Sony Ericsson W800i is a classic phone that truly was ahead of its time. Featuring a 3.2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and a built-in MP3 player, it was a powerful device for its day. It also featured a 2.2 inch TFT display for a clear, vibrant picture. The W800i was the first phone to use Sony’s Walkman technology, allowing users to easily listen to music with the click of a button. It also had a built-in FM radio and an expandable memory of up to 512MB.It also had an impressive battery life of up to 10 hours of talk time and 300 hours of standby time.
3- Nokia Communicator 9000
Feature: First phone with QWERTY Keyboard & Internet
The Communicator 9000 was ahead of its time in terms of its design, functionality and features. Its large display allowed for clear and easy viewing, while the integrated QWERTY keyboard made it easier to create and edit documents on the go. The device also featured a range of advanced applications such as an email client, a calendar and a web browser, making it a powerful PDA-like device. The Communicator 9000 was also the first phone to feature wireless LAN connectivity, allowing users to access the internet even when they were away from a hotspot or other wireless connection. This was a major breakthrough at the time, allowing users to stay connected while they were on the move.
2- Benefon Esc
Feature: First phone with GPS
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
The Benefon Esc was one of the first phones released with GSM technology. It was ahead of its time, featuring a range of innovative features including a built-in GPS, 3D graphics and a colour display. It also had a range of interesting applications, such as a calculator, calendar and currency converter. Its unique design made it stand out from other phones of the time. It was lightweight and ergonomically designed, making it comfortable to use. The battery life was impressive, lasting up to five days on a single charge. The Benefon Esc also had a range of advanced connectivity options, allowing users to connect to other phones and the internet. This made it one of the most advanced devices of its time.
1- Nokia 6610
Feature: First pocket phone with Games
The Nokia 6110 was a revolutionary phone for its time. It was the first pocket phone to offer active voice technology and games like Snakes. This was revolutionary for the time, as phones were typically much larger and bulkier than the Nokia 6110. The phone was also incredibly durable. It was made from robust materials and was designed to withstand the wear and tear of everyday use.
This was a big plus for users who needed their phones to last for years without deteriorating. In addition to its durable design, the phone also featured an impressive array of features. It had a long battery life, allowing users to talk for hours without needing to charge the phone. The phone also included a range of multimedia capabilities, such as a camera, MP3 player, and games.
