Mobile phones: the iconic models that have made history
From the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, to the iconic Nokia 3310, the iPhone revolution and the first Android
We review some of the first mobile phones that integrated functions that now seem ordinary but were revolutionary. Originally, their technology was very limited, and they had very different dimensions than most current commercial models.
The first conversation
Martin Cooper made the first call using this mobile phone on April 3, 1973. The Motorola engineer and systems manager made the historic call on a New York street using a prototype.
Motorola DynaTAC 8000X
- Released: 1983
- Dimensions: 40 x 195 x 80 mm (width x height x thickness)
- Weight: 1.1 kg
- Battery life: 30 minutes of talk time (required 10 hours of charging to work properly)
- Starting price: $3,395
The first smartphone
Although it did not achieve widespread popularity, it was the first device to combine smartphone and PDA functions, a precursor to modern mobile phones.
IBM Simon
- Released: 1994
- Dimensions: 64 x 200 x 38 mm
- Weight: 510 g
- Autonomy: 1 hour
- Starting price: $1,099 (no contract)
The first mass-seller
Compact and clamshell, it was the first lightweight and easy-to-use model, which helped popularize mobile use. It sold massively.
Motorola StarTAC
- Released: 1997
- Dimensions: 55 x 94 x 19 mm
- Weight: 88 g
- Autonomy: 60 minutes
- Starting price: $1,000
The first mobile office
The first Blackberry, already with a QWERTY keyboard, revolutionized mobile phone use in businesses due to its ability to synchronize with email.
RIM BlackBerry 850
- Released: 1999
- Dimensions: 89 x 64 x 24 mm
- Weight: 133 g
- Starting price: ≈ $550
- It needed two batteries and looked more like a search than a phone.
The most emblematic
At the turn of the millennium in 2000, the aesthetics of phones changed, with smaller and lighter models arriving. By 2010, more than 126 million units had been sold.
Nokia 3310
- Released: 2000
- Dimensions: 48 x 113 x 22 mm
- Weight: 133 g
- Autonomy: 3 hours
- Starting price: $200
- It included 'Snake', one of the most iconic games in history
The most fashionable
This model became a symbol of fashion and sophistication. Its popularity among celebrities cemented it as a staple in the industry.
Motorola RAZR V3
- Released: 2004
- Dimensions: 53 x 98 x 13 mm
- Weight: 95 g
- Autonomy: 4 hours
- Starting price: $500
The Apple revolution
The invention of the year, according to Time magazine in 2009, transformed your phone into a multifunctional device that integrated the internet, applications, music, and games.
Apple iPhone
- Released: 2007
- Dimensions: 61 x 115 x 11.6 mm
- Weight: 135 g
- Autonomy: 8 hours
- Starting price: $399
The first Android
The first model running Google's Android operating system was presented as a viable alternative to the iPhone. It's now the most widely used system on the planet.
HTC Dream
- Released: 2008
- Dimensions: 55.7 x 117.7 x 17.1 mm
- Weight: 158 g
- Autonomy: 6 and a half hours
- Starting price: $179
A pioneering design
This model could define today's mobile phones due to its design and concept. It improved the visual quality of the screens and also introduced a front-facing camera.
iPhone 4
- Released: 2010
- Dimensions: 58.6 x 115.2 x 9.3 mm
- Weight: 137 g
- Autonomy: 10 hours
- Starting price: $199 (with a two-year contract)
The Android era
With its high-resolution camera, it boosted Samsung models and marked a turning point for Androids, which reached new levels of popularity.
Samsung Galaxy S3
- Released: 2012
- Dimensions: 70.6 x 136.6 x 8.6 mm
- Weight: 133 g
- Autonomy: 5 and a half hours
- Starting price: $199.99 (base price)
Larger screens
Multimedia consumption has increased the size of devices. This is the case with this Chinese model, one of the best-selling phones in Spain since its launch.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13
- Release: 2024
- Dimensions: 75.6 x 162.2 x 8 mm
- Weight: 188.5 g
- Autonomy: 12 hours of navigation
- Starting price: $199 (base price)