10 mobile phones from the past we used to love as Nokia 3310 makes its long-awaited come back

Many mobiles have helped ring the changes on the way to the smartphone.
And while some users may scoff at their gadget’s dumbphone ancestors, Finnish firm HMD Global is set to cash in on retro appeal by rejigging Nokia’s classic 3310 – the most reliable ever made.

So here are 10 key models that got us all buzzing...

1. IBM Simon (1994)

Believe it or not, this was the first smartphone and 50,000 of the chunky model were sold.

It could send emails, had software apps and could link to a fax. But it cost £700, only worked in the US and had an hour’s battery life.

2. Samsung Galaxy S2 (2011)

Slim and powerful, this phone was more like an iPhone than anything before it.

With a simple design and known for being super-fast, it sold well and remains popular on the second-hand market.

3. Ericsson R380 (2000)

Released in 2000, this was the first device marketed as a smartphone.

It was just as small and light as a regular mobile phone and featured a flip that, when open, featured a nearly full touchscreen.

4. Mobira Senator (1982)

This huge thing, weighing 22lb, was intended for use as a car phone.

The Senator was Nokia’s first phone, before the company became known by its household name.

5. iPhone 2G (2007)

The first smartphone designed by Apple, unveiled by the late Steve Jobs.

They incorporated the iPod design and added a camera, email, phone abilities and web browser. But the vital new feature was apps.

6. Motorola DynaTAC 8000X (1973-83)

In 1973, engineer Marty Cooper called a pal at a rival firm to say he was using a mobile.

Ten years later, Motorola’s first commercial cellular phone went on sale for £2,300, weighing 1.75lb.
Michael Douglas used one in Wall Street and one sold on eBay for £1,000 recently.

7. Nokia 1100 (2003)

Not as well known as the 3310 but it is the best-selling mobile of all time, shifting 250 million units.

When the one-billionth Nokia was sold in Nigeria in 2005, it was, unsurprisingly, a 1100 – the best-selling electrical gadget in history.

8. Blackberry 6230 (2003)

This propelled Blackberry from the business market to the consumer market.

It allowed you to check and respond to emails on the go, weighed a light 136g and its battery could handle up to five hours’ talk time on a charge.

9. Motorola StarTAC (1996)

The first flip-style mobile. Unlike other phones, it was sleek, stylish and the firm said it was the lightest in the world.

It was the first to offer a vibrate mode and launched at £1,400 in the UK.

10. Philips C12 (1999)

This had a screw-on aerial and stored up to 10 messages at a time. It also had the “puppy power” tone.

A myth said if you turned it off as soon as you sent a message, you didn’t pay – which may well explain its popularity.