Whether you’re an early adopter or a cautious buyer, there’s always a new smartphone release out to tempt you away from your old handset. The competition between phone makers is fiercer than ever, and that’s a good thing, but it can also mean that there’s a lot of choice out there, which can make picking the right model for you tough.
Here’s a quick look at some of the biggest smartphone releases to date.
In 1997, Ericsson released the GS88 (also known as Penelope), a prototype that marked the first time that the term “smartphone” was used to describe a device, ten years before the iPhone’s debut. It featured a touchscreen, GPS and a Java-based application that allowed users to play Snake, the mobile gaming industry’s first hit.
This year saw the introduction of 3G service, which enabled faster data transmission speeds than previous services. This led to a host of improvements in other areas, from music downloads to the ability to video conference.
Another big advancement came in the form of a camera on a smartphone. The Nokia 6110 had a rear-facing camera that started the love affair between phones and photography, while a front-facing camera meant that users could now take selfies.
The Google Pixel 9a is a mid-range Android phone that uses the same design as its namesake siblings but offers a more competitive price tag. It has a 5.8mm frame, which is very thin by today’s standards, and it’s backed up with a seven-year software update guarantee and a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor.