

From the first iPhone that redefined mobile computing to the Nokia 3310 that conquered the world through sheer indestructibility, smartphones have evolved at a breathtaking pace. This list celebrates the 10 devices that genuinely changed how billions of people communicate, work, and play.
Community rankings for this product
Curated by our tech editors. Practical, hands-on reviews weighted by community vote — updated as the field evolves.
Create a free account or sign in to join the discussion.
Sign in to join the conversation

The device that started the smartphone revolution. Launched on June 29, 2007, the original iPhone featured a 3.5-inch capacitive multi-touch display, eliminating physical keyboards entirely. It sold 6.1 million units in its first year and introduced the App Store ecosystem that now generates over $1 trillion in annual commerce.

Samsung's first true Android flagship launched in June 2010 with a 4-inch Super AMOLED display that set a new standard for screen quality. It sold over 25 million units worldwide, establishing Samsung as the dominant Android manufacturer and kicking off the Galaxy brand that would outsell every competitor.

Introduced the Retina display at 326 pixels per inch, making individual pixels invisible to the naked eye. The iPhone 4 also debuted FaceTime video calling, a stainless steel antenna band design, and a front-facing camera. Despite the Antennagate controversy, it sold over 1.7 million units in its first three days on sale.

The first commercially available Android smartphone, released on October 22, 2008. It featured a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3.2-inch touchscreen, and full Google integration including Gmail, Maps, and YouTube. It sold over 1 million units in its first six months and launched the Android ecosystem that now powers over 3 billion active devices.

Released in September 2000, the Nokia 3310 became the best-selling phone of its era with over 126 million units sold. Famous for its near-indestructible build quality, marathon battery life of up to 260 hours standby, and the addictive game Snake II, it became a cultural icon that spawned countless internet memes about its legendary durability.

The first BlackBerry device to integrate a full mobile phone with push email in a single handheld unit, released in 2003. It pioneered the always-connected business communication paradigm with its trademark QWERTY keyboard and secure BES server integration. BlackBerry dominated the enterprise smartphone market for nearly a decade, peaking at 80 million subscribers in 2012.

The thinnest phone in the world when it launched in 2004 at just 13.9mm, the Razr V3 became the best-selling clamshell phone in history with over 130 million units sold by 2006. Its aircraft-grade aluminum body, laser-etched keypad, and iconic flip design made it the ultimate status symbol of the pre-smartphone era.

Launched in October 2016, the original Pixel was the first smartphone with Google Assistant built in and pioneered computational photography with its 12.3MP camera that earned a DxOMark score of 89, the highest of any smartphone at the time. It proved that software-driven camera processing could match or exceed multi-lens hardware.

Released in October 2011, the Galaxy Note pioneered the phablet category with its then-massive 5.3-inch Super AMOLED HD display and included S Pen stylus. Critics initially mocked its size, but it sold over 10 million units and created an entirely new smartphone segment that redefined what consumers expected from screen size.

Released on November 3, 2017 to mark the iPhone 10th anniversary, the iPhone X eliminated the iconic home button in favor of Face ID facial recognition and a near-bezel-less 5.8-inch OLED display. It introduced gesture-based navigation and Animoji. Despite its record-breaking 999 USD starting price, Apple sold an estimated 63 million units in its first year.
The most-voted lists across every category — curated weekly. Join the early readers.
No spam. One email per week. Unsubscribe anytime.
Explore more Technology rankings on Top10Grid
Cast your vote above to unlock the real distribution
Tap the arrows on any item to vote

Top 10 Fitness Gadgets That Actually Changed How People Train
36 views · @admin
Top 10 US IoT Companies
21 views · @admin

Top 10 Best Laptops in the UK 2025
16 views · @admin

Top 10 European IoT Companies 2026
23 views · @admin

Top 10 Best Smart Home Gadgets of 2025
23 views · @admin

Top 10 Best Budget Smartphones 2026
18 views · @admin
Because you're viewing Technology

Top 10 Free Productivity Apps to Use in 2026
401 views · 1 votes

The Papers Reshaping Artificial Intelligence in 2026
385 views · 1 votes
Top 10 Electric Chinese Cars
275 views · 0 votes
Top 10 Best AI Tools for Productivity 2026
249 views · 0 votes

Machine Learning Breakthroughs Worth Reading Right Now
230 views · 1 votes
Robots Learning to Think: Cutting-Edge Robotics Research
213 views · 1 votes

The device that started the smartphone revolution. Launched on June 29, 2007, the original iPhone featured a 3.5-inch capacitive multi-touch display, eliminating physical keyboards entirely. It sold 6.1 million units in its first year and introduced the App Store ecosystem that now generates over $1 trillion in annual commerce.

Samsung's first true Android flagship launched in June 2010 with a 4-inch Super AMOLED display that set a new standard for screen quality. It sold over 25 million units worldwide, establishing Samsung as the dominant Android manufacturer and kicking off the Galaxy brand that would outsell every competitor.

Introduced the Retina display at 326 pixels per inch, making individual pixels invisible to the naked eye. The iPhone 4 also debuted FaceTime video calling, a stainless steel antenna band design, and a front-facing camera. Despite the Antennagate controversy, it sold over 1.7 million units in its first three days on sale.

The first commercially available Android smartphone, released on October 22, 2008. It featured a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3.2-inch touchscreen, and full Google integration including Gmail, Maps, and YouTube. It sold over 1 million units in its first six months and launched the Android ecosystem that now powers over 3 billion active devices.

Released in September 2000, the Nokia 3310 became the best-selling phone of its era with over 126 million units sold. Famous for its near-indestructible build quality, marathon battery life of up to 260 hours standby, and the addictive game Snake II, it became a cultural icon that spawned countless internet memes about its legendary durability.

The first BlackBerry device to integrate a full mobile phone with push email in a single handheld unit, released in 2003. It pioneered the always-connected business communication paradigm with its trademark QWERTY keyboard and secure BES server integration. BlackBerry dominated the enterprise smartphone market for nearly a decade, peaking at 80 million subscribers in 2012.

The thinnest phone in the world when it launched in 2004 at just 13.9mm, the Razr V3 became the best-selling clamshell phone in history with over 130 million units sold by 2006. Its aircraft-grade aluminum body, laser-etched keypad, and iconic flip design made it the ultimate status symbol of the pre-smartphone era.

Launched in October 2016, the original Pixel was the first smartphone with Google Assistant built in and pioneered computational photography with its 12.3MP camera that earned a DxOMark score of 89, the highest of any smartphone at the time. It proved that software-driven camera processing could match or exceed multi-lens hardware.

Released in October 2011, the Galaxy Note pioneered the phablet category with its then-massive 5.3-inch Super AMOLED HD display and included S Pen stylus. Critics initially mocked its size, but it sold over 10 million units and created an entirely new smartphone segment that redefined what consumers expected from screen size.

Released on November 3, 2017 to mark the iPhone 10th anniversary, the iPhone X eliminated the iconic home button in favor of Face ID facial recognition and a near-bezel-less 5.8-inch OLED display. It introduced gesture-based navigation and Animoji. Despite its record-breaking 999 USD starting price, Apple sold an estimated 63 million units in its first year.
If you liked this, you might love these





Top 10 Gadgets That Completely Changed How We Live — Before and After Comparisons
10 items

Top 10 Best Laptops in the UK 2025
10 items

Top 10 US Drone Technology Companies
10 items

Top 10 Best Noise Cancelling Headphones 2026
10 items
Top 10 US Computer Vision Companies
10 items

Top 10 Best Smart Home Gadgets of 2025
10 items