How Have Phone Sizes Changed Over the Years?

The cell phones we use today have evolved over a period of a few years. The big-screen smartphone you see today seems futuristic compared to the phones of the past. Years ago, we had small phones that would fit well in the palm of our hand; or, they were slightly bigger, featuring a sliding keyboard and small screen. Today, the smartphones we use are not just devices intended to make phone calls. Today’s phones have become our primary media consumption devices due to their large screen sizes and bright, crisp displays. Look at the latest devices like Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, iPhone 13 Pro Max, and others to see just how far cell phones have come since their initial invention. 

Let’s break down the different eras to see the evolution of the mobile phone:

Eras of Mobile Evolution

80’s Era

In 1984, no one could believe that we would be able to use mobile phones. But this common train of thought changed after the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x was launched and was made available to the masses. During the late 60s, the development of this phone started. Two decades later, people were finally able to get their hands on the futuristic-seeming device.

The Motorola mobile had a length of 30cm, a thickness of 9cm, and a weight of almost 1kg. That mobile offered a talk time of thirty minutes and a standby time of eight hours. Nowadays, if you were to hold the Motorola DynaTac 8000x, it would feel like a brick compared to the phones of the present.

90’s Era

Later on, the same company released MicroTAC 9800x, which experienced greater popularity than its predecessor, as it was small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. This phone had a flip design. It had a length of 2cm and a standby time of 30 hours. In 1989, this phone cost 2,170 euros (which is between $2,500 and $3,000). 

Motorola was the first company to capture the mobile market. Later on, Nokia also entered the market, and their mobile phones became very popular due to their strong build. Soon, the Nokia 3310 was a global hit. 

00’s Era

In the 2000s, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, LG, and Samsung were all competitors. These companies held a solid share of the mobile market, and their mobile phones were practically flying off the shelves.

During this time, the keypad mobile phone from Blackberry and the flip-style mobile phone from companies like Nokia and Samsung were standard. The Motorola Razr cell phone was a great hit during this time. It was very slim and had a very appealing design. 

10’s Era

After the launch of the iPhone in 2007, the mobile industry was changed entirely. The iPhone was the first phone to display different apps with a non-Android operating system, which was standard up until this point. The first iPhone had a screen size of 3.5 inches and boasted a touch screen. 

After the release of the iPhone, other brands like Samsung, HTC, and more launched their own version of a touch screen mobile phone. The screen sizes ranged from 5.8 to 6.9 inches. 

Present Time & Future

In the current day, we have foldable phones that are providing more screens to view in greater detail. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a foldable display of 7.6 inches and a 6.4-inch front display that allows users increased functionality. 

Companies like Huawei, Xiaomi, and Microsoft have also launched their own foldable mobile devices. Apple and others are making their own foldable devices, as this seems to be the future of phones. 

At present, most mobile manufacturers offer a mobile with 6.2 inches to 7 inches in size. However, Apple has also recently released smaller devices like the iPhone mini, which has a screen size of 5.42 inches diagonally, allowing the phone to easily fit in hand. Other manufacturers have also stepped into the small-phone market to bring compact devices to their customers who want a no-frills cellphone. 

The Bottom Line!

Mobile phones have seen a huge evolution over the years, as discussed above. To purchase a mobile phone, you can look on Amazon or visit the company’s respective local store. Today, we see big screens on mobile for better media consumption and multi-tasking, like watching a video and sending messages simultaneously in split-screen view. Now, we wait and see how cell phones continue to evolve – maybe we will see foldable phones take over in the coming years.