Guess what? Samsung and Apple rule the smartphone world nowadays, but let’s take a trip down memory lane to the days before smartphones were cool. Back when Snake II was the hottest mobile game and camera phones were a new thing.
The champion of all phones is the Nokia 1100. Can you believe it sold over 250 million units since its debut in 2003? But hey, chances are you’ve never laid hands on one!
A phone for everyone
While fancy, pricey smartphones grab all the attention in the mobile scene, it’s actually the affordable ones that many folks prefer. Surprisingly, even the least expensive smartphones nowadays can do the job for most people, offering good performance and useful features without breaking the bank, costing just a couple of hundred bucks.
In fact, the top-selling Android phone in 2023 was the Galaxy A14 4G. Yep, not the 5G one, but the slightly cheaper 4G version took the crown. And hey, the Galaxy A14 5G didn’t miss out either – it snagged the third spot after the Galaxy A54 5G.
Back in August 2003, Nokia was onto something with the launch of the Nokia 1100. This sturdy little candy bar-style phone was tailor-made for places like Russia, India, and China. While it might not match the legendary Nokia 3310 in toughness, it’s got extra dust protection and side grips for those humid environments.
Nokia said in their official announcement that they wanted to provide new users with dependable features, easy use, and good value for their money.
What was a basic feature phone in 2003?
The Nokia 1100 may not have looked super cool at first, but it had all the essential stuff that people wanted. Check out what it had:
- A simple screen
- Protected from dust
- Could do voice and text messages (up to 50)
- Store 50 contacts
- Had 36 basic ringtones and you could make 7 of your own
- Changeable battery that lasted a long time
- Built-in flashlight, alarm clock, stopwatch, and calculator
- Fun games like Snake II and Space Impact+
People loved it from 2003 to 2009. But in 2009, some crafty folks figured out how to hack it to send sneaky texts, causing a bit of trouble and maybe marking the end of its popularity.
Other big sellers
The Nokia 1100 is the most popular phone, selling over 200 million units. Another similar model, the Nokia 1110, comes in second place, selling almost 250 million units. When it comes to smartphones, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus take the lead with over 220 million combined sales, shaping the trend of larger screens and solidifying Apple’s position in 2014. The iPhone SE models still carry elements of the iPhone 6’s design.
Out of the top 10 phones, Nokia claims four spots, while Apple iPhones secure the remaining six. Despite Samsung dominating the smartphone market from 2010 to 2023, only the 2009 Samsung E1100 makes it to the top 20 with 150 million sales. The classic Motorola RAZR V3 also ranks in the top 20 with 130 million sales.
The remaining top 20 consists entirely of Nokia and Apple phones. Although the Nokia models are over a decade old, they continue to hold their places, predating Microsoft’s troubled acquisition of Nokia’s mobile division in 2013. While you can still buy Nokia phones from HMD, the golden era of Finnish candybar phones has passed.
For more such updates, tips and learning resources, stay tuned to Insitebuild Blog.
