There is no denying the fact that Apple and Samsung dominate the smartphone market today. However, when it comes to the best-selling phones of all time, we have to go back to the past and visit the pre-smartphone era, when Snake II was the most popular mobile game and camera phones were just born. So, which handset is the best-selling phone of all time? Well, it’s the Nokia 1100 with 250 million units sold since its launch in 2003.
Budget Phones Are For The Masses
Most people use budget phones and even the cheapest of modern smartphones can serve the purpose and fulfill the basic requirements of the people.
In 2023, the best-selling Android phone was the Galaxy A14 4G, while its pricier 5G version was on the third spot, right behind the mid-range device – Galaxy A54 5G.
Nokia 1100: The Best-Selling Phone Of All Time
The Nokia 1100 was a durable phone which the company built for emerging markets like India, China and Russia. Although not as durable compared to the iconic 3310, the Nokia 1100 came with dust protection and grips on the side for humid conditions.
Nokia had said in its official press release that the goal was to “offer first-time users reliable functionality, simplicity and value for money.”
The phone’s tenure lasted from 2003-2009 and it remained popular all those years.
Nokia 1100: Features
-Dustproof design
-Storage for up to 50 contacts
-96×65 monochromatic display
-36 pre-installed monophonic ringtones
-Ability to compose seven original ringtones
-Replaceable battery with 400h of standby time
-Built-in flashlight, alarm clock, stopwatch, and calculator
-Voice and text messaging with a 50-message capacity
-Snake II and Space Impact+ games
Other Smartphones On The List
Launched in 2005, the Nokia 1110 is on the second spot of the best-selling phones list. With 247.5 million sales, it sits just below the Nokia 1100. In smartphones category, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are best-selling devices with more than 222 million sales. Bringing in a new era of large screens, these handsets strengthened Apple’s position in 2014.
Nokia clinches four spots on the top 10 list, while Apple gets the remaining six positions. Other than Apple and Nokia, the only two devices to make it to the list of top 20 are 2009 Samsung E1100 with 150 million sales and Motorola RAZR V3 with 130 million sales.
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