By: Jessica Reyes
iPhone 6 with colorful screen in person’s hand.
Ellica // Shutterstock

From the BlackBerry to the iPhone: The most popular phones over the past 20 years

As the holiday shopping season approaches, one perennial gift—cellphones—is more popular than ever. Most (97%) adult Americans own a cellphone of some sort, according to a January 2024 Pew Research Center mobile study. Nine in 10 Americans own a smartphone, a number expected to rise this year.

This year, the iPhone 16, which Apple introduced on Sept. 20, is already generating buzz among holiday shoppers. The new model boasts a dedicated shutter button for higher-quality photos and a faster processor that supports Apple Intelligence features, which include AI-generated images and ChatGPT integrated with Siri.

New phones, and tech in general, have long been popular holiday gifts. Some consumers may line up when a new model drops, but others tend to wait for the holidays to give—or receive—a newer, pricier phone.

In years past, Apple has seen a post-holiday season sales spike. Strong first-weekend sales after a new iPhone is unveiled have predicted robust holiday sales. The National Retail Federation forecasts a 2.5% to 3.5% increase from last year's holiday sales, putting sales projections at an all-time high. These indicators suggest mobile sales will soar.

Mobile sales rebounded this year after a slight decline in 2023, increasing by 7.8% year over year during the first quarter of 2024, according to the International Data Corporation.

Mobile phones have drastically changed in style and appearance, hardware, and functionality since they became widely available in the early 2000s. Even the BlackBerry, once considered high-tech, might look like ancient history now compared to sleek and speedy new models.

Spokeo reviewed marketing studies and historical sources to find the most popular phones over the past 20 years and their place in the timeline.

Motorola vice president John F. Mitchell holds a Dyna T-A-C portable telephone.
Bettmann // Getty Images

How cellphones have changed over time

When the first cellphone prototype debuted in 1973, it was a large, bulky block that could hardly be called convenient. The Motorola DynaTAC—or "the brick," as it was dotingly called by its inventors—weighed about 2.5 pounds and took 10 hours to charge for only 35 minutes of usage.

However, it took decades for cellphones to be accessible to everyday consumers. By the early 2000s, cellphones evolved into pocket-sized portables with more features and personalization options than their predecessors. The iconic Nokia 1110, unveiled in 2003, targeted populations in emerging markets like Russia and China at the time. Despite its discontinuation in 2009, it remains the bestselling cellphone of all time.

Other phones that gained popularity early on include the Motorola Razr, which had a distinctly sleek design in vibrant colors like bright blue and candy pink. In 2002, with the launch of the game-changing BlackBerry 5810, cellphones made a leap in functionality. With a calendar, full keyboard, and internet access, the double-thumbed typing popularized the BlackBerry first among the business class, and then among the wider population.

Over time, cellphones got slimmer and smarter, and features expanded to include web browsing, music, and games. However, when the first iPhone was released in 2007, it shifted the cellphone market—and the culture surrounding it. Today, out of the 15 bestselling phones, nearly half of them are iPhones.

Apple is credited with popularizing touchscreen phones and digital storefronts like the App Store. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are the second-bestselling phones of all time, just behind the Nokia 1110. The newest iPhones on the list are the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Since 2004, Nokia, Samsung, and Apple have dominated the mobile phone market. Though Samsung only has one phone on the bestseller list, it holds the largest global market share and has the most global shipments The Samsung E1100 stands out for its durability and battery life, similar to Nokia phones, which still maintain a reputation of affordability and durability.

Read on to see which mobile phones were the most popular over the past two decades.

Nokia 1600 against black background.
Lucky Photographer // Shutterstock

#14. Nokia 1600 (1650/1661) (tie)

- Year released: 2005
- Total units sold: 130M

A hand holds a Motorola RAZR V3 phone.
Velimir Zeland // Shutterstock

#14. Motorola RAZR V3 (tie)

- Year released: 2004
- Total units sold: 130M

Four Nokia phones from 2000s.
HitManSnr // Shutterstock

#13. Nokia 2600 (2610/2626/2630)

- Year released: 2004
- Total units sold: 135M

Close-up view of person holding iPhone 5S.
Antlii // Shutterstock

#12. Apple iPhone 5

- Year released: 2012
- Total units sold: 146.2M

Assortment of Nokia and Samsung mobile phones.
Mehaniq // Shutterstock

#9. Samsung E1100 (tie)

- Year released: 2009
- Total units sold: 150M

Collection of Nokia mobile phones on yellow background.
Natalia Bostan // Shutterstock

#9. Nokia 5230 (tie)

- Year released: 2009
- Total units sold: 150M

Assortment of Nokia phones on wood background.
Wachiwit // Shutterstock

#9. Nokia 1200 (tie)

- Year released: 2007
- Total units sold: 150M

Hand comparing iPhone Xs and Xs Max.
Hadrian // Shutterstock

#8. Apple iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max

- Year released: 2018
- Total units sold: 151.1M

A woman holding and using Iphone 11 Pro Max smart phone.
Farknot Architect // Shutterstock

#7. Apple iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max

- Year released: 2019
- Total units sold: 159.2M

Person holding Iphone7 Plus.
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

#6. Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

- Year released: 2016
- Total units sold: 159.9M

Apple iPhone 5S displaying iOS 8 home screen.
DenPhotos // Shutterstock

#5. Apple iPhone 5S

- Year released: 2013
- Total units sold: 164.5M

A hand holds an iPhone 6S with Instagram app.
Jirapong Manustrong // Shutterstock

#4. Apple iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus

- Year released: 2015
- Total units sold: 174.1M

Nokia 105 phone and packaging on white background.
Eudaimonic Traveler // Shutterstock

#3. Nokia 105 series

- Year released: 2013
- Total units sold: 200M

Person comparing iPhone 6 phones at store.
Hadrian // Shutterstock

#2. Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

- Year released: 2014
- Total units sold: 222.4M

Nokia phones on display at store.
Justin Sullivan // Getty Images

#1. Nokia 1110

- Year released: 2005
- Total units sold: 247.5M

Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Paris Close.

This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. XPRMedia and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact [email protected]