The innovative and daring design of old phones

[Kallistero]

I've recently learned of another newer phone that's gone somewhat under the radar: the Sky's Edge build-it-yourself rotary un-smartphone! It's just what it sounds like. It's a mobile "dumbphone" with a rotary dial that actually functions to make phone calls over cell service:

https://skysedge.com/telecom/RUSP/index.html



This would be daring even in the more experimental era of mainstream cell phones   

[Memory]

oh

Yeah, I remember when it was somewhat interesting going into a mobile shop because of all of the new designs manufacturers came up with! Even if in the end they weren't functionally any better, but it was always exciting seeing what could have been the future!

Closest we have today is the Galaxy flip and fold series, which as the names imply, plysically fold and "flip" while still being fully touchscreen phones. I got a flip. It's gimmicky as hell, but I like it! It's the only modern remanent of weird and impractical designs!



I got one of those! Nokia mostly marketed it as a games console over a mobile phone, as they only sold it in games stores.
The biggest improvement over the original model was that in the original, I shit you not, you had to take the battery out to change games as the battery was place over the game card slot, which is the most boneheaded design choice I've ever heard! Speaking of design choices...

Trigger warning

The original design was inspired by the goatsee fad. (which if you know, you know... If you're going to look it up, I hope you got a strong stomach)

The designer did this from frustration after Nokia rejected every other idea they had, and they did this as a way to troll with them, but it turns out nobody in Nokia, or the general public for that matter, even noticed! Once you know, though, you can't unsee...

[close]

Let's also not forget the side talking. Which is so infamous that there is a website dedicated to it!

I think the system is underated, though! It's port of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 is actually really good! It added some levels from the 2nd game to play in freeskate mode! System Rush is also a decent racing game tailor made for the N-gage's narrow screen.
Also worth nothing that the N-Gage port of Pandemonium is the only version that will let you save your game progress. (The PS1 and Saturn original used passwords and PC, afaik, had nothing!)

oh wow, yea that's pretty cool.
i've seen the Z flip and Z fold, they cost waaayy too much money for what's literally just... a folding phone? (A$1237 for a base Z flip) like most phones cost too much anyways here :P

but i really want the Motorola Razr 2020 or 2022 (not the Ultra just the base) cuz they look so interesting, especially for modern phones    i'd love to have a phone charm of some sort on it...

[Furbisms]

I've recently learned of another newer phone that's gone somewhat under the radar: the Sky's Edge build-it-yourself rotary un-smartphone! It's just what it sounds like. It's a mobile "dumbphone" with a rotary dial that actually functions to make phone calls over cell service:

https://skysedge.com/telecom/RUSP/index.html



This would be daring even in the more experimental era of mainstream cell phones   

Omg this thing is ridiculous and I absolutely love  it!!

Honestly there are so many amazing old phones that I kind of want to collect them all. My faves are def the razr, the sidekick, the N-Gage and the experia play. But like. There are endless amounts of really cool designs. Kind of makes me want to make a shrine dedicated to my favourite ones.

[HJ]

These are the kinds of phones that I wish were still around

I love these types of phones. If I won the lottery I'd create something with that exact form factor (horizontal, full swipe-out keyboard), but also with 5g, messaging apps, navigation, and a headphone jack. I've had my eyes on the Unihertz Titan Pocket (since I'm alsooo obsessed with blackberries) but it's running on Android 11 which can pose some security issues. I'll probably grab a Titan Pocket when they come out with an updated version!

[Furbisms]

If I won the lottery I'd create something with that exact form factor (horizontal, full swipe-out keyboard), but also with 5g, messaging apps, navigation, and a headphone jack. I've had my eyes on the Unihertz Titan Pocket (since I'm alsooo obsessed with blackberries) but it's running on Android 11 which can pose some security issues. I'll probably grab a Titan Pocket when they come out with an updated version!

I would be the first in line because quite frankly that is my dream phone haha. Especially because I just. Really hate touchscreens, honestly.

Never heard of a Unihertz titan pocket, I'll have to look into that...