What phone was invented in 1973?
Asked by: Carmel Dickinson | Last update: February 22, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (68 votes)
The first handheld mobile phone, the Motorola DynaTAC prototype, was invented and used to make the first public mobile call in 1973 by Motorola engineer Martin Cooper, though the commercial version (DynaTAC 8000X) wasn't released until 1984, becoming the first commercially available "brick phone".
What was the first cell phone in 1973?
Electrical engineer Martin Cooper of Motorola made the first publicized handheld mobile phone call on a prototype DynaTAC model on April 3, 1973. This is a reenactment in 2007. Several models followed, starting in 1985 with the 8000s and continuing with periodic updates of increasing frequency until 1993's Classic II.
What phone came out in 1973?
The first handheld cell phone call was made on April 3, 1973, by Motorola engineer Martin Cooper in New York City, using a prototype of the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x, a large, brick-like device that weighed 2.5 pounds, allowing about 30 minutes of talk time after 10 hours of charging, paving the way for the 1983 commercial release of the DynaTAC.
What device was invented in 1973?
In 1973, Martin Cooper made history with a phone call that changed the world. As he walked the streets of New York, he spoke into the first handheld mobile phone, the DynaTAC, a device so large it weighed 2.5 pounds and stood 9 inches tall. This groundbreaking moment marked the dawn of mobile communication.
What year did cell phones come out to the public in the US?
Commonly referred to as "the Brick", it was not commercially launched until October 1983, and only then in the U.S. John F. Mitchell, Motorola's chief of portable communication products and Cooper's boss in 1973, played a key role in advancing the development of handheld mobile telephone equipment.
First Cell Phone Call - How We Invented The World
When did the first touchscreen phone come out?
First Touchscreen Phone (1992)
The IBM Simon was the first of its kind when it came out in 1992.
What is 1973 famous for?
1973 was famous for major world events like the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War (Paris Peace Accords), the Watergate scandal's rise, and the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, alongside technological firsts like the first mobile phone call and the launch of Skylab; culturally, it was defined by hits like "Tie a Yellow Ribbon," blockbuster films like The Exorcist and The Sting, the birth of hip-hop, and fashion trends featuring bell bottoms, earth shoes, and tie-dye.
What is the oldest working cell phone?
The Motorola DynaTAC 8000x, aka the “brick phone”, became the first commercial cellular phone to receive FCC approval on September 21, 1983, making it the oldest cell phone ever in the world. Motorola had produced mobile phones for cars for several decades and wanted to develop portable mobile technology.
Which came first, Samsung or Apple?
Samsung came first, founded in 1938 as a trading company, while Apple was founded much later in 1976 as a computer company, meaning Samsung as a corporation is significantly older, though both became major electronics rivals much later, particularly with the rise of smartphones.
How much did the first cell phone cost in 1973?
Eleven years later, it finally went on public sale under the name Motorola Dynatac 8000X. In 1984, the Dynatac, known as a cell phone rather than a mobile, would cost you $3,995 - that's approximately $11,700 or £9,500 today.
When did flip phone come out?
When Did Flip Phones Come Out? The first flip phone was released by Motorola on January 3, 1996. While the design was initially met with skepticism, it quickly gained popularity for its practicality and style.
Which mobile is World No. 1?
Top 10 Mobile Phone Brands in the World
- Apple. Apple remains the top smartphone brand, known for its premium design and seamless ecosystem. ...
- Samsung. Samsung, Apple's biggest rival, is one of the most influential smartphone brands. ...
- Xiaomi. ...
- Vivo. ...
- Oppo. ...
- Realme. ...
- Motorola. ...
- Google.
What was the first cell phone call?
Cooper made the first ever call on a cell phone when he called Joel S. Engel, a rival of his who worked for AT&T, saying, "I'm calling you on a cell phone, but a real cell phone, a personal, handheld, portable cell phone."
When did the first Motorola phone come out?
The world's first commercial handheld cellular phone, the Motorola DynaTAC phone, received approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on September 21, 1983. The 28-ounce (794-gram) phone became available to consumers in 1984.
What did the 1973 cell phone look like?
In 1973, the first handheld cell phone, a Motorola DynaTAC prototype, looked like a bulky, heavy "brick" – about 10 inches tall, weighing 2.5 pounds, with a large antenna and chunky buttons, offering only about 30 minutes of talk time before needing a 10-hour recharge, a far cry from today's slim smartphones.
How much did a cell phone cost in 1984?
The 1984 Motorola DynaTAC sold for $3,995 and weighed nearly 2 pounds. Battery life? About 30 minutes of talk time.
What is the unbreakable old phone?
The Nokia 3310 has a reputation of great durability, and many Internet memes have been made calling the phone "indestructible" or "the Nokia Brick" and praising its durability compared to modern smartphones.
Does Android 1 exist?
In June 2014, Google announced Android One, a set of "hardware reference models" that would "allow [device makers] to easily create high-quality phones at low costs", designed for consumers in developing countries. In September, Google announced the first set of Android One phones for release in India.
What toy was invented in 1973?
Shrinky Dinks were invented in 1973 by Betty Morris and Kate Bloomberg, two housewives in Brookfield, Wisconsin, as a Cub Scout project with their sons. The first kits were sold at a local shopping mall and became very popular.
What the heck happened in 1973?
The year saw a number of important historical events in the country, including the death of former President Lyndon B. Johnson, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Roe v. Wade, the signing of the Paris Peace Accords and end of the United States participation in the Vietnam War, the end of the post-World War II boom ...
What was the #1 hit song in 1973?
The number one song of 1973, according to Billboard magazine, was "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn, a heartwarming tune about homecoming that dominated the charts at year's end. Other massive hits that defined the year included Jim Croce's "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song," Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," and Carly Simon's "You're So Vain".
What is the most sold phone of all time?
Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung's Galaxy S4 remains its best-selling flagship smartphone, with about 80 million units sold. It set new standards in the Android ecosystem with software features, AMOLED display, and a strong security suite.
Could you text in 1994?
Modern SMS text messaging is usually sent from one mobile phone to another. Finnish Radiolinja became the first network to offer a commercial person-to-person SMS text messaging service in 1994.
What year did cell phones go public?
Cell phones became publicly available in 1983 with the launch of Motorola's DynaTAC 8000X, the first commercially sold handheld mobile phone, though early models were expensive and targeted at business users; they became more mainstream and affordable for the general public in the late 1990s and early 2000s as technology advanced.