Two years were left before the release of the Apple iPhone, and the best phones of 2005 were fundamentally different from what Steve Jobs saw in the future. No one had any idea what would happen in 2007, so everything developed on its own. Push-button phones were experiencing their best times, models with huge hard drives appeared, mobile cameras began to compete with cameras, and top smartphones began to replace computers.
The year 2005 was a very busy one in terms of mobile technology, so sit back and relax – this is the longest issue in the two-part series – we’ve selected more than 35 models from this year.
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Music phones were penetrating deeper and deeper into the masses, literally becoming a standard. The exemplary Alcatel OT-S853 went further than its competitors, which is noticeable from its appearance. In addition to an MP3 player and support for memory cards, the model received additional buttons on the side panel, which can be used to comfortably control the player without turning on the display.
Speakers were no less important. Alcatel OT-S853 has a top-of-the-line 2.1 sound, which not all flagships of the time could boast of. This model did not become very popular due to a number of software flaws, but it was a real treasure among music lovers.
In all other respects, it is an ordinary mid-range phone with FM radio, Bluetooth 2.0, 1.3 MP camera, HTML browser, Java MIDP 2.0 and a 2-inch screen. After the Alcatel OT-S853, there will be a lot of music models from Nokia, Samsung, and Motorola, which were inspired by this device to some extent.
A mega combine, a superflagship QWERTY smartphone with a huge screen for all occasions — HP iPAQ hw6510 was memorable for its size and unique dual-control design. Unlike classic PDAs, this form was more convenient. The owner could type texts quickly and without errors, control the phone with one hand using the joystick, and still have all the features of a touchscreen interface.
Future models from Samsung (i320, i600) seemed like children’s toys compared to the HP iPAQ hw6510 because a 3-inch diagonal in a square format is a lot. The screen area is 30 cm2It’s like putting three Sony Ericsson K750i screens together. It was really convenient to work with such a computer in your pocket, but it did not become widespread due to its high cost and lack of a camera (later, the HP iPAQ hw6515 version with a camera appeared).
The HP iPAQ hw6510 is based on the Intel PXA270 312 MHz processor with the Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 SE PocketPC Phone Edition operating system. The device has 64 MB of internal memory and 64 MB of RAM, which was a serious indicator for 2005. There is no Wi-Fi module, but the model works with fast Edge class 10 networks, which in 2005 gave a speed of at least 250 kbps, and 3G was almost nowhere to be found.
It is also worth highlighting the GPS module with support for precise navigation, a full package of office programs and unlimited multimedia capabilities — HP iPAQ hw6510 allows you to play any formats using third-party software.
In 2005, LG phones didn’t seem to have anything unique to remember, except for the flagship clamshell. The LG P7200 had the most stuffed hardware, including one of the best cameras on the market. A 2 MP module with autofocus and flash, 64 MB of expandable memory, Bluetooth 1.2, USB 2.0, and a high-quality TFT screen are a great set for an image phone.
Its beautiful appearance was reminiscent of the already legendary Motorola Razr V3 model, although LG P7200 is more logical to compare with Nokia’s swivel clamshells. The screen could be rotated, turning the phone into a camera.
This was one of the first phones that I wasn’t ashamed to show off on the big screen. Thanks to the flash and autofocus, the photos were of high quality in any conditions. The LG P7200 is worthy of attention, although it appeared on the market later than the legendary solutions from Sony Ericsson and Nokia.
The much-anticipated update to the world’s most popular image phone brings improved multimedia capabilities, more stable software and higher quality screens. The Motorola Razr V3i has a 1.3 MP camera, more storage and micro SD support.
Now, the «Razor» offered all the same features as popular music and camera phones. The incredibly beautiful design from its predecessor ensured successful sales of the Motorola Razr V3i, once again confirming that the look is much more important than the device’s contents.
Along with the development of classic push-button phones, the company was designing touchscreen smartphones based on Linux. The Motorola A1200 became one of the first mass devices of this class. The neat, restrained, and cute look with rounded edges appealed to many, as did the unique user experience.
The phone has almost no keys, forcing the owner to use a stylus on the 2.4-inch touchscreen, which was covered with a transparent cover for protection. The multimedia capabilities were on top: a 2 MP camera, a Micro SD slot, a powerful 312 MHz Intel processor, and work with multimedia formats.
The operating system at the time was crude, but in the right hands, the Motorola A1200 became a real combine. The device allowed viewing documents and HTML pages with the Opera browser, and at the same time gave a slightly different user experience after Microsoft Pocket PC or Palm OS.
At the time (late 2005), it was a really interesting device for users who were just starting to get acquainted with touchscreen devices, and for engineers, the knowledge and experience gained helped to move the company in the right direction in time for the appearance of the fighter of button smartphones — the Apple iPhone.
The success of the RAZR V3 made the company take a different look at the design of classic monoblocks. It became clear that people want thin and elegant phones, no matter what features they have. In 2005, another hit appeared — the Motorola SLVR L7, which offered the parameters of the E398 in a new design.
The public liked the slim monoblock, although it had nothing to surprise them. The internal stuffing was at the level of the 2004 middle class, except for a high-quality screen displaying 256 thousand colors.
The lack of EDGE did not bother most people, the small amount of built-in memory was compensated by micro SD cards, and the VGA camera did not become an obstacle to the popularity of the Motorola SLVR L7.
The best smartphone of 2005 starts the hit parade of incredible Finnish devices. The Nokia N70 is without exaggeration considered to be the #1 phone, leaving no chance for the Sony Ericsson K750i legend in everything but the photo. The junior representative of the N-Series turned out to be as successful as could be imagined.
The model’s functionality had no limits, and it differed from its predecessor Nokia 6630 by a much better, more durable body, neat design, excellent ergonomics, a better camera with flash, EDGE, 3G support, a front-facing camera, and more modern wireless interfaces.
The Nokia N70 runs on Symbian 8.1, the most successful Symbian in the company’s history. It was the peak of development, the maximum that the platform was capable of, after which all other versions of the system seemed limited and dull (there will be a separate article about the degradation of Symbian). Thanks to the fast TI OMAP 1710 processor, the system flew, literally.
The Nokia N70 made it possible to play games that owners of Sony Ericsson flagships or any other Java phones could only dream of because it had an incredible software library. The open operating system allowed you to do literally anything you wanted.
The camera, though without autofocus, had a flash and high-quality CIF video (4 times higher resolution than the K750i). It was also one of the first mass-market 3G smartphones with a front-facing camera for video calls or selfies.
The Nokia N70 is remembered as the peak of Symbian evolution, a convenient, affordable, clear, simple, functional, well-built and stylish smartphone, the best of the best. The model was so popular that in 2006 it was refreshed as the Nokia N72, despite the availability of the N73.
If the Sony Ericsson K750 can be considered the father of mobile photography, the Nokia N90 is the father of mobile video. The camera in Nokia’s new flagship was one of the best on the market: 2 MP, top-of-the-line sensor, Carl Zeiss optics, high video resolution, autofocus and flash. There were few competitors to this clamshell, and even fewer when it came to shooting video.
Thanks to its swiveling camera design, the Nokia N90 can be used as a classic camcorder while comfortably holding the phone in your hand. In this position, the hand does not get tired, and the photographer holds the device more steadily. Video in CIF resolution was four times better than that of the Sony Ericsson K750, although the Nokia was slightly inferior in terms of photo quality.
In addition to being a flagship camera phone, it was a full-fledged Symbian 8.1 smartphone with good multimedia capabilities and the best screen on the market. The 2.1-inch display displayed 256,000 colors and had an incredibly high pixel density. Even now, 259 PPI is an adequate indicator, but at the time it was something incredible.
Viewing photos, videos or any other content on this display is a pleasure, and thanks to smart scaling, software from other Nokia Symbian models was compatible with the N90.
In 2005, the Ukrainian music band TNMK shot a music video with the Nokia N90. It was the first commercial material of this format in Ukraine made with a mobile phone rather than a professional camera. Back then, the Nokia N90 truly looked like an alien from the future and raised the bar for mobile video quality to a whole new level.
Less than a year later, the world saw a continuation of the legend with a slightly different market positioning. Nokia N92 did not have an improved camera, but surprised the world with its multimedia capabilities. The N92 was the first mass-market smartphone with a built-in TV receiver.
A camera, a computer, and a TV in your pocket — wasn’t that a dream in 2005? The design of the new product has undergone several major changes, primarily to implement new technologies. The clamshell remained a transformer, but now the screen rotated from the edge instead of the middle.
This allows you to open Nokia N92 as a laptop (a similar mechanism was used in Motorola MPx) to watch videos, photos, TV or surf the Internet. The superflagship received support for 3G, mini SD cards up to 2 GB, Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth, infrared port, FM radio, USB 2.0, document viewer, HTML browser and everything else you could wish for.
Equally important was the 2.8-inch screen, with a resolution of 240×320 pixels. Of course, the density is not the same as it was in Nokia N90, but few people cared then. The main thing was that it was a pleasure to view multimedia content on such a phone.
It was a real dream of a student sitting in the back of the classroom with nothing to do, but the exorbitant price did not make it a mass market. The previous N90 model sold well and had better success, even after the release of the Nokia N92. It is possible that the reputation was spoiled by Symbian 9.1 OS, which in 2005 was too raw and empty.
The Finnish giant was advancing on all fronts, including music. Nokia engineers decided that they shouldn’t dabble in the mid-range segment, trying to reduce the cost of the device, but rather release a music flagship for all the money in the world, but with characteristics that were unattainable for others. This was the Nokia N91, and it immediately attracted the attention of music fans around the world.
The main problem of music lovers in 2005 was memory, or rather its cost. The price of FLASH drives did not allow you to keep a large library in your pocket, and the maximum capacity of memory cards was also quite limited. That is why Nokia N91 became an experimental phone with a built-in hard disk.
It was not the first such device on the market, which gave us more confidence in the development. The Nokia N91 was equipped with 64 MB of memory and a 4 GB hard disk, and later an 8 GB version in black color was released. Finally, there was a phone that could hold dozens of MP3 albums in high quality!
In addition to the top music capabilities, the Nokia N91 had two (not dual-core, but two separate processors) 220 MHz Dual ARM 9 processors and the latest Symbian 9.1, which was both an advantage and a disadvantage. A Wi-Fi module, a 2 MP camera, FM radio, and incredibly fast operation of the device compared to other smartphones were nice bonuses.
The unique design with a hidden keyboard hinted that most of the time Nokia N91 was used as a music player, bringing the player control buttons to the forefront. Despite its incredible music capabilities, the best sound on the market, a 3.5 mm jack, and a large amount of storage, the Nokia N91 had a serious drawback.
The super-powerful processor (two processors) paired with the hard disk quickly consumed the small 900 mAh battery. It literally melted before our eyes, which was an unprecedented rarity at the time. The high-power consumption forced the company to abandon the use of HDD drives in phones in the future, but Nokia N91 managed to become a legend and carve its name on bronze tablets in the world of technology.
An absolute classic that is still relevant today. Most people think of the Nokia 6233 as a simple push-button phone that laid a solid foundation for the Nokia Series 40, but in fact it was a technological breakthrough, the beginning of a new era of mobile cameras.
In addition to stereo sound, a powerful processor, a high-quality screen and good multimedia capabilities, Nokia 6233 is the world’s first phone with VGA video recording. Until recently, 640×480 resolution was only available for taking photos, but by the end of 2005, an ordinary mid-range phone could shoot video.
You can watch videos shot on the Nokia 6233 on a large screen without eye strain. At the time, the quality was really impressive, although the frame rate was limited to 15 FPS. It was this model that became the basis for the future design and development of Nokia’s push-button phone series, not just Symbian smartphones.
After the release of Symbian 9.1 on the new kernel, regular Nokia phones became more and more relevant due to the terrible limitations of the once best Symbian operating system and its stupid certificates. The Nokia 6233 was a model, a benchmark of 2005, which had no weaknesses except for its high initial cost.
After the successful sales of Nokia 3230, engineers released a strange model of Nokia 3250 in the form of a rotary monoblock. The smartphone positioned itself as a music device, with dedicated keys on the front panel. The camera was located on the side, which was not a very good solution for this design.
The Nokia 3250’s music capabilities are excellent: stereo sound, a functional player, support for micro SD cards, but the problem was the price of the phone. Unlike its predecessor, the Nokia 3230 (a student smartphone), the price was too high to be a solution for young people.
And again, the new operating system imposed many restrictions after the successful and simple Symbian 7.0, 8.0, 8.1. It was a mediocre smartphone, but thanks to its good features, strong sound and a good camera, Nokia 3250 gained enough popularity to receive another sequel in the form of Nokia 5700 in the future.
A phone that makes your eyes pop out of your head is what fashion lovers, chic people, and those who care about the attention of others need. The so-called «lipstick» or Nokia 7380 was another crazy decision by designers who took away the digital pad and most of the keys, making the body incredibly long and stretched.
The tiny screen with a 2:1 ratio and 104×208 resolution had a special surface. In standby mode, the screen turned into a mirror, leaving no evidence of its existence. People liked the strange design, and Nokia 7380 became a welcome gift for the women deputies.
The price of Nokia 7380 was quite high, although the hardware was also good: 2 MP camera with LED flash, FM radio, 52 MB of internal memory, Bluetooth 2.0, and a body made of premium materials. Wealthy fashionistas dreamed of this phone as much as young instamodels dream of a brand-new iPhone.
The Nokia 7380 is another example of beauty, design, and style winning out over technology because back then people communicated by phone or with direct visual contact.
The Nokia 7380 kept its owner (hardly any man used it) in touch, not on the social media needle, as Apple iPhones and their bad copies, i.e. all Android smartphones, do now.
For a long time, Nokia has relied on QWERTY smartphones in a folding design, and it worked for a while. The latest attempt of the pen and the best phone in this form factor is the Nokia E70. It’s a business flagship for people who type a lot on the go, need a full keyboard, and don’t want to sacrifice the phone’s compactness.
The Nokia E70 was the final chord, the funeral music of a whole class of devices that were beginning to die out, but it went out with dignity as a premium device. The hardware was as productive as possible: two 220 MHz Dual ARM 9 processors, 64 MB ROM + Mini SD, 64 MB RAM (multitasking was impressive), a 2 MP camera, 3G UMTS 2100 support, and a premium screen with a resolution of 352×416 pixels.
Only a few Nokia smartphones could boast such a screen, including the N90. An important advantage of this model was the availability of Wi-Fi with support for VoIP. This feature alone was enough for a serious businessman in 2005 to say: «Shut up and take my money!
When folded up, it was just a regular phone in a classic format, so it was more convenient to use daily than huge QWERTY monoblocks. Due to its high cost and business positioning, the Nokia E70 did not become popular among mass consumers, but it deserved an honorable place in history.
The QWERTY monoblock market has been well studied by other manufacturers, but for Nokia it was a trial run. Despite little experience in developing such devices, Nokia E61 turned out to be incredibly successful. Numerous reviewers at the time of its release praised the E61’s amazing keyboard, which gave Blackberry, Palm, Qtek, HP, and all other smartphone manufacturers a run for their money.
The keys are gigantic, convex, and convenient for blind typing. Anyone who has ever typed on a Nokia E61 will realize that the modern touchscreen input method is a real crutch for young people.
It’s very easy to put any character through Shift, and it’s hard to make a mistake when you’re blind typing. All buttons are separate and feel good to the touch. These were the key success factors, and the powerful hardware with two processors and a giant 2.9-inch screen that could fit a lot of text also helped.
Like other top E-series models, Nokia E61 was equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, although there was no camera. Later, a version of the Nokia E61i was released with an improved design, a camera, and an updated navigation key.
Sadly, it was the first and at the same time the best QWERTY smartphone in the form of a vertical monoblock from Nokia. Newer models, such as Nokia E63, E71, E72, C5, E6, did not provide such a comfortable typing experience, as they sacrificed keyboard ergonomics for the sake of physical size. Fans were praying for another reincarnation of the Nokia E61 after the E61i, but they never got it.
This is an exemplary example of a smartphone that is used not for watching vertical videos, but for comfortable business communication, taking notes, and writing something really important.
We invite you to read the previous parts:
The world of mobile technology before the Apple iPhone: the best phones of 2000-2001
The world of mobile technology before the Apple iPhone: the best phones of 2002-2003
The world of mobile technology before the Apple iPhone: the best phones of 2004