View source for Engineering:Smartphone

{{Short description|Handheld mobile device}}
{{About||}}
[[File:Smartphone Use.jpg|thumb|right|A person using a [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S III|Samsung Galaxy S3]] smartphone.]]
A '''smartphone''' is a [[Engineering:Mobile device|portable computer device]] that combines [[Engineering:Mobile phone|mobile telephone]] functions and [[Mobile computing|computing]] functions into one unit. They are distinguished from older-design [[Engineering:Feature phone|feature phone]]s by their stronger hardware capabilities and extensive [[Mobile operating system|mobile operating system]]s, which facilitate wider software, access to the [[Internet|internet]] (including web browsing over mobile broadband), and [[Engineering:Multimedia|multimedia]] functionality (including music, video, [[Engineering:Camera phone|camera]]s, and gaming), alongside core phone functions such as voice calls and text messaging. Smartphones typically contain a number of metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) [[Engineering:Integrated circuit|integrated circuit]] (IC) chips, include various [[Engineering:Sensor|sensor]]s that can be leveraged by pre-installed and third-party software (such as a [[Physics:Magnetometer|magnetometer]], a [[Engineering:Proximity sensor|proximity sensor]], a [[Engineering:Barometer|barometer]], a [[Engineering:Gyroscope|gyroscope]], an [[Physics:Accelerometer|accelerometer]], and more), and support [[Engineering:Wireless|wireless]] communication protocols (such as [[Bluetooth]], [[Wi-Fi]], or [[Earth:Satellite navigation|satellite navigation]]). More recently, smartphone manufacturers have begun to integrate [[Engineering:Satellite phone#Integration into conventional mobile phones|satellite messaging]] connectivity and satellite emergency services into devices for use in remote regions where there is no reliable [[Engineering:Cellular network|cellular network]].

Following the rising popularity of the [[Engineering:IPhone|iPhone]] in the late 2000s, the majority of smartphones have featured thin, slate-like [[Engineering:Form factor (mobile phones)|form factors]] with large, [[Capacitive sensing|capacitive]] screens with support for multi-touch gestures rather than physical keyboards and have offered the ability for users to download or purchase additional [[Mobile app|applications]] from a centralized [[Software:App store|store]] and use [[Mobile cloud storage|cloud storage]] and synchronization, [[Engineering:Virtual assistant|virtual assistant]]s, as well as [[Finance:Mobile payment|mobile payment]] services. Smartphones have largely replaced [[Social:Personal digital assistant|PDAs]], [[Engineering:Handheld PC|handheld/palm-sized PCs]], [[Engineering:Portable media player|portable media player]]s (PMP),<ref name="Tom's Hardware">{{cite web|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Smartphones-iPod-MP3-Players-Sales,20062.html|title=Smartphones Heavily Decrease Sales of iPod, MP3 Players|work=Tom's Hardware|date=30 December 2012}}</ref> and, to a lesser extent, [[Handheld game console|handheld video game consoles]].

Improved hardware and faster wireless communication (due to standards such as [[Engineering:LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]) have bolstered the growth of the smartphone industry. In the third quarter of 2012, one billion smartphones were in use worldwide.{{Update inline|date=February 2023}}<ref name="Don Reisinger">{{cite web |title=Worldwide smartphone user base hits 1 billion |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57534132-94/worldwide-smartphone-user-base-hits-1-billion/ |work=CNet |access-date=July 26, 2013 |first=Don|last=Reisinger|date=October 17, 2012}}</ref> Global smartphone sales surpassed the sales figures for feature phones in early 2013.{{Update inline|date=February 2023}}<ref name="news1">{{cite news |url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Smartphones-now-outsell-dumb-phones/tabid/412/articleID/295878/Default.aspx | work= 3 News NZ | title= Smartphones now outsell 'dumb' phones | date= April 29, 2013 | access-date= April 29, 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130801114353/http://www.3news.co.nz/Smartphones-now-outsell-dumb-phones/tabid/412/articleID/295878/Default.aspx | archive-date= August 1, 2013 | url-status= dead}}</ref>


==History==
Early smartphones were marketed primarily towards the enterprise market, attempting to bridge the functionality of standalone [[Social:Personal digital assistant|personal digital assistant]] (PDA) devices with support for cellular [[Engineering:Telephony|telephony]], but were limited by their bulky form, [[Physics:History of the battery|short battery life]], slow analog cellular networks, and the immaturity of wireless data services. These issues were eventually resolved with the exponential scaling and [[Engineering:Miniaturization|miniaturization]] of MOS transistors down to sub-micron levels ([[Moore's law]]), the improved [[Engineering:Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion battery]], faster [[Engineering:Digital electronics|digital]] mobile data networks ([[Edholm's law]]), and more mature [[Mobile operating system|software]] [[Computing platform|platforms]] that allowed mobile device [[Digital ecosystem|ecosystems]] to develop independently of [[Engineering:Mobile network operator|data providers]].

In the 2000s, NTT DoCoMo's i-mode platform, [[Engineering:BlackBerry|BlackBerry]], [[Company:Nokia|Nokia]]'s [[Software:Symbian|Symbian]] platform, and [[Software:Windows Mobile|Windows Mobile]] began to gain market traction, with models often featuring [[Engineering:QWERTY|QWERTY]] keyboards or [[Engineering:Resistive touchscreen|resistive touchscreen]] input and emphasizing access to [[Push email|push email]] and wireless internet.

===Forerunner===
{{main|Engineering:IBM Simon}}
[[File:IBM Simon Personal Communicator.png|thumb|upright=0.7|IBM Simon and charging base (1994)<ref>{{cite web|title=From Backpack Transceiver to Smartphone: A Visual History of the Mobile Phone|first=Justin|last=Meyers|date=May 5, 2011|url=https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/news/from-backpack-transceiver-smartphone-visual-history-mobile-phone-0127134/|website=Gadget Hacks|access-date=June 28, 2022}}</ref>]]

In the early 1990s, [[Company:IBM|IBM]] engineer Frank Canova realised that chip-and-wireless technology was becoming small enough to use in handheld devices.<ref name="bloomberg">{{cite news |last1=Sager |first1=Ira |title=Before IPhone and Android Came Simon, the First Smartphone |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-06-29/before-iphone-and-android-came-simon-the-first-smartphone |access-date=18 August 2019 |work=Bloomberg.com |agency={{wipe|Bloomberg News}} |date=29 June 2012}}</ref> The first commercially available device that could be properly referred to as a "smartphone" began as a prototype called "Angler" developed by Canova in 1992 while at IBM and demonstrated in November of that year at the COMDEX computer industry trade show.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-29/before-iphone-and-android-came-simon-the-first-smartphone |title=Before IPhone and Android Came Simon, the First Smartphones |last=Sager |first=Ira |date=June 29, 2012 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=June 30, 2012 |quote=Simon was the first smartphone. Twenty years ago, it envisioned our app-happy mobile lives, squeezing the features of a cell phone, pager, fax machine, and computer into an 18-ounce black brick.}}</ref><ref name=schneidawind>{{cite news |last=Schneidawind |first=John |title=Poindexter putting finger on PC bugs; Big Blue unveiling |date=November 23, 1992 |newspaper=USA Today |page=2B}}</ref><ref name="BBC News">{{cite news |last1=Connelly |first1=Charlotte |title=World's first 'smartphone' celebrates 20 years|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28802053|website=BBC News|date=August 15, 2014 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=August 16, 2014}}</ref> A refined version was marketed to consumers in 1994 by BellSouth under the name [[Engineering:IBM Simon|Simon Personal Communicator]]. In addition to placing and receiving cellular calls, the touchscreen-equipped Simon could send and receive [[Engineering:Fax|fax]]es and [[Email|email]]s. It included an address book, calendar, appointment scheduler, calculator, world time clock, and notepad, as well as other visionary mobile applications such as maps, stock reports and news.<ref>[http://www.spinfold.com/first-touchscreen-phone/ History of first touchscreen smartphone] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501230834/http://www.spinfold.com/first-touchscreen-phone/ |date=May 1, 2016 }} Spinfold.com</ref>

The [[Engineering:IBM Simon|IBM Simon]] was manufactured by [[Company:Mitsubishi Electric|Mitsubishi Electric]], which integrated features from its own wireless [[Social:Personal digital assistant|personal digital assistant]] (PDA) and cellular radio technologies.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jin |first1=Dal Yong |title=Smartland Korea: Mobile Communication, Culture, and Society |date=2017 |publisher=[[Organization:University of Michigan Press|University of Michigan Press]] |isbn=9780472053377 |pages=34–35 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SjKNDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA34}}</ref> It featured a [[Engineering:Liquid-crystal display|liquid-crystal display]] (LCD) and [[Engineering:PC Card|PC Card]] support.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nochkin |first=Alexandr |date=July 10, 2013 |url=https://habrahabr.ru/company/ibm/blog/184490/ |title=IBM Simon. The first smartphone in the World. What's inside. |access-date=June 5, 2017 |publisher=Habrahabr.ru |work=IBM blog |language=ru}}</ref> The Simon was commercially unsuccessful, particularly due to its bulky form factor and limited battery life,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=First Smartphone Turns 20: Fun Facts About Simon |url=https://time.com/3137005/first-smartphone-ibm-simon/ |magazine={{wipe|Time (magazine)}} |access-date=18 August 2019 |date=18 August 2014}}</ref> using NiCad batteries rather than the [[Chemistry:Nickel–metal hydride battery|nickel–metal hydride batteries]] commonly used in mobile phones in the 1990s, or [[Engineering:Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion batteries]] used in modern smartphones.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mostefaoui |first1=Ghita K. |last2=Tariq |first2=Faisal |title=Mobile Apps Engineering: Design, Development, Security, and Testing |date=2018 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=9781351681438 |page=16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r4V7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT16}}</ref>

The term "smart phone" was not coined until a year after the introduction of the Simon, appearing in print as early as 1995, describing AT&T's PhoneWriter Communicator.<ref name="ACM Interactions article">{{cite journal |url=http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=208157 |title=Designing a GUI for Business Telephone users|last=Savage |first=Pamela |journal=Interactions|date=January 1995 |volume=2|pages=32–41|publisher=Association of Computing Machinery |doi=10.1145/208143.208157|s2cid=19863684|access-date=September 13, 2014 |quote=...It is at this point that early usability test participants met impasse.  The switch connected to our "smart phone" is expecting the typical "dumb end-point"...  AT&T's PhoneWriter was demonstrated at the 1993 Comdex Computer Show...}}</ref>{{primary inline|date=September 2016}}  The term "smartphone" was first used by [[Company:Ericsson|Ericsson]] in 1997 to describe a new device concept, the GS88.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Andersen|first1=Kim Normann|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xd6HDE5wUIoC&pg=PA278|title=Electronic Government and the Information Systems Perspective: Second International Conference, EGOVIS 2011, Toulouse, France, August 29 -- September 2, 2011, Proceedings|last2=Francesconi|first2=Enrico|last3=Grönlund|first3=Ake|last4=Engers|first4=Tom M. van|date=2011-08-19|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-3-642-22960-2 }}</ref>

===PDA/phone hybrids===
{{main|Social:Personal digital assistant}}

Beginning in the mid-late 1990s, many people who had mobile phones carried a separate dedicated [[Social:Personal digital assistant|PDA]] device, running early versions of operating systems such as [[Software:Palm OS|Palm OS]], [[Software:Newton OS|Newton OS]], [[Software:Symbian|Symbian]] or [[Software:Windows CE|Windows CE]]/[[Engineering:Pocket PC|Pocket PC]]. These operating systems would later evolve into early [[Mobile operating system|mobile operating system]]s. Most of the "smartphones" in this era were hybrid devices that combined these existing familiar PDA OSes with basic phone hardware. The results were devices that were bulkier than either dedicated mobile phones or PDAs, but allowed a limited amount of cellular Internet access. PDA and mobile phone manufacturers competed in reducing the size of devices. The bulk of these smartphones combined with their high cost and expensive data plans, plus other drawbacks such as expansion limitations and decreased battery life compared to separate standalone devices, generally limited their popularity to "[[Physics:Early adopter|early adopter]]s" and business users who needed portable connectivity.

In March 1996, [[Company:Hewlett-Packard|Hewlett-Packard]] released the OmniGo 700LX, a modified [[Engineering:HP 200LX|HP 200LX]] palmtop PC with a Nokia 2110 mobile phone piggybacked onto it and [[Read-only memory|ROM]]-based software to support it.  It had a 640×200 resolution CGA compatible four-shade gray-scale LCD screen and could be used to place and receive calls, and to create and receive text messages, emails and faxes.  It was also 100% [[Engineering:DOS|DOS]] 5.0 compatible, allowing it to run thousands of existing software titles, including early versions of [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Windows]].

[[File:Nokia-9110-2.jpg|thumb|The Nokia 9110 Communicator, opened for access to keyboard]]

In August 1996, [[Company:Nokia|Nokia]] released the [[Engineering:Nokia 9000 Communicator|Nokia 9000 Communicator]], a digital cellular PDA based on the Nokia 2110 with an integrated system based on the PEN/GEOS 3.0 operating system from Geoworks. The two components were attached by a hinge in what became known as a [[Engineering:Clamshell design|clamshell design]], with the display above and a physical QWERTY keyboard below. The PDA provided e-mail; calendar, address book, [[Engineering:Calculator|calculator]] and notebook applications; text-based Web browsing; and could send and receive faxes. When closed, the device could be used as a digital cellular telephone.

In June 1999 [[Company:Qualcomm|Qualcomm]] released the "pdQ Smartphone", a [[Code-division multiple access|CDMA]] digital [[Engineering:Personal Communications Service|PCS]] smartphone with an integrated [[Software:Palm OS|Palm]] PDA and Internet connectivity.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.qualcomm.com/media/releases/1999/06/15/qualcomm-s-pdq-smartphone-provides-ideal-platform-wireless-business | title=Qualcomm's pdQ Smartphone | publisher=Qualcomm}}</ref>

Subsequent landmark devices included:

* The Ericsson R380 (December 2000)<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=Ericsson R380 / R380s {{!}} Device Specs |url=http://phonedb.net/index.php?m=device&id=1062&c=ericsson_r380__r380s |website=PhoneDB |date=January 25, 2008 |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref> by Ericsson Mobile Communications,<ref name="geek-com-r380-review">{{cite web | url=http://www.geek.com/hwswrev/pda/ericr380/ | title=PDA Review: Ericsson R380 Smartphone | publisher=Geek.com | access-date=April 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712081211/http://www.geek.com/hwswrev/pda/ericr380/ | archive-date=July 12, 2011}}</ref> the first phone running the operating system later named Symbian (it ran [[Software:EPOC (operating system)|EPOC]] Release 5, which was renamed Symbian OS at Release 6). It had PDA functionality and limited Web browsing on a [[Engineering:Resistive touchscreen|resistive touchscreen]] utilizing a [[Stylus (computing)|stylus]].<ref name="ericsson-r380-review">{{cite news | url=http://uk.pcmag.com/ericsson-r380-world/31723/review/ericsson-r380-world | title=Ericsson R380 World Review & Rating | work=PC Magazine | date=April 24, 2001 | first=Bruce | last=Brown}}</ref> While it was marketed as a "smartphone",<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mobilemag.com/2001/09/25/ericsson-introduces-the-new-r380e | title=Ericsson Introduces The New R380e | work=Mobile Magazine | access-date=April 27, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325060908/http://www.mobilemag.com/2001/09/25/ericsson-introduces-the-new-r380e/ | archive-date=March 25, 2012 | url-status=dead}}</ref> users could not install their own software on the device.
* The [[Engineering:Kyocera 6035|Kyocera 6035]] (February 2001),<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=Kyocera QCP 6035 {{!}} Device Specs |url=http://phonedb.net/index.php?m=device&id=1163&c=kyocera_qcp_6035 |website=PhoneDB |date=February 29, 2008 |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref> a dual-nature device with a separate [[Software:Palm OS|Palm OS]] PDA operating system and CDMA mobile phone firmware. It supported limited Web browsing with the PDA software treating the phone hardware as an attached modem.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=1707 |title=Kyocera QCP 6035 Smartphone Review |website=Palm Infocenter |date=March 16, 2001 |access-date=September 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Segan |first=Sascha |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2361664,00.asp |title=Kyocera Launches First Smartphone In Years &#124; News & Opinion |publisher=PCmag.com |date=March 23, 2010 |access-date=September 7, 2011}}</ref> 
* The [[Engineering:Nokia 9210 Communicator|Nokia 9210 Communicator]] (June 2001),<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=Nokia 9210 Communicator Device Specs |url=http://phonedb.net/index.php?m=device&id=886&c=nokia_9210_communicator |website=PhoneDB |date=16 Oct 2007 |access-date=28 Sep 2019}}</ref> the first phone running Symbian (Release 6) with [[Company:Nokia|Nokia]]'s [[Software:Series 80 (software platform)|Series 80]] platform (v1.0). This was the first Symbian phone platform allowing the installation of additional applications. Like the Nokia 9000 Communicator it's a large clamshell device with a full physical QWERTY keyboard inside.
* Handspring's [[Engineering:Treo 180|Treo 180]] (2002), the first smartphone that fully integrated the [[Software:Palm OS|Palm OS]] on a GSM mobile phone having telephony, SMS messaging and Internet access built into the OS. The 180 model had a thumb-type keyboard and the 180g version had a [[Graffiti (Palm OS)|Graffiti]] handwriting recognition area, instead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobiletechreview.com/handspring_treo.htm |title=Handspring Treo Communicator 180 |publisher=mobiletechreview.com |access-date=2016-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617023521/http://www.mobiletechreview.com/handspring_treo.htm |archive-date=June 17, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Japanese cell phones ===

In 1999, Japanese wireless provider NTT DoCoMo launched i-mode, a new mobile internet platform which provided data transmission speeds up to 9.6 kilobits per second, and access web services available through the platform such as online shopping. NTT DoCoMo's i-mode used cHTML, a language which restricted some aspects of traditional [[HTML]] in favor of increasing data speed for the devices. Limited functionality, small screens and limited bandwidth allowed for phones to use the slower data speeds available. The rise of i-mode helped NTT DoCoMo accumulate an estimated 40 million subscribers by the end of 2001, and ranked first in market capitalization in Japan and second globally.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Rose|first=Frank|title=Pocket Monster: How DoCoMo's wireless Internet service went from fad to phenom - and turned Japan into the first post-PC nation|magazine=Wired|date=Sep 2001|volume=9|issue=9|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.09/docomo_pr.html|access-date=January 24, 2014}}</ref> Japanese cell phones increasingly diverged from global standards and trends to offer other forms of advanced services and smartphone-like functionality that were specifically tailored to the Japanese market, such as [[Finance:Mobile payment|mobile payment]]s and shopping, [[Near-field communication|near-field communication]] (NFC) allowing [[Finance:Osaifu-Keitai|mobile wallet]] functionality to replace [[Smart card|smart card]]s for transit fares, loyalty cards, identity cards, event tickets, coupons, money transfer, etc., downloadable content like musical [[Engineering:Ringtone|ringtone]]s, [[Software:Mobile game|game]]s, and comics, and [[Company:1seg|1seg]] [[Engineering:Mobile television|mobile television]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnes, Stuart J|first=Huff, Sid L.|title=Rising Sun: iMode and the Wireless Internet, Vol. 46, No. 1|date=November 1, 2003|publisher=Communications of the ACM|pages=79–84}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Anwar|first=Sayid Tariq|title=NTT DoCoMo and M-Commerce: A Case Study in Market Expansion and Global Strategy |url=http://www.itu.dk/~rold/1_sem/B1/Cases/DoCoMo.pdf|publisher=The American Graduate School of International Management |access-date=February 16, 2014}}</ref> Phones built by Japanese manufacturers used custom [[Firmware|firmware]], however, and didn't yet feature standardized [[Mobile operating system|mobile operating system]]s designed to cater to third-party application development, so their software and ecosystems were akin to very advanced [[Engineering:Feature phone|feature phone]]s. As with other feature phones, additional software and services required partnerships and deals with providers.

The degree of integration between phones and carriers, unique phone features, non-standardized platforms, and tailoring to Japanese culture made it difficult for Japanese manufacturers to export their phones, especially when demand was so high in Japan that the companies didn't feel the need to look elsewhere for additional profits.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/technology/20cell.html|title=Why Japan's Smartphones Haven't Gone Global|last=Tabuchi|first=Hiroko|work=The New York Times|date=July 20, 2009 |access-date=2018-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Budmar|first=Patrick|url=https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/430254/why_japanese_smartphones_never_went_global/|title=Why Japanese smartphones never went global|work=PC World AU|date=11 July 2012|access-date=2018-10-06 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Devin |last=Stewart |title=Slowing Japan's Galapagos Syndrome |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/devin-stewart/slowing-japans-galapagos_b_557446.html |quote='Galapagos syndrome', a phrase originally coined to describe Japanese cell phones that were so advanced they had little in common with devices used in the rest of the world, could potentially spread to other parts of society. Indeed signs suggest it is happening already. |work=Huffington Post |date=April 29, 2010 |access-date=2010-06-24 |}}</ref>

The rise of [[3G|3G]] technology in other markets and non-Japanese phones with powerful standardized [[Mobile operating system|smartphone operating system]]s, [[Software:App store|app store]]s, and advanced wireless network capabilities allowed non-Japanese phone manufacturers to finally break in to the Japanese market, gradually adopting Japanese phone features like [[Emoji|emoji]]s, mobile payments, NFC, etc. and spreading them to the rest of the world.

=== Early smartphones ===
[[File:BlackBerry 8820, BlackBerry Bold 9900 and BlackBerry Classic.jpg|thumb|Several BlackBerry smartphones, which were highly popular in the mid-late 2000s]]

Phones that made effective use of any significant data connectivity were still rare outside Japan until the introduction of the [[Engineering:Danger Hiptop|Danger Hiptop]] in 2002, which saw moderate success among U.S. consumers as the T-Mobile Sidekick. Later, in the mid-2000s, business users in the U.S. started to adopt devices based on Microsoft's [[Software:Windows Mobile|Windows Mobile]], and then [[Engineering:BlackBerry|BlackBerry]] smartphones from Research In Motion. American users popularized the term "CrackBerry" in 2006 due to the BlackBerry's addictive nature.<ref>{{cite news|title=Info Addicts Are All Thumbs: Crackberry Is the 2006 Word of the Year|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/websters-new-worldr-college-dictionary-info-addicts-are-all-thumbs-55824847.html|access-date=January 24, 2014|newspaper=PR Newswire|date=November 1, 2006}}</ref> In the U.S., the high cost of data plans and relative rarity of devices with [[Wi-Fi]] capabilities that could avoid cellular data network usage kept adoption of smartphones mainly to business professionals and "early adopters."

Outside the U.S. and Japan, Nokia was seeing success with its smartphones based on [[Software:Symbian|Symbian]], originally developed by [[Company:Psion|Psion]] for their personal organisers, and it was the most popular smartphone OS in [[Earth:Europe|Europe]] during the middle to late 2000s. Initially, Nokia's Symbian smartphones were focused on business with the [[Engineering:Nokia Eseries|Eseries]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brighthub.com/mobile/symbian-platform/articles/88622.aspx |title=The Nokia E Series Range of Smartphones |publisher=Brighthub.com |date=27 September 2010 |access-date=6 September 2017 }}</ref> similar to Windows Mobile and BlackBerry devices at the time. From 2002 onwards, Nokia started producing consumer-focused smartphones, popularized by the entertainment-focused Nseries. Until 2010, Symbian was the world's most widely used smartphone operating system.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schroeder |first=Stan |url=http://mashable.com/2010/02/23/gartner-smartphones/ |title=Smartphones in 2009: Symbian Dominates, iPhone, RIM and Android Rising Fast |publisher=Mashable |date=23 February 2010 |access-date=3 September 2013}}</ref>

The touchscreen [[Social:Personal digital assistant|personal digital assistant]] (PDA)-derived nature of adapted operating systems like [[Software:Palm OS|Palm OS]], the "[[Engineering:Pocket PC|Pocket PC]]" versions of what was later [[Software:Windows Mobile|Windows Mobile]], and the [[Engineering:UIQ|UIQ]] interface that was originally designed for pen-based PDAs on Symbian OS devices resulted in some early smartphones having stylus-based interfaces. These allowed for virtual keyboards and/or handwriting input, thus also allowing easy entry of Asian characters.<ref name="JobsKilledTheStylus">{{cite web|last1=Whitwam|first1=Ryan|url=https://www.extremetech.com/computing/98923-how-steve-jobs-killed-the-stylus-and-made-smartphones-usable|title=How Steve Jobs killed the stylus and made smartphones usable |website=ExtremeTech |access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

By the mid-2000s, the majority of smartphones had a physical [[Engineering:QWERTY|QWERTY]] keyboard. Most used a "[[Engineering:Form factor (mobile phones)#Keyboard bars|keyboard bar]]" form factor, like the [[Engineering:BlackBerry|BlackBerry]] line, [[Software:Windows Mobile|Windows Mobile]] smartphones, [[Engineering:Palm Treo|Palm Treo]]s, and some of the [[Engineering:Nokia Eseries|Nokia Eseries]]. A few hid their full physical QWERTY keyboard in a [[Engineering:Form factor (mobile phones)#Slider|sliding form factor]], like the [[Engineering:Danger Hiptop|Danger Hiptop]] line. Some even had only a [[Engineering:Telephone keypad|numeric keypad]] using [[T9 (predictive text)|T9 text input]], like the Nokia Nseries and other models in the [[Engineering:Nokia Eseries|Nokia Eseries]]. [[Engineering:Resistive touchscreen|Resistive touchscreen]]s with [[Stylus (computing)|stylus]]-based interfaces could still be found on a few smartphones, like the [[Engineering:Palm Treo|Palm Treo]]s, which had dropped their handwriting input after a few early models that were available in versions with [[Graffiti (Palm OS)|Graffiti]] instead of a keyboard.

=== Form factor and operating system shifts ===
[[File:LG KE850 Prada Hauptmenü.jpg|thumb|upright|The LG Prada with a large capacitive touchscreen introduced in 2006]]
[[File:IPhone 1st Gen.svg|thumb|upright|The original [[Engineering:IPhone (1st generation)|Apple iPhone]]; following its introduction the common smartphone form factor shifted to large touchscreen software interfaces without physical keypads<ref name="How iPhone Changed the World"/>]]

The late 2000s and early 2010s saw a shift in smartphone interfaces away from devices with physical keyboards and keypads to ones with large finger-operated [[Engineering:Touchscreen#Capacitive|capacitive]] touchscreens.<ref name="How iPhone Changed the World">{{cite web |last=Elgan |first=Mike |title=How iPhone Changed the World |url=https://www.cultofmac.com/103229/how-iphone-changed-the-world/ |website=Cult of Mac |date=July 2, 2011 |access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref> The first phone of any kind with a large capacitive touchscreen was the [[Engineering:LG Prada|LG Prada]], announced by [[Company:LG Electronics|LG]] in December 2006.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.lge.com/about/press_archive/detail/AB_NARCH%7CMENU_1_20302.jhtml |title=LG, Prada to Start Selling Mobile Phone at Start of Next Year |date=December 11, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108070435/http://www.lge.com/about/press_archive/detail/AB_NARCH%7CMENU_1_20302.jhtml |archive-date=January 8, 2007}}</ref> This was a fashionable [[Engineering:Feature phone|feature phone]] created in collaboration with Italian luxury designer Prada with a 3" 240x400 pixel screen, a 2-Megapixel digital camera with 144p video recording ability, an LED flash, and a miniature mirror for self portraits.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gsmhistory.com/vintage-mobiles/#prada|title =Vintage Mobiles: LG Prada - First mobile with a capacitive touchscreen (May 2007) |last=Temple|first=Stephen|publisher=History of GMS: Birth of the mobile revolution}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_ke850_prada-1828.php |title=LG KE850 Prada review: Sophistication made simple |date=2007-05-27 |access-date=2021-06-23 |page=4 }}</ref>

In January 2007, [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]] introduced the [[Engineering:IPhone (1st generation)|iPhone]].<ref>{{cite video | people=Jobs, Steve | date=January 19, 2007 | url=https://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/mwsf07/ | title=Macworld San Francisco 2007 Keynote Address | location=San Francisco | publisher=Apple, Inc. | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222223204/http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/mwsf07/ | archive-date=December 22, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.macworld.com/article/54764/2007/01/liveupdate.html | title=Macworld Expo Keynote Live Update | first=Peter | last=Cohen | date=March 13, 2007 | work=Macworld | access-date=July 21, 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724170414/http://www.macworld.com/article/54764/2007/01/liveupdate.html | archive-date=July 24, 2010 
}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=Apple Reinvents the Phone with iPhone |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2007/01/09Apple-Reinvents-the-Phone-with-iPhone/ |publisher=[[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]] |date=January 9, 2007 |access-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref> It had a 3.5" [[Engineering:Touchscreen#Capacitive|capacitive]] touchscreen with twice the common resolution of most [[Engineering:Comparison of smartphones#2007|smartphone screens at the time]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Louis |first=Tristan |title=The iPhone is here  |url=http://www.tnl.net/blog/2007/01/09/the-iphone-is-here/ |website=TNL.net |date=January 9, 2007 |access-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref> and introduced multi-touch to phones, which allowed gestures such as "pinching" to zoom in or out on photos, maps, and web pages. The iPhone was notable as being the first device of its kind targeted at the mass market to abandon the use of a stylus, keyboard, or keypad typical of contemporary smartphones, instead using a large touchscreen for direct finger input as its main means of interaction.<ref name="JobsKilledTheStylus"/>

The iPhone's [[Mobile operating system|operating system]] was also a shift away from older operating systems (which older phones supported and which were adapted from [[Social:Personal digital assistant|PDA]]s and [[Engineering:Feature phone|feature phone]]s) to an operative system powerful enough to not require using a limited, [[Software:Mobile browser|stripped down web browser]] that can only render pages specially formatted using technologies such as [[Wireless Markup Language|WML]], cHTML, or [[XHTML]] and instead ran a version of Apple's [[Software:Safari (web browser)|Safari]] browser that could easily render full websites<ref>{{cite news |first1=Walter S. |last1=Mossberg |first2=Katherine |last2=Boehret |title=The iPhone Is a Breakthrough Handheld Computer |url=http://solution.allthingsd.com/20070626/the-iphone-is-breakthrough-handheld-computer/ |work=The Mossberg Solution |date=June 26, 2007 |quote=The iPhone is the first smart phone we've tested with a real, computer-grade Web browser, a version of Apple's Safari. It displays entire Web pages, in their real layouts, and allows you to zoom in quickly by either tapping or pinching with your finger.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Levy |first=Steven |title=First Look: Test Driving the iPhone |url=https://www.newsweek.com/first-look-test-driving-iphone-102625 |work=Newsweek |date=June 25, 2007 |access-date=October 16, 2019 |quote=Web-browsing is where the iPhone leaves competitors in the dust. It does the best job yet of compressing the World Wide Web on a palm-size device. The screen can nicely display an entire Web page, and by dragging, tapping, pinching and stretching your fingers you can zero in on the part of the page you want to read. Web pages you wouldn't dare go to on other phones are suddenly accessible}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Ed |last=Baig |title=iPhone Review |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2007-06-26-iphone-review_N.htm |work=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |date=June 26, 2007 |access-date=October 16, 2019 |quote=This is the closest thing to the real-deal Internet that I've seen on a pocket-size device ... IPhone runs Apple's Safari browser. You can view full Web pages, then double-tap the screen to zoom in. Or pinch to make text larger. Sliding your finger moves the page around. Rotating iPhone lets you view a page widescreen.|author-link=Ed Baig }}</ref> not specifically designed for phones.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shea |first=Dave |title=iMobile |url=http://mezzoblue.com/archives/2007/01/09/imobile/ |website=mezzoblue.com |date=January 9, 2007 |access-date=October 16, 2019 |quote=It doesn't run a stripped-down mobile browser that delivers a sub-par experience, it runs Safari - a customized version with special UI tweaks, but that's still WebKit under the hood. It will render your site the same way your desktop does. |archive-date=October 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017062248/http://mezzoblue.com/archives/2007/01/09/imobile/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Later Apple shipped a [[Software:IPhone OS 2|software update]] that gave the iPhone a built-in on-device [[Software:App Store (iOS)|App Store]] allowing direct wireless downloads of third-party software.<ref>{{cite web | first=Geoff | last=Duncan | title=Apple confirms iPhone SDK coming next year | url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/apple/apple-confirms-iphone-sdk-coming-next-year/ | website=[[Company:Digital Trends|Digital Trends]] | date=October 17, 2007 | access-date=June 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Steve Jobs confirms native iPhone SDK by February | url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/07/10/17/steve_jobs_confirms_native_iphone_sdk_by_february | website=AppleInsider | date=October 17, 2007 | access-date=June 11, 2017}}</ref> This kind of centralized App Store and free [[Software development kit|developer tools]]<ref>{{cite web | first=Jim | last=Dalrymple | title=Apple unveils iPhone SDK | url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1132400/iphonesdk.html | website=Macworld | publisher=International Data Group | date=March 6, 2008 | access-date=June 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first=Ryan | last=Block |  title=Live from Apple's iPhone SDK press conference | url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/live-from-apples-iphone-press-conference/ | website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] | publisher=AOL | date=March 6, 2008 | access-date=June 11, 2017}}</ref> quickly became the new main paradigm for all smartphone platforms for software [[Software development|development]], [[Software distribution|distribution]], discovery, [[Software:Installation (computer programs)|installation]], and payment, in place of expensive developer tools that required official approval to use and a dependence on [[List of mobile app distribution platforms#Third-party platforms|third-party sources]] providing applications for multiple platforms.<ref name="How iPhone Changed the World" />

The advantages of a design with software powerful enough to support advanced applications and a large capacitive touchscreen affected the development of another smartphone OS platform, [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]], with a more BlackBerry-like prototype device scrapped in favor of a touchscreen device with a slide-out physical keyboard, as Google's engineers thought at the time that a touchscreen could not completely replace a physical keyboard and buttons.<ref name=atlantic-startover>{{cite web|title=The Day Google Had to 'Start Over' on Android|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/12/the-day-google-had-to-start-over-on-android/282479/|work=The Atlantic|date=December 18, 2013|access-date=20 December 2013}}</ref><ref name="AndroidInc">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2005/tc20050817_0949_tc024.htm |title=Google Buys Android for Its Mobile Arsenal |last=Elgin |first=Ben |date=17 August 2005 |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |publisher=Bloomberg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205190729/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2005/tc20050817_0949_tc024.htm |archive-date=5 February 2011 |url-status=live |access-date=2012-02-20}}</ref><ref name="EngadgetMobileOS">{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007/08/28/google-is-working-on-a-mobile-os-and-its-due-out-shortly |title=Google is working on a mobile OS, and it's due out shortly |last=Block |first=Ryan |work=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |date=28 August 2007 |access-date=2012-02-17}}</ref> Android is based around a modified Linux kernel, again providing more power than [[Mobile operating system|mobile operating system]]s adapted from PDAs and feature phones. The first Android device, the horizontal-sliding [[Engineering:HTC Dream|HTC Dream]], was released in September 2008.<ref name="cnet-tmobileretailer">{{cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/all-t-mobile-retail-stores-to-carry-g1/ | title=All T-Mobile retail stores to carry G1 | first = Bonnie | last = Cha | date = January 23, 2009 | website = CNET | access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>

In 2012, [[Company:Asus|Asus]] started experimenting with a convertible docking system named ''[[Engineering:Asus PadFone|PadFone]]'', where the standalone handset can when necessary be inserted into a tablet-sized screen unit with integrated supportive battery and used as such.

In 2013 and 2014, Samsung experimented with the hybrid combination of compact camera and smartphone, releasing the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom|Galaxy S4 Zoom]] and K Zoom, each equipped with integrated 10× optical zoom lens and manual parameter settings (including manual exposure and focus) years before these were widely adapted among smartphones. The S4 Zoom additionally has a rotary knob ring around the lens and a tripod mount.

While screen sizes have increased, manufacturers have attempted to make smartphones thinner at the expense of utility and sturdiness, since a thinner frame is more vulnerable to bending and has less space for components, namely battery capacity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bendgate: Is the iPhone 6 Plus bending too easily or is it a st |url=https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/news/131105-bendgate-is-the-iphone-6-plus-bending-too-easily-or-is-it-a-storm-in-a-teacup |website=www.pocket-lint.com |access-date=26 January 2022 |language=en-gb |date=24 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Oreskovic |first1=Alexei |title=Here's Samsung's infographic that explains why the Note 7 phones exploded |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-infographic-explains-why-galaxy-note-7-phones-exploded-2017-1 |website=Business Insider |access-date=26 January 2022 |date=23 January 2017}}</ref>

==== Operating system competition ====
[[File:Meizu MX4.jpg|thumb|upright|A [[Engineering:Meizu MX4|Meizu MX4]] with Flyme OS]]
{{anchor|Smartphone_OS_competition}}<!--Previous title anchored in order to avoid breaking existing section links-->
The iPhone and later touchscreen-only Android devices together popularized the slate [[Engineering:Form factor (mobile phones)|form factor]], based on a large capacitive touchscreen as the sole means of interaction, and led to the decline of earlier, keyboard- and keypad-focused platforms.<ref name="How iPhone Changed the World" /> Later, navigation keys such as the home, ''back'', ''menu'', ''task'' and ''search'' buttons have also been increasingly replaced by nonphysical touch keys, then virtual, simulated on-screen navigation keys, commonly with access combinations such as a long press of the task key to simulate a short menu key press, as with home button to search.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to access the hardware menu button on Samsung Galaxy S5? |url=https://galaxys5guide.com/samsung-galaxy-s5-how-to-guides/how-to-access-the-hardware-menu-button/ |website=Samsung Galaxy S5 Guide |date=2014-05-07}}</ref>  More recent "bezel-less" types have their screen surface space extended to the unit's front bottom to compensate for the display area lost for simulating the navigation keys. While virtual keys offer more potential customizability, their location may be inconsistent among systems and/or depending on screen rotation and software used.
 
Multiple vendors attempted to update or replace their existing smartphone platforms and devices to better-compete with Android and the iPhone; Palm unveiled a new platform known as [[Software:WebOS|webOS]] for its [[Engineering:Palm Pre|Palm Pre]] in late-2009 to replace [[Software:Palm OS|Palm OS]], which featured a focus on a task-based "card" metaphor and seamless synchronization and integration between various online services (as opposed to the then-conventional concept of a smartphone needing a PC to serve as a "canonical, authoritative repository" for user data).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/01/palm-launches-new-handset-pre-operating-system-at-ces/|title=Palm strikes back with new OS, pre handset at CES|last=Stokes|first=Jon|date=2009-01-08|website=Ars Technica |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/01/of-clouds-palms-webos-and-cutting-the-cord/|title="Synergy" means no need to "save" or "sync" on Palm's pre|last=Stokes|first=Jon|date=2009-01-12|website=Ars Technica |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> [[Company:Hewlett-Packard|HP]] acquired Palm in 2010 and released several other webOS devices, including the Pre 3 and [[Engineering:HP TouchPad|HP TouchPad]] tablet. As part of a proposed divestment of its consumer business to focus on enterprise software, HP abruptly ended development of future webOS devices in August 2011, and sold the rights to webOS to [[Company:LG Electronics|LG Electronics]] in 2013, for use as a [[Engineering:Smart TV|smart TV]] platform.<ref>{{cite news|last=Iwatani|first=Yukari|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904070604576516770382416428|title=Pioneering Firm Bows to 'Post-PC World'|date=August 19, 2011|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=November 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-21587666|title=HP sells Palm WebOS assets to LG|date=2013-02-26|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-02 }}</ref>

Research in Motion introduced the vertical-sliding [[Engineering:BlackBerry Torch|BlackBerry Torch]] and BlackBerry OS 6 in 2010, which featured a redesigned user interface, support for gestures such as pinch-to-zoom, and a new web browser based on the same [[Software:WebKit|WebKit]] rendering engine used by the iPhone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/blackberry-torch-9800-review/|title=BlackBerry Torch 9800 review: BlackBerry Torch 9800|last=Cha|first=Bonnie|website=CNET |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2010/09/21/can-blackerry-torch-compete-with-iphone/|title=Can Blackerry Torch compete with iPhone?|date=2010-09-21|website=Orange County Register |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> The following year, RIM released BlackBerry OS 7 and new models in the [[Engineering:BlackBerry Bold|Bold]] and Torch ranges, which included a new Bold with a touchscreen alongside its keyboard, and the Torch 9860—the first BlackBerry phone to not include a physical keyboard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/rim-launches-blackberry-torch-9810-torch-9850-and/|title=RIM launches BlackBerry Torch 9810, Torch 9860 and Bold 9900, we go hands-on!|website=Engadget |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> In 2013, it replaced the legacy BlackBerry OS with a revamped, [[QNX]]-based platform known as [[Software:BlackBerry 10|BlackBerry 10]], with the all-touch [[Engineering:BlackBerry Z10|BlackBerry Z10]] and keyboard-equipped [[Engineering:BlackBerry Q10|Q10]] as launch devices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/30/3929760/blackberry-z10-review|title=BlackBerry Z10 review: a new life, or life support?|last=Topolsky|first=Joshua|date=2013-01-30|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref>

In 2010, Microsoft unveiled a replacement for Windows Mobile known as [[Software:Windows Phone|Windows Phone]], featuring a new touchscreen-centric user interface built around [[Flat design|flat design]] and typography, a home screen with "live tiles" containing feeds of updates from apps, as well as integrated [[Software:Microsoft Office|Microsoft Office]] apps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/189347/Windows_Phone_7_An_Indepth_Look_at_the_Features_and_Interface.html|title=Windows Phone 7: An In-depth Look at the Features and Interface|date=2010-02-15|website=PCWorld |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> In February 2011, Nokia announced that it had entered into a major partnership with Microsoft, under which it would exclusively use Windows Phone on all of its future smartphones, and integrate Microsoft's [[Software:Bing (search engine)|Bing]] search engine and [[Software:Bing Maps|Bing Maps]] (which, as part of the partnership, would also license Nokia Maps data) into all future devices. The announcement led to the abandonment of both Symbian, as well as [[Software:MeeGo|MeeGo]]—a Linux-based mobile platform it was co-developing with Intel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-12427680|title=Nokia and Microsoft form partnership|date=11 February 2011|website=BBC News|access-date=16 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Weintraub |first=Seth |url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/02/08/nokias-elop-drops-bomb-the-platform-is-on-fire/ |title=Nokia's Elop drops bomb: the platform is on fire |publisher=CNN |date=2011-02-08 |access-date=2013-06-14 |archive-date=June 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627165328/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/02/08/nokias-elop-drops-bomb-the-platform-is-on-fire/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=ben-Aaron|first=Diana|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-11/nokia-joins-forces-with-microsoft-to-challenge-dominance-of-apple-google.html|title=Nokia Falls Most Since July 2009 After Microsoft Deal|date=11 February 2011|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref> Nokia's low-end Lumia 520 saw strong demand and helped Windows Phone gain niche popularity in some markets,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/10/windows-phone-is-now-officially-dead-a-sad-tale-of-what-might-have-been/|title=Windows Phone is now officially dead: A sad tale of what might have been|last=Bright|first=Peter|date=2017-10-09|website=Ars Technica |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref> overtaking BlackBerry in global market share in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/lumia-520-extends-lead-as-most-popular-windows-phone-as-nokia-takes-90-percent-of-the-market/|title=Lumia 520 extends lead as most popular Windows Phone, as Nokia takes 90 percent of the market|last=Tung|first=Liam|website=ZDNet |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/idc-windows-phone-sees-largest-year-over-year-increase-android-still-dominates/|title=IDC: Windows Phone sees largest year-over-year increase, Android still dominates|last=Miller|first=Matthew|website=ZDNet |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref>

In mid-June 2012, [[Software:Meizu|Meizu]] released its mobile operating system, Flyme OS.

Many of these attempts to compete with Android and iPhone were short-lived. Over the course of the decade, the two platforms became a clear [[Finance:Duopoly|duopoly]] in smartphone sales and market share, with BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and other operating systems eventually stagnating to little or no measurable market share.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/16/14634656/android-ios-market-share-blackberry-2016|title=99.6 percent of new smartphones run Android or iOS|last=Vincent|first=James|date=2017-02-16|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/8/20/9181269/gartner-q2-2015-smartphone-sales|title=96.8 percent of new smartphones sold are either iPhone or Android devices|last=Savov|first=Vlad|date=2015-08-20|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> In 2015, BlackBerry began to pivot away from its in-house mobile platforms in favor of producing Android devices, focusing on a security-enhanced distribution of the software. The following year, the company announced that it would also exit the hardware market to focus more on software and its enterprise middleware,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/au/news/blackberry-to-stop-building-its-own-smartphones/|title=BlackBerry bails on building its own phones|work=CNET|access-date=June 21, 2017 }}</ref> and began to license the BlackBerry brand and its Android distribution to third-party OEMs such as [[Company:TCL Corporation|TCL]] for future devices.<ref name="tc-tcldeal">{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/15/blackberry/|title=TCL signs an exclusive deal to build BlackBerry-branded phones|website=TechCrunch|date=December 15, 2016 |access-date=December 15, 2016}}</ref><ref name=gandm-bbpriv>{{cite news|title=BlackBerry bets on Android's apps to buoy new Priv|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/tech-news/blackberry-revenue-falls-short-adjusted-loss-more-than-expected/article26539263/|access-date=26 September 2015|work=The Globe & Mail}}</ref>

In September 2013, Microsoft announced its intent to acquire Nokia's mobile device business for $7.1 billion, as part of a strategy under CEO Steve Ballmer for Microsoft to be a "devices and services" company.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/7/8/8910999/microsoft-job-cuts-2015-nokia-write-off|title=Microsoft writes off $7.6 billion from Nokia deal, announces 7,800 job cuts|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2015-07-08|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref> Despite the growth of Windows Phone and the [[Engineering:Microsoft Lumia|Lumia]] range (which accounted for nearly 90% of all Windows Phone devices sold),<ref name="PocketNowNokia90percent">{{cite news|last=Rivera|first=Jaime|url=http://pocketnow.com/2013/10/18/nokia-owns-90-of-the-windows-phone-market-share|title=Nokia owns 90% of the Windows Phone market share.|date=18 October 2013|newspaper=PocketNow}}</ref> the platform never had significant market share in the key U.S. market,<ref name=":0" /> and Microsoft was unable to maintain Windows Phone's momentum in the years that followed, resulting in dwindling interest from users and app developers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/23/9602350/microsoft-windows-phone-app-removal-windows-store|title=Windows Phone has a new app problem|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2015-10-23|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref> After Balmer was succeeded by Satya Nadella (who has placed a larger focus on software and cloud computing) as CEO of Microsoft, it took a $7.6 billion write-off on the Nokia assets in July 2015, and laid off nearly the entire [[Company:Microsoft Mobile|Microsoft Mobile]] unit in May 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/25/11766344/microsoft-nokia-impairment-layoffs-may-2016|title=Microsoft lays off hundreds as it guts its phone business|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2016-05-25|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/10/16452162/windows-phone-history-glorious-failure|title=Windows Phone was a glorious failure|last=Savov|first=Vlad|date=2017-10-10|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/>

Prior to the completion of the sale to Microsoft, Nokia released a series of Android-derived smartphones for [[Finance:Emerging market|emerging market]]s known as [[Engineering:Nokia X family|Nokia X]], which combined an Android-based platform with elements of Windows Phone and Nokia's feature phone platform [[Software:Nokia Asha platform|Asha]], using Microsoft and Nokia services rather than Google.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/2/24/5440498/nokia-x-android-phone-hands-on|title=This is Nokia X: Android and Windows Phone collide|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2014-02-24|website=The Verge |access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>

=== Camera advancements ===
{{further|Engineering:Digital camera|Engineering:Camera phone}}
[[File:Nokia 9 Pureview 2.jpg|thumb|right|The Nokia 9 PureView features a five-lens camera array with Zeiss optics, using a mixture of color and monochrome sensors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dxomark.com/nokia-9-pureview-camera-review/|title=Updated: Nokia 9 PureView camera review|date=2019-09-18|website=DXOMARK |access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref>]]
[[File:Huawei P30 Pro Rückseite.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Engineering:Huawei P30|Huawei P30]] features three rear-facing camera lenses with Leica optics.]]

The first commercial [[Engineering:Camera phone|camera phone]] was the [[Company:Kyocera|Kyocera]] Visual Phone VP-210, released in Japan in May 1999.<ref name="CameraphonesLookBackForward">{{cite web |last=Yegulalp |first=Serdar |title=Camera phones: A look back and forward |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2473084/camera-phones--a-look-back-and-forward.html |website=Computerworld |date=May 11, 2012 |access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref> It was called a "mobile videophone" at the time,<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=First mobile videophone introduced |url=http://edition.cnn.com/TECH/ptech/9905/18/japan.phonetv/ |agency=CNN |date=May 18, 1999 |access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref> and had a 110,000-[[Pixel|pixel]] [[Engineering:Front-facing camera|front-facing camera]].<ref name="CameraphonesLookBackForward"/> It could send up to two images per second over Japan's [[Engineering:Personal Handy-phone System|Personal Handy-phone System]] (PHS) [[Engineering:Cellular network|cellular network]], and store up to 20 [[JPEG]] digital images, which could be sent over e-mail.<ref name="CameraphonesLookBackForward"/> The first mass-market camera phone was the J-SH04, a [[Company:Sharp Corporation|Sharp]] J-Phone model sold in Japan in November 2000.<ref>{{cite web |first=Hoi |last=Wan |url=http://www.hoista.net/post/18437919296/evolution-of-the-cameraphone-from-sharp-j-sh04-to |title=Evolution of the Camera phone: From Sharp J-SH04 to Nokia 808 Pureview |publisher=Hoista.net |date=February 28, 2012 |access-date=June 21, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731053246/http://www.hoista.net/post/18437919296/evolution-of-the-cameraphone-from-sharp-j-sh04-to |archive-date=July 31, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=From J-Phone to Lumia 1020: A complete history of the camera phone |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/camera-phone-history/ |website=[[Company:Digital Trends|Digital Trends]] |date=August 11, 2013 |access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref> It could instantly transmit pictures via cell phone [[Engineering:Telecommunication|telecommunication]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Taking pictures with your phone |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1550622.stm |work=BBC News |agency=BBC |date=September 18, 2001 |access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref>

By the mid-2000s, higher-end cell phones commonly had integrated digital cameras. In 2003 [[Engineering:Camera phone|camera phone]]s outsold stand-alone digital cameras, and in 2006 they outsold film and digital stand-alone cameras. Five billion camera phones were sold in five years, and by 2007 more than half of the [[Finance:Installed base|installed base]] of all mobile phones were camera phones. Sales of separate cameras peaked in 2008.<ref name="SmartphonesTollonGPS">{{cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Kevin J. |title=Smartphone Sales Taking Toll on G.P.S. Devices |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/15/technology/15iht-navigate.html |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |date=November 15, 2010}}</ref>

Many early smartphones didn't have cameras at all, and earlier models that had them had low performance and insufficient image and video quality that could not compete with budget pocket cameras and fulfill user's needs.<ref name=Nokia6111>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_6111-review-61.php|title=Nokia 6111 review: Venus and maybe Mars too|website=GSMArena.com}}</ref> By the beginning of the 2010s almost all smartphones had an integrated digital camera. The decline in sales of stand-alone cameras accelerated due to the increasing use of smartphones with rapidly improving camera technology for casual photography, easier [[Digital image processing|image manipulation]], and abilities to directly share photos through the use of [[Mobile app|apps]] and web-based services.<ref name="SmartphonesKillingPoint-and-shoots">{{cite web |last=Ogg |first=Erica |title=Smartphones killing point-and-shoots, now take almost 1/3 of photos |url=https://gigaom.com/2011/12/22/smartphones-killing-point-and-shoots-now-take-almost-13-of-photos/ |website=Gigaom |date=December 22, 2011 |access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Siegler |first=MG |title=iPhone 4 About To Be Flickr's Top Camera. Point & Shoots? Pretty Much The Opposite. |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/04/17/iphone-4-camera/ |website=TechCrunch |date=April 17, 2011 |access-date=November 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooke |first=Alex |title=Nikon Closes China Camera Factory, Cites Smartphones as Cause |url=https://fstoppers.com/news/nikon-closes-china-camera-factory-cites-smartphones-cause-201773 |date=October 30, 2017 |website=Fstoppers |access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Smile, and Say 'Android' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/technology/personaltech/androidcameras-from-nikon-and-samsung-go-beyond-cellphones-review.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1& |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |date=December 20, 2012 |access-date=August 22, 2013}}</ref> By 2011, cell phones with integrated cameras were selling hundreds of millions per year. In 2015, digital camera sales were 35.395 million units or only less than a third of digital camera sales numbers at their peak and also slightly less than film camera sold number at their peak.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stirr |first=Thomas |url=http://tomstirrphotography.com/digital-camera-sales-continued-decline |title=Digital Camera Sales Continued To Decline In 2015 |date=April 2, 2016 |access-date=October 31, 2016 |archive-date=October 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031212454/http://tomstirrphotography.com/digital-camera-sales-continued-decline |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/269927/sales-of-analog-and-digital-cameras-worldwide-since-2002/ |title=Worldwide unit sales of digital cameras from 2011 to 2016 (in millions) |access-date=March 28, 2017}}</ref>

Contributing to the rise in popularity of smartphones being used over dedicated cameras for photography, smaller pocket cameras have difficulty producing [[Physics:Bokeh|bokeh]] in images, but nowadays, some smartphones have dual-lens cameras that reproduce the bokeh effect easily, and can even rearrange the level of bokeh after shooting. This works by capturing multiple images with different focus settings, then combining the background of the main image with a [[Macro photography|macro focus shot]].

In 2007 the [[Engineering:Nokia N95|Nokia N95]] was notable as a smartphone that had a 5.0 Megapixel (MP) camera, when most others had cameras with around 3 MP or less than 2 MP. Some specialized feature phones like the [[Engineering:LG Viewty|LG Viewty]], Samsung SGH-G800, and Sony Ericsson K850i, all released later that year, also had 5.0 MP cameras. By 2010 5.0 MP cameras were common; a few smartphones had 8.0 MP cameras and the [[Engineering:Nokia N8|Nokia N8]], [[Engineering:Sony Ericsson Satio|Sony Ericsson Satio]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newtechnology.co.in/sony-ericsson-satio-a-phone-with-ultimate-multimedia-experience/ |title=Sony Ericsson Satio – A Phone with Ultimate multimedia experience |publisher=Newtechnology.co.in |access-date=June 21, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714020642/http://www.newtechnology.co.in/sony-ericsson-satio-a-phone-with-ultimate-multimedia-experience/ |archive-date=July 14, 2012 }}</ref> and Samsung M8910 Pixon12<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newtechnology.co.in/samsung-pixon12-m8910-worlds-first-12-megapixel-camera-phone/ |title=Samsung Pixon12 M8910 Price in India - 12 megapixel camera-phone |publisher=Newtechnology.co.in |access-date=June 21, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424142402/http://www.newtechnology.co.in/samsung-pixon12-m8910-worlds-first-12-megapixel-camera-phone/ |archive-date=April 24, 2012 }}</ref> feature phone had 12 MP. The main camera of the 2009 Nokia N86 uniquely features a three-level [[Astronomy:Aperture|aperture]] lens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nokia N86 8MP review: Lens wide open |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n86_8mp-review-366p7.php |website=GSMArena.com |page=7 |date=2009-06-24}}</ref>

The Altek Leo, a 14-megapixel smartphone with 3x optical zoom lens and 720p HD video camera was released in late 2010.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chan |first=John |title=Hands-on with the 14-megapixel Altek Leo |url=http://asia.cnet.com/crave/hands-on-with-the-14-megapixel-altek-leo-62111524.htm |publisher=CBS Interactive |work=CNET |date=June 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403042848/http://asia.cnet.com/crave/hands-on-with-the-14-megapixel-altek-leo-62111524.htm |archive-date=April 3, 2012}}</ref>


The 2012 [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S III#Camera|Samsung Galaxy S3]] introduced the ability to capture photos using [[Voice user interface|voice commands]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cozma|first=Nicole|title=Use your voice to take pictures with the Samsung Galaxy S III|url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/use-your-voice-to-take-pictures-with-the-samsung-galaxy-s-iii/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=CNET }}</ref>

In 2012 Nokia announced and released the [[Engineering:Nokia 808 PureView|Nokia 808 PureView]], featuring a 41-megapixel 1/1.2-inch sensor and a high-resolution f/2.4 Zeiss all-aspherical one-group lens. The high resolution enables four times of lossless digital zoom at 1080p and six times at 720p resolution, using image sensor cropping.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nokia 808 PureView review: Photo Finnish |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_808_pureview-review-776p7.php |website=GSMArena.com |page=7 |date=2012-06-22}}</ref> The 2013 [[Engineering:Nokia Lumia 1020|Nokia Lumia 1020]] has a similar high-resolution camera setup, with the addition of optical image stabilization and manual camera settings years before common among high-end mobile phones, although lacking expandable storage that could be of use for accordingly high [[File size|file size]]s.

Mobile optical image stabilization was first introduced by Nokia in 2012 with the Lumia 920, enabling prolonged exposure times for low-light photography and smoothing out handheld video shake whose appearance would magnify over a larger display such as a [[Engineering:Computer monitor|monitor]] or [[Engineering:Television set|television set]], which would be detrimental to watching experience.

Since 2012, smartphones have become increasingly able to capture photos while filming. The resolution of those photos resolution may vary between devices. Samsung has used<!-- source does not mention whether they still do --> the highest image sensor resolution at the video's aspect ratio, which at 16:9 is 6 Megapixels (3264×1836) on the Galaxy S3 and 9.6 Megapixels (4128×2322) on the Galaxy S4.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9300_galaxy_s_iii-review-761p9.php|title=Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III review: S to the third |page=9 |website=GSMArena.com |date=2012-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s4-review-914p9.php|title=Samsung Galaxy S4 review: Supernova|page=9 |website=GSMArena.com |date=2013-03-28}}</ref> The earliest [[Engineering:IPhone#Camera|iPhone]]s with such functionality, [[Engineering:IPhone 5|iPhone 5]] and 5s, captured simultaneous photos at 0.9 Megapixels (1280×720) while filming.<ref>{{cite web |title=Snap Photos and Record Video on an iPhone at the Same Time |url=https://www.lifewire.com/take-photo-while-recording-video-iphone-1999621 |website=Lifewire |first1=sam|last1=Costello |date=2020-01-22}}</ref>

Starting in 2013 on the Xperia Z1, Sony experimented with real-time [[Augmented reality|augmented reality]] camera effects such as floating text, virtual plants, volcano, and a dinosaur walking in the scenery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sony Xperia Z1 review: A smartphone with a camera-sized sensor |url=https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-xperia-z1-camera-review/5 |website=DPReview |date=2013-11-01}}</ref> Apple later did similarly in 2017 with the [[Engineering:IPhone X|iPhone X]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carson |first1=Biz |title=Tim Cook Isn't Wrong: Why The iPhone X Could Change How We Use Phones Forever |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bizcarson/2017/09/12/tim-cook-isnt-wrong-why-the-iphone-x-could-change-how-we-use-phones-forever/ |website=Forbes |date=2017-09-12}}</ref>

In the same year, [[Software:IOS 7|iOS 7]] introduced the later widely implemented viewfinder intuition, where [[Physics:Exposure value|exposure value]] can be adjusted through vertical swiping, after focus and exposure has been set by tapping, and even while locked after holding down for a brief moment.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to control focus and depth of field on your iPhone camera |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/222584/how-to-control-focus-and-depth-of-field-on-your-iphone-camera.html |website=Macworld |date=2014-01-05}}</ref> On some devices, this intuition may be restricted by software in video/slow motion modes and for front camera.

In 2013, Samsung unveiled the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom|Galaxy S4 Zoom]] smartphone with the grip shape of a compact camera and a 10× optical zoom lens, as well as a rotary knob ring around the lens, as used on higher-end compact cameras, and an ''ISO 1222'' tripod mount. It is equipped with manual parameter settings, including for focus and exposure. The successor 2014 Samsung Galaxy K Zoom brought resolution and performance enhancements, but lacks the rotary knob and tripod mount to allow for a more smartphone-like shape with less protruding lens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Samsung Galaxy K Zoom vs Galaxy S4 Zoom: What's the difference? |url=https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/buyers-guides/samsung/128613-samsung-galaxy-k-zoom-vs-galaxy-s4-zoom-what-s-the-difference |website=www.pocket-lint.com |access-date=20 April 2021 |date=29 April 2014}}</ref>

The 2014 Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1 was another attempt at mixing mobile phone with compact camera, so much so that it inherited the [[Engineering:Lumix|Lumix]] brand. While lacking optical zoom, its image sensor has a [[Engineering:Image sensor format|format]] of 1", as used in high-end compact cameras such as the Lumix DMC-LX100 and Sony CyberShot DSC-RX100 series, with multiple times the surface size of a typical mobile camera image sensor, as well as support for light sensitivities of up to ISO 25600, well beyond the typical mobile camera light sensitivity range. As of 2021, no successor has been released.<ref>{{cite web |title=Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1 camera review |url=https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-cm1-camera-review/10 |website=DPReview |access-date=20 April 2021 |page=10 |date=2015-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Brawley |first1=William |title=Panasonic CM1 Review |url=https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/panasonic-cm1/panasonic-cm1A.HTM |website=Imaging Resource |access-date=20 April 2021 |date=2015-04-27}}</ref>

In 2013 and 2014, HTC experimentally traded in pixel count for pixel surface size on their One M7 and M8, both with only four megapixels, marketed as ''UltraPixel'', citing improved brightness and less noise in low light, though the more recent One M8 lacks optical image stabilization.<ref>{{cite web |title=UltraPixel Camera Image Quality Review |url=https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/htc-one-m8-ultrapixel-camera-image-quality-page-7 |website=Trusted Reviews |page=7 |date=2016-11-18}}</ref>

The One M8 additionally was one of the earliest smartphones to be equipped with a dual camera setup. Its software allows generating visual spacial effects such as 3D panning, weather effects, and focus adjustment ("UFocus"), simulating the postphotographic selective focussing capability of images produced by a [[Engineering:Light-field camera|light-field camera]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Savvides |first1=Lexy |title=HTC One M8: the camera review |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/htc-one-m8-the-camera-review/ |website=CNET |language=en |date=2014-04-10}}</ref> HTC returned to a high-megapixel single-camera setup on the 2015 [[Engineering:HTC One M9|One M9]].

Meanwhile, in 2014, LG Mobile started experimenting with [[Engineering:Time-of-flight camera|time-of-flight camera]] functionality, where a rear [[Physics:Laser|laser]] beam that measures distance accelerates autofocus.

Phase-detection autofocus was increasingly adapted throughout the mid-2010s, allowing for quicker and more accurate focussing than contrast detection.

In 2016 [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple]] introduced the [[Engineering:IPhone 7 Plus|iPhone 7 Plus]], one of the phones to popularize a dual camera setup. The [[Engineering:IPhone 7 Plus|iPhone 7 Plus]] included a main 12 MP camera along with a 12 MP telephoto camera.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cade |first=DL |title=Apple Just Released Their Fake Bokeh Portrait Mode to Everyone |url=https://petapixel.com/2016/10/24/apple-just-released-fake-bokeh-portrait-mode-everyone/ |website=PetaPixel |date=October 24, 2016 |access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref> In early 2018 [[Company:Huawei|Huawei]] released a new flagship phone, the [[Engineering:Huawei P20|Huawei P20 Pro]], one of the first triple camera lens setups with [[Company:Leica Camera|Leica]] optics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/cell-phone-reviews/huawei-p20-pro-review/#/2/1 |title=Huawei P20 Pro review |first=Andy |last=Boxall |date=June 4, 2018}}</ref> In late 2018, [[Company:Samsung|Samsung]] released a new mid-range smartphone, the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018)|Galaxy A9 (2018)]] with the world's first quad camera setup. The [[Engineering:Nokia 9 PureView|Nokia 9 PureView]] was released in 2019 featuring a penta-lens camera system.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nokia 9 PureView - Full phone specifications |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_9_pureview-8867.php |website=GSMarena.com |access-date=May 20, 2019}}</ref>

2019 saw the commercialization of high resolution sensors, which use [[Engineering:Bayer filter|pixel binning]] to capture more light. 48 MP and 64 MP sensors developed by Sony and Samsung are commonly used by several manufacturers. 108 MP sensors were first implemented in late 2019 and early 2020.

==== Video resolution ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right;"
|+ Timeline (rear camera)
!Resolution
!First year
|-
|720p (HD)
|2009
|-
|720p at 60fps
|2012
|-
|1080p (Full HD)
|2011
|-
|1080p at 60fps
|2013
|-
|2013
|-
|2160p at 60fps
|2017
|-
|2020
|-
|}
With stronger getting chipsets to handle computing workload demands at higher pixel rates, mobile video resolution and framerate has caught up with dedicated consumer-grade cameras over years.

In 2009 the Samsung Omnia HD became the first mobile phone with [[Engineering:720p|720p]] HD video recording. In the same year, Apple brought video recording initially to the [[Engineering:IPhone 3GS|iPhone 3GS]], at 480p, whereas the 2007 original iPhone and 2008 [[Engineering:IPhone 3G|iPhone 3G]] lacked video recording entirely.

720p was more widely adapted in 2010, on smartphones such as the original [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S (2010 smartphone)|Samsung Galaxy S]], [[Engineering:Sony Ericsson Xperia X10|Sony Ericsson Xperia X10]], [[Engineering:IPhone 4|iPhone 4]], and [[Engineering:HTC Desire HD|HTC Desire HD]].

The early 2010s brought a steep increase in mobile video resolution. [[Engineering:1080p|1080p]] mobile video recording was achieved in 2011 on the Samsung Galaxy S2, [[Engineering:HTC Sensation|HTC Sensation]], and iPhone 4s.

In 2012 and 2013, select devices with 720p filming at 60 frames per second were released: the [[Engineering:Asus PadFone|Asus PadFone 2]] and HTC One M7, unlike flagships of Samsung, Sony, and Apple. However, the 2013 [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom|Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom]] does support it.

In 2013, the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Note 3|Samsung Galaxy Note 3]] introduced 2160p (4K) video recording at 30 [[Physics:Frames per second|frames per second]], as well as 1080p doubled to 60 [[Physics:Frames per second|frames per second]] for smoothness.

Other vendors adapted 2160p recording in 2014, including the optically stabilized [[Engineering:LG G3|LG G3]]. Apple first implemented it in late 2015 on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

The framerate at 2160p was widely doubled to 60 in 2017 and 2018, starting with the [[Engineering:IPhone 8|iPhone 8]], Galaxy S9, LG G7, and [[Engineering:OnePlus 6|OnePlus 6]].

Sufficient computing performance of chipsets and image sensor resolution and its reading speeds have enabled mobile 4320p (8K) filming in 2020, introduced with the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S20|Samsung Galaxy S20]] and [[Engineering:Redmi K30 Pro|Redmi K30 Pro]], though some upper resolution levels were foregone (skipped) throughout development, including [[1440p|1440p]] (''2.5K''), 2880p (5K), and [[6K resolution|3240p (6K)]], except 1440p on Samsung Galaxy front cameras.

;Mid-class
Among mid-range smartphone series, the introduction of higher video resolutions was initially delayed by two to three years compared to flagship counterparts. 720p was widely adapted in 2012, including with the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, Sony Xperia go, and 1080p in 2013 on the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini|Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini]] and HTC One mini.

The proliferation of video resolutions beyond 1080p has been postponed by several years. The mid-class [[Engineering:Sony Xperia M5|Sony Xperia M5]] supported 2160p filming in 2016, whereas Samsung's mid-class series such as the Galaxy J and A series were strictly limited to 1080p in resolution and 30 frames per second at any resolution for six years until around 2019, whether and how much for technical reasons is unclear.

;Setting
A lower video resolution setting may be desirable to extend recording time by reducing space storage and power consumption.

The camera software of some sophisticated devices such as the [[Engineering:LG V10|LG V10]] is equipped with separate controls for resolution, [[Frame rate|frame rate]], and [[Bit rate|bit rate]], within a technically supported range of pixel rate.<ref>{{cite web |last1=La |first1=Lynn |title=The dual-display LG V10 offers ultimate camera and video control (review) |url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/lg-v10-review/ |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref>

==== Slow motion video ====
A distinction between different camera software is the method used to store high frame rate video footage, with more recent phones{{efn|For example, Samsung starting with the Galaxy S6}} retaining both the image sensor's original output frame rate and audio, while earlier phones do not record audio and stretch the video so it can be played back slowly at default speed.

While the stretched encoding method used on earlier phones enables slow motion playback on [[Software:Media player software|video player software]] that lacks manual playback speed control, typically found on older devices, if the aim were to achieve a slow motion effect, the real-time method used by more recent phones offers greater versatility for video editing, where slowed down portions of the footage can be freely selected by the user, and exported into a separate video. A rudimentary video editing software for this purpose is usually pre-installed. The video can optionally be played back at normal (real-time) speed, acting as usual video.

;Development
The earliest smartphone known to feature a slow motion mode is the 2009 [[Engineering:Samsung i8000 Omnia II|Samsung i8000 Omnia II]], which can record at QVGA (320×240) at 120 fps ([[Physics:Frames per second|frames per second]]). Slow motion was not available on the 2010 Galaxy S1, 2011 Galaxy S2, 2011 Galaxy Note 1, and 2012 Galaxy S3 flagships.

In early 2012, the [[Engineering:HTC One X|HTC One X]] allowed 768×432 pixel slow motion filming at an undocumented frame rate. The output footage has been measured as a third of real-time speed.<ref>{{cite web |title=HTC One X review: eXtra special |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_x-review-747p6.php |website=GSMArena.com |date=2012-04-12}}</ref>

In late 2012, the Galaxy Note 2 brought back slow motion, with D1 (720×480) at 120 fps. In early 2013, the Galaxy S4 and HTC One M7 recorded at that frame rate with 800×450, followed by the Note 3 and iPhone 5s with 720p (1280×720) in late 2013, the latter of which retaines audio and original sensor frame rate, as with all later iPhones. In early 2014, the [[Engineering:Sony Xperia Z2|Sony Xperia Z2]] and HTC One M8 adapted this resolution as well. In late 2014, the [[Engineering:IPhone 6|iPhone 6]] doubled the frame rate to 240fps, and in late 2015, the iPhone 6s added support for 1080p (1920×1080) at 120 frames per second. In early 2015, the Galaxy S6 became the first Samsung mobile phone to retain the sensor framerate and audio, and in early 2016, the Galaxy S7 became the first Samsung mobile phone with 240fps recording, also at 720p.

In early 2015, the ''MT6795'' chipset by [[Company:MediaTek|MediaTek]] promised 1080p@480fps video recording. The project's status remains indefinite.<ref>{{cite web |title=MediaTek shows off 480fps super slow-motion 1080p video recording on the MT6795 |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/mediatek-shows-off-480fps-super-slow-motion-1080p-video-recording-on-the-mt6795/ |website=Neowin |language=en |date=2015-02-17}}</ref>

Since early 2017, starting with the [[Engineering:Sony Xperia XZ|Sony Xperia XZ]], smartphones have been released with a slow motion mode that unsustainably records at framerates multiple times as high, by temporarily storing frames on the image sensor's internal burst memory. Such a recording endures few real-time seconds at most.

In late 2017, the [[Engineering:IPhone 8|iPhone 8]] brought 1080p at 240fps, as well as 2160p at 60fps, followed by the Galaxy S9 in early 2018. In mid-2018, the [[Engineering:OnePlus 6|OnePlus 6]] brought 720p at 480fps, sustainable for one minute.

In early 2021, the OnePlus 9 Pro became the first phone with 2160p at 120fps.

==== HDR video ====
The first smartphones to record HDR video were the early 2013 [[Engineering:Sony Xperia Z|Sony Xperia Z]] and mid-2013 Xperia Z Ultra, followed by the early 2014 Galaxy S5, all at 1080p.

==== Audio recording ====
Mobile phones with multiple [[Microphone|microphone]]s usually allow video recording with stereo audio for spaciality, with Samsung, Sony, and HTC initially implementing it in 2012 on their Samsung Galaxy S3, [[Engineering:Sony Xperia S|Sony Xperia S]], and [[Engineering:HTC One X|HTC One X]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III review: S to the third |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9300_galaxy_s_iii-review-761p9.php |website=GSMArena.com |page=9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sony Xperia S review: NXT of kin |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_s-review-741p6.php |website=GSMArena.com |page=6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=HTC One X review: eXtra special|url=https://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_x-review-747.php|access-date=2021-04-02|website=GSMArena.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Apple implemented stereo audio starting with the 2018 iPhone Xs family and iPhone XR.<ref>{{cite web |title=Apple iPhone XS review |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_xs-review-1827p7.php |website=GSMArena.com |page=7}}</ref>

==== Front cameras ====
===== Photo =====
Emphasis is being put on the front camera since the mid-2010s, where front cameras have reached resolutions as high as typical rear cameras, such as the 2015 [[Engineering:LG G4|LG G4]] (8 megapixels), [[Engineering:Sony Xperia C5 Ultra|Sony Xperia C5 Ultra]] (13 megapixels), and 2016 [[Engineering:Sony Xperia XA Ultra|Sony Xperia XA Ultra]] (16 megapixels, optically stabilized). The 2015 [[Engineering:LG V10|LG V10]] brought a dual front camera system where the second has a wider angle for group photography. Samsung implemented a front-camera sweep panorama (''panorama selfie'') feature since the Galaxy Note 4 to extend the field of view.

===== Video =====
In 2012, the Galaxy S3 and [[Engineering:IPhone 5|iPhone 5]] brought [[Engineering:720p|720p]] HD front video recording (at 30 fps). In early 2013, the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S4|Samsung Galaxy S4]], HTC One M7 and [[Engineering:Sony Xperia Z|Sony Xperia Z]] brought 1080p Full HD at that framerate, and in late 2014, the Galaxy Note 4 introduced 1440p video recording on the front camera. Apple adapted [[Engineering:1080p|1080p]] front camera video with the late 2016 [[Engineering:IPhone 7|iPhone 7]].

In 2019, smartphones started adapting 2160p 4K video recording on the front camera, six years after rear camera 2160p commenced with the Galaxy Note 3.

=== Display advancements ===
[[File:G7 power at Best Buy jeh.jpg|thumb|upright|A [[Engineering:Moto G7|Moto G7 Power]]; its display uses a tall aspect ratio and includes a "notch".]]

In the early 2010s, larger smartphones with screen sizes of at least {{convert|5.5|inch|mm|order=flip|round=5}} diagonal, dubbed "[[Engineering:Phablet|phablet]]s", began to achieve popularity, with the 2011 [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Note series|Samsung Galaxy Note series]] gaining notably wide adoption.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/1-million-galaxy-notes-shipped-worldwide-us-fans-throw-money-at/|title=1 million Galaxy Notes shipped worldwide, US fans throw money at their screens |first=Mat |last=Smith |publisher=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |date=December 29, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Samsung: 10M Galaxy Notes sold in nine months |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57493718-94/samsung-10m-galaxy-notes-sold-in-nine-months/ |website=CNET |access-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref> In 2013, Huawei launched the [[Engineering:Huawei Mate series|Huawei Mate series]], sporting a {{convert|6.1|inch|mm|order=flip|round=5}} HD (1280x720) IPS+ LCD display, which was considered to be quite large at the time.<ref>[https://www.androidheadlines.com/2019/05/huawei-mate-flagships-history.html/amp History Of The Huawei Mate Flagships] 2 May 2019.</ref>

Some companies began to release smartphones in 2013 incorporating [[Engineering:Flexible display|flexible display]]s to create curved form factors, such as the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Round|Samsung Galaxy Round]] and [[Engineering:LG G Flex|LG G Flex]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Samsung's Galaxy Round is the first phone with a curved display |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/8/4818572/samsung-galaxy-round-curved-oled-smartphone-official |website=The Verge |date=October 8, 2013 |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=March 21, 2017}}</ref><ref name=engadget-gflexfcc>{{cite web |title=LG G Flex appears on the FCC with AT&T-friendly LTE |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/11/15/lg-g-flex-att-lte/ |work=Engadget |access-date=March 9, 2014}}</ref><ref name=engadget-gflexannounce>{{cite web |title=LG G Flex announced with vertically curved 6-inch 720p screen, 'self-repairing' back cover |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/10/27/lg-g-flex/ |work=Engadget |publisher=Verizon Media |access-date=March 9, 2014}}</ref>

By 2014, [[1440p|1440p]] displays began to appear on high-end smartphones.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dent |first=Steve |url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/02/18/do-you-really-need-a-4k-smartphone-screen/ |title=Do you really need a 4K smartphone screen? |date=February 18, 2014}}</ref> In 2015, Sony released the Xperia Z5 Premium, featuring a [[4K resolution|4K resolution]] display, although only images and videos could actually be rendered at that resolution (all other software was shown at 1080p).<ref name="engadget-4k1080psony">{{cite web |title=Sony's 4K smartphone shows most content in 1080p |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/09/15/sony-xperia-z5-premium-not-so-4k/ |website=Engadget |access-date=March 21, 2017}}</ref>

New trends for smartphone displays began to emerge in 2017, with both LG and Samsung releasing flagship smartphones ([[Engineering:LG G6|LG G6]] and Galaxy S8), utilizing displays with taller [[Engineering:Display aspect ratio|aspect ratio]]s than the common [[Engineering:16:9|16:9]] ratio, and a high screen-to-body ratio, also known as a "bezel-less design". These designs allow the display to have a larger diagonal measurement, but with a slimmer width than 16:9 displays with an equivalent screen size.<ref name="ndtv-lgg6">{{cite web |title=LG G6 With 5.7-Inch FullVision Display, Google Assistant Launched at MWC 2017 |url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/lg-g6-launched-at-mwc-2017-price-release-date-specifications-and-more-1663697 |website=Gadgets360 |publisher=NDTV |access-date=February 26, 2017}}</ref><ref name="verge-g6unveil">{{cite web |title=The LG G6 is sleek, solid, and surprisingly sensible |url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/2/26/14741886/lg-g6-announced-specs-features-mwc-2017 |website=The Verge |date=February 26, 2017 |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=February 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/29/15087530/samsung-galaxy-s8-announced-features-release-date-video-specifications |title=This is the Samsung Galaxy S8, coming April 21st |work=The Verge |access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref>
Another trend popularized in 2017 were displays containing tab-like cut-outs at the top-centre—colloquially known as a "notch"—to contain the front-facing camera, and sometimes other sensors typically located along the top bezel of a device.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/Technology/YFHDoI8YuK4SkZqViPN4VN/Why-do-Android-phones-want-a-notch.html |title=Why do Android phones want a notch? |last=Mathur |first=Vishal |date=April 29, 2018 |work=Livemint |access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/3293447/android/android-phone-notch-requirements.html |title=Google thankfully bans Android phones with three notches or other exotic configurations |work=PCWorld |access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref> These designs allow for "edge-to-edge" displays that take up nearly the entire height of the device, with little to no bezel along the top, and sometimes a minimal bottom bezel as well. This design characteristic appeared almost simultaneously on the Sharp Aquos S2 and the [[Engineering:Essential Phone|Essential Phone]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.phonearena.com/news/First-notch-phone-Sharp-not-Essential_id105608 |title=What was the first phone with a notch? Answer may surprise you |last=Petrov |first=Daniel |work=Phone Arena |access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref> which featured small circular tabs for their cameras, followed just a month later by the [[Engineering:IPhone X|iPhone X]], which used a wider tab to contain a camera and facial scanning system known as [[Face ID]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Samuel |last=Axon |title=How app developers and designers feel about the iPhone X—and the notch |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/11/how-devs-updated-their-apps-for-the-iphone-xs-screen-and-the-notch/2/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=Condé Nast |date=November 25, 2017 |access-date=December 4, 2017}}</ref> The 2016 [[Engineering:LG V10|LG V10]] had a precursor to the concept, with a portion of the screen wrapped around the camera area in the top-left corner, and the resulting area marketed as a "second" display that could be used for various supplemental features.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/cut-it-out-a-brief-history-of-the-smartphone-notch|title=Cut it out: how the smartphone notch became 'a thing'|last=Andrew|first=Williams|date=2018-11-14|website=TechRadar|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref>

[[File:SamsungGalaxyS20plus5G128G2020SMG9860TaiwanFrontReady20200910.jpg|thumb|upright|A Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, featuring a "hole-punch" camera]]

Other variations of the practice later emerged, such as a "[[Engineering:Hole punch|hole-punch]]" camera (such as those of the [[Software:Honor (brand)|Honor]] View 20, and Samsung's [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy A8s|Galaxy A8s]] and Galaxy S10)—eschewing the tabbed "notch" for a circular or rounded-rectangular cut-out within the screen instead,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/news/146822-hole-punch-camera-vs-notch-vs-slider-honor-samsung|title=Is the hole-punch camera here to stay? We look at the pros and cons of the front camera design|last=Pocket-lint|date=2020-02-11|website=Pocket-lint|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> while [[Company:Oppo|Oppo]] released the first "all-screen" phones with no notches at all,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/oppo-find-x-review/|title=Oppo Find X review: Sexier and more innovative than the Galaxy S9|last=Low|first=Aloysius|date=August 20, 2019|website=CNET|access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> including one with a mechanical front camera that pops up from the top of the device ([[Engineering:Oppo Find X|Find X]]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/6/19/17476338/oppo-find-x-phone-announcement-specs-price|title=Oppo's Find X ditches the notch for pop-up cameras|last=Seifert|first=Dan|date=2018-06-19|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> and a 2019 prototype for a front-facing camera that can be embedded and hidden below the display, using a special partially-translucent screen structure that allows light to reach the [[Engineering:Image sensor|image sensor]] below the panel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/26/18759380/under-display-selfie-camera-first-oppo-announcement|title=Oppo unveils the world's first under-screen selfie camera|last=Byford|first=Sam|date=2019-06-26|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> The first implementation was the [[Company:ZTE|ZTE]] Axon 20 5G, with a 32 MP sensor manufactured by Visionox.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/19/21376546/zte-smartphone-under-display-camera-axon-20-5g-renders-images|title=Here's your best look yet at ZTE's first smartphone with an under-display camera|work=[[The Verge]]|last=Peters|first=Jay|date=19 August 2020|access-date=1 September 2020}}</ref>

Displays supporting [[Refresh rate|refresh rate]]s higher than 60&nbsp;Hz (such as 90&nbsp;Hz or 120&nbsp;Hz) also began to appear on smartphones in 2017; initially confined to "gaming" smartphones such as the [[Engineering:Razer Phone|Razer Phone]] (2017) and [[Engineering:ROG Phone|Asus ROG Phone]] (2018), they later became more common on flagship phones such as the [[Engineering:Pixel 4|Pixel 4]] (2019) and [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S21|Samsung Galaxy S21 series]] (2021). Higher refresh rates allow for smoother motion and lower input latency, but often at the cost of battery life. As such, the device may offer a means to disable high refresh rates, or be configured to automatically reduce the refresh rate when there is low on-screen motion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/refresh-rate-smartphone-screen-explainer/|title=What does a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate mean for your smartphone screen?|work=[[Company:Digital Trends|Digital Trends]]|last=Jansen|first=Mark|date=19 July 2020|access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Savov|first=Vlad|date=2018-06-07|title=Android gaming phones have a lot of growing up to do|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/7/17436168/android-gaming-rog-phone-computex-2018|access-date=2021-05-26|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref>

==== Multi-tasking ====
An early implementation of multiple simultaneous tasks on a smartphone display are the [[Engineering:Picture-in-picture|picture-in-picture]] video playback mode ("pop-up play") and "live video list" with playing video thumbnails of the 2012 Samsung Galaxy S3, the former of which was later delivered to the 2011 Samsung Galaxy Note through a software update.<ref>{{cite news |title=Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III review: S to the third |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9300_galaxy_s_iii-review-761p8.php |website=GSMArena.com |access-date=29 May 2021 |page=8 |date=2012-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=N7000UBLS4 – Galaxy Note Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean TEST firmware From Tel Cel Mexico |url=https://www.sammobile.com/2012/12/13/n7000bls4tce-%E2%80%93-galaxy-note-android-4-1-2-jelly-bean-test-firmware/ |website=SamMobile |date=2013-02-17}}</ref> Later that year, a [[Split screen (computing)|split-screen]] mode was implemented on the Galaxy Note 2, later retrofitted on the Galaxy S3 through the "premium suite upgrade".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reisinger |first1=Don |title=Samsung's Galaxy S3 to get Premium Suite upgrade |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/samsungs-galaxy-s3-to-get-premium-suite-upgrade/ |website=CNET |language=en |date=2012-12-07}}</ref>

The earliest implementation of [[Window (computing)|desktop and laptop-like windowing]] was on the 2013 [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Note 3|Samsung Galaxy Note 3]].<ref>{{cite web |last1= |title=Samsung Galaxy Note 3 User Guide |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/us/samsung-galaxy-note-3-guide,review-2906-3.html |website=Tom's Guide |language=en |date=2013-09-07}}</ref>

=== Foldable smartphones ===
{{main|Engineering:Foldable smartphone}}

Smartphones utilizing [[Engineering:Rollable display|flexible displays]] were theorized as possible once manufacturing costs and production processes were feasible.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/bendable-smartphones-arent-coming-anytime-soon-20131213-2zbtq.html|title=Bendable smartphones aren't coming anytime soon|last=King|first=Ian|date=2013-12-15|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> In November 2018, the startup company Royole unveiled the first commercially available [[Engineering:Foldable smartphone|foldable smartphone]], the Royole FlexPai. Also that month, Samsung presented a prototype phone featuring an "Infinity Flex Display" at its developers conference, with a smaller, outer display on its "cover", and a larger, tablet-sized display when opened. Samsung stated that it also had to develop a new polymer material to coat the display as opposed to glass.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/8/18074838/samsung-foldable-phone-infinity-flex-display-technology-report|title=The foldable phones are coming|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2018-11-08|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/11/5/18067116/royole-flexpai-flexible-display-foldable-smartphone-tablet-pricing-features-release-date|title=We tried the world's first folding phone, and it actually works|last=Statt|first=Nick|date=2018-11-05|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/7/18072514/samsung-foldable-phone-screen-features-photos-sdc-2018|title=This is Samsung's foldable smartphone|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2018-11-07|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> Samsung officially announced the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Fold|Galaxy Fold]], based on the previously demonstrated prototype, in February 2019 for an originally-scheduled release in late-April.<ref name="ars-galaxyfold">{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/02/samsungs-foldable-phone-is-finally-official-meet-the-galaxy-fold/|title=Samsung's foldable phone is finally official—meet the Galaxy Fold|last=Dunn|first=Jeff|date=2019-02-20|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|access-date=2019-02-23}}</ref> Due to various durability issues with the display and hinge systems encountered by early reviewers, the release of the Galaxy Fold was delayed to September to allow for design changes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/5/20850693/samsung-galaxy-fold-hands-on-ifa-2019-fixed-display-hinge|title=How Samsung fixed the Galaxy Fold|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=2019-09-05|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref>

In November 2019, Motorola unveiled a variation of the concept with its re-imagining of the [[Engineering:Motorola Razr (2020)|Razr]], using a horizontally-folding display to create a [[Engineering:Clamshell design|clamshell]] form factor inspired by its previous feature phone range of the same name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/13/20963294/motorola-razr-new-foldable-smartphone-android-hands-on-flip-phone-photos-video|title=Motorola resurrects the Razr as a foldable Android smartphone|last=Gartenberg|first=Chaim|date=2019-11-13|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> Samsung would unveil a similar device known as the Galaxy Z Flip the following February.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dolcourt|first=Jessica|title=Samsung Galaxy Z Flip's foldable glass screen: Already more impressive than the Razr|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-galaxy-z-flips-foldable-glass-screen-already-more-impressive-than-razr/|access-date=2021-05-26|website=CNET|language=en}}</ref>

=== Other developments in the 2010s ===
The first smartphone with a fingerprint reader was the [[Engineering:Motorola Atrix 4G|Motorola Atrix 4G]] in 2011.<ref name="Fingerprint Scanner On Phones: History & Evolution, But Do We Really Need That?">{{cite web|url=https://www.igadgetsworld.com/fingerprint-scanner-history-evolution-but-do-we-really-need-that/|title=Fingerprint Scanner On Phones: History & Evolution, But Do We Really Need That?|date=April 17, 2016|publisher=Web cusp}}</ref> In September 2013, the [[Engineering:IPhone 5S|iPhone 5S]] was unveiled as the first smartphone on a major U.S. carrier since the Atrix to feature this technology.<ref name="The Verge announcement">{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/10/4715372/confirmed-apple-iphone-5s-will-include-touch-id-fingerprint-scanner|title=Apple's new iPhone will read your fingerprint|website=[[The Verge]]|first=Casey|last=Newton|date=September 10, 2013|access-date=September 11, 2013}}</ref> Once again, the iPhone popularized this concept. One of the barriers of fingerprint reading amongst consumers was security concerns, however [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple]] was able to address these concerns by encrypting this fingerprint data onto the A7 Processor located inside the phone as well as make sure this information could not be accessed by third-party applications and is not stored in iCloud or Apple servers<ref>{{cite web |last1=NDTV |title=Touch ID: Inside the fingerprint scanner on Apple's iPhone 5s |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/touch-id-inside-the-fingerprint-scanner-on-apples-iphone-5s-417141 |website=NDTV Gadgets 360 |publisher=NDTV Gadgets 360 |access-date=25 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2012, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S3 (GT-i9300) with retrofittable wireless charging, pop-up video playback, [[4G|4G]]-[[Engineering:LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] variant (GT-i9305) quad-core processor.

In 2013, [[Company:Fairphone|Fairphone]] launched its first ''"socially ethical"'' smartphone at the London Design Festival to address concerns regarding the sourcing of materials in the manufacturing<ref name="Fair">{{cite news|title=Why is Apple so shifty about how it makes the iPhone?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/23/apple-shifty-about-making-iphone?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2&et_cid=50104&et_rid=7107573&Linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.theguardian.com%2fcommentisfree%2f2013%2fsep%2f23%2fapple-shifty-about-making-iphone|access-date=September 24, 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=September 23, 2013|first=George|last=Monbiot}}</ref> followed by [[Company:Shiftphone|Shiftphone]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gruenderszene.de/allgemein/shiftphone-fairphone-deutschland-test|title=So gut ist das erste Fairphone aus Deutschland|last=Schröder|first=Horst|date=4 April 2016|website=www.gruenderszene.de|access-date=5 September 2018}}</ref> In late 2013, QSAlpha commenced production of a smartphone designed entirely around security, encryption and identity protection.<ref>{{cite web|title=Quasar IV Encrypted Ninja Smartphone Goes Into Production, Despite Indiegogo Failure|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/10/09/quasar-iv-encrypted-ninja-smartphone-goes-into-production-despite-indiegogo-failure/?ncid=tcdaily|work=TechCrunch|publisher=Verizon Media|access-date=October 10, 2013|first=Darrell|last=Etherington|date=October 10, 2013}}</ref>

In October 2013, [[Company:Motorola Mobility|Motorola Mobility]] announced [[Engineering:Project Ara|Project Ara]], a concept for a [[Engineering:Modular smartphone|modular smartphone]] platform that would allow users to customize and upgrade their phones with add-on modules that attached magnetically to a frame.<ref>{{cite web|last=Byford|first=Sam|title=Motorola reveals ambitious plan to build modular smartphones|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/29/5041336/motorola-project-ara-modular-smartphones|work=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=29 October 2013|date=29 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Musil|first=Steven|title=Motorola unveils Project Ara for custom smartphones|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57609735-94/motorola-unveils-project-ara-for-custom-smartphones/|work=CNET|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=29 October 2013|date=29 October 2013}}</ref> Ara was retained by Google following its sale of Motorola Mobility to [[Company:Lenovo|Lenovo]],<ref name="wiredready">{{cite magazine|last1=Pierce|first1=David|title=Project Ara Lives: Google's Modular Phone Is Ready for You Now|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/05/project-ara-lives-googles-modular-phone-is-ready/|magazine=Wired|access-date=20 May 2016}}</ref> but was shelved in 2016.<ref name="verge-cancelled">{{cite web|title=Google confirms the end of its modular Project Ara smartphone|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/2/12775922/google-project-ara-modular-phone-suspended-confirm|website=The Verge|date=September 2, 2016|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref> That year, LG and Motorola both unveiled smartphones featuring a limited form of modularity for accessories; the [[Engineering:LG G5|LG G5]] allowed accessories to be installed via the removal of its battery compartment,<ref name="ars-g5unveil">{{cite web|title=LG G5 hands-on—LG may have made the most innovative phone of MWC|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/02/lg-g5-hands-on-lg-may-have-made-the-most-innovative-phone-of-mwc/|website=Ars Technica|date=February 21, 2016|access-date=21 February 2016}}</ref> while the [[Engineering:Moto Z|Moto Z]] utilizes accessories attached magnetically to the rear of the device.<ref name="cnet-motoz">{{cite web|title= Motorola's new Moto Z ditches the headphone jack, adds hot-swapping magnetic modular accessories |url= http://www.cnet.com/products/motorola-moto-z/ |website= CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date= 9 June 2016}}</ref>

Microsoft, expanding upon the concept of Motorola's short-lived "Webtop", unveiled functionality for its [[Software:Windows 10 Mobile|Windows 10 operating system for phones]] that allows supported devices to be [[Engineering:Docking station|docked]] for use with a PC-styled [[Software:Desktop environment|desktop environment]].<ref name="time-msw10">{{cite web|title=Inside Microsoft's Plan to Unlock the Full Power of Your Phone|url=http://time.com/4121314/microsoft-continuum/|website=Time.com|access-date=21 March 2017}}</ref><ref name=verge-displaydock>{{cite web|last1=Miller|first1=Ross|title=Microsoft's new Display Dock transforms your Windows 10 mobile into a PC|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/6/9453577/microsoft-display-dock-announced-price-release-date-continuum|website=[[The Verge]]|date=October 6, 2015|publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]]|access-date=October 6, 2015}}</ref>

Samsung and LG used to be the ''"last standing"'' manufacturers to offer flagship devices with user-replaceable batteries.
But in 2015, Samsung succumbed to the [[Philosophy:Minimalism|minimalism]] trend set by Apple, introducing the Galaxy S6 without a user-replaceable battery.
In addition, Samsung was criticised for pruning long-standing features such as [[Mobile High-Definition Link|MHL]], MicroUSB 3.0, [[Physics:Waterproofing|water resistance]] and [[Engineering:MicroSD|MicroSD]] card support, of which the latter two came back in 2016 with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

As of 2015, the global [[Median|median]] for smartphone ownership was 43%.<ref>{{cite news|title=This map shows the percentage of people around the world who own smartphones|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-people-own-smartphones-around-the-world-2016-2?IR=T|work=Business Insider}}</ref> [[Company:Statista|Statista]] forecast that 2.87 billion people would own smartphones in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Number of smartphone users worldwide 2014-2020 {{!}} Statista|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide/|website=Statista|access-date=23 May 2017}}</ref>

Within the same decade, rapid deployment of LTE cellular network and general availability of smartphones have increased popularity of the [[Streaming television|streaming television]] services, and the corresponding [[Engineering:Mobile television|mobile TV]] apps.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-26 |title=In 4G era, app, video streaming experience key for brand loyalty: Report |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/in-4g-era-app-video-streaming-experience-key-for-brand-loyalty-report/article9035994.ece |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=www.thehindubusinessline.com |language=en}}</ref>

Major technologies that began to trend in 2016 included a focus on [[Virtual reality|virtual reality]] and [[Augmented reality|augmented reality]] experiences catered towards smartphones, the newly introduced USB-C connector, and improving LTE technologies.<ref name="pcw-2016trends">{{cite web|title=7 exciting smartphone trends to watch in 2016: VR, super-fast LTE, and more|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/3030317/phones/7-smartphone-trends-to-watch-this-year.html|website=PC World|date=February 5, 2016|access-date=21 March 2017}}</ref>

In 2016, adjustable screen resolution known from desktop operating systems was introduced to smartphones for power saving, whereas variable screen [[Refresh rate|refresh rate]]s were popularized in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Galaxy Note 7 power saving mode lowers resolution to save battery |url=https://www.slashgear.com/galaxy-note-7-power-saving-mode-lowers-resolution-to-save-battery-03450613/ |website=SlashGear |access-date=31 October 2021 |date=3 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Samsung's adaptive refresh rate tech could be coming to a phone near you |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-display-adaptive-refresh-rate-1146678/ |website=Android Authority |access-date=31 October 2021 |date=11 August 2020}}</ref>

In 2018, the first smartphones featuring fingerprint readers embedded within [[Chemistry:OLED|OLED]] displays were announced, followed in 2019 by an implementation using an ultrasonic sensor on the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S10|Samsung Galaxy S10]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/1/9/16867536/vivo-fingerprint-reader-integrated-display-biometric-ces-2018|title=I tried the first phone with an in-display fingerprint sensor|work=The Verge|access-date=2018-10-04}}</ref><ref name="verge-s10unveil">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/20/18232248/samsung-galaxy-s10-plus-camera-price-release-date-features-size-photos-hands-on-video|title=Samsung officially announces the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus, starting at $899|last=Seifert|first=Dan|date=2019-02-20|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref>

In 2019, the majority of smartphones released have more than one camera, are waterproof with IP67 and IP68 ratings, and unlock using facial recognition or fingerprint scanners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telcoworld.com.au/news-blog/seven-new-smartphone-features-for-2019/|title=Seven New Smartphone Features For 2019 - TelcoWorld Corp. Melbourne Mobile Phone Repairs}}</ref>

[[File:Smartphone camera controls popularized by iOS 7 (added width).svg|thumb|This layout of the camera viewfinder was first introduced by Apple with iOS 7 in 2013. Towards the late 2010s, several other smartphone vendors have ditched their layouts and implemented variations of this layout.]]

Designs first implemented by Apple have been replicated by other vendors several times. These include a sealed body that does not allow replacing the battery, a lack of the physical audio connecter (since the iPhone 7 from 2016), a screen with a cut-out area at the top for the earphone and front-facing camera and sensors (colloquially known as "notch"; since the iPhone X from 2017), the exclusion of a charging wall adapter from the scope of delivery (since the iPhone 12 from 2019), and a camera user interface with circular and usually solid-colour shutter button and a camera mode selector using perpendicular text and separate camera modes for photo and video (since iOS 7 from 2013).<ref>{{cite web |title=Samsung is hiding its ads that made fun of Apple's removal of headphone jack |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-headphone-jack-ads-1017246/ |website=Android Authority |access-date=17 October 2022 |language=en |date=8 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Dave |title=Apple's iPhone X introduced the 'notch' trend 2 years ago. Now, smartphone makers are trying to kill it once and for all. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-vs-the-notch-asus-oppo-xiaomi-smartphone-makers-2019-6?op=1 |website=Business Insider |access-date=17 October 2022 |date=2019-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Adam |title=Xiaomi ditches chargers for the Mi 11 after mocking Apple's similar move |url=https://mashable.com/article/xiaomi-ditches-charger-brick-after-mocking-apple |website=Mashable |access-date=17 October 2022 |language=en |date=26 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Xiaomi Removes Charger From Box After Mocking Apple For It |url=https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/xiaomi-removes-charger-from-box-after-mocking-apple-for-it-2344556 |website=NDTV.com |access-date=17 October 2022 |date=2020-12-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Robbins |first1=Ebenezer |title=After Apple, Xiaomi and Samsung: The next mobile manufacturer falls apart |url=https://www.techgamingreport.com/after-apple-xiaomi-and-samsung-the-next-mobile-manufacturer-falls-apart/ |website=Tech Gaming Report |access-date=17 October 2022 |date=11 September 2022}}</ref><ref>c. f. camera software of Samsung since the Galaxy S10, of Huawei since the P20, of LG since the G8, since the OnePlus 6, of Xiaomi since Redmi Note 5, and of UleFone smartphones released since at least 2017 (as of 2022).</ref>

=== Other developments in the 2020s ===
In 2020, the first smartphones featuring high-speed [[5G|5G]] network capability were announced.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alspach |first1=Kyle |title=10 Mobile Trends To Watch Out For In 2020 |url=https://www.crn.com/news/mobility/10-mobile-trends-to-watch-out-for-in-2020 |website=CRN |publisher=CRN |access-date=10 February 2021 |date=17 October 2019}}</ref>

Since 2020, smartphones have decreasingly been shipped with rudimentary accessories like a power adapter and [[Engineering:Headphones|headphones]] that have historically been almost invariably within the scope of delivery. This trend was initiated with Apple's iPhone 12, followed by Samsung and Xiaomi on the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S21#Removal of charger and headphones|Galaxy S21]] and [[Engineering:Xiaomi Mi 11|Mi 11]] respectively, months after having mocked the same through advertisements. The reason cited is reducing environmental footprint, though reaching raised charging rates supported by newer models demands a new charger shipped through separate packaging with its own environmental footprint.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tranate |first1=Jess |title=Samsung, Xiaomi Remove Charger From Smartphones After Mocking Apple |url=https://www.hngn.com/articles/233701/20201228/samsung-xiaomi-remove-charger-smartphones-mocking-apple.htm |website=HNGN - Headlines & Global News |access-date=27 September 2021 |language=en |date=28 December 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Librem5 phone convergence - screen keyboard mouse.jpg|thumb|Mobile/desktop convergence: the Librem 5 smartphone can be used as a basic desktop computer]]
With the development of the [[Software:PinePhone|PinePhone]] and [[Engineering:Librem 5|Librem 5]] in the 2020s, there are intensified<!-- unprecedented and successful--> efforts to make open source [[Linux for mobile devices|GNU/Linux for smartphones]] a major alternative to iOS and Android.<ref>{{cite news |title=The $149 Smartphone That Could Bring The Linux Mobile Ecosystem to Life |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7e77y/the-dollar149-smartphone-that-could-bring-the-linux-mobile-ecosystem-to-life |access-date=30 January 2022 |work=Vice |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vaughan-Nichols |first1=Steven |title=PinePhone KDE Linux phone is getting ready for pre-orders |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/pinephone-kde-linux-phone-is-getting-ready-for-pre-orders/ |access-date=30 January 2022 |work=ZDNet |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Amadeo |first1=Ron |title=Purism's Librem 5 phone starts shipping—a fully open GNU/Linux phone |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/09/purisms-librem-5-phone-starts-shipping-a-fully-open-gnulinux-phone/ |access-date=30 January 2022 |work=Ars Technica |date=26 September 2019 |language=en-us}}</ref> Moreover, associated software enabled <!--unique -->[[Engineering:Technological convergence#Cell phone convergence|convergence]] (beyond convergent<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nestor |first1=Marius |title=Maui Project Wants to Bring Convergent Apps to Linux Desktops and Android |url=https://9to5linux.com/maui-project-convergent-apps-linux-and-android |access-date=30 January 2022 |work=9to5Linux |date=16 February 2020}}</ref> and [[Mobile app#Hybrid app|hybrid]] apps) by allowing the smartphones to be used like a desktop computer when connected to a keyboard, mouse and monitor.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jose |first1=Manuel |title=Purism: A Linux OS is talking Convergence again |url=https://www.techdrivein.com/2019/03/purism-linux-os-convergence.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Larabel |first1=Michael |title=Purism's PureOS Proclaims Convergence Success For Mobile & Desktop Support - Phoronix |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=PureOS-Convergence |website=Phoronix}}</ref><ref name="maui">{{cite news |last1=Crume |first1=Jacob |title=Maui Shell is Here, Ushering in a New Era of Desktop Linux |url=https://news.itsfoss.com/maui-shell-unveiled/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=It's FOSS – News |date=30 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hamner |first1=David |title=Desktop and Phone Convergence |url=https://puri.sm/posts/desktop-and-phone-convergence/ |website=Purism |access-date=30 January 2022 |date=29 September 2020}}</ref>

In the early 2020s, manufacturers began to integrate [[Engineering:Satellite phone|satellite connectivity]] into smartphone devices for use in remote areas, where local terrestrial communication infrastructures, such as [[Engineering:Landline|landline]] and [[Engineering:Cellular network|cellular]] networks, are not available. Due to the antenna limitations in the conventional phones, in the early stages of implementation satellite connectivity would be limited to the [[Engineering:Satellite phone#Integration into conventional mobile phones|satellite messaging]] and satellite emergency services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qualcomm's Snapdragon Satellite will let Android phones text off the grid |url=https://www.engadget.com/qualcomm-snapdragon-satellite-messaging-android-211037007.html |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-26 |title=The problems with Elon Musk's satellite phone plan |url=https://qz.com/the-problems-with-elon-musks-satellite-phone-plan-1849462167 |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref>

== Hardware ==
[[File:Samsung Galaxy S6 edge (17448278539).jpg|thumb|Smartphone with infrared transmitter on top for use as remote control]]<!--Please replace with more close-up picture when found.-->
{{Main|Mobile phone features}}

A typical smartphone contains a number of metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) [[Engineering:Integrated circuit|integrated circuit]] (IC) chips,<ref name="Kim">{{cite book |last1=Kim |first1=Woonyun |chapter=CMOS power amplifier design for cellular applications: an EDGE/GSM dual-mode quad-band PA in 0.18 μm CMOS |editor-last1=Wang |editor-first1=Hua |editor-last2=Sengupta |editor-first2=Kaushik |title=RF and mm-Wave Power Generation in Silicon |date=2015 |publisher=[[Company:Academic Press|Academic Press]] |isbn=978-0-12-409522-9 |pages=89–90 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PzzLAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA89}}</ref> which in turn contain billions of tiny [[Engineering:MOSFET|MOS field-effect transistors]] (MOSFETs).<ref name="uspto">{{cite web |date=June 10, 2019 |title=Remarks by Director Iancu at the 2019 International Intellectual Property Conference |url=https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/remarks-director-iancu-2019-international-intellectual-property-conference |access-date=20 July 2019 |website=United States Patent and Trademark Office}}</ref> A typical smartphone contains the following MOS IC chips:<ref name="Kim"/>

* [[Engineering:Microprocessor|Application processor]] ([[Engineering:CMOS|CMOS]] system-on-a-chip)
* [[Flash memory]] (floating-gate MOS memory)
* Cellular modem ([[Baseband|baseband]] [[Engineering:RF CMOS|RF CMOS]])
* RF transceiver ([[Engineering:RF CMOS|RF CMOS]])
* Phone camera [[Engineering:Image sensor|image sensor]] (CMOS image sensor)
* [[Engineering:Power management integrated circuit|Power management integrated circuit]] ([[Engineering:Power MOSFET|power MOSFET]]s)
* [[Display driver]] (LCD or LED driver)
* Wireless communication chips ([[Wi-Fi]], [[Bluetooth]], GPS receiver)
* [[Engineering:Sound chip|Sound chip]] ([[Audio codec|audio codec]] and power amplifier)
* [[Engineering:Gyroscope|Gyroscope]]
* [[Capacitive sensing|Capacitive]] [[Engineering:Touchscreen|touchscreen]] controller (ASIC and [[Engineering:Digital signal processor|DSP]])<ref name="Kim"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kent |first1=Joel |chapter=Touchscreen technology basics & a new development |title=2010 CMOS Emerging Technologies Conference Presentation Slides |date=May 2010 |volume=6 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ekdkWGqw29EC&pg=PA34 |isbn=9781927500057 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Ganapati |first1=Priya |title=Finger Fail: Why Most Touchscreens Miss the Point |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/03/touchscreens-smartphones/ |access-date=9 November 2019 |magazine=Wired |date=5 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511114207/http://www.wired.com/2010/03/touchscreens-smartphones/ |archive-date=2014-05-11 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Engineering:RF power amplifier|RF power amplifier]] ([[Engineering:LDMOS|LDMOS]])<ref name="Baliga2005">{{cite book |last1=Baliga |first1=B. Jayant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=StJpDQAAQBAJ |title=Silicon RF Power MOSFETS |date=2005 |publisher=[[Company:World Scientific|World Scientific]] |isbn=9789812561213 |author1-link=B. Jayant Baliga}}</ref><ref name="Asif">{{cite book |last1=Asif |first1=Saad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yg1mDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT128 |title=5G Mobile Communications: Concepts and Technologies |date=2018 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=9780429881343 |pages=128–134}}</ref><ref name="NXP-LDMOS">{{cite web |title=LDMOS Products and Solutions |url=https://www.nxp.com/products/rf/rf-power/ldmos-products-and-solutions:RF-LDMOS-Products-Sol |website=NXP Semiconductors |access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>

Some are also equipped with an FM radio receiver, a hardware [[Notification LED|notification LED]], and an infrared transmitter for use as [[Engineering:Remote control|remote control]]. A few models have additional sensors such as [[Physics:Thermometer|thermometer]] for measuring ambient temperature, [[Earth:Hygrometer|hygrometer]] for humidity, and a sensor for ultraviolet ray measurement.

A few exotic smartphones designed around specific purposes are equipped with uncommon hardware such as a projector ([[Engineering:Samsung Beam i8520|Samsung Beam i8520]] and [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Beam i8530|Samsung Galaxy Beam i8530]]), optical zoom lenses ([[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom|Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom]] and Samsung Galaxy K Zoom), thermal camera, and even [[Physics:PMR446|PMR446]] (walkie-talkie radio) [[Transceiver|transceiver]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Camera and thermal imaging Review |url=https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/cat-s60-camera-and-thermal-imaging-page-3 |website=Trusted Reviews |language=en |date=11 November 2016 |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chopra |first1=Purvi |title=Ulefone Armor 3T Review: A Digital Walkie-Talkie Smartphone |url=https://veditto.com/ulefone-armor-3t-review |website=Veditto |access-date=19 April 2021 |date=19 November 2018}}</ref>

===Central processing unit===
Smartphones have [[Central processing unit|central processing unit]]s (CPUs), similar to those in computers, but optimised to operate in low power environments. In smartphones, the CPU is typically integrated in a [[Engineering:CMOS|CMOS]] (complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor) system-on-a-chip (SoC) [[Engineering:Microprocessor|application processor]].<ref name="Kim"/>

The performance of mobile CPU depends not only on the clock rate (generally given in multiples of [[Hertz|hertz]])<ref>{{cite web
 | title = CPU Frequency
 | work = CPU World Glossary
 | publisher = CPU World
 | date = 25 March 2008
 | url = http://www.cpu-world.com/Glossary/C/CPU_Frequency.html
 | access-date =1 January 2010 }}</ref> but also on the [[Memory hierarchy|memory hierarchy]]. Because of these challenges, the performance of mobile phone CPUs is often more appropriately given by scores derived from various standardized tests to measure the real effective performance in commonly used applications.

=== Buttons ===
[[File:TouchWiz 2013 device options.png|thumb|upright|"Device options" menu of Samsung Mobile's [[Software:TouchWiz|TouchWiz]] user interface as of 2013, accessed by holding the power button for a second]]
[[File:HTC_Desire_-_optic_navigation.jpeg|thumb|The HTC Desire, a 2010 smartphone with optical trackpad and search button.]]

Smartphones are typically equipped with a power button and volume buttons. Some pairs of volume buttons are unified. Some are equipped with a dedicated camera shutter button. Units for outdoor use may be equipped with an "SOS" emergency call and "PTT" (push-to-talk button). The presence of physical front-side buttons such as the home and navigation buttons has decreased throughout the 2010s, increasingly becoming replaced by capacitive touch sensors and simulated (on-screen) buttons.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Athow |first1=Desire |title=Best rugged smartphones of 2021: waterproof, shockproof and IP68 mobiles |url=https://www.techradar.com/best/best-rugged-smartphones |website=TechRadar |access-date=18 June 2021 |language=en |date=2021-03-09}}</ref>

As with classic mobile phones, early smartphones such as the Samsung Omnia II were equipped with buttons for accepting and declining phone calls. Due to the advancements of functionality besides phone calls, these have increasingly been replaced by navigation buttons such as "menu" (also known as "options"), "back", and "tasks". Some early 2010s smartphones such as the [[Engineering:HTC Desire|HTC Desire]] were additionally equipped with a "Search" button (🔍) for quick access to a web search engine or apps' internal search feature.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-13 |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/11/13/the-menu-navigation-button-has-finally-been-retired-in-android-10/ |language=en |title=The menu navigation button has finally been retired in Android 10 |author=Corbin Davenport  |access-date=2021-06-20}}</ref>

Since 2013, smartphones' home buttons started integrating [[Fingerprint scanner|fingerprint scanner]]s, starting with the iPhone 5s and [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S5|Samsung Galaxy S5]].

Functions may be assigned to button combinations. For example, [[Screenshot|screenshot]]s can usually be taken using the home and power buttons, with a short press on iOS and one-second holding Android OS, the two most popular mobile operating systems. On smartphones with no physical home button, usually the volume-down button is instead pressed with the power button. Some smartphones have a screenshot and possibly [[Screencast|screencast]] shortcuts in the navigation button bar or the power button menu.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Krasnoff |first1=Barbara |title=How to take screenshots on your iPhone |url=https://www.theverge.com/21340137/apple-iphone-screenshots-ios-how-to-take |website=The Verge |access-date=21 June 2021 |language=en |date=2020-07-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How to Take Screenshot on LG G3 (3 Methods) |url=https://www.droidviews.com/how-to-take-screenshot-on-lg-g3/ |website=DroidViews |access-date=21 June 2021 |date=2014-08-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=4 Ways To Take a Screenshot on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra - NaldoTech |url=https://www.naldotech.com/screenshot-samsung-galaxy-note-20-ultra/ |access-date=21 June 2021 |date=2020-08-20}}</ref>

===Display===
{{main|Engineering:Display device}}
[[File:Livraria do Senado (22622160063).jpg|thumb|A smartphone touchscreen]]
One of the main characteristics of smartphones is the [[Engineering:Display device|screen]]. Depending on the device's design, the screen fills most or nearly all of the space on a device's front surface. Many smartphone displays have an [[Engineering:Display aspect ratio|aspect ratio]] of [[Engineering:16:9|16:9]], but taller aspect ratios became more common in 2017, as well as the aim to eliminate bezels by extending the display surface to as close to the edges as possible.

==== Screen sizes ====
Screen sizes are measured in diagonal [[Inch|inch]]es. Phones with screens larger than 5.2 inches are often called "[[Engineering:Phablet|phablet]]s". Smartphones with screens over 4.5 inches in size are commonly difficult to use with only a single hand, since most thumbs cannot reach the entire screen surface; they may need to be shifted around in the hand, held in one hand and manipulated by the other, or used in place with both hands.  Due to design advances, some modern smartphones with large screen sizes and "edge-to-edge" designs have compact builds that improve their ergonomics, while the shift to taller aspect ratios have resulted in phones that have larger screen sizes whilst maintaining the ergonomics associated with smaller 16:9 displays.<ref name="phonearena-s7edgenotphablet">{{cite web|title=Don't call it a phablet: the 5.5" Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is narrower than many 5.2" devices|url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/Dont-call-it-a-phablet-the-5.5-Samsung-Galaxy-S7-Edge-is-narrower-than-many-5.2-devices_id79482|website=PhoneArena|access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="verge-phabletpytha">{{cite web|title=We're gonna need Pythagoras' help to compare screen sizes in 2017|url=https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2017/3/30/15120824/screen-aspect-ratio-mathematics-galaxy-s8-lg-g6|website=The Verge|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="verge-s8aspectratio">{{cite web|title=The Samsung Galaxy S8 will change the way we think about display sizes|url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/3/30/15121526/samsung-galaxy-s8-vs-google-pixel-iphone-7-screen-size-comparison|website=The Verge|date=March 30, 2017|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref>

==== Panel types ====
[[Engineering:Liquid-crystal display|Liquid-crystal display]]s (LCDs) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays are the most common. Some displays are integrated with pressure-sensitive digitizers, such as those developed by Wacom and [[Company:Samsung|Samsung]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ward|first1=J. R.|last2=Phillips|first2=M. J.|date=1987-04-01|title=Digitizer Technology: Performance Characteristics and the Effects on the User Interface|journal=IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications|volume=7|issue=4|pages=31–44|doi=10.1109/MCG.1987.276869|s2cid=16707568|issn=0272-1716}}</ref> and Apple's [[Engineering:Force Touch|Force Touch]] system. A few phones, such as the YotaPhone prototype, are equipped with a low-power [[Engineering:Electronic paper|electronic paper]] rear display, as used in e-book readers.

==== Alternative input methods ====
[[File:Mobile_URL_tooltip.png|thumb|Tooltip in ''Kiwi Browser'', a Google Chromium derirative, reveals the full URL by hovering over the tab list using the stylus on a Samsung Galaxy Note 4.]]
[[File:HTC Legend - optic sensor.jpeg|thumb|Optical track pad sensor of an HTC Legend, 2010.]]

Some devices are equipped with additional input methods such as a stylus for higher precision input and hovering detection, and/or a [[Engineering:Touchscreen#Self-capacitance|self-capacitive touch screen]]s layer for floating finger detection. The latter has been implemented on few phones such as the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S4|Samsung Galaxy S4]], [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Note 3|Note 3]], [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S5|S5]], [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Alpha|Alpha]], and Sony Xperia Sola, making the Galaxy Note 3 the only smartphone with both so far.

Hovering can enable preview [[Tooltip|tooltip]]s such as on the video player's seek bar, in text messages, and quick contacts on the dial pad, as well as [[Lock screen|lock screen]] animations, and the simulation of a [[Mouseover|hover]]ing mouse cursor on web sites.<ref>{{cite web |title=How does Air view work? |url=https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/what-is/air-view/ |website=Samsung Galaxy site |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Floating touch™ – Developer World |url=http://developer.sonymobile.com/knowledge-base/technologies/floating-touch |date=17 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917003815/http://developer.sonymobile.com/knowledge-base/technologies/floating-touch |archive-date=September 17, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How to Change Unlock Effect on Galaxy S4 Lock Screen |url=https://androidwidgetcenter.com/android-tips/how-to-change-unlock-effect-on-galaxy-s4-lock-screen/ |website=Android Widget Center |language=en |date=13 May 2013}}</ref>

Some styluses support hovering as well and are equipped with a button for quick access to relevant tools such as digital [[Engineering:Post-it note|post-it note]]s and highlighting of text and elements when dragging while pressed, resembling drag selection using a [[Computer mouse|computer mouse]]. Some series such as the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Note series|Samsung Galaxy Note series]] and LG G Stylus series have an integrated tray to store the stylus in.<ref>{{cite web |title=S Pen on the Note 4 is better than ever: Feature Focus |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/note-4-s-pen-feature-532978/ |website=Android Authority |date=2 October 2014}}</ref>

Few devices such as the iPhone 6s until iPhone Xs and [[Engineering:Huawei Mate S|Huawei Mate S]] are equipped with a [[Engineering:Force Touch|pressure-sensitive touch screen]], where the pressure may be used to simulate a gas pedal in video games, access to preview windows and shortcut menus, controlling the typing cursor, and a weight scale, the latest of which has been rejected by Apple from the App Store.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Jul 2019|first1=Lance Whitney 8|last2=P.m|first2=2:55|date=2019-07-08|title=How to Use and Control 3D Touch on Your iPhone|url=https://uk.pcmag.com/gallery/121589/how-to-use-and-control-3d-touch-on-your-iphone|access-date=2021-04-02|website=PCMag UK|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Zibreg|first=Christian|date=2015-10-28|title=Apple rejects Gravity, a 3D Touch-based iPhone 6s digital scale app|url=https://www.idownloadblog.com/2015/10/28/apple-pulls-gravity-app/|access-date=2021-04-02|website=iDownloadBlog.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

Some early 2010s HTC smartphones such as the [[Engineering:HTC Desire|HTC Desire (Bravo)]] and [[Engineering:HTC Legend|HTC Legend]] are equipped with an optical track pad for scrolling and selection.<ref>{{cite web |title=HTC Bravo: TMO UK Nexus One Plus Optical Trackpad – Phandroid |url=https://phandroid.com/2010/01/21/htc-bravo-tmo-uk-nexus-one-plus-optical-trackpad/ |website=phandroid.com |access-date=20 July 2021 |date=21 January 2010}}</ref>

==== Notification light ====
[[File:Notification_LED.webm|thumb|right]]
{{Main article|Notification LED}}
Many smartphones except Apple iPhones are equipped with low-power [[Engineering:Light-emitting diode|light-emitting diode]]s besides the screen that are able to notify the user about incoming messages, missed calls, low battery levels, and facilitate locating the mobile phone in darkness, with marginial power consumption.

To distinguish between the sources of notifications, the colour combination and blinking pattern can vary. Usually three diodes in red, green, and blue (RGB) are able to create a multitude of colour combinations.

=== Sensors ===
Smartphones are equipped with a multitude of sensors to enable system features and third-party applications.

==== Common sensors ====
[[Physics:Accelerometer|Accelerometer]]s and [[Engineering:Gyroscope|gyroscope]]s enable automatic control of screen rotation. Uses by third-party software include bubble level simulation. An [[Physics:Ambient light sensor|ambient light sensor]] allows for automatic screen brightness and contrast adjustment, and an RGB sensor enables the adaption of screen colour.

Many mobile phones are also equipped with a [[Engineering:Barometer|barometer]] sensor to measure air pressure, such as Samsung since 2012 with the Galaxy S3, and Apple since 2014 with the [[Engineering:IPhone 6|iPhone 6]]. It allows estimating and detecting changes in altitude.

A [[Physics:Magnetometer|magnetometer]] can act as a digital compass by measuring [[Earth:Earth's magnetic field|Earth's magnetic field]].

==== Rare sensors ====
Samsung equips their flagship smartphones since the 2014 Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 with a [[Heart rate|heart rate]] sensor to assist in fitness-related uses and act as a shutter key for the front-facing camera.<ref>{{Cite web|last=hamid|date=2014-12-25|title=How to Use Heart Rate Sensor on Note 4 as a Shutter Button|url=https://androidwidgetcenter.com/android-tips/use-heart-rate-sensor-note-4-shutter-button/|access-date=2021-04-02|website=Android Widget Center|language=en}}</ref>

So far, only the 2013 [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S4|Samsung Galaxy S4]] and [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Note 3|Note 3]] are equipped with an [[Physics:Thermometer|ambient temperature sensor]] and a [[Earth:Hygrometer|humidity sensor]], and only the [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Note 4|Note 4]] with an [[Physics:Ultraviolet|ultraviolet]] radiation sensor which could warn the user about excessive exposure.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=2013-04-10|title=Hidden innovation in the Galaxy S4|url=https://www.sammobile.com/2013/04/10/hidden-innovation-in-the-galaxy-s4/|access-date=|website=SamMobile|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=S|first=Ray|title=Playing with the Note 4's UV and SpO2 sensors|url=https://www.phonearena.com/news/Playing-with-the-Note-4s-UV-and-SpO2-sensors_id60358|access-date=2021-04-02|website=Phone Arena|language=en-US}}</ref>

A rear infrared [[Physics:Laser|laser]] beam for distance measurement can enable [[Engineering:Time-of-flight camera|time-of-flight camera]] functionality with accelerated [[Engineering:Autofocus|autofocus]], as implemented on select LG mobile phones starting with [[Engineering:LG G3|LG G3]] and [[Engineering:LG V10|LG V10]].

Due to their currently rare occurrence among smartphones, not much software to utilize these sensors has been developed yet.

=== Storage ===
While eMMC (''embedded multi media card'') flash storage was most commonly used in mobile phones, its successor, [[Engineering:Universal Flash Storage|UFS]] (''Universal Flash Storage'') with higher transfer rates emerged throughout the 2010s for upper-class devices.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ezekiel |first1=Odunayo |title=eMMC or UFS: Understanding new generation of mobile phone storage |url=https://www.dignited.com/23879/emmc-or-ufs-mobile-phone-storage/ |website=Dignited |date=18 November 2019}}</ref>

;Capacity
While the internal storage capacity of mobile phones has been near-stagnant during the first half of the 2010s, it has increased steeper during its second half, with [[Company:Samsung Telecommunications|Samsung]] for example increasing the available internal storage options of their flagship class units from 32 GB to 512 GB within only 2{{1/2}} years between 2016 and 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ware |first1=Russell |title=Understanding Smartphone Storage – How much storage does your phone need? |url=https://www.lifewire.com/smartphone-buying-guides-577502 |website=Lifewire |date=2019-11-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Samsung Starts Producing First 512-Gigabyte Universal Flash Storage for Next-Generation Mobile Devices |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171204006182/en/Samsung-Starts-Producing-512-Gigabyte-Universal-Flash-Storage |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en |date=5 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gottsegen |first1=Gordon |title=Samsung is bringing a huge 512GB memory chip to its phones |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-512gb-memory-chip-announcement/ |website=CNET |language=en |date=2017-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=US will only receive 32GB Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/us-getting-32gb-galaxy-s7-s7-edge-675313/ |website=Android Authority |date=21 February 2016}}</ref>

==== Memory cards ====
[[File:Huawei_U8950D_no_cover.JPG|thumb|Inserted memory and SIM cards]]
The space for data storage of some mobile phones can be expanded using [[Engineering:MicroSD#Mobile phones|MicroSD]] [[Memory card|memory card]]s, whose capacity has multiplied throughout the 2010s (→ {{section link|SD_card|2009–2018:_SDXC}}). Benefits over USB on the go storage and [[Cloud storage|cloud storage]] include offline availability and [[Privacy|privacy]], not reserving and protruding from the charging port, no connection instability or [[Engineering:Latency (engineering)|latency]], no dependence on voluminous data plans, and preservation of the limited rewriting cycles of the device's permanent internal storage. Large amounts of data can be moved immediately between devices by changing memory cards, large-scale data backups can be created offline, and data can be read externally should the smartphone be inoperable.<ref>{{cite web |language=en-us |title=MicroSD vs. cloud storage: Which do you prefer? |url=https://news.wirefly.com/2013/05/31/microsd-vs-cloud-storage-which-do-you-prefer |website=phonedog.com |date=31 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |language=en-nz |title=Understanding Life Expectancy of Flash Storage |url=https://www.ni.com/en-nz/support/documentation/supplemental/12/understanding-life-expectancy-of-flash-storage.html |website=www.ni.com |date=2020-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-09 |title=How to back up your Android phone |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/backup-android-phone-708622/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Android Authority |language=en}}</ref>

In case of technical [[Engineering:Brick (electronics)|defects]] which make the device unusable or unbootable as a result of liquid damage, fall damage, screen damage, bending damage, [[Malware|malware]], or bogus system updates,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Popa |first1=Bogdan |title=Xiaomi Ships Android 11 Update, Completely Bricks Devices |url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/xiaomi-ships-android-11-update-completely-bricks-devices-531859.shtml |website=softpedia |language=english |date=2019-12-31}}</ref> etc., data stored on the memory card is likely [[Data recovery|rescueable]] externally, while data on the inaccessible internal storage would be [[Data loss|lost]]. A memory card can usually{{efn|Presuming common [[File system|file system]] support, which is usually given. Some software-specific data left over from a previous device might not be relevant on the new device.}} immediately be re-used in a different memory-card-enabled device with no necessity for prior [[File transfer|file transfer]]s.

Some dual-SIM mobile phones are equipped with a hybrid slot, where one of the two slots can be occupied by either a [[SIM card]] or a memory card. Some models, typically of higher end, are equipped with three slots including one dedicated memory card slot, for simultaneous dual-SIM and memory card usage.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaufberatung: Smartphones mit Dual-SIM und Micro-SD |url=https://www.techstage.de/ratgeber/kaufberatung-smartphones-mit-dual-sim-und-micro-sd/3t4xzm3 |website=TechStage |access-date=13 June 2021 |language=de |date=2019-01-29}}</ref>

;Physical location
The location of both SIM and memory card slots vary among devices, where they might be located accessibly behind the back cover or else behind the battery, the latter of which denies [[Hot swapping|hot swapping]].<ref>{{cite web |title=How to increase internal memory on the Galaxy Note 4 |url=https://www.nextpit.com/how-to-increase-internal-memory-on-galaxy-note-4 |website=NextPit |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Thorn |first1=Thomas |title=Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini review |url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s4-mini-1137603/review |website=TechRadar |language=en |date=2013-08-09}}</ref>

Mobile phones with non-removable rear cover typically house SIM and memory cards in a small tray on the handset's frame, ejected by inserting a needle tool into a pinhole.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hidalgo |first1=Jason |title=Replace the SIM & Memory Card in a Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge |url=https://www.lifewire.com/install-sim-memory-galaxy-s7-4023729 |website=Lifewire |language=en}}</ref>

Some earlier mid-range phones such as the 2011 [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Fit (smartphone)|Samsung Galaxy Fit]] and [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy Ace|Ace]] have a sideways memory card slot on the frame covered by a cap that can be opened without tool.<ref>{{cite web |title=Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 review: Ace in the hole |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_ace_s5830-review-573.php |website=GSMArena.com |page=1 |date=2011-02-23}}</ref>

==== File transfer ====
Originally, [[Mass storage|mass storage]] access was commonly enabled to computers through USB. Over time, mass storage access was removed, leaving the [[Software:Media Transfer Protocol|Media Transfer Protocol]] as protocol for USB file transfer, due to its non-exclusive access ability where the computer is able to access the storage without it being locked away from the mobile phone's software for the duration of the connection, and no necessity for common [[File system|file system]] support, as communication is done through an [[Abstraction layer|abstraction layer]].

However, unlike mass storage, Media Transfer Protocol lacks parallelism, meaning that only a single transfer can run at a time, for which other transfer requests need to wait to finish. This, for example, denies browsing photos and playing back videos from the device during an active file transfer. Some programs and devices lack support for MTP. In addition, the direct access and [[Random access|random access]] of files through MTP is not supported. Any file is wholly downloaded from the device before opened.<ref>{{cite web |title=What Happened To Mass Storage & File Management? [Updated] - Mobility Arena - Mobile Phone, Smartphone, Cell Phone Reviews |url=https://mobilityarena.com/what-happened-to-mass-storage-and-file-management/ |website=mobilityarena.com |date=2011-11-18}}</ref>

===Sound===
Some audio quality enhancing features, such as [[Engineering:Voice over LTE|Voice over LTE]] and HD Voice have appeared and are often available on newer smartphones. Sound quality can remain a problem due to the design of the phone, the quality of the cellular network and compression algorithms used in long-distance calls.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/telecom/wireless/why-mobile-voice-quality-still-stinksand-how-to-fix-it|title=Why Mobile Voice Quality Still Stinks—and How to Fix It|first=Jeff|last=Hecht|work=ieee.org|date=September 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-is-cell-phone-call-quality-so-terrible|title=Why Is Cell Phone Call Quality So Terrible?|first=Elena|last=Malykhina|work=scientificamerican.com}}</ref>  Audio quality can be improved using a VoIP application over WiFi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lifehacker.com/whats-the-best-mobile-voip-app-1579791681|title=What's the Best Mobile VoIP App?|first=Alan|last=Henry|publisher=Gawker Media|work=Lifehacker|date=May 22, 2014 }}</ref> Cellphones have small speakers so that the user can use a [[Engineering:Speakerphone|speakerphone]] feature and talk to a person on the phone without holding it to their ear. The small speakers can also be used to listen to digital audio files of music or speech or watch videos with an audio component, without holding the phone close to the ear.

Some mobile phones such as the HTC One M8 and the [[Engineering:Sony Xperia Z2|Sony Xperia Z2]] are equipped with stereophonic speakers to create spacial sound when in horizontal orientation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoyle |first1=Andrew |title=HTC One M8 BoomSound speakers are loud and proud |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/htc-one-m8-speaker-comparison/ |website=CNET |language=en |date=2014-03-25}}</ref>

==== Audio connector ====
The [[Engineering:Phone connector (audio)#Miniature size|3.5mm headphone receptible]] ([[Social:Colloquialism|coll.]] "''headphone jack''") allows the immediate operation of passive headphones, as well as connection to other external auxiliary audio appliances. Among devices equipped with the connector, it is more commonly located at the bottom (charging port side) than on the top of the device.

The decline of the connector's availability among newly released mobile phones among all major vendors commenced in 2016 with its lack on the Apple [[Engineering:IPhone 7|iPhone 7]]. An [[Engineering:Adapter|adapter]] reserving the charging port can retrofit the plug.

Battery-powered, wireless [[Bluetooth]] headphones are an alternative. Those tend to be costlier however due to their need for internal hardware such as a Bluetooth [[Transceiver|transceiver]] and a battery with a charging controller, and a Bluetooth coupling is required ahead of each operation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Was ditching the headphone jack a good idea? |url=https://www.soundguys.com/was-ditching-the-headphone-jack-a-good-idea-13825/ |website=SoundGuys |date=9 August 2019}}</ref>

===Battery===
A smartphone typically uses a [[Engineering:Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion battery]] due to its high [[Physics:Energy density|energy density]].<ref name="Williams">{{cite journal |last1=Williams |first1=R. K. |last2=Darwish |first2=M. N. |last3=Blanchard |first3=R. A. |last4=Siemieniec |first4=R. |last5=Rutter |first5=P. |last6=Kawaguchi |first6=Y. |date=2017 |title=The Trench Power MOSFET—Part II: Application Specific VDMOS, LDMOS, Packaging, and Reliability |journal=IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices |volume=64 |issue=3 |pages=692–712 |bibcode=2017ITED...64..692W |doi=10.1109/TED.2017.2655149 |issn=0018-9383 |s2cid=38550249}}</ref><ref name="ieee">{{cite web |title=IEEE Medal for Environmental and Safety Technologies Recipients |url=https://www.ieee.org/about/awards/bios/environmental-safety-recipients.html |access-date=29 July 2019 |website=IEEE Medal for Environmental and Safety Technologies |publisher=[[Organization:Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers|Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers]]}}</ref><ref name="Sony-Energy">{{cite web |title=Keywords to understanding Sony Energy Devices – keyword 1991 |url=http://www.sonyenergy-devices.co.jp/en/keyword |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304224245/http://www.sonyenergy-devices.co.jp/en/keyword/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |website=Sony Energy Devices Corporation |publisher=[[Company:Sony|Sony]] |ref=keyword 1991 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Batteries chemically wear down as a result of repeated charging and discharging throughout ordinary usage, losing both energy capacity and output power, which results in loss of processing speeds followed by system outages.<ref>{{cite web |title=Causes and Fixes of Unexpected Phone Shutoffs - RTCL ... rtcl.eecs.umich.edu › assets › 2020 |url=https://rtcl.eecs.umich.edu/rtclweb/assets/publications/2020/youngmoon-mobisys20.pdf |date=2020-06-15}}</ref> Battery capacity may be reduced to 80% after few hundred recharges, and the drop in performance accelerates with time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jasieniak |first1=Jacek |title=Explainer: how to extend your phone's battery life |url=https://theconversation.com/explainer-how-to-extend-your-phones-battery-life-80958 |website=The Conversation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.ukm.my/jqma/v10_1/jqma-10-1-paper4.pdf |title=Modelling of Charge/Discharge Cycle of Lithium Ion Battery System |first1=Ho Kar |last1=Yee |first2=Sivakumar |last2=Ramakrishnan |first3=Ahmad Azmin |last3=Mohamad |journal=Journal of Quality Measurement and Analysis |volume=10 |issue=1 |date=2014 |pages=39–47}}</ref>
Some mobile phones are designed with batteries that can be interchanged upon expiration by the end user, usually by opening the back cover. While such a design had initially been used in most mobile phones, including those with touch screen that were not Apple iPhones, it has largely been usurped throughout the 2010s by permanently built-in, non-replaceable batteries; a design practice criticized for [[Social:Planned obsolescence#Batteries|planned obsolescence]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=RAVPower |first1=Team |title=Planning for Obsolescence: When to Buy a New Phone |url=https://blog.ravpower.com/2018/11/planned-obsolescence-upgrade-phone/ |website=RAVPower |date=9 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Planned obsolescence: the outrage of our electronic waste mountain |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/apr/15/the-right-to-repair-planned-obsolescence-electronic-waste-mountain |website=the Guardian |language=en |date=15 April 2020}}</ref>

==== Charging ====
[[File:USB battery charger.jpg|thumb|A high-capacity portable [[Physics:Battery charger|battery charger]] (''power bank'').]]

Due to limitations of electrical currents that existing USB cables' copper wires could handle, charging protocols which make use of elevated voltages such as Qualcomm Quick Charge and MediaTek Pump Express have been developed to increase the power throughput for faster charging, to maximize the usage time without restricted ergonomy and to minimize the time a device needs to be attached to a power source.

The smartphone's integrated [[Engineering:Charge controller|charge controller]] (IC) requests the elevated voltage from a supported charger. "[[Engineering:VOOC|VOOC]]" by Oppo, also marketed as "dash charge", took the counter approach and increased current to cut out some heat produced from internally regulating the arriving voltage in the end device down to the battery's charging terminal voltage, but is incompatible with existing USB cables, as it requires the thicker copper wires of high-current USB cables. Later, USB Power Delivery (''USB-PD'') was developed with the aim to standardize the negotiation of charging parameters across devices of up to 100 Watts, but is only supported on cables with USB-C on both endings due to the connector's dedicated PD channels.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rao |first1=Sumukh |title=Qualcomm Quick Charge vs OnePlus Warp Charge vs Oppo VOOC vs USB-PD - TechPP |url=https://techpp.com/2020/04/09/qualcomm-quick-charge-vs-oneplus-warp-charge-vs-oppo-vooc-vs-usb-pd/ |website=techpp.com |access-date=9 December 2021 |date=2020-04-09}}</ref>

While charging rates have been increasing, with 15 [[Watt|watt]]s in 2014,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ho |first1=Joshua |title=The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Review |url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/8613/the-samsung-galaxy-note-4-review/3 |website=www.anandtech.com |date=2014}}</ref> 20 Watts in 2016,<ref>{{cite web |last1=T |first1=Nick |title=How it works: Dash Charge fast charging on the OnePlus 3 |url=https://www.phonearena.com/news/How-it-works-Dash-Charge-fast-charging-on-the-OnePlus-3_id82646 |website=Phone Arena |date=2016-06-30}}</ref> and 45 watts in 2018,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Byford |first1=Sam |title=Oppo has the fastest fast charging we've ever seen |url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/10/10/17958648/oppo-super-vooc-fast-charging-find-x-lamborghini-edition |website=The Verge |language=en |date=10 October 2018}}</ref> the power throughput may be throttled down significantly during operation of the device.<ref>{{cite web |title=PSA: The Galaxy S8 and S8+ doesn't actually Fast Charge while you're using it – Phandroid |url=https://phandroid.com/2017/05/11/samsung-galaxy-s8-plus-wont-fast-charge-problems/ |website=phandroid.com |date=11 May 2017}}</ref>{{efn|I.e. while the device is not in stand-by mode or charging while the main operating system is powered off.}}

Wireless charging has been widely adapted, allowing for intermittent recharging without wearing down the charging port through frequent reconnection, with [[Engineering:Qi (standard)|''Qi'']] being the most common standard, followed by Powermat. Due to the lower efficiency of wireless power transmission, charging rates are below that of wired charging, and more heat is produced at similar charging rates.

By the end of 2017, smartphone battery life has become generally adequate;<ref>{{cite web|title=6 phones with the best battery life|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/smartphones-best-long-battery-life/|access-date=October 31, 2017}}</ref> however, earlier smartphone battery life was poor due to the weak batteries that could not handle the significant power requirements of the smartphones' computer systems and color screens.<ref>{{cite web|title=J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Smartphone Battery Life has Become a Significant Drain on Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jd-power-and-associates-reports-smartphone-battery-life-has-become-a-significant-drain-on-customer-satisfaction-and-loyalty-142765065.html|access-date=September 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=James |last=Kendrick |url=http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-secret-behind-poor-smartphone-battery-life/ |title=The secret behind poor smartphone battery life|work=ZDNet |date=August 4, 2014 |access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://techland.time.com/2013/04/01/peak-battery-why-smartphone-battery-life-still-stinks-and-will-for-years/ |title=Peak Battery: Why Smartphone Battery Life Still Stinks, and Will for Years|work=TIME.com | date=April 1, 2013}}</ref>

Smartphone users purchase additional chargers for use outside the home, at work, and in cars and by buying portable external "battery packs". External battery packs include generic models which are connected to the smartphone with a cable, and custom-made models that "piggyback" onto a smartphone's case. In 2016, Samsung had to recall millions of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones due to an explosive battery issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-halts-galaxy-note-7-shipments-phones-catching-fire/|title=Refurbished version of ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 will soon be available overseas|date=May 5, 2017}}</ref>  For consumer convenience, wireless charging stations have been introduced in some hotels, bars, and other public spaces.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/iphone-wireless-charging-qi/|title=The Most Impactful New iPhone Feature May Be the Most Boring|magazine=WIRED|access-date=2017-09-22|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Cameras===

Cameras have become standard features of smartphones. As of 2019 phone cameras are now a highly competitive area of differentiation between models, with advertising campaigns commonly based on a focus on the quality or capabilities of a device's main cameras.

Images are usually saved in the [[JPEG]] file format; some high-end phones since the mid-2010s also have [[Raw image format|RAW]] imaging capability.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to Shoot Photos in DNG/RAW on Samsung Galaxy S7 |url=https://www.androidbeat.com/2016/04/how-to-shoot-photos-dng-raw-galaxy-s7/ |website=Android Beat {{!}} Android News, Hacks, Apps, Tips & Reviews Blog |access-date=19 August 2021 |language=en-us |date=24 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nikam |first1=Sohil |title=Samsung Dropping RAW Image Support Into Galaxy S6 And S6 Edge Via Android 5.1.1 Update - TechShout |url=https://www.techshout.com/samsung-to-bless-galaxy-s6-and-s6-edge-with-raw-photo-support-via-android-5-1-1-update/ |website=www.techshout.com |access-date=19 August 2021 |date=2015-05-08}}</ref>

==== Space constraints ====
Typically smartphones have at least one main rear-facing camera and a lower-resolution front-facing camera for "[[Philosophy:Selfie|selfie]]s" and video chat. Owing to the limited depth available in smartphones for [[Engineering:Image sensor|image sensor]]s and [[Physics:Lens|optics]], rear-facing cameras are often housed in a "bump" that's thicker than the rest of the phone. Since increasingly thin mobile phones have more abundant horizontal space than the depth that is necessary and used in dedicated cameras for better lenses, there's additionally a trend for phone manufacturers to include multiple cameras, with each optimized for a different purpose ([[Engineering:Telephoto lens|telephoto]], [[Engineering:Wide-angle lens|wide angle]], etc.).

Viewed from back, rear cameras are commonly located at the top center or top left corner. A cornered location benefits by not requiring other hardware to be packed around the camera module while increasing ergonomy, as the lens is less likely to be covered when held horizontally.

Modern advanced smartphones have cameras with optical image stabilisation (OIS), larger sensors, bright lenses, and even optical zoom plus [[Raw image format|RAW]] images. [[High-dynamic-range imaging|HDR]], "[[Physics:Bokeh|Bokeh]] mode" with multi lenses and multi-shot night modes are now also familiar.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 16 Best Camera Phones For Photography 2019 |url=https://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-16-best-camera-phones-for-photography-2019-23050 |date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512034618/https://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-16-best-camera-phones-for-photography-2019-23050 |archive-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> Many new smartphone camera features are being enabled via [[Computational photography|computational photography]] [[Digital image processing|image processing]] and multiple specialized lenses rather than larger sensors and lenses, due to the constrained space available inside phones that are being made as slim as possible.

==== Dedicated camera button ====
Some mobile phones such as the Samsung i8000 Omnia 2, some Nokia Lumias and some [[Engineering:Sony Xperia|Sony Xperia]]s are equipped with a physical camera shutter button.

Those with two pressure levels resemble the point-and-shoot intuition of dedicated compact cameras. The camera button may be used as a [[Shortcut (computing)|shortcut]] to quickly and ergonomically launch the camera software, as it is located more accessibly inside a pocket than the power button.

=== Back cover materials ===
Back covers of smartphones are typically made of [[Physics:Polycarbonate|polycarbonate]], aluminium, or glass. Polycarbonate back covers may be glossy or matte, and possibly textured, like dotted on the Galaxy S5 or leathered on the Galaxy Note 3 and Note 4.

While polycarbonate back covers may be perceived as less "premium" among [[Philosophy:Fashion|fashion]]- and trend-oriented users, its utilitarian strengths and technical benefits include durability and shock absorption, greater [[Physics:Elasticity|elasticity]] against permanent bending like metal, inability to shatter like glass, which facilitates designing it removable; better manufacturing cost efficiency, and no blockage of radio signals or wireless power like metal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ho |first1=Joshua |title=A Discussion on Material Choices in Mobile |url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/7984/discussion-on-material-choices-in-mobile |website=www.anandtech.com |access-date=11 April 2021 |date=2014-05-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bring back plastic phones. |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/bring-back-plastic-phones-1004824/ |website=Android Authority |date=5 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Benefits And Applications Of Polycarbonates |url=https://www.tuflite.com/blog/benefits-applications-polycarbonates |website=Tuflite |date=17 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Build materials: metal vs glass vs plastic |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/build-materials-metal-vs-glass-vs-plastic-617553/ |website=Android Authority |date=19 July 2018}}</ref>

===Accessories===
A wide range of accessories are sold for smartphones, including [[Engineering:Mobile phone accessories#Cases|cases]], memory cards, [[Engineering:Screen protector|screen protector]]s, [[Physics:Battery charger#Mobile phone charger|chargers]], wireless power stations, USB On-The-Go adapters (for connecting USB drives and or, in some cases, a HDMI cable to an external monitor), [[Mobile High-Definition Link|MHL]] adapters, add-on batteries, power banks, [[Engineering:Headphones|headphones]], combined headphone-microphones (which, for example, allow a person to privately conduct calls on the device without holding it to the ear), and [[Bluetooth]]-enabled powered speakers that enable users to listen to media from their smartphones wirelessly.

Cases range from relatively inexpensive rubber or soft plastic cases which provide moderate protection from bumps and good protection from scratches to more expensive, heavy-duty cases that combine a rubber padding with a hard outer shell. Some cases have a "book"-like form, with a cover that the user opens to use the device; when the cover is closed, it protects the screen. Some "book"-like cases have additional pockets for credit cards, thus enabling people to use them as wallets.

Accessories include products sold by the manufacturer of the smartphone and compatible products made by other manufacturers.

However, some companies, like [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple]], stopped including chargers with smartphones in order to "reduce [[Earth:Carbon footprint|carbon footprint]]," etc., causing many customers to pay extra for charging adapters.

==Software==
===Mobile operating systems===
{{Main|Mobile operating system}}

A mobile operating system (or mobile OS) is an [[Operating system|operating system]] for phones, [[Engineering:Tablet computer|tablet]]s, [[Engineering:Smartwatch|smartwatch]]es, or other [[Engineering:Mobile device|mobile device]]s.

Mobile operating systems combine features of a [[Engineering:Personal computer|personal computer]] operating system with other features useful for mobile or handheld use; usually including, and most of the following considered essential in modern mobile systems; a [[Engineering:Touchscreen|touchscreen]], [[Engineering:Cellular network|cellular]], [[Bluetooth]], [[Wi-Fi Protected Access]], [[Wi-Fi]], [[Engineering:Global Positioning System|Global Positioning System]] (GPS) mobile navigation, [[Physics:Video camera|video-]] and [[Engineering:Digital camera|single-frame picture cameras]], [[Speech recognition|speech recognition]], [[Engineering:Sound recording and reproduction|voice recorder]], [[Engineering:Portable media player|music player]], near field communication, and [[Engineering:Infrared blaster|infrared blaster]]. By Q1 2018, over 383 million smartphones were sold with 85.9 percent running [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]], 14.1 percent running [[Software:IOS|iOS]] and a negligible number of smartphones running other OSes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3876865/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613220451/https://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3876865 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |title=Gartner Says Worldwide Sales of Smartphones Returned to Growth in First Quarter of 2018 |date=May 29, 2018 |website=Gartner, Inc. |publisher=Gartner |access-date=August 25, 2018}}</ref> Android alone is more popular than the popular desktop operating system Windows, and in general, smartphone use (even without tablets) exceeds desktop use. Other well-known mobile operating systems are Flyme OS and Harmony OS.

Mobile devices with mobile communications abilities (e.g., smartphones) contain two mobile operating systems{{snd}}the main user-facing software platform is supplemented by a second low-level proprietary [[Real-time operating system|real-time operating system]] which operates the radio and other hardware. Research has shown that these low-level systems may contain a range of security vulnerabilities permitting malicious [[Engineering:Base station|base station]]s to gain high levels of control over the mobile device.<ref>Thom Holwerda, OSNews, November 12, 2013, [http://www.osnews.com/story/27416/The_second_operating_system_hiding_in_every_mobile_phone The second operating system hiding in every mobile phone] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113173925/http://www.osnews.com/story/27416/The_second_operating_system_hiding_in_every_mobile_phone |date=November 13, 2013 }}</ref>
<!--

The below list and subsequent details in it are unwarranted for the scope of this article. It is better replaced by a link to corresponding main article (see above). Even if any reason the below needs to be retained, a single paragraph summarising entire contents, should be enough.

====Android====
{{Main article|Software:Android (operating system)}}
[[File:Android OS.jpg|thumb|Several smartphones running Google's Android OS]]
[[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]] (based on the modified [[Software:Linux kernel|Linux kernel]]) is a mobile operating system developed by Google Inc.<ref name="OS MS 3Q10">{{cite web |url=http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1466313 |title=Gartner Says Worldwide Mobile Phone Sales Grew 35 Percent in Third Quarter 2010; Smartphone Sales Increased 96 Percent |date=November 10, 2010 |publisher=Gartner, Inc |at=Table 2 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113073826/http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1466313 |archive-date=January 13, 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Besides having the largest installed base worldwide on smartphones, it is also the most popular operating system for [[Turing machine|general purpose computers]] (a category that includes desktop computers and mobile devices), even though Android is not a popular operating system for regular (desktop) [[Engineering:Personal computer|personal computer]]s (PCs). Although the Android operating system is [[Free and open-source software|free and open-source software]],<ref name="ICS is coming to AOSP">{{cite web |url=http://groups.google.com/group/android-building/msg/c0e01b4619a1455a |title=ICS is coming to AOSP}}</ref> in devices sold, much of the software [[Product bundling|bundled]] with it (including Google apps and vendor-installed software) is [[Proprietary software|proprietary software]] and closed source.<ref>[https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/balky-carriers-and-slow-oems-step-aside-google-is-defragging-android/ Balky carriers and slow OEMs step aside: Google is defragging Android.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903011541/http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/balky-carriers-and-slow-oems-step-aside-google-is-defragging-android/ |date=September 3, 2013 }} [https://arstechnica.com/ Ars Technica] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703174116/https://arstechnica.com/ |date=July 3, 2017 }}. Retrieved December 24, 2013.</ref>

Android's releases before 2.0 (1.0, 1.5, 1.6) were used exclusively on mobile phones. Android 2.x releases were mostly used for mobile phones but also some tablets, Android 3.0 was a tablet-oriented release and does not officially run on mobile phones, while both phone and tablet compatibility was merged since Android 4.0. The current Android version is [[Software:Android Pie|9.0 Pie]].

Android's releases are named after sweets or dessert items, except for the first and second releases.

Development groups have used the Android source code to develop and distribute their own [[Software:List of custom Android distributions|modified versions]] of the operating system.<ref name="guardianfrag">{{cite news|last=Arthur|first=Charles|title=Android fragmentation 'worse than ever' – but OpenSignal says that's good|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jul/30/android-fragmentation-visualised-opensignal|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=August 1, 2013|date=July 30, 2013}}</ref>

====iOS====
{{Main article|Software:IOS}}
[[Software:IOS|iOS]] (formerly named iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system from [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]] It has the second largest installed base worldwide on smartphones, but the largest profits, due to aggressive price competition between Android-based manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/26/apple-eating-all-the-profits/|title=Apple Took 89% Of Q4 Smartphone Profits With Android OEMs In A Race To The Bottom|first=Ingrid|last=Lunden|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715110736/https://techcrunch.com/2015/02/26/apple-eating-all-the-profits/|archive-date=July 15, 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It is closed source and proprietary, and is built on the open source [[Software:Darwin (operating system)|Darwin]] operating system. The [[Engineering:IPhone|iPhone]], [[Engineering:IPod Touch|iPod Touch]], [[Engineering:IPad|iPad]] and second or third-generation [[Engineering:Apple TV|Apple TV]] all use [[Software:IOS|iOS]], which is derived from [[Software:MacOS|macOS]].

Native third party applications were not officially supported until the release of iPhone OS 2.0 on July 11, 2008. Before this, "jailbreaking" allowed third party applications to be installed, and this method is still available.

Currently all iOS devices are developed by Apple and manufactured by [[Company:Foxconn|Foxconn]] or another of Apple's partners.

====Sailfish OS====
{{main article|Software:Sailfish OS}}

[[Software:Sailfish OS|Sailfish OS]] is from [[Company:Jolla|Jolla]]. It is open source with [[Software:GNU General Public License|GNU General Public License]] (GPL) for middleware stack core which comes from MER. Sailfish due to Jolla's business model and due to alliances with various partners and due to intentional design of OS internals, is capable to adopt in several layers third party software including Jolla software e.g. Jolla's UI is [[Proprietary software|proprietary software]] (closed source), so such components can be proprietary with many different kinds of licences. However, user can replace them with open source components like e.g. NEMO UI instead Jolla's UI. Using third party software extends usability but does not make the OS code close, in the same way as preinstalled Microsoft Word (closed source) on a Linux device does not make Linux closed source.

After Nokia abandoned in 2011 the [[Software:MeeGo|MeeGo]] project, most of the MeeGo team left Nokia, and established Jolla as a company to use MeeGo and [[Software:Mer (software distribution)|Mer]] business opportunities. The MER standard allows it to be launched on any hardware with kernel compatible with MER. In 2012, Linux Sailfish OS based on MeeGo and using middleware of MER core stack distribution was launched for public use. The first device, the Jolla smartphone, was unveiled on May 20, 2013. In 2015, [[Engineering:Jolla Tablet|Jolla Tablet]] was launched and the [[Organization:BRICS|BRICS]] countries declared it an officially supported OS there. Jolla started licensing Sailfish OS 2.0 for third parties. Some devices sold are updateable to Sailfish 2.0 with no limits.

Each Sailfish OS version release is named after a Finnish lake.

====Tizen====
{{main article|Software:Tizen}}

[[Software:Tizen|Tizen]] (based on the [[Software:Linux kernel|Linux kernel]]) is a mobile operating system hosted by [[Organization:Linux Foundation|Linux Foundation]], together with support from the Tizen Association, guided by a Technical Steering Group composed of [[Company:Intel|Intel]] and [[Company:Samsung|Samsung]].

Tizen is an operating system for devices including smartphones, tablets, [[Engineering:In-car entertainment|In-Vehicle Infotainment]] (IVI) devices, and smart TVs. It is an open source system (however the SDK was closed source and proprietary) that aims to offer a consistent user experience across devices. Tizen's main components are the Linux kernel and the [[Software:WebKit|WebKit]] runtime. According to Intel, Tizen "combines the best of LiMo and MeeGo." [[HTML5]] apps are emphasized, with MeeGo encouraging its members to transition to Tizen, stating that the "future belongs to HTML5-based applications, outside of a relatively small percentage of apps, and we are firmly convinced that our investment needs to shift toward HTML5." Tizen will be targeted at a variety of platforms such as handsets, touch pc, smart TVs and in-vehicle entertainment.<ref>[https://www.tizen.org/blogs/dawnfoster/2011/welcome-tizen Welcome to Tizen!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013071516/https://www.tizen.org/blogs/dawnfoster/2011/welcome-tizen |date=October 13, 2011 }}. Tizen.org (September 27, 2011). Retrieved on 2012-07-03.</ref><ref>Ricker, Thomas. (September 28, 2011)[http://thisismynext.com/2011/09/28/meego-dead-meet-tizen-open-source-os-based-linux/ MeeGo is dead: Meet Tizen, another new open source OS based on Linux] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930051802/http://thisismynext.com/2011/09/28/meego-dead-meet-tizen-open-source-os-based-linux/ |date=September 30, 2011 }}. Thisismynext.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-03.</ref> On May 17, 2013, Tizen released version 2.1, code-named Nectarine.<ref name="tizen2_1">{{cite web|url=https://www.tizen.org/blogs/tsg/2013/tizen-2.1-sdk-and-source-code-release|title=Tizen 2.1 SDK and Source Code Release|publisher=Tizen.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730123852/https://www.tizen.org/blogs/tsg/2013/tizen-2.1-sdk-and-source-code-release|archive-date=July 30, 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> While Tizen itself was open source, most of the UX and UI layer that developed by Samsung was mainly closed source and proprietary, such as the TouchWiz UI on the Samsung Z's series smartphone.

====Ubuntu Touch====
{{main article|Software:Ubuntu Touch}}

[[Software:Ubuntu Touch|Ubuntu Touch]] is from Canonical Ltd. It is open source and uses the [[Software:GNU General Public License|GPL]] license.<ref name="tizen2_1"/> The OS is built on the Android Linux kernel, using Android drivers and services via an [[Software:LXC|LXC]] container, but does not use any of the Java-like code of Android.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Touch/ContainerArchitecture|title=ContainerArchitecture|access-date=October 30, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031024511/https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Touch/ContainerArchitecture|archive-date=October 31, 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Though Canonical formally announced it was discontinuing the Ubuntu mobile OS with its integral component [[Software:Unity (user interface)|Unity]]8<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.ubuntu.com/2017/04/05/growing-ubuntu-for-cloud-and-iot-rather-than-phone-and-convergence|title=Growing Ubuntu for cloud and IoT, rather than phone and convergence|access-date=27 September 2018|date=5 April 2017}}</ref>, the independent German non-profit UBPorts Community/("Foundation" paperwork pending in the local Berlin-government) decided to takeover the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-blog-1/post/is-ubuntu-touch-dead-56|title=Is Ubuntu Touch Dead?|access-date=27 September 2018|date=5 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ubports.com/foundation/ubports-foundation|title=The UBports Foundation *: Details about the foundation|access-date=27 September 2018|date=19 June 2018}}</ref> Canonical started Ubuntu Touch based on [[Software:Ubuntu|Ubuntu]] [[Software:Ubuntu version history#Ubuntu 15.04 (Vivid Vervet)|15.04 (Vivid Vervet)]] and UBPorts upgraded the base to the nearest, current long-term support version Ubuntu [[Software:Ubuntu version history#Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus)|16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus)]].

====Discontinued operating systems====

=====Bada=====
{{main article|Software:Bada}}

[[Software:Bada|Bada]] platform (stylized as bada; Korean: 바다) was an operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. It was developed by Samsung Electronics. Its name is derived from "바다 (bada)", meaning "ocean" or "sea" in Korean. It ranges from mid- to high-end smartphones. To foster adoption of Bada OS, since 2011 Samsung reportedly has considered releasing the source code under an open-source license, and expanding device support to include Smart TVs. Samsung announced in June 2012 intentions to merge Bada into the Tizen project, but would meanwhile use its own Bada operating system, in parallel with Google Android OS and Microsoft Windows Phone, for its smartphones. All Bada-powered devices are branded under the Wave name, but not all of Samsung's Android-powered devices are branded under the name Galaxy.
On February 25, 2013, Samsung announced that it will stop developing Bada, moving development to [[Software:Tizen|Tizen]] instead. Bug reporting was finally terminated in April 2014.<ref>[http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/samsung-scraps-bada-os-folds-it-tizen/2013-02-25 Samsung scraps Bada OS, folds it into Tizen – FierceMobileIT] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228062542/http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/samsung-scraps-bada-os-folds-it-tizen/2013-02-25 |date=February 28, 2013 }}. Fiercemobilecontent.com (February 25, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-12-09.</ref>

=====BlackBerry 10=====

[[Software:BlackBerry 10|BlackBerry 10]] (based on the [[QNX]] OS) is from [[Company:BlackBerry Limited|BlackBerry]]. As a smartphone OS, it is closed source and proprietary, and runs only on phones and tablets manufactured by BlackBerry.

One of the dominant platforms in the world in the late 2000s, its global market share was reduced significantly by the mid-2010s. In late 2016, BlackBerry announced that it will continue support the OS, with a promise to release 10.3.3.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mobilesyrup.com/2017/01/04/blackberry-has-no-plans-to-release-new-bb10-devices/|title=BlackBerry has no plans to release new BB10 devices [Update]|first1=Patrick O'RourkeJan|last1=4|first2=201711:25 AM EST41|last2=comments|date=January 4, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105175452/http://mobilesyrup.com/2017/01/04/blackberry-has-no-plans-to-release-new-bb10-devices/|archive-date=January 5, 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="IDC.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS25450615|title=Android and iOS Squeeze the Competition, Swelling to 96.3% of the Smartphone Operating System Market for Both 4Q14 and CY14, According to IDC|date=February 24, 2015|work=IDC.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225074430/http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS25450615|archive-date=February 25, 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Therefore, BlackBerry 10 would not receive any major updates as BlackBerry and its partners would focus more on their Android base development.

=====Firefox OS=====
{{main article|Software:Firefox OS}}

[[Software:Firefox OS|Firefox OS]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wiki.mozilla.org/B2G |title=B2G – MozillaWiki |publisher=mozilla.org |date=August 24, 2011 |access-date=September 7, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807222134/https://wiki.mozilla.org/B2G |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> (project name: Boot to Gecko, also known as B2G) is from Mozilla. It was an open source mobile operating system released under the [[Software:Mozilla Public License|Mozilla Public License]] built on the Android Linux kernel and used Android drivers, but did not use any Java-like code of Android.

According to [[Ars Technica]], "Mozilla says that B2G is motivated by a desire to demonstrate that the standards-based open Web has the potential to be a competitive alternative to the existing single-vendor application development stacks offered by the dominant mobile operating systems."<ref>{{cite web |last=Paul |first=Ryan |url=https://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2011/07/mozilla-eyes-mobile-os-landscape-with-new-boot-to-gecko-project.ars |title=Mozilla eyes mobile OS landscape with new Boot to Gecko project |publisher=Arstechnica.com |date=July 25, 2011 |access-date=September 7, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912005225/http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2011/07/mozilla-eyes-mobile-os-landscape-with-new-boot-to-gecko-project.ars |archive-date=September 12, 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In September 2016, Mozilla announced that work on Firefox OS has ceased, and all B2G-related code would be removed from mozilla-central.<ref>{{Cite web |title= B2G OS and Gecko Announcement from Ari Jaaksi & David Bryant |url= https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/mozilla.dev.fxos/FoAwifahNPY/Lppm0VHVBAAJ |access-date= September 27, 2016 |date= September 27, 2016 |url-status= live |archive-url= http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20110122130054/https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/mozilla.dev.fxos/FoAwifahNPY/Lppm0VHVBAAJ |archive-date= January 22, 2011 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

=====MeeGo/Maemo/Moblin =====
{{main article|Software:MeeGo|Software:Maemo|Software:Moblin}}

MeeGo was from non-profit organization The Linux Foundation. It is open source and GPL. At the 2010 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, [[Company:Nokia|Nokia]] and [[Company:Intel|Intel]] both unveiled ''MeeGo'', a mobile operating system that combined [[Software:Moblin|Moblin]] and Maemo to create an open-sourced experience for users across all devices. In 2011 Nokia announced that it would no longer pursue MeeGo in favor of Windows Phone. Nokia announced the [[Engineering:Nokia N9|Nokia N9]] on June 21, 2011 at the Nokia Connection event<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/06/21/introducing-the-nokia-n9-all-it-takes-is-a-swipe/ |title=Introducing the Nokia N9: all it takes is a swipe! &#124; Nokia Conversations – The official Nokia Blog |publisher=Nokia |date=June 21, 2011 |access-date=September 7, 2011}}</ref> in Singapore. LG announced its support for the platform.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/mobile/meego-not-dead-yet-as-lg-continues-the-charge/ |title=MeeGo Not Dead Yet as LG Continues the Charge — Mobile Technology News |publisher=Gigaom.com |date=April 29, 2011 |access-date=September 7, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829160853/http://gigaom.com/mobile/meego-not-dead-yet-as-lg-continues-the-charge/ |archive-date=August 29, 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[Software:Maemo|Maemo]] was a platform developed by Nokia for smartphones and Internet tablets. It is open source and GPL, based on Debian GNU/Linux and draws much of its [[Graphical user interface|graphical user interface]] (GUI), [[Software framework|frameworks]], and [[Library (computing)|libraries]] from the GNOME project. It uses the [[Software:Matchbox (window manager)|Matchbox]] window manager and the [[Software:GTK|GTK]]-based [[Software:Hildon|Hildon]] as its GUI and [[Software:Application framework|application framework]].

=====Palm OS=====
{{main article|Software:Palm OS}}
[[File:Treo 300.jpg|thumb|A Palm Treo 300 smartphone (2002)]]
[[Software:Palm OS|Palm OS]]/Garnet OS was from Access Co. It is closed source and proprietary. [[Software:WebOS|webOS]] was introduced by Palm in January 2009, as the successor to Palm OS with Web 2.0 technologies, [[Open architecture|open architecture]] and multitasking abilities.

=====Symbian=====
{{Main article|Software:Symbian}}
[[File:Nokia N70 (1).jpg|thumb|upright|A [[Engineering:Nokia N70|Nokia N70]] smartphone (2005) running Symbian OS, which was highly popular in Europe and Asia in the 2000s]]
The [[Software:Symbian|Symbian]] platform was developed by [[Company:Nokia|Nokia]] for some models of smartphones. It is proprietary software, it was however used by Ericsson (SonyEricsson), Sending and Benq. The operating system was discontinued in 2012, although a slimmed-down version for basic phones was still developed until July 2014. Microsoft officially shelved the platform in favor of Windows Phone after its acquisition of Nokia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/7/17/5912289/microsoft-kills-feature-phones-in-favor-of-windows-phone|title=Microsoft is killing off Nokia's feature phones in favor of Windows Phone|date=July 17, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808154613/https://www.theverge.com/2014/7/17/5912289/microsoft-kills-feature-phones-in-favor-of-windows-phone|archive-date=August 8, 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=====webOS=====
{{main article|Software:WebOS}}

[[Software:WebOS|webOS]] was developed by [[Company:Palm, Inc.|Palm]]. webOS is an open source mobile operating system running on the Linux kernel, initially developed by Palm, which launched with the [[Engineering:Palm Pre|Palm Pre]]. After being acquired by HP, two phones (the [[Engineering:HP Veer|Veer]] and the [[Engineering:HP Pre 3|Pre 3]]) and a tablet (the [[Engineering:HP TouchPad|TouchPad]]) running webOS were introduced in 2011. On August 18, 2011, HP announced that webOS hardware would be discontinued,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2011/110818b.html?mtxs=rss-corp-news |title=HP Confirms Discussions with Autonomy Corporation plc Regarding Possible Business Combination; Makes Other Announcements |publisher=HP |date=August 18, 2010 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006182519/http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2011/110818b.html?mtxs=rss-corp-news |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> but would continue to support and update webOS software and develop the webOS ecosystem.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://developer.palm.com/blog/2011/08/the-next-chapter-for-webos/ |title=The next chapter for webOS |publisher=HP webOS Developer Blog |date=August 19, 2010 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924172749/http://developer.palm.com/blog/2011/08/the-next-chapter-for-webos/ |archive-date=September 24, 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> HP released webOS as open source under the name Open webOS, and plans to update it with additional features.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openwebosproject.org/discover/roadmap/#.UIgNYMXA-So |title=Open webOS::Roadmap |publisher=Open webOS Project |date=September 2012 |access-date=October 24, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029145336/http://www.openwebosproject.org/discover/roadmap#.UIgNYMXA-So |archive-date=October 29, 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On February 25, 2013 HP announced the sale of WebOS to [[Company:LG Electronics|LG Electronics]], who used the operating system for its "smart" or Internet-connected TVs. However, HP retained patents underlying WebOS and cloud-based services such as the App Catalog.

=====Windows 10 Mobile=====

[[Software:Windows 10 Mobile|Windows 10 Mobile]] (formerly called [[Software:Windows Phone|Windows Phone]]) is from [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]]. It is closed source and proprietary.

Unveiled on February 15, 2010, Windows Phone includes a user interface inspired by Microsoft's Metro Design Language. It is integrated with Microsoft services such as [[Software:OneDrive|OneDrive]] and Office, Xbox Music, Xbox Video, Xbox Live games and [[Software:Microsoft Bing|Bing]], but also integrates with many other non-Microsoft services such as [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]] and [[Google Account|Google accounts]]. Windows Phone devices were made primarily by [[Company:Microsoft Mobile|Microsoft Mobile]]/[[Company:Nokia|Nokia]], and also by [[Company:HTC|HTC]] and [[Company:Samsung|Samsung]].

On January 21, 2015, Microsoft announced that the Windows Phone brand will be phased out and replaced with [[Software:Windows 10 Mobile|Windows 10 Mobile]], bringing tighter integration and unification with its PC counterpart [[Software:Windows 10|Windows 10]], and provide a platform for smartphones and tablets with screen sizes under 8 inches.

In October 2017, Microsoft officially announced that they would no longer push any major updates to Windows 10 Mobile, instead it would put it in maintenance mode, where Microsoft would push bug fixes and general improvements only, therefore Windows 10 Mobile would not receive any new feature updates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/257174-microsoft-admits-windows-10-mobile-finally-mercifully-dead|title=Microsoft Admits Windows 10 Mobile Is Finally, Mercifully Dead|first=Joel|last=Hruska|website=www.extremetech.com|date=9 October 2017|access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref>
-->

===Mobile app===
{{main|Mobile app}}
A mobile app is a computer program designed to run on a mobile device, such as a smartphone. The term "app" is a short-form of the term "software application".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/what-the-heck-is-an-app-2011-3|title=What The Heck Is An "App"?|first=Small Business|last=Trends|website=Business Insider}}</ref>

===Application stores===
{{Main|List of mobile app distribution platforms}}

The introduction of Apple's App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch in July 2008 popularized manufacturer-hosted [[List of mobile app distribution platforms|online distribution]] for third-party applications ([[Software|software]] and computer programs) focused on a single platform. There are a huge variety of apps, including [[Engineering:Video game|video game]]s, music products and business tools. Up until that point, smartphone application distribution depended on [[List of mobile app distribution platforms#Third-party platforms|third-party sources]] providing applications for multiple platforms, such as [[Software:GetJar|GetJar]], [[Company:Handango|Handango]], [[Company:Handmark|Handmark]], and PocketGear. Following the success of the App Store, other smartphone manufacturers launched application stores, such as Google's Android Market (later renamed to the Google Play Store) and RIM's BlackBerry App World, Android-related app stores like [[Software:Aptoide|Aptoide]], [[Company:Cafe Bazaar|Cafe Bazaar]], [[Software:F-Droid|F-Droid]], [[Software:GetJar|GetJar]], and Opera Mobile Store. In February 2014, 93% of mobile developers were targeting smartphones first for mobile app development.<ref>[http://www.w3.org/blog/2014/02/w3c-interview-vision-mobile-on-the-app-developer-economy-with-matos-kapetanakis-and-dimitris-michalakos/ W3C Interview: Vision Mobile on the App Developer Economy with Matos Kapetanakis and Dimitris Michalakos] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629101713/http://www.w3.org/blog/2014/02/w3c-interview-vision-mobile-on-the-app-developer-economy-with-matos-kapetanakis-and-dimitris-michalakos/ |date=June 29, 2016 }}. February 18, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2015.</ref>

==List of current smartphone brands==
{{Dynamic list}}
<div style="column-width:100px">
*Apple iPhone
*[[Company:Asus|Asus]]
*[[Company:Gionee|Gionee]]
*[[Software:Google Pixel|Google Pixel]]
*[[Software:Honor (brand)|Honor]]
*[[Company:HTC|HTC]]
*[[Company:Huawei|Huawei]]
*Infinix
*[[Company:IQOO|iQOO]]
*[[Company:Itel Mobile|Itel]]
*[[Company:Lenovo|Lenovo]]
*[[Software:Meizu|Meizu]]
*[[Company:Motorola Mobility|Motorola]]
*[[Company:Nokia|Nokia]]
*Nothing
*[[Company:Nubia Technology|Nubia]]
*[[Company:OnePlus|OnePlus]]
*[[Company:Oppo|Oppo]]
*[[Company:POCO|POCO]]
*[[Company:Realme|Realme]]
*[[Company:Redmi|Redmi]]
*[[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy|Samsung Galaxy]]
*[[Company:Sharp Corporation|Sharp]]
*[[Engineering:Sony Xperia|Sony Xperia]]
*[[Company:Tecno Mobile|Tecno]]
*[[Company:Umidigi|Umidigi]]
*[[Company:Vivo (technology company)|Vivo]]
*[[Company:Xiaomi|Xiaomi]]
*[[Company:ZTE|ZTE]]
</div>

==Sales==

Since 1996, smartphone shipments have had positive growth. In November 2011, 27% of all photographs created were taken with camera-equipped smartphones.<ref>{{cite web|title=Smartphones killing point-and-shoots, now take almost 1/3 of photos|url=http://gigaom.com/2011/12/22/smartphones-killing-point-and-shoots-now-take-almost-13-of-photos/|work=GIGAOM|publisher=GIGAOM|access-date=June 27, 2013|first=Erica|last=Ogg|date=December 22, 2011}}</ref> In September 2012, a study concluded that 4 out of 5 smartphone owners use the device to shop online.<ref>{{cite web|title=comScore: 4 Out Of 5 Smartphone Owners Use Device To Shop; Amazon Is The Most Popular Mobile Retailer|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/19/comscore-4-out-of-5-smartphone-owners-use-device-to-shop-amazon-most-popular-mobile-retailer/|work=TechCrunch|publisher=AOL Inc|access-date=June 27, 2013|first=Leena|last=Rao|date=September 19, 2012}}</ref> Global smartphone sales surpassed the sales figures for feature phones in early 2013.<ref name="news1"/> Worldwide shipments of smartphones topped 1 billion units in 2013, up 38% from 2012's 725 million, while comprising a 55% share of the mobile phone market in 2013, up from 42% in 2012. In 2013, smartphone sales began to decline for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/12/global-u-s-growth-in-smartphone-growth-starts-to-decline.html|title=We're No Longer in Smartphone Plateau. We're in the Smartphone Decline.|first=Jake|last=Swearingen|date=December 4, 2018|website=New York Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Worldwide Smartphone Shipments Top One Billion Units for the First Time, According to IDC |publisher=IDC |date=January 2014 |url=http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS24645514 |access-date=January 27, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131071943/http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS24645514 |archive-date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> In Q1 2016 for the first time the shipments dropped by 3 percent year on year. The situation was caused by the maturing China market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/its-not-just-apple-global-smartphone-market-shrinks-for-the-first-time-ever/ |title=It's not just Apple: Global smartphone market shrinks for the first time ever |author=Daniel van Boom |date=April 27, 2016}}</ref> A report by NPD shows that fewer than 10% of US citizens have bought $1,000+ smartphones, as they are too expensive for most people, without introducing particularly innovative features, and amid [[Company:Huawei|Huawei]], [[Company:Oppo|Oppo]] and [[Company:Xiaomi|Xiaomi]] introducing products with similar feature sets for lower prices.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/as-smartphone-sales-decline-again-apple-may-have-a-few-lessons-to-learn-from-samsung-and-huawei/|title=As smartphone sales decline again, Apple may have a few lessons to learn from Samsung and Huawei|first=Daphne|last=Leprince-Ringuet|date=November 26, 2019|website=[[ZDNet]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/12/fewer-than-10-of-americans-are-buying-1000-smartphones-report-says/|title=Fewer than 10% of Americans are buying $1,000 smartphones, report says|first=Samuel|last=Axon|date=December 11, 2019|website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/smartphone-cost-expensive-1000-apple-samsung-google-5g-change-2019-12|title=Evidence is mounting that people are fed up with the sky-high cost of smartphones, and it's sparking a massive change in the industry|first=Lisa|last=Eadicicco|date=December 12, 2019|website=Business Insider}}</ref> In 2019, smartphone sales declined by 3.2%, the largest in smartphone history, while China and India were credited with driving most smartphone sales worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gsmarena.com/counterpoint_global_smartphone_market_is_alive_thanks_to_china_and_india-news-39917.php|title=Counterpoint: Global smartphone market is alive thanks to China and India|website=GSMArena.com}}</ref>  It is predicted that widespread adoption of 5G will help drive new smartphone sales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techblog.comsoc.org/2019/11/08/counterpoint-research-smartphone-market-decline-halts-what-might-help-it-grow/|title=Counterpoint Research: Smartphone Market Decline Ends, What Might Help it Grow?|first=Alan|last=Weissberger|date=November 8, 2019|website=[[Organization:IEEE Communications Society|IEEE Communications Society]] Technology Blog}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/smartphone-market-set-for-biggest-ever-decline|title=Smartphone market set for 'biggest ever decline'|first=Steve|last=McCaskill|date=September 26, 2019|website=[[TechRadar]]}}</ref>

===By manufacturer===
In 2011, [[Company:Samsung|Samsung]] had the highest shipment [[Finance:Market share|market share]] worldwide, followed by [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple]]. In 2013, Samsung had 31.3% market share, a slight increase from 30.3% in 2012, while Apple was at 15.3%, a decrease from 18.7% in 2012. [[Company:Huawei|Huawei]], [[Company:LG Corporation|LG]] and [[Company:Lenovo|Lenovo]] were at about 5% each, significantly better than 2012 figures, while others had about 40%, the same as the previous years figure. Only Apple lost market share, although their shipment volume still increased by 12.9%; the rest had significant increases in shipment volumes of 36–92%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/01/28/smartphone-sales-may-have-topped-1-billion-in-2013/ |title=Smartphone sales may have topped 1 billion in 2013, depending on who you ask |work=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |first=Jon |last=Fingas |date=January 28, 2014}}</ref>

In Q1 2014, Samsung had a 31% share and Apple had 16%.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.techinasia.com/xiaomi-global-top-10-smartphone-shipments-q1-2014|title= Xiaomi breaks into global top 10 for smartphone shipments, kicks out HTC|first= Steven|last= Millward|date= May 13, 2014|access-date= September 9, 2014|work= Tech In Asia}}</ref> In Q4 2014, Apple had a 20.4% share and Samsung had 19.9%.<ref name="brett">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/03/apple-samsung-smartphones/24320385/|title=Apple beats Samsung in Q4 smartphone sales|author=Brett Molina and Marco della Cava, USA TODAY|date=March 3, 2015|work=USA TODAY}}</ref> In Q2 2016, Samsung had a 22.3% share and Apple had 12.9%.<ref>{{cite press release | url = https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2016-08-19-gartner-says-five-of-top-10-worldwide-mobile-phone-vendors-increased-sales-in-second-quarter-of-2016 | title = Gartner Says Five of Top 10 Worldwide Mobile Phone Vendors Increased Sales in Second Quarter of 2016 | publisher = Gartner | date = August 19, 2016 | access-date = May 28, 2022}}</ref> In Q1 2017, IDC reported that Samsung was first placed, with 80 million units, followed by Apple with 50.8 million, Huawei with 34.6 million, [[Company:Oppo|Oppo]] with 25.5 million and [[Company:Vivo (technology company)|Vivo]] with 22.7 million.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://technode.com/2017/07/04/6-of-the-worlds-top-10-smartphone-brands-are-chinese/|title= 6 of the world's top 10 smartphone brands are Chinese|first= Frank|last= Hersey|date=2017-07-04|access-date= 2017-07-07|work= technode}}</ref>

Samsung's mobile business is half the size of Apple's, by revenue. Apple business increased very rapidly in the years 2013 to 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dunn|first=Jeff|date=2017-02-28|title=Samsung introduced 10 times as many phones as Apple last year, but its mobile division made half as much revenue|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-vs-apple-galaxy-iphone-smartphone-revenue-chart-2017-2|website=Business Insider}}</ref> [[Company:Realme|Realme]], a brand owned by Oppo, is the fastest-growing phone brand worldwide since Q2 2019. In China, Huawei and [[Software:Honor (brand)|Honor]], a brand owned by Huawei, have 46% of market share combined and posted 66% annual growth as of 2019, amid growing Chinese nationalism.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gizchina.com/2019/12/12/huawei-and-honor-account-for-half-of-chinese-smartphone-market/amp/|title= Huawei And Honor Account For Half Of Chinese Smartphone Market|author=‌Argam Artashyan|date=December 12, 2019|website=GizChina}}</ref> In 2019, Samsung had a 74% market share of 5G smartphones in South Korea.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/uk/amp/news/samsung-dominates-early-market-for-5g-smartphones|title=Samsung dominates early market for 5G smartphones &#124; TechRadar|website=www.techradar.com|date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>

===By operating system===


==Use==

===Contemporary use and convergence===
{{multiple image|width=150|perrow=2|image1=A2 & Zen (307730569).jpg|image2=Sony Cybershot DSC W210.jpg|image3=Mobiles Navigationsgeraet Navigon im Einsatz.JPG|image4=PDA Mapping.jpg|footer=Some technologic devices whose markets have declined by the popularity of smartphones: ''(from top-left)'' [[Engineering:Portable media player|portable media player]]s (inc. "MP3 players"); [[Engineering:Point-and-shoot camera|compact digital camera]]s; [[Engineering:Satellite navigation device|in-car satellite navigation systems]]; [[Social:Personal digital assistant|personal digital assistant]]s (inc. [[Engineering:Electronic organizer|electronic organizer]]s)|alt1=sdas}}

The rise in popularity of touchscreen smartphones and mobile apps distributed via app stores along with rapidly advancing [[Engineering:Cellular network|network]], [[Engineering:Mobile processor|mobile processor]], and [[Computer data storage|storage]] technologies led to a [[Engineering:Technological convergence|convergence]] where separate [[Engineering:Mobile phone|mobile phone]]s, [[Engineering:Personal organizer|organizer]]s, and [[Engineering:Portable media player|portable media player]]s were replaced by a smartphone as the single device most people carried.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Smartphones Sales Finally Overtake Feature Phones: 10 Reasons Why |url=http://www.eweek.com/mobile/slideshows/smartphones-sales-finally-overtake-feature-phones-10-reasons-why/ |magazine=eWeek |date=2013-08-15 |first=Don |last=Reisinger }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2573415 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816183428/http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2573415 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 16, 2013 |title=Gartner Says Smartphone Sales Grew 46.5 Percent in Second Quarter of 2013 and Exceeded Feature Phone Sales for First Time |author=Rob van der Meulen & Janessa Rivera |date=14 August 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/business/2013/08/smartphones-outsell-feature-phones-for-the-first-time-worldwide/ |title=Smartphones Outsell Feature Phones, for the First Time |first=Cyrus |last=Farivar |date=14 August 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=CompTIA Strata Study Guide |author=Andrew Smith, Faithe Wempen |year=2011 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-97742-2 |page=140 |access-date=July 5, 2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VnXyJVotz2QC&q=%22Personal+digital+assistant%22+obsolete&pg=PA140}}</ref><ref name="Tom's Hardware"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800411138_499495_NT_d0c02d8d.HTM|title=PMP needs to merge with cellphone, says Smartwork exec|last=Yu|first=Emily|publisher=EE Times Asia|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423223723/http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800411138_499495_NT_d0c02d8d.HTM|archive-date=23 April 2008|df=dmy-all|access-date=3 October 2007}}</ref> Advances in [[Engineering:Image sensor|digital camera sensor]]s and on-device [[Digital image processing|image processing]] software more gradually led to smartphones replacing simpler [[Engineering:Point-and-shoot camera|camera]]s for photographs and video recording.<ref name="SmartphonesKillingPoint-and-shoots"/> The built-in GPS capabilities and mapping apps on smartphones largely replaced stand-alone [[Earth:Satellite navigation|satellite navigation]] [[Engineering:Personal navigation assistant#Market developments|devices]], and paper maps became less common.<ref name="SmartphonesTollonGPS"/> Mobile gaming on smartphones greatly grew in popularity,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wijman |first1=Tom |title=Mobile Revenues Account for More Than 50% of the Global Games Market as It Reaches $137.9 Billion in 2018|url=https://newzoo.com/insights/articles/global-games-market-reaches-137-9-billion-in-2018-mobile-games-take-half/|website=newzoo.com|publisher=Newzoo|date=30 April 2018|access-date=12 July 2018}}</ref> allowing many people to use them in place of handheld game consoles, and some companies tried creating game console/phone hybrids based on phone hardware and software.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/xperia-play-verizon?cc=us&lc=en#view=features_specifications |title=Xperia Play {{!}} PlayStation certified Android mobile |access-date=February 14, 2011 |publisher=Sony Ericsson |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808220843/http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/xperia-play-verizon?cc=us&lc=en |archive-date=August 8, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/07/31/nvidia-shield-review|title=Android handheld of the future. Not today.|last=Lowe|first=Scott|website=IGN|date=July 30, 2013|access-date=July 31, 2013}}</ref> People frequently have chosen not to get [[Engineering:Landline|fixed-line telephone service]] in favor of smartphones.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/milestone-for-cellphones-vs-landline-phones/|title=Milestone for cellphones vs. landline phones|work=CBS News|date=4 May 2017|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616002951/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/milestone-for-cellphones-vs-landline-phones/|archive-date=16 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/140623/dq140623a-eng.htm|title=The Daily — Residential Telephone Service Survey, 2013|date=June 23, 2014|publisher=Statistics Canada|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023181115/http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/140623/dq140623a-eng.htm|archive-date=2014-10-23}}</ref> [[Engineering:Streaming media#Music streaming platforms|Music streaming]] apps and services have grown rapidly in popularity, serving the same use as listening to music stations on a terrestrial or satellite [[Engineering:Radio receiver|radio]]. [[Engineering:Streaming media|Streaming video]] services are easily accessed via smartphone apps and can be used in place of watching [[Engineering:Television|television]]. People have often stopped wearing [[Engineering:Wristwatch|wristwatch]]es in favor of checking the time on their smartphones, and many use the clock features on their phones in place of [[Biology:Alarm clock|alarm clock]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why Are Alarm Clocks Still a Thing? |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/vvbj3m/why-are-alarm-clocks-still-a-thing |website=Motherboard.vice.com |publisher=Motherboard |access-date=16 August 2018 |language=en-us |date=10 April 2015}}</ref> Mobile phones can also be used as a digital note taking, text editing and [[Memorandum|memorandum]] device whose [[Computer|computer]]ization facilitates searching of entries.

Additionally, [[Global Internet usage#Broadband usage|in many lesser technologically developed regions]] smartphones are people's first and only means of Internet access due to their portability,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/facts/default.aspx|title=ICT Facts and Figures 2005, 2010, 2016|publisher=Telecommunication Development Bureau, [[Organization:International Telecommunication Union|International Telecommunication Union]] (ITU)|access-date=2015-05-24}}</ref>{{failed verification|reason=Which documents say that, and where?|date=June 2022}} with [[Engineering:Personal computer|personal computer]]s being relatively uncommon outside of business use. The cameras on smartphones can be used to photograph documents and send them via email or messaging in place of using [[Engineering:Fax|fax]] (facsimile) machines. [[Finance:Mobile payment|Payment apps and services]] on smartphones allow people to make less use of wallets, purses, credit and debit cards, and cash. [[Finance:Mobile banking|Mobile banking]] apps can allow people to deposit checks simply by photographing them, eliminating the need to take the physical check to an [[Finance:Automated teller machine|ATM]] or teller. Guide book apps can take the place of paper travel and restaurant/business guides, museum brochures, and dedicated audio guide equipment.

===Mobile banking and payment===
{{main|Finance:Mobile banking|Finance:Mobile payment}}
[[File:Mobile payment 03.JPG|thumb|Mobile payment system.]]
In many countries, mobile phones are used to provide [[Finance:Mobile banking|mobile banking]] services, which may include the ability to transfer cash payments by secure SMS text message. Kenya's M-PESA mobile banking service, for example, allows customers of the mobile phone operator Safaricom to hold cash balances which are recorded on their SIM cards. Cash can be deposited or withdrawn from M-PESA accounts at Safaricom retail outlets located throughout the country and can be transferred electronically from person to person and used to pay bills to companies.

Branchless banking has been successful in South Africa and the {{wipe|Philippines}}. A pilot project in [[Place:Bali|Bali]] was launched in 2011 by the [[Organization:International Finance Corporation|International Finance Corporation]] and an Indonesian bank, Bank Mandiri.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/03/01/branchless-banking-start-bali.html |title=Branchless banking to start in Bali |newspaper=The Jakarta Post |date=13 April 2012 |access-date=4 June 2012}}</ref>

Another application of mobile banking technology is Zidisha, a US-based nonprofit micro-lending platform that allows residents of developing countries to raise small business loans from Web users worldwide. Zidisha uses mobile banking for loan disbursements and repayments, transferring funds from lenders in the United States to borrowers in rural Africa who have mobile phones and can use the Internet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microfinancefocus.com/news/2010/02/07/zidisha-set-to-expand-in-peer-to-peer-microfinance-julia-kurnia/ |title="Zidisha Set to "Expand" in Peer-to-Peer Microfinance", Microfinance Focus, Feb 2010 |publisher=Microfinancefocus.com |date=7 February 2010 |access-date=4 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921054251/http://www.microfinancefocus.com/news/2010/02/07/zidisha-set-to-expand-in-peer-to-peer-microfinance-julia-kurnia |archive-date=21 September 2012 }}</ref>

Mobile payments were first trialled in Finland in 1998 when two Coca-Cola vending machines in Espoo were enabled to work with SMS payments. Eventually, the idea spread and in 1999, the Philippines launched the country's first commercial mobile payments systems with mobile operators Globe and Smart.

Some mobile phones can make [[Finance:Mobile payment|mobile payment]]s via direct mobile billing schemes, or through [[Finance:Contactless payment|contactless payment]]s if the phone and the [[Point of sale|point of sale]] support near field communication (NFC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.banktech.com/blog/archives/2007/06/mobile_payments.html |title=Mobile Payments: Look to Korea |author=Feig, Nancy |publisher=banktech.com |date=25 June 2007 |access-date=29 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326155917/http://www.banktech.com/blog/archives/2007/06/mobile_payments.html |archive-date=26 March 2010 }}</ref> Enabling contactless payments through NFC-equipped mobile phones requires the co-operation of manufacturers, network operators, and retail merchants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connectedplanetonline.com/mobile-apps/news/nfc-mobile-phone-explode-1110/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124001632/http://connectedplanetonline.com/mobile-apps/news/nfc-mobile-phone-explode-1110/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2010 |title=NFC mobile phone set to explode |author=Ready, Sarah |publisher=connectedplanetonline.com |date=10 November 2009 |access-date=29 January 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/mobile/visa-testing-nfc-memory-cards-for-wireless-payments/ |title=VISA Testing NFC Memory Cards for Wireless Payments |author=Tofel, Kevin C. |publisher=gigaom.com |date=20 August 2010 |access-date=21 January 2011 |archive-date=June 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621023021/http://gigaom.com/mobile/visa-testing-nfc-memory-cards-for-wireless-payments/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Facsimile===
Some apps allows for sending and receiving [[Engineering:Fax|facsimile (Fax)]], over a smartphone, including facsimile data (composed of raster [[Binary image|bi-level]] graphics) generated directly and digitally from [[Document file format|document]] and [[Image file formats|image]] file formats.

==Criticism and issues==

===Social impacts===
{{Main|Engineering:Problematic smartphone use}}

In 2012, [[Organization:University of Southern California|University of Southern California]] study found that unprotected adolescent sexual activity was more common among owners of smartphones.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/01/smartphones_more_sexually_active/|title=SMARTPHONES make TEENS have SEX with STRANGERS|work=theregister.co.uk|access-date=2016-01-18}}</ref> A study conducted by the [[Organization:Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute|Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]]'s (RPI) Lighting Research Center (LRC) concluded that smartphones, or any backlit devices, can seriously affect sleep cycles.<ref name=Colaner>{{cite news|last=Colaner|first=Seth|title=Your Tablet and Smartphone Could Be Ruining Your Sleep|url=http://hothardware.com/News/Your-Tablet-and-Smartphone-are-Ruining-Your-Sleep-/|access-date=January 22, 2014|date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> Some persons might become psychologically attached to smartphones resulting in anxiety when separated from the devices.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Cheever | first1 = N. A. | last2 = Rosen | first2 = L. D. | last3 = Carrier | first3 = L. M. | last4 = Chavez | first4 = A. | year = 2014 | title = Out of sight is not out of mind: The impact of restricting wireless mobile device use on anxiety levels among low, moderate and high users | journal = Computers in Human Behavior | volume = 37 | pages = 290–297 |doi = 10.1016/j.chb.2014.05.002}}</ref> A "smombie" (a combination of "smartphone" and "[[Social:Zombie|zombie]]") is a walking person using a smartphone and not paying attention as they walk, possibly risking an accident in the process, an increasing social phenomenon.<ref name="sunday-times">{{cite news| url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1670471.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222100235/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1670471.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 22, 2016 | title=Walkers hit by curse of the smombie | newspaper=The Sunday Times | location=UK | first1=Mark | last1=Hookham | first2=Isabel | last2=Togoh | first3=Alex | last3=Yeates | date=21 February 2016 | access-date=23 February 2016 }}</ref> The issue of slow-moving smartphone users led to the temporary creation of a "mobile lane" for walking in [[Place:Chongqing|Chongqing]], {{wipe|China}}.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-china-blog-29201934 | title=Chongqing's 'mobile lane' | first=Celia | last=Hatton | publisher=BBC | work=BBC News | location=UK | date=15 September 2014 | access-date=23 February 2016 }}</ref> The issue of distracted smartphone users led the city of Augsburg, Germany to embed pedestrian traffic lights in the pavement.<ref>Rick Noack (April 25, 2016) [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/04/25/this-city-embedded-traffic-lights-in-the-sidewalks-so-that-smartphone-users-dont-have-to-look-up/ This city embedded traffic lights in the sidewalks so that smartphone users don't have to look up] {{wipe|The Washington Post}}. Retrieved 5 May 2016.</ref>

===While driving===
[[File:Hand held phones.JPG|thumb|right|A New York City driver holding two phones]]
[[File:Range Rover mapping app.jpg|thumb|A user consulting a mapping app on a phone]]

Mobile phone use while driving—including calling, text messaging, playing media, web browsing, [[Engineering:Video game|gaming]], using mapping apps or operating other phone features—is common but controversial, since it is widely considered dangerous due to what is known as distracted driving. Being distracted while operating a motor vehicle has been shown to increase the risk of accidents. In September 2010, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 995 people were killed by drivers distracted by phones. In March 2011 a US insurance company, State Farm Insurance, announced the results of a study which showed 19% of drivers surveyed accessed the Internet on a smartphone while driving.<ref name=post>{{cite news |title=Quit Googling yourself and drive: About 20% of drivers using Web behind the wheel, study says |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 4, 2011 |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/03/honk-if-youre-googling-20-of-drivers-using-web-behind-the-wheel-says-study.html/ }}</ref> Many jurisdictions prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving. In Egypt, Israel, Japan, Portugal and Singapore, both handheld and hands-free calling on a mobile phone (which uses a [[Engineering:Speakerphone|speakerphone]]) is banned. In other countries, including the UK and France, and in many US states, calling is only banned on handheld phones, while hands-free calling is permitted.

A 2011 study reported that over 90% of college students surveyed text (initiate, reply or read) while driving.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = The Choice to Text and Drive in Younger Drivers: Behaviour May Shape Attitude|last1 = Atchley|first1 = Paul|date = January 2011|journal = Accident Analysis and Prevention|doi = 10.1016/j.aap.2010.08.003|pmid = 21094307|first2 = Stephanie|last2 = Atwood|last3 = Boulton|first3 = Aaron|volume=43|issue = 1|pages=134–142}}</ref>
The [[Scientific literature|scientific literature]] on the danger of driving while sending a text message from a mobile phone, or texting while driving, is limited. A simulation study at the [[Organization:University of Utah|University of Utah]] found a sixfold increase in distraction-related accidents when texting.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/NEWS01/707140333&template=printart|title=Text messaging not illegal but data clear on its peril|newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle|access-date=February 7, 2021|archive-date=February 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202041811/http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070714%2FNEWS01%2F707140333&template=printart|url-status=dead}}</ref> Due to the complexity of smartphones that began to grow more after, this has introduced additional difficulties for law enforcement officials when attempting to distinguish one usage from another in drivers using their devices. This is more apparent in countries which ban both handheld and hands-free usage, rather than those which ban handheld use only, as officials cannot easily tell which function of the phone is being used simply by looking at the driver. This can lead to drivers being stopped for using their device illegally for a call when, in fact, they were using the device legally, for example, when using the phone's incorporated controls for car stereo, [[Engineering:GPS|GPS]] or satnav.
[[File:NocellphonesSouthsidePlaceTX.JPG|thumb|A sign along Bellaire Boulevard<!--Wikified, as it is a notable east-west artery in Houston--> in Southside Place, Texas (Greater Houston) states that using mobile phones while driving is prohibited from 7:30 am to 9:00 am and from 2:00 pm to 4:15 pm]]

A 2010 study reviewed the incidence of phone use while [[Earth:Cycling|cycling]] and its effects on behavior and safety.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=de Waard|first1=Dick|last2=Schepers|first2=Paul|last3=Ormel|first3=Wieke|last4=Brookhuis|first4=Karel|title=Mobile phone use while cycling: Incidence and effects on behaviour and safety|journal=Ergonomics|volume=53|issue=1|date=January 2010|pages=30–42|doi=10.1080/00140130903381180|pmid=20069479|hdl=11370/1ad6e9a1-37c9-44fb-8978-65dbdce42456|s2cid=205403680|url=https://www.rug.nl/research/portal/en/publications/mobile-phone-use-while-cycling(1ad6e9a1-37c9-44fb-8978-65dbdce42456).html|hdl-access=free}}</ref> In 2013 a national survey in the US reported the number of drivers who reported using their phones to access the Internet while driving had risen to nearly one of four.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/12/distracted-driving-accessing-internet/3497721/|title=Drivers still Web surfing while driving, survey finds|first=Larry|last=Copeland|website=USA TODAY}}</ref> A study conducted by the University of Vienna examined approaches for reducing inappropriate and problematic use of mobile phones, such as using phones while driving.<ref>{{cite journal|url = http://homepage.univie.ac.at/andreas.hergovich/php/reaching_the_mobile_respondent_soc.sci.comp.rev.pdf |title = Reaching the Mobile Respondent: Determinants of High-Level Mobile Phone Use Among a High-Coverage Group  |journal = Social Science Computer Review |doi = 10.1177/0894439309353099 |volume=28 |year=2010 |pages=336–349 | last1 = Burger | first1 = Christoph | last2 = Riemer | first2 = Valentin | last3 = Grafeneder | first3 = Jürgen | last4 = Woisetschläger | first4 = Bianca | last5 = Vidovic | first5 = Dragana | last6 = Hergovich | first6 = Andreas|s2cid = 61640965 }}</ref>

Accidents involving a driver being distracted by being in a call on a phone have begun to be prosecuted as negligence similar to speeding. In the {{wipe|United Kingdom}}, from 27 February 2007, motorists who are caught using a handheld phone while driving will have three penalty points added to their license in addition to the fine of £60.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6287005.stm|title=BBC NEWS - UK - UK Politics - Drivers face new phone penalties|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=January 22, 2007}}</ref> This increase was introduced to try to stem the increase in drivers ignoring the law.<ref name="BBC2">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6382077.stm|title=BBC NEWS - UK - Magazine - Careless talk|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=February 22, 2007}}</ref> {{wipe|Japan}} prohibits all use of phones while driving, including use of hands-free devices.  New Zealand has banned handheld phone use since 1 November 2009. Many states in the United States have banned text messaging on phones while driving. Illinois became the 17th American state to enforce this law.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/06/illinois.texting.ban/index.html | work=CNN | title=Illinois to ban texting while driving - CNN.com | access-date=May 12, 2010 | date=August 6, 2009}}</ref> As of July 2010, 30 states had banned texting while driving, with Kentucky becoming the most recent addition on July 15.<ref name="Courier-Journal">{{cite news|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100714/NEWS01/7140399/1008/NEWS01/Texting+while+driving+ban++other+new+Kentucky+laws+take+effect+Thursday |title=Texting while driving ban, other new Kentucky laws take effect today |first=Stephanie |last=Steitzer |newspaper=The Courier-Journal |date=July 14, 2010 |access-date=July 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119183044/http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100714/NEWS01/7140399/1008/NEWS01/Texting+while+driving+ban++other+new+Kentucky+laws+take+effect+Thursday |archive-date=January 19, 2013 }}</ref>

Public Health Law Research maintains a list of distracted driving laws in the {{wipe|United States}}. This database of laws provides a comprehensive view of the provisions of laws that restrict the use of mobile devices while driving for all 50 states and the District of Columbia between 1992, when first law was passed through December 1, 2010. The dataset contains information on 22 dichotomous, continuous or categorical variables including, for example, activities regulated (e.g., texting versus talking, hands-free versus handheld calls, web browsing, gaming), targeted populations, and exemptions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publichealthlawresearch.org/product/distracted-driving-laws-map |title=Distracted Driving Laws |publisher=Public Health Law Research |date=2011-07-15 |access-date=2014-06-27}}</ref>

===Legal===
A "patent war" between Samsung and Apple started when the latter claimed that the original [[Engineering:Samsung Galaxy S (2010 smartphone)|Galaxy S]] Android phone copied the interface{{nsmdns}}and possibly the hardware{{nsmdns}}of Apple's iOS for the [[Engineering:IPhone 3GS|iPhone 3GS]]. There was also smartphone patents licensing and litigation involving [[Company:Sony Mobile|Sony Mobile]], [[Company:Google|Google]], [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]], [[Company:Samsung Electronics|Samsung]], [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]], [[Company:Nokia|Nokia]], [[Company:Motorola|Motorola]], [[Company:HTC|HTC]], [[Company:Huawei|Huawei]] and [[Company:ZTE|ZTE]], among others. The conflict is part of the wider "patent wars" between multinational technology and software corporations. To secure and increase [[Finance:Market share|market share]], companies granted a [[Social:Patent|patent]] can sue to prevent competitors from using the methods the patent covers. Since the 2010s the number of lawsuits, counter-suits, and trade complaints based on patents and [[Social:Industrial design right|designs]] in the market for smartphones, and devices based on [[Mobile operating system|smartphone OSes]] such as [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[Software:IOS|iOS]], has increased significantly. Initial suits, countersuits, rulings, license agreements, and other major events began in 2009 as the smartphone market stated to grow more rapidly by 2012.

===Medical===
{{Main|Mobile app}}
With the rise in number of mobile medical apps in the market place, government regulatory agencies raised concerns on the safety of the use of such applications. These concerns were transformed into regulation initiatives worldwide with the aim of safeguarding users from untrusted medical advice.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Yetisen | first1 = A. K. | last2 = Martinez-Hurtado | first2 = J. L. | display-authors = etal   | year = 2014 | title = The regulation of mobile medical applications | url = https://semanticscholar.org/paper/935893cdd8c1a22f64333ab781beed2dfc429be7| journal = Lab on a Chip | volume = 14 | issue = 5| pages = 833–840 | doi = 10.1039/C3LC51235E | pmid = 24425070 | s2cid = 16910239 }}</ref> According to the findings of these medical experts in recent years, excessive smartphone use in society may lead to headaches, sleep disorders and insufficient sleep, while severe smartphone addiction may lead to physical health problems, such as hunchback, muscle relaxation and uneven nutrition.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Shankar|first1=S Barani|last2=Rani|first2=S Leslie|last3=Brundha|first3=M P|date=July 2020|title=Comparison study of factors associated with smartphone addiction among college students|journal=Drug Invention Today|volume=14|issue=7|pages=1165–1168|issn=0975-7619|via=Academic Search Complete}}</ref>

===Impacts on cognition and mental health===
{{Main|Social:Digital media use and mental health}}
There is a debate about beneficial and detrimental impacts of smartphones or smartphone-uses on cognition and mental health.

===Security===
{{Main|Mobile security|Malware|Mobile virus|Software:Media Transfer Protocol}}
Smartphone malware is easily distributed through an insecure [[Software:App store|app store]].<ref name="Juniper-malware">[http://globalthreatcenter.com/?p=2492 Mobile Malware Development Continues To Rise, Android Leads The Way].</ref><ref name=trustbus11>{{cite book|title=8th International Conference on Trust, Privacy & Security in Digital Business (TRUSTBUS-2011)|year=2011|publisher=Springer Berlin / Heidelberg|pages=49–61|first1=Mylonas |last1=Alexios |first2=Tsoumas |last2=Bill |first3=Dritsas |last3=Stelios |first4=Gritzalis |last4=Dimitris }}</ref>  Often, malware is hidden in pirated versions of legitimate apps, which are then distributed through third-party app stores.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/03/01/the-mother-of-all-android-malware-has-arrived-stolen-apps-released-to-the-market-that-root-your-phone-steal-your-data-and-open-backdoor/ |title = The Mother Of All Android Malware Has Arrived |work=Android Police |date=March 6, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |url=http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/android_vulnerability_so_dangerous_shouldnt_use_web_browser.php |title=Android Vulnerability So Dangerous, Owners Warned Not to Use Phone's Web Browser |publisher=Readwriteweb.com |date=February 12, 2009 |access-date=August 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810074456/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/android_vulnerability_so_dangerous_shouldnt_use_web_browser.php |archive-date=August 10, 2011}}</ref> Malware risk also comes from what is known as an "update attack", where a legitimate application is later changed to include a malware component, which users then install when they are notified that the app has been updated.<ref name="Lookout-malware">{{cite web|url=http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/08/03/lookout_retrevio_warn_of_growing_android_malware_epidemic_note_apples_ios_is_far_safer.html |title=Lookout, Retrevo warn of growing Android malware epidemic, note Apple's iOS is far safer |publisher=Appleinsider.com |date=August 3, 2011 |access-date=January 5, 2012}}</ref> As well, one out of three robberies in 2012 in the United States involved the theft of a mobile phone. An online petition has urged smartphone makers to install [[Engineering:Kill switch|kill switch]]es in their devices.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/plea-urges-anti-theft-phone-tech/Content?oid=2447711|title=Plea urges anti-theft phone tech|work=The San Francisco Examiner|date=June 7, 2013}}</ref> In 2014, Apple's "Find my iPhone" and Google's "Android Device Manager" can locate, disable, and wipe the data from phones that have been lost or stolen. With BlackBerry Protect in OS version 10.3.2, devices can be rendered unrecoverable to even BlackBerry's own Operating System recovery tools if incorrectly authenticated or dissociated from their account.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://helpblog.blackberry.com/2015/06/getting-started-with-anti-theft-protection-in-blackberry-10-os-version-10-3-2/|title=Getting started with Anti-Theft Protection in BlackBerry 10 OS version 10. - Inside BlackBerry Help Blog|work=blackberry.com|access-date=2016-01-18}}</ref>

Leaked documents published by [[Social:WikiLeaks|WikiLeaks]], codenamed [[Vault 7]] and dated from 2013 to 2016, detail the capabilities of the {{wipe|United States}} Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to perform electronic surveillance and cyber warfare, including the ability to compromise the operating systems of most smartphones (including [[Software:IOS|iOS]] and [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/3006021/vault-7-wikileaks-reveals-details-of-cias-hacks-of-android-iphone-windows-linux-macos-and-even-samsung-tvs|title=Vault 7: Wikileaks reveals details of CIA's hacks of Android, iPhone Windows, Linux, MacOS, and even Samsung TVs|website=Computing|date=7 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2017/03/cia-can-hack-phone-pc-tv-says-wikileaks/|title=How the CIA Can Hack Your Phone, PC, and TV (Says WikiLeaks)|last=Greenberg|first=Andy|date=2017-03-07|magazine=WIRED |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2021, journalists and researchers reported the discovery of [[Spyware|spyware]], called [[Software:Pegasus (spyware)|Pegasus]], developed and distributed by a private company which can and has been used to infect [[Software:IOS|iOS]] and [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]] smartphones often – partly via use of [[Zero-day (computing)|0-day exploits]] – without the need for any user-interaction or significant clues to the user and then be used to exfiltrate data, track user locations, capture film through its camera, and activate the microphone at any time.<ref>{{cite news |title=What is Pegasus spyware and how does it hack phones? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/18/what-is-pegasus-spyware-and-how-does-it-hack-phones |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=18 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Analysis [[Packet analyzer|of data traffic]] by popular smartphones running variants of Android found substantial by-default data collection and sharing with no opt-out by this [[Pre-installed software|pre-installed software]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Study reveals scale of data-sharing from Android mobile phones |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-reveals-scale-data-sharing-android-mobile.html |access-date=16 November 2021 |work=Trinity College Dublin |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Liu |first1=Haoyu |last2=Patras |first2=Paul |last3=Leith |first3=Douglas J. |title=Android Mobile OS Snooping By Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and Realme Handsets |date=6 October 2021 |url=https://www.scss.tcd.ie/Doug.Leith/Android_privacy_report.pdf |access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>

Guidelines for mobile device security were issued by NIST<ref>{{cite techreport|url=https://www.nist.gov/publications/guidelines-managing-security-mobile-devices-enterprise|title=Guidelines for Managing the Security of Mobile Devices in the Enterprise|date=June 21, 2013|first1=Murugiah P.|last1=Souppaya|first2=Karen A.|last2=Scarfone|series=Special Publication (NIST SP)|id=800-124 Rev 1|doi=10.6028/NIST.SP.800-124r1|publisher=[[Organization:National Institute of Standards and Technology|National Institute of Standards and Technology]]|doi-access=free}}</ref> and many other organizations. For conducting a private, in-person meeting, at least one site recommends that the user switch the smartphone off and disconnect the battery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://securityinabox.org/en/guide/smartphones/|title=Use Your Smartphone As Securely As Possible|website=Security in-a-box}}</ref>

===Sleep===
{{Main|Electronic media and sleep}}
Using smartphones late at night can disturb sleep, due to the blue light and brightly lit screen, which affects [[Chemistry:Melatonin|melatonin]] levels and sleep cycles. In an effort to alleviate these issues, "Night Mode" functionality to change the [[Earth:Color temperature|color temperature]] of a screen to a warmer hue based on the time of day to reduce the amount of blue light generated became available through several apps for Android and the [[Software:F.lux|f.lux]] software for jailbroken iPhones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howtogeek.com/199303/reduce-eye-strain-and-get-better-sleep-by-using-f.lux-on-your-computer/|title=Reduce Eye Strain and Get Better Sleep by Using f.lux on Your Computer|last1=Hoffman|first1=Chris|date=October 23, 2014|website=How-To Geek|access-date=January 15, 2016}}</ref> [[Software:IOS 9|iOS 9.3]] integrated a similar, system-level feature known as "[[Software:Night Shift|Night Shift]]." Several Android device manufacturers bypassed Google's initial reluctance to make Night Mode a standard feature in Android and included software for it on their hardware under varying names, before [[Software:Android Oreo|Android Oreo]] added it to the OS for compatible devices.<ref>{{cite web |last=Blichert |first=Frederick |title=How to enable Night Mode on Android to reduce eye strain |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/night-mode-on-android-886864/ |date=July 17, 2019 |access-date=November 8, 2019}}</ref>

It has also been theorized that for some users, addiction to use of their phones, especially before they go to bed, can result in "[[Philosophy:Ego depletion|ego depletion]]." Many people also use their phones as alarm clocks, which can also lead to loss of sleep.<ref name="cnet-bluelight">{{cite web|title=Stop your gadgets from keeping you awake at night|url=http://www.cnet.com/how-to/stop-your-gadgets-from-keeping-you-awake-at-night/|website=CNET|access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref><ref>Kalsbeek, Andries (2012). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=53Jxsj5ZZ98C The Neurobiology of Circadian Timing]'' Elsevier. pp. 382.</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Luisa |last=Dillner |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/09/smartphones-tablets-in-bedroom-sleep |title=Should I keep my smartphone and tablet out of my bedroom? |work=The Guardian |date=June 9, 2013 |access-date=June 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130603163610.htm |title=Are smartphones disrupting your sleep? |website=ScienceDaily |access-date=June 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Mahesh |last=Sharma |url=http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/switching-off-your-smartphone-at-night-makes-you-more-productive-20140403-zqpc4.html |title=Switching off your smartphone at night makes you more productive |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=June 17, 2014}}</ref>

== Lifespan ==
[[File:Day_4_Agbogloshie_(25891029818).jpg|thumb|E-waste in [[Agbogbloshie|Agbogbloshie]]]]
In mobile phones released since the second half of the 2010s, operational life span commonly is limited by built-in batteries which are not designed to be interchangeable. The life expectancy of batteries depends on usage intensity of the powered device, where activity (longer usage) and tasks demanding more energy expire the battery earlier.

[[Engineering:Lithium-ion battery|Lithium-ion]] and [[Engineering:Lithium polymer battery|lithium-polymer]] batteries, those commonly powering [[Mobile computing#Portable computing devices|portable electronics]], additionally wear down more from fuller charge and deeper discharge cycles, and when unused for an extended amount of time while depleted, where self-discharging may lead to a harmful depth of discharge.<ref name="Cycle-life">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.11.134| title = Cycle-life model for graphite-LiFePO4 cells| journal = Journal of Power Sources| volume = 196| issue = 8| pages = 3942–3948| year = 2011| last1 = Wang | first1 = J.| last2 = Liu | first2 = P.| last3 = Hicks-Garner | first3 = J.| last4 = Sherman | first4 = E.| last5 = Soukiazian | first5 = S.| last6 = Verbrugge | first6 = M.| last7 = Tataria | first7 = H.| last8 = Musser | first8 = J.| last9 = Finamore | first9 = P.| bibcode = 2011JPS...196.3942W}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.07.057| title = Cycle life testing and modeling of graphite/LiCoO2 cells under different state of charge ranges| journal = Journal of Power Sources| volume = 327| pages = 394–400| year = 2016| last1 = Saxena | first1 = S.| last2 = Hendricks | first2 = C.| last3 = Pecht | first3 = M.| bibcode = 2016JPS...327..394S}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Questions and answers related to lithium - ion rechargeable b attery care |url=https://www.plarad.de/fileadmin/downloads/FAQ_related%20to%20lithium%20ion%20rechargeable%20battery%20care_DA1_en_0216.pdf |publisher=PLARAD Torque & Tension Systems}}</ref>

Manufacturers have prevented some smartphones from operating after repairs, by associating components' unique serial numbers to the device so it will refuse to operate or disable some functionality in case of a mismatch that would occur after a replacement. Locking of the serial number was first documented in 2015 on the [[Engineering:IPhone 6|iPhone 6]], which would become inoperable from a detected replacement of the "home" button. Later, some functionality was restricted on Apple and Samsung smartphones when a battery replacement not authorized by the vendor was detected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shahid |first=Furqan |date=2021-01-18 |title=Samsung Secretly Restricts 3rd Party Hardware Repairs |url=https://wccftech.com/samsung-secretly-restricts-3rd-party-hardware-repairs/ |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Wccftech |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-26 |title=Apple apologises, releases fix for iPhones bricked by Error 53 |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/671975/what-is-iphone-error-53-and-how-do-i-avoid-it.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Macworld |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Engineering:Comparison of smartphones|Comparison of smartphones]]
* [[E-reader]]
* [[Engineering:Lists of mobile computers|Lists of mobile computers]]
* [[List of mobile app distribution platforms]]
* [[Software:Media Transfer Protocol|Media Transfer Protocol]]
* [[Mobile Internet device]]
* [[Engineering:Portable media player|Portable media player]]
* [[Engineering:Second screen|Second screen]]
* [[Engineering:Smartphone kill switch|Smartphone kill switch]]
* [[Smartphone zombie]]
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==

{{Computer sizes}}
{{Mobile phones}}
{{Table Mobile operating systems}}
{{Telecommunications}}

[[Category:Smartphones]]
[[Category:Cloud clients]]
[[Category:Consumer electronics]]
[[Category:Information appliances]]
[[Category:Mobile computers]]
[[Category:Personal computing]]

{{Sourceattribution|Smartphone}}