A Look at Every Phone I’ve Owned and Their Technological Evolution
Introduction
Over the past few decades, mobile technology has evolved at an astonishing rate. From the bulky devices of the 90s to the sleek smartphones of today, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing this evolution firsthand. Here’s a comprehensive look at all the phones I’ve owned, detailing their technology, launch prices, adjusted prices for inflation (2024), operating systems, capacities, speeds, and overarching capabilities.
My journey through the evolution of mobile technology has been a fascinating one. It began with the sturdy Nokia 232, a relic of the AMPS era, and has led me to the cutting-edge Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, a marvel of GSM’s 5G capabilities. Along the way, I’ve witnessed the transition from the monophonic ringtones of the Motorola StarTAC to the high-fidelity soundscapes of the HTC series. Each phone, from the Qualcomm QCP-820 to the OnePlus 8 5G, has been a stepping stone in the ever-advancing river of innovation, marking my personal milestones with their technological leaps.
List of phones I have owned below (as of 2024)
5G down to GSM Phones
2024: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Launch Price: $1,199 (Approx.)
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $1,199
Operating System: Android 14
Capacity: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Speed: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Capabilities: 5G, 200MP Camera, 120Hz Display, S Pen
2022: Samsung Galaxy S22+
Launch Price: $999
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $1,055
Operating System: Android 12
Capacity: 128GB, 256GB
Speed: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Capabilities: 5G, Triple Camera, 120Hz AMOLED
2020: OnePlus 8 5G
Launch Price: $699
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $800
Operating System: Android 10
Capacity: 128GB, 256GB
Speed: Snapdragon 865
Capabilities: 5G, Triple Camera, 90Hz Display
2019: HTC U12+
Launch Price: $799
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $925
Operating System: Android 8.0 Oreo
Capacity: 64GB, 128GB
Speed: Snapdragon 845
Capabilities: Dual Cameras, Edge Sense, No Physical Buttons
2019: HTC U11
Launch Price: $649
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $750
Operating System: Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Capacity: 64GB, 128GB
Speed: Snapdragon 835
Capabilities: Edge Sense, Liquid Surface Design, High-Resolution Audio
2016: HTC 10
Launch Price: $699
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $800
Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Capacity: 32GB, 64GB
Speed: Snapdragon 820
Capabilities: Optical Image Stabilization, Hi-Res Audio
2015: HTC One M9
Launch Price: $649
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $750
Operating System: Android 5.0 Lollipop
Capacity: 32GB
Speed: Snapdragon 810
Capabilities: BoomSound Speakers, Metal Unibody
2015: HTC One M8
Launch Price: $649
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $750
Operating System: Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Capacity: 16GB, 32GB
Speed: Snapdragon 801
Capabilities: Duo Camera, Motion Launch
2014: HTC One M7
Launch Price: $649
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $750
Operating System: Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
Capacity: 32GB, 64GB
Speed: Snapdragon 600
Capabilities: UltraPixel Camera, BoomSound Speakers
2012: HTC One S
Launch Price: $599
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $725
Operating System: Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich
Capacity: 16GB
Speed: Snapdragon S4
Capabilities: Super AMOLED Display, Ultra-Slim Design
2010: HTC G2 / Desire Z
Launch Price: $499
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $650
Operating System: Android 2.2 Froyo
Capacity: 4GB
Speed: Snapdragon S2
Capabilities: QWERTY Keyboard, 3.7-inch Display
2009: HTC Touch Pro 2
Launch Price: $599
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $820
Operating System: Windows Mobile 6.1
Capacity: 512MB
Speed: Qualcomm MSM7200A
Capabilities: Resistive Touchscreen, Slide-Out Keyboard
2008: HTC Wing / P4350
Launch Price: $499
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $700
Operating System: Windows Mobile 6.0
Capacity: 128MB
Speed: TI OMAP 850
Capabilities: Slide-Out Keyboard, Touchscreen
2006: HTC S620 / Excalibur
Launch Price: $399
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $600
Operating System: Windows Mobile 5.0
Capacity: 128MB
Speed: TI OMAP 850
Capabilities: QWERTY Keyboard, Wi-Fi
2006: HTC SDA / Rhodium
Launch Price: $399
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $600
Operating System: Windows Mobile 5.0
Capacity: 64MB
Speed: TI OMAP 850
Capabilities: Music Player, 1.3MP Camera
TDMA Phones
2004: Motorola V400
Launch Price: $299
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $475
Operating System: Proprietary
Capacity: 5MB
Speed: Unspecified
Capabilities: VGA Camera, Clamshell Design
2002: Motorola V60
Launch Price: $299
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $475
Operating System: Proprietary
Capacity: 1MB
Speed: Unspecified
Capabilities: Metal Body, External Display
2001: Motorola StarTAC 7797
Launch Price: $499
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $775
Operating System: Proprietary
Capacity: 1MB
Speed: Unspecified
Capabilities: Clamshell Design, Vibrating Alert
1999: Motorola StarTAC 7790
Launch Price: $399
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $650
Operating System: Proprietary
Capacity: 1MB
Speed: Unspecified
Capabilities: Clamshell Design, Vibrating Alert
CDMA Phones
1998: Qualcomm QCP-820
Launch Price: $299
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $500
Operating System: Proprietary
Capacity: 1MB
Speed: Unspecified
Capabilities: Monochrome Display, Basic Phone Features
1997: Qualcomm QCP-800
Launch Price: $299
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $500
Operating System: Proprietary
Capacity: 1MB
Speed: Unspecified
Capabilities: Monochrome Display, Basic Phone Features
AMPS Phones
1996: Audiovox MVX 480
Launch Price: $199
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $350
Operating System: Proprietary
Capacity: 1MB
Speed: Unspecified
Capabilities: Monochrome Display, Basic Phone Features
1995: Nokia 232
Launch Price: $199
Adjusted for Inflation (2024): $350
Operating System: Proprietary
Capacity: 1MB
Speed: Unspecified
Capabilities: Monochrome Display, Basic Phone Features
Conclusion
From the rudimentary devices of the 90s to the cutting-edge smartphones of today, the journey through mobile technology has been remarkable. Each phone I’ve owned tells a story of technological advancement, showcasing how far we’ve come. As we look to the future, I can only imagine what innovations await us in the realm of mobile technology.