iPhone Competitors in 2007
Many analysts and pundits reviewing the first iPhone released in 2007 tried to highlight both the strength and the weakness of the new device. The most balanced summary came from NYT saying that the first iPhone did things no phone had ever done before but it also lacked features found even on the most basic phones. Therefore, this post is devoted to review the cell phone market’s competitive situation which was relatively intense like in a horse race, especially around the iPhone debut.
The main strengths and weaknesses of each cell phone model.
Apple iPhone
Strengths. iPhone revolutionized the smartphone industry with its sleek design, intuitive touch interface, and robust iOS operating system. It offered a seamless user experience with features like a full web browser, visual voicemail, multi-touch screen and the “built-in” iPod. Weaknesses. iPhone lacked some features that were common in other phones at the time, such as 3G connectivity, expandable storage, and a high-resolution camera. Its battery life was also relatively short, and it was quite expensive compared to other smartphones.
Nokia N95
Strengths. Nokia N95 was a powerhouse with its 5 MP camera, GPS navigation, and multimedia capabilities. It supported 3G and Wi-Fi, making it a versatile device for both communication and entertainment. The sliding design allowed for a large screen and a full keypad. Weaknesses. The N95 was a bit bulky which made it less portable. Its Symbian OS was not as user-friendly as some other operating systems, and the battery life was limited, especially when using GPS and multimedia features.
Samsung Blackjack
Strengths. Samsung Blackjack was known for its slim design and full QWERTY keyboard, making it ideal for business users who needed to send emails and messages quickly. It ran on Windows Mobile, which provided good integration with Microsoft Office applications. Weaknesses. The small screen size and low-resolution camera were significant drawbacks. The Windows Mobile OS could be sluggish and less intuitive compared to other operating systems. Additionally, the battery life was not very impressive.
Blackberry 8800
Strengths. Blackberry 8800 was a favorite among business professionals due to its excellent email capabilities, full QWERTY keyboard, and robust security features. It also had GPS navigation and a long battery life. Weaknesses. The lack of a camera was a major downside for many users. The device was also quite bulky, and the Blackberry OS, while secure, was not as user-friendly as some other platforms.
Palm Treo 750
Strengths. Palm Treo 750 offered a good balance of productivity and multimedia features. It had a full QWERTY keyboard, ran on Windows Mobile, and supported 3G connectivity. It was also known for its solid build quality. Weaknesses. The device was relatively heavy and thick, making it less portable. The screen resolution was lower compared to some competitors, and the camera quality was mediocre. The Windows Mobile OS could also be slow and less intuitive.
LG Prada
Strengths. LG Prada was one of the first phones to feature a capacitive touchscreen, which made it stand out in terms of design and user interface. It was stylish and sleek, appealing to fashion-conscious users. Weaknesses. The phone lacked advanced features like 3G connectivity and a high-resolution camera. The proprietary OS was limited in terms of app availability and functionality. The battery life was also relatively short.
Samsung UpStage SPH-M620
Strengths. Samsung UpStage had a unique dual-screen design, with one side dedicated to music playback and the other to phone functions. It was lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around. Weaknesses. The small screen size and low resolution were significant drawbacks. The dual-screen design, while innovative, could be confusing and less practical for some users. The battery life was also limited, especially when using multimedia features.
Sony Ericsson W580i
Strengths. Sony Ericsson W580i was a popular choice for music lovers, with its dedicated music player, good sound quality, and Walkman branding. It also had a sleek design and a decent camera for its time. Weaknesses. The phone's build quality was not very durable, with reports of cracking keypads. The screen size and resolution were relatively low, and the proprietary OS was limited in terms of app availability and functionality.
LG EnV
Strengths. The LG EnV was known for its dual-screen design and full QWERTY keyboard, making it great for messaging and emailing. It also had a decent camera and good multimedia capabilities. Weaknesses. The phone was a bit bulky which made it less portable. The screen resolution was lower compared to some competitors, and the proprietary OS was limited in terms of app availability and functionality.
Each of these phones had its own strengths and target audience, contributing to their popularity in different segments of the market particularly considering a battery life, camera quality, music friendliness and gaming.
Battery Life
Among the phones listed, Blackberry 8800 was known for having one of the best battery lives. It was designed with business users in mind, who required reliable and long-lasting battery performance for email and communication throughout the day. Blackberry 8800’s battery could last up to several days on a single charge with moderate use. Apple iPhone and Nokia N95 also had decent battery life, but they were more power-hungry due to their advanced features and multimedia capabilities, which could drain the battery faster.
Camera Quality
Nokia N95 had the best camera quality among the phones listed. It featured a 5 MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, and an LED flash, which was quite advanced for its time. The N95’s camera was capable of taking high-quality photos and videos, making it a popular choice for users who valued photography.
Music
For high-quality music lovers, Sony Ericsson W580i was a popular choice. It was part of Sony Ericsson’s Walkman series, which was specifically designed for music enthusiasts. The W580i featured a dedicated music player with excellent sound quality, support for various audio formats, and a user-friendly interface for managing music. It also included features like TrackID for identifying songs and a built-in FM radio. Another notable mention is Samsung UpStage SPH-M620, which had a unique dual-screen design with one side dedicated to music playback. This made it convenient for users to enjoy their music without interrupting other phone functions.
Gaming
In 2007, Nokia N95 was popular for high-quality gaming. It supported the N-Gage gaming platform, which provided access to a variety of games with better graphics and gameplay compared to other phones at the time. The N95's hardware, including its powerful processor and large screen, made it a suitable choice for gaming enthusiasts. Sony Ericsson W580i was built game-friendly, with a few pre-installed games and the ability to download more. However, it was primarily marketed as a music phone, so gaming was not its main focus.
All in all, in 2007 iPhone had quite strong competitors and therefore the first model had to be reasonably upgraded rather sooner than later.