Once upon a time, cellphones looked very different from each other. Before the iPhone transformed phones into slim, rectangle shapes, there was a delightful variety. Some phones were bright and quirky, while others were simply strange or never made it to store shelves.

Nokia was a major player in this colorful era. At its peak, this Finnish company held 40% of the mobile phone market and contributed significantly to Finland’s economy. Iconic models like the Nokia 5510 and 7210 captured hearts. Meanwhile, the NSeries brought forth features that would later inspire Apple’s smartphones. However, Nokia’s reign began to fade after the iPhone launched in 2007, marking a sudden shift in the market.
Today, although Nokia is not as dominant as before, it still provides essential networking technology worldwide. To celebrate its legacy, Aalto University in Helsinki has launched the Nokia Design Archive. This digital collection showcases 700 pieces, each telling a unique story from Nokia’s past and its impact on mobile technology.
Let’s take a closer look at some standout designs:
Released in 1998, the Nokia 252 became known for its colorful options and was one of the last phones using the 1G network.
This phone was among the first to feature the iconic game Snake, introducing a wave of mobile entertainment.
Marketed as both a phone and a gaming device, the N-Gage struggled due to its clunky design. Users playfully nicknamed it the “taco phone.”
This concept showcased a future where phones could transform shape. However, the technology to support it still doesn’t exist.
Nokia explored early ideas in virtual reality with these conceptual designs from around 1999.
First introduced in 1996, this phone gained fame with its appearance in The Matrix.
Nokia’s story is a fascinating mix of innovation, market shifts, and iconic designs. Each device created shared moments in tech history, bridging the past with the future.
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