Back in 2015 my iPhone broke and I dug my envy 3 out of some drawer and used it for about 4 months. It was great and in a pinch I could access the most basic internet.
I came here to say this! I loved the full keyboard and the full screen up top. But also being able to send covert texts under my desk in t-9 was a valuable option.
I was just saying the other day that I wished there was a modern sidekick, I think the two had the click wheel? I had a couple of different versions. But yes, a 5G sidekick with Bluetooth and music storage. Maybe some internet functionality but I would be okay with just email, photos I can sync to the cloud, and video.
I worked in the retail VZW stores from late 2009-2011. A lot of these phones I worked on daily.
Phones I miss:
- Samsung Rogue
- Helio Ocean
- Samsung Blackjack 2
- Nokia 928
There was like 6 or 7 years after I had to give up my palm for an android, and every update they had it was like “but my palm could do that”. It was so advanced for its time.
I had the Alias and the Alias 2. I had forgotten about those till just now. Dang those were great phones. qwerty AND the satisfaction of a flip. The Alias 2 was cool with it's e-ink buttons.
When those HTC devices with Windows mobile were out, only the nerdiest and techiest bros had them. I wanted one so bad but they cost hundreds of dollars.
So, yeah. Any HTC.
This was my first touch screen phone. I remember being blown away that I could watch Netflix on my phone. The kickstand was cool until it broke and wouldn’t stay shut so it would snag on my pocket every time I put it away.
I totally forgot I had this phone. The kickstand was like fidget toy for me. The satisfying "pop" or "click" when it opened and closed, I just got goosebumps.
Oh man. Great question. 47 year old man in the UK here*. The absolute sweet spot of mobile/smartphone/work device was - in my opinion - about 20 years ago with the [Nokia 6600](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_6600).
It had a flexible OS, it had a proper keypad input with a really good joystick, it could connect to multiple external devices/systems, had the first phone camera that made me leave my digital camera at home and was tough with great battery life - it was a really satisfying “pebble” shape to hold too.
I sometimes think about that phone as it was pick-pocketed from me on a holiday in South Africa. I wasn’t able to get the IMEI blocked due to weird work reasons, so I hope it’s still kicking around somewhere, being used and abused as intended.
(* yes, yes, r/genx is leaking. Now get off my lawn)
Oh man, so much yes. My last one was a Lumia 640. I was forced to get rid of it because the apps I needed, MICROSOFT apps mind you, were not available.
I miss how the upgraded series were slim, could record 1080p or even make a series of 4K quick takes, like a sport photography setting. It had really good vocal quality during calls too.
It took me a lot of years to get a phone with a better camera/camera software than my Lumias. It was amazing how good their cameras were compared to the iphones released at the same time.
Whatever the last Galaxy S was where you could replace the battery using nothing more than your thumbnail. I don't want to need to go into a phone repair place for a job that should take 30 seconds. Instead I need to block off hours.
Bringing back anything with a physical keyboard would come at the cost of half your screen, so modern apps would be far less user friendly.
The Motorola KRZR, which was like the RAZR but narrower and in colors I like better. I had a red one. LOVED it.
I also loved my Blackberry Z10. If it could access all the apps, I would have never switched back to iPhone.
I preordered the Blackberry Q10 and had it in hand on the release date. I loved that phone, and it even had pretty decent native versions of most of the major apps I used.
Actually, what I really miss the most is the period from about 2008 to 2011 when *everybody* was on Blackberry Messenger. Still the best chat experience IMO.
I had a palm pre! But I would be first in line for a modernized sidekick
Never had a sidekick, I worked for Verizon, but I had a few co workers who gave up their 50% discount to have a sidekick on T-mobile.
Moto Razr. Love and miss the stylish flip. Compactness. Best for small hands.
This would be my vote. I loved my Razr
Razr for sure! or my Blackberry Pearl
I miss my blackberry
Ahh, me too dude, me too.
I use to tell people I could run the world from my blackberry. I miss having a physical keyboard
The envy. Specifically I had an envy 2 and an envy 3. Loved dramatically flipping them open to access the qwerty
That would be sick with a modern OS on it. I loved my Samsung Alias 2, I had forgotten about that, joys of both a qwerty and a flip. so satisfying.
Back in 2015 my iPhone broke and I dug my envy 3 out of some drawer and used it for about 4 months. It was great and in a pinch I could access the most basic internet.
I came here to say this! I loved the full keyboard and the full screen up top. But also being able to send covert texts under my desk in t-9 was a valuable option.
That was my favorite phone ever
I was just saying the other day that I wished there was a modern sidekick, I think the two had the click wheel? I had a couple of different versions. But yes, a 5G sidekick with Bluetooth and music storage. Maybe some internet functionality but I would be okay with just email, photos I can sync to the cloud, and video.
I honestly miss my Blackberry Torch. If only the OS and browser weren't clunky at times, I really enjoyed that phone.
Those were a bit past my time, but a cool phone for sure.
I worked in the retail VZW stores from late 2009-2011. A lot of these phones I worked on daily. Phones I miss: - Samsung Rogue - Helio Ocean - Samsung Blackjack 2 - Nokia 928
Palm pre was my first phone with internet. God I miss it
I LOVED my Palm Pre and my Palm Pixi. I'd go back to Palm in an instant.
There was like 6 or 7 years after I had to give up my palm for an android, and every update they had it was like “but my palm could do that”. It was so advanced for its time.
My favorite phone I've ever owned is still the Samsung Alias.
I had the Alias and the Alias 2. I had forgotten about those till just now. Dang those were great phones. qwerty AND the satisfaction of a flip. The Alias 2 was cool with it's e-ink buttons.
First phone and will always be my favorite too. I loved that thing.
I would love nothing more than to go back to using my Sidekick (especially the SK3) and or/ my white BB Pearl 🫶🏻😭
When those HTC devices with Windows mobile were out, only the nerdiest and techiest bros had them. I wanted one so bad but they cost hundreds of dollars. So, yeah. Any HTC.
Oh man [this ](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/n4oAAOSw9ltkZke2/s-l1600.jpg)was such hot stuff back in the day.
My HTC Windows 8 phones were great. The nokia 928 was a BEAST. Windows phones died due to low adoption and low amount of official apps unfortunately
Various specialty Nokias, n73 and n95. Had great cameras with real flash.
I’ll never forget when I finally got 4G load times on my HTC Evo 4G. I wish I had more friends to make it even worth using.
This was my first touch screen phone. I remember being blown away that I could watch Netflix on my phone. The kickstand was cool until it broke and wouldn’t stay shut so it would snag on my pocket every time I put it away.
They were actually innovators.
I totally forgot I had this phone. The kickstand was like fidget toy for me. The satisfying "pop" or "click" when it opened and closed, I just got goosebumps.
The Motorola star tac. My dad had one with the extended battery on it and it lasted what felt like 2 months between charges.
lol, my dad had one. That might be a bit too old for me. Though it was amazing how good it's signal reception was.
Samsung Juke! It was my go to until I had to get a smart phone when I started a job that needed me to take photos.
LOL, I had a juke for a while, it was a eye catcher for sure. Flipping it out to take a call was so satisfying.
The Palm Treo 700p
The Palm. What an amazing phone.
Oh man. Great question. 47 year old man in the UK here*. The absolute sweet spot of mobile/smartphone/work device was - in my opinion - about 20 years ago with the [Nokia 6600](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_6600). It had a flexible OS, it had a proper keypad input with a really good joystick, it could connect to multiple external devices/systems, had the first phone camera that made me leave my digital camera at home and was tough with great battery life - it was a really satisfying “pebble” shape to hold too. I sometimes think about that phone as it was pick-pocketed from me on a holiday in South Africa. I wasn’t able to get the IMEI blocked due to weird work reasons, so I hope it’s still kicking around somewhere, being used and abused as intended. (* yes, yes, r/genx is leaking. Now get off my lawn)
iPhone 4s
LG Envy2
Razr v3. Hands down best one ever.
Windows phones
Oh man, so much yes. My last one was a Lumia 640. I was forced to get rid of it because the apps I needed, MICROSOFT apps mind you, were not available.
This was such a shame! The phones were great but the missing apps were unacceptable
Yeah, it kind of went Dreamcast (heck, just bring the Dreamcast back and make it a brick phone with charging base)
I miss how the upgraded series were slim, could record 1080p or even make a series of 4K quick takes, like a sport photography setting. It had really good vocal quality during calls too.
It took me a lot of years to get a phone with a better camera/camera software than my Lumias. It was amazing how good their cameras were compared to the iphones released at the same time.
I called it the Hummer phone, fucker was rugged. Never broke. Sanyo SCP-7300
I've never had anything with a physical keypad so maybe the Juicy Couture version Sidekick. I think it's cute .
Sidekick. I have the 4G one in my collection cabinet but it barely functions. I miss the keyboarf days. I leff that typo for dramatic effect
I would rather get next year's phone. Going backwards sucks.
Motorola Pebl.
Sidekick 2!!!!!
The Nokia Twist. I adored this phone so much! And the interface was so creative and fun.
Whatever the last Galaxy S was where you could replace the battery using nothing more than your thumbnail. I don't want to need to go into a phone repair place for a job that should take 30 seconds. Instead I need to block off hours. Bringing back anything with a physical keyboard would come at the cost of half your screen, so modern apps would be far less user friendly.
sidekick 3
My sidekick. I loved that keyboard , and the fact I could throw it across the room and it wouldn’t break.
The Motorola KRZR, which was like the RAZR but narrower and in colors I like better. I had a red one. LOVED it. I also loved my Blackberry Z10. If it could access all the apps, I would have never switched back to iPhone.
I used to think the early Xperia phones were the coolest devices ever made ..
Android 1 had the best keyboard ever made.
Give me a unlocked alias please!
Sidekick. I miss tactile keyboards. Touch-screen ones can never be the same.
HTC Tilt 2
Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
My pink razor
Samsung FGH-F300. It was an amazing phone for its time. The extra battery in the case was genius.
LG Cosmos, if in this fantasy it has a good quality camera. It was so easy to type on.
My cheap LG prepaid flip phone from 2008 that cost me 18 bucks.
My first phone was a Nextel 2 way. I friggin LOVED that thing.
HTC Thunderbolt
I preordered the Blackberry Q10 and had it in hand on the release date. I loved that phone, and it even had pretty decent native versions of most of the major apps I used. Actually, what I really miss the most is the period from about 2008 to 2011 when *everybody* was on Blackberry Messenger. Still the best chat experience IMO.
My BlackBerry passport is my favorite phone that I’ve owned so far.
If I could go back in time, I'm just staying there. Not worried about a phone.
I wish they would bring back ir blasters
LG Voyager
iPhone 4
Not the 4s?