Why Did We Think These 10 Phones Where Cool Back In The 2000s?

Cellphone technology has advanced in a way that is truly astounding. We have come a long way in just a few decades, from the early brick-like phones to the sleek, powerful smartphones we have today. Manufacturers have experimented with various designs, features, and ideas over the years though in an effort to set themselves apart from the competitors.

Some of these trials have produced strange and outright strange cellphone designs—designs that were not requested. Particularly in the 2000s, manufacturers went overboard with bizarre designs and functions that everyone found perplexing. We’ll be exploring some of the strangest telephones the 2000s had to offer in this Top 10. Prepare yourself for a nostalgic trip (and a few raised eyebrows)!

1. Virgin Mobile Lobster 700TV

The Lobster 700TV was a clever little thing, it had the ability to show your favorite soap away from your main TV as it came with a built in TV.

Due to its clumsy and archaic appearance, the Virgin Mobile Lobster 700TV looked absurd. In particular, when compared to more recent smartphones with sleeker, smaller exteriors, it had a bulky, curved design that gave off an outdated impression. The phone’s diminutive screen size made it challenging to enjoy watching mobile TV, and the front-facing antennae gave it a retro TV set rather than a high-tech appearance.

The TV coverage on the phone was frequently weak, which made for a difficult viewing experience. The Virgin Mobile Lobster 700TV’s overall functioning and design were poor and uninspiring.

2. Siemens Xelibri 6

The Siemens Xelibri 6 is a sleek and stylish mobile phone released in 2004. It features a clamshell design with a unique and eye-catching metallic keypad and a small external display. The phone offers basic calling and messaging functions as well as a built-in FM radio and a VGA camera with a small mirror for self-portraits.

The Siemens Xelibri 6 was primarily criticized for its unconventional design. The phone had a rectangular shape with curved edges and a metal flip cover that resembled a cosmetic case. The overall aesthetic was deemed unappealing and outdated with reviewers describing it as “clunky “bulky and “ugly.”

The phone also had limited functionality and lacked essential features for its time such as a camera and Bluetooth connectivity.

3. Nokia 7600

Nokia created the Series 40-based camera phone known as the 7600. The 7600, Nokia’s second 3G phone following the Nokia 6650, was introduced on September 25, 2003. It stands out for its unconventional, one-of-a-kind design.

The Nokia 7600's unorthodox and divisive aesthetic was a major factor in its failure as a design. Customers who liked more conventional designs did not respond favorably to the phone’s distinctive teardrop shape, which had an asymmetrical keypad and a small screen.

The phone's shape made It uncomfortable to use and carry. Its commercial failure was largely caused by a lack of practicality mixed with restricted functionality, poor ergonomics, and a high price. In the end, the Nokia 7600's design was a remarkable failure in the mobile phone sector since it was unable to win over a broad audience.

4. Toshiba G450

The Toshiba G450 is a unique kind of cell phone. One handset from the firm includes an MP3 player, USB storage device, HSDPA modem, and phone. This served as a solution for those looking for a mobile broadband USB dongle with more features.

The Toshiba G450’s bizarre design and useless features gave it a ludicrous appearance. It had a tiny monochrome monitor, about the size of a huge USB stick, with a numeric keyboard that seemed out of place.

The gadget attempted to integrate numerous features including a phone, music player, and USB storage, but due to its restricted functionality and odd design, it came off more as a novelty item than a useful device. The Toshiba G450 was an odd and ultimately disappointing device because of its antiquated technology and lack of smooth integration.

5. Siemens Xelibri 2

The Siemens Xelibri 2 is a mobile phone produced by Siemens AG in 2003. It is a compact and stylish phone that features a unique design with a flip-up cover that reveals a small keypad and display screen. The phone has an internal antenna and comes in a variety of colors including pink blue and silver.

Although it was intended to be a fashion accessory, the Siemens Xelibri 2 was not well received by customers. The phone’s shortcomings included a high price, few functionality, and a short battery life. Additionally, customers who were looking for more useful and utilitarian gadgets did not appreciate the phone’s distinctive appearance, which included a circular screen and an odd form.

After only a few months on the market, the Xelibri 2 was withdrawn, which was a significant defeat for Siemens in the fiercely competitive mobile phone market.

6. Nokia 7380

The Nokia Design Center in California, under the direction of Miki Mehandjiysky, created the 7380. This phone stands apart from others thanks to its sensory navigation key, which is very different from a traditional keypad and works similarly to the touch-sensitive iPod navigation wheel.

The phone was too radical and avant-garde for the majority of users, the Nokia 7380’s design was a complete failure. This made it challenging and uncomfortable to operate. There were no buttons for dialing numbers or accessing menus, and its diminutive size made typing difficult.

Instead, users had to flip the device around and navigate using a tiny wheel. It was awkward to text and use the internet because there was no standard keypad. Its high price point, which restricted its appeal to a particular segment of the market, also played a role in its downfall.

7. Microsoft Kin

Kin was a short-lived mobile phone line from Microsoft designed for users of social networking. The phones, aimed at people between ages 15 and 30, were manufactured by Sharp Corporation and sold through Verizon Wireless.

Because it was mismarket and failed to appeal to its intended market, the Microsoft Kin design was a failure. The Kin was created with social media users in mind, but it lacked essentials like a calendar and the capacity to download outside apps.

Compared to other cellphones on the market, it was pricey. The release of the iPhone 4 attracted far more attention than The Kin, which was also overshadowed. As a result, the Kin was removed from sale after just two months.

8. Nokia N-Gage

Released on October 7, 2003, the Nokia N-Gage is a smartphone that combines characteristics of a mobile phone with a handheld gaming system. It was first unveiled on November 4, 2002. On Symbian OS v6.1, it utilizes the original Series 60 platform.

Numerous design shortcomings in the Nokia N-Gage, which was introduced in 2003, contributed to its failure. The device was touted as both a phone and a gaming device, however its phone features and gaming controls were both awkwardly constructed. Additionally, changing games on the gadget required users to laboriously remove the battery, which was inconvenient.

The available games were pricey and had a restricted variety. In the end, the N-Gage was not well received and was cancelled in 2005, which was a major setback for Nokia in the mobile gaming industry.

9. Bang & Olufsen Serene

Serene is a mobile phone produced as a joint venture between Samsung Electronics and Bang & Olufsen. It was released in the last quarter of 2005 in Europe. It was available in select stores throughout the world.

Due to its unusual and strange design, the Bang & Olufsen Serene was regarded as absurd. It had a circular keyboard that was tricky to use and was shaped like a big stone. The phone also featured a faceplate that could be swung open to show a tiny monochrome display.

Although it cost a lot, the Serene didn’t include many of the standard capabilities present on other phones at the time, making it more of a fashion piece than a useful gadget. Overall, the Serene was a divisive phone that left many perplexed and wondering what it was even there for.

10. F88 wrist phone

F88 is a wristwatch with built-in mobile phone capabilities. It features 26K colors CSTN display, a built-in 3 megapixel 180-degree rotating camera, a built-in microphone and speakerphone for conferencing, voice dialing, 4 minutes of voice recording, IrDA connectivity and organization tools such as schedule, alarm clock and reminder note.

Due to a few things, the F88 wrist phone appeared ridiculous. First of all, in comparison to sleeker, more contemporary smartphones, its large and rectangular shape made it look antiquated and ugly. Second, it was unusable and cumbersome for daily usage due to its small screen size and restricted capabilities.

Finally, as most people preferred to use a standard handheld phone, the idea of a “wrist phone” was viewed as gimmicky and unneeded. Overall, the F88 wrist phone was a failure as a product and did not appeal to consumers.