Did you know it’s been ten years since the first Android phone came out? It all started with the HTC Dream in 2008 - known as the T-Mobile G1 in the US - and since then we’ve had lots and lots of Android phones to play with. So, join us in a celebratory look back at how Android became the monster it is today.
HTC Dream: The Android phone that started it all
It’s hard to believe, but Android phones are just a decade old. We say ‘only’ because it seems like they’ve been around forever, and that’s testament to how great they’ve been over the years. But Android phones weren’t always as desirable-looking as the latest Samsung Galaxy S9 or Sony Xperia XZ3.
The HTC Dream was a dull and clunky affair with a flat-looking physical keyboard. But while it wasn’t the best phone to look at, it paved the way for all the things we love about Android phones today. It even had the ability to copy and paste – something the iPhone 3G didn’t have at the time.
The features that made us love Android
Make it your own
Right from the off there was a lot to enjoy about Android. The biggest change it brought was the ability to customise the homescreen in more ways than we were used to. The idea of widgets and folders felt revolutionary. Throw in the ability to customise the wallpaper, and it was possible to make your phone feel unique – and everyone loved it.
Today these features remain, and other handsets have caught on. Even Apple followed suit at the time with its own copy and paste function, and folders for apps. The first Android phone was a true trailblazer.
You could buy apps
The HTC Dream also launched with its own Android Market - now known as Google Play - in place, letting anyone purchase a range of apps. The quality of apps wasn’t always great back then, but there was still lots of choice for anyone who got their hands on a HTC Dream.
A larger variety of designs appeared
That first Android phone wasn’t much of a looker, but it did pave the way for lots more Android phones to emerge with new designs to get us excited for the future. Soon new phones from the likes of Samsung, HTC and LG emerged giving us lots more choice.
But it was the Google Nexus One that really took Android into premium territory and made everyone take notice at a time when Apple was the only dominant phone-maker. It had a great camera for the time, a fast Snapdragon processor and a Super LCD display.
The Android legacy continues
Today there are so many great Android phones to enjoy that we’re almost spoilt for choice. The latest crop of Android handsets, like the Samsung Galaxy S9, Sony Xperia XZ3 and Huawei P20 Pro offer features that are some of the best you can get.
We’re talking faster processors, the best screens, the latest games and cameras to rival some DSLR cameras. And they all evolved from the original features first found on that original plain-looking phone. HTC Dream, we salute you.
Fancy a new Android? You can find all the phones mentioned above and more at Carphone Warehouse.