A mobile phone is a portable device that communicates over a mobile cellular network. Smartphones are one kind of mobile phone, but simpler feature phones are also mobile phones. The term describes the device—not its network subscription, internet access, or the type of cellular network it uses.
What is a mobile phone?
A mobile phone is a portable communications device designed to connect through a mobile network. “Cell phone” and “cellular phone” are commonly used names for the same kind of handheld device. A phone can support voice calls, messaging, internet access, apps, or some combination of those functions; some feature phones are used for calls only, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Keep four related ideas separate:
- Phone ownership counts people who say they own a mobile phone.
- Mobile-cellular subscriptions count connections, not unique people. One person may have more than one subscription, and connections can also serve devices.
- Network coverage describes where a network is available to people.
- Internet use measures whether people access the internet; owning a phone does not mean a person uses mobile internet.
These measures describe different aspects of mobile communication and should not be substituted for one another.
What is the difference between a smartphone and a feature phone?
A smartphone is a mobile phone with broad computing and internet capabilities, typically supporting apps and data services. A feature phone has a narrower set of functions. The boundary is not universal: capabilities and market labels vary, and a feature phone may be used primarily—or only—for calls.
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| Type | Typical capabilities | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone | Broad computing and internet capabilities; typically supports apps and data services. | Check that its supported network technologies work with the networks available where you plan to use it. |
| Feature phone | A narrower set of functions; some are used for calls only. | Consider whether its available functions, accessibility and ease of use meet your needs. |
Neither label alone establishes a device’s compatibility, accessibility, purchase price, or service cost. Those depend on the particular handset, the local network and the service arrangement.
What do 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G mean?
These labels describe generations of mobile network technology, not phone shapes or categories. A handset must support a network technology, and that technology must be available in the place where the phone is used, for the two to connect. The ITU describes 5G as the fifth generation of mobile technologies and uses IMT-2020 for its standard framework. The first edition of the IMT-2020 specifications was published in February 2021, according to the ITU.
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A smartphone is not automatically a 5G phone, and a mobile phone need not be a smartphone. Compatibility depends on the handset and available networks.
How did mobile phones develop?
The history has distinct milestones: a handheld cellular demonstration, regulatory approval of a commercial device, and production and availability for consumers. Treating these as one “invention” date obscures what happened at each stage.
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- 1973 — handheld cellular demonstration. Motorola demonstrated a practical wireless system in which handheld radios moved among zones called cells. The ITU identifies Martin Cooper’s 1973 demonstration call with a handheld cell phone.
- 1983 — U.S. regulatory approval. Motorola’s company history dates the Federal Communications Commission’s approval of the DynaTAC 8000X to September 21, 1983. Approval was not the same as the original demonstration or consumer availability.
- 1984 — production and commercial availability. The Smithsonian says Motorola produced the DynaTAC in 1984 after more than a decade of research, identifying it as the first commercially available portable handheld cell phone. Its collection record reports a weight of 2.5 pounds, battery life of 30 minutes and selling price of $4,000. These are historical specifications, not present-day buying guidance.
- 1990s — subscriber growth. The ITU’s 1999 report counted around 11 million mobile subscribers in 1990 and more than 300 million at the end of 1998. These are historical subscriber figures, not counts of unique owners.
- 2021 onward — 5G standards and expansion. The first edition of the IMT-2020 specifications appeared in February 2021. By 2025, 5G networks covered more than half of the world’s population, while adoption and coverage varied significantly by income group.
The sources use “first” in different ways: a demonstration, an approved model, or a device commercially offered to consumers. The dates refer to those separate milestones.
How common are mobile phones and 5G?
ITU estimates for 2025 illustrate why ownership, subscriptions and coverage need separate labels:
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| Measure | 2025 figure | What it counts |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile-phone ownership | 82% of people aged 10 or older worldwide; over 95% in high-income economies and 53% in low-income economies. | Individuals reporting that they own a phone. This is not the share using the internet. |
| Mobile-cellular subscriptions | 9.2 billion, or 112 per 100 inhabitants. | Connections, which can include multiple subscriptions per person and connected devices; not unique phone owners. |
| 5G share of mobile broadband subscriptions | 36%. | Subscriptions using 5G/IMT-2020; adoption varies by region and network availability. |
| 5G population coverage | 55% worldwide; 84% in high-income countries and 4% in low-income countries. | People living within 5G network coverage, not necessarily people who own a compatible phone or subscribe to 5G. |
The ITU notes that phone ownership does not map one-to-one to internet use: people may share an owner’s phone, some phones are used for calls only, and one person may own multiple devices. Ownership and network access also remain uneven between income groups.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should you consider when choosing a type of mobile phone?
Start with what you need the device to do, then check that it can connect where you will use it. A category label by itself does not establish that a phone will meet those needs.
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- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
- Communication and apps: Decide whether calls and basic functions are enough or whether you need broader computing, apps and mobile data.
- Local network compatibility: Check the handset’s supported network technologies against the networks available in your region.
- Accessibility and ease of use: Consider whether the device’s functions and interface suit the person using it.
- Purchase and service costs: Compare the costs for the particular handset and service arrangement; these are not determined by the smartphone or feature-phone label alone.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
