Smartphones are now a normal part of everyday life. But when did smartphones become popular with the general public? People use smartphones to browse the internet, communicate, take photos, watch videos, shop online, use social media, and manage work and finances.
The short answer is that smartphones became widely popular during the early 2010s, especially between 2010 and 2013. However, the foundation for this growth was built earlier. The introduction of the iPhone in 2007, followed by the rapid growth of Android phones, helped transform smartphones from specialized devices into products used by millions of people.
What Was the First Smartphone?
The history of smartphones goes back much further than the iPhone.
One of the earliest devices commonly described as a smartphone was the IBM Simon, introduced in 1994. It combined phone features with functions such as email, a calendar, notes, and a touchscreen.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, other companies developed more advanced mobile devices. BlackBerry became particularly popular among business users because of its messaging and email features.
However, these early smartphones were not yet mainstream products. They were generally expensive, had limited internet capabilities, and were often aimed at business users or technology enthusiasts.
When Did Smartphones Start Becoming Popular?
Smartphones began gaining much more attention in the mid-to-late 2000s.
A major turning point came in 2007, when Apple introduced the first iPhone. Its large touchscreen, web browser, music features, and simple user interface helped change people’s expectations about what a mobile phone could do.
The iPhone was not the first smartphone, but it helped make the modern smartphone concept much more appealing to ordinary consumers.
The next major development came in 2008, when Android-powered phones entered the market. Android gave manufacturers another major smartphone platform and helped expand the number of smartphone models available to consumers.
Together, these developments helped create the modern smartphone market.
The Early 2010s Were the Big Turning Point
Although smartphones became more visible after 2007, their real mass adoption happened in the early 2010s.
Pew Research Center reported that 35% of American adults owned a smartphone in May 2011. By February 2012, that figure had increased to 46%.
By May 2013, 56% of American adults owned a smartphone, meaning smartphones had become more common than basic mobile phones among American adults.
This rapid growth is one reason the early 2010s are often considered the period when smartphones truly became mainstream.
Why Did Smartphones Become So Popular?
Several changes helped smartphones move from niche technology to everyday devices.
1. Better Mobile Internet
Earlier mobile phones could access the internet, but the experience was often slow and limited.
Smartphones made browsing websites, checking email, watching videos, and using online services much easier. Faster mobile networks also improved the experience.
2. The Growth of Apps
App stores changed the way people used phones.
Instead of relying only on the features included by the manufacturer, users could install apps for messaging, games, navigation, social media, banking, shopping, photography, and countless other purposes.
The smartphone gradually became more like a small computer that people carried everywhere.
3. Falling Prices
As more manufacturers entered the smartphone market, consumers gained access to a wider range of devices.
High-end smartphones remained expensive, but cheaper Android phones helped bring smartphone technology to a much larger audience.
4. Better Cameras
Smartphone cameras improved rapidly during the late 2000s and early 2010s.
People no longer needed to carry a separate digital camera for many everyday photos. Social media also encouraged people to take and share pictures directly from their phones.
5. Social Media
The growth of social media played another important role.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other services became increasingly convenient to use on smartphones. People could stay connected without sitting in front of a computer.
This helped make smartphones useful throughout the day rather than only for phone calls and text messages.
When Did Smartphones Become Mainstream?
There is no single year when smartphones suddenly became mainstream worldwide.
Different countries and groups adopted them at different speeds. However, U.S. adoption data provides a useful example of the rapid change.
In 2011, 35% of American adults owned a smartphone. That rose to 46% in 2012 and 56% in 2013.
This means that 2012–2013 was an important period in the transition from smartphones being popular technology to becoming a mainstream consumer product.
What Happened After 2013?
Smartphone adoption continued to increase.
Pew Research Center’s longer-term data shows smartphone ownership among U.S. adults rising from 56% in 2013 to 67% in 2015, 77% in 2016, and 81% in 2019. By 2025, the figure was 91%.
As smartphones became more affordable and capable, they started replacing several separate devices and services.
For many people, a smartphone became their camera, music player, GPS, web browser, gaming device, communication tool, and even their primary way of accessing the internet.
Was the iPhone Responsible for Making Smartphones Popular?
The iPhone played a major role in changing the smartphone market, but it was not solely responsible for smartphone adoption.
Before the iPhone, companies such as BlackBerry, Palm, Nokia, and others had already produced smartphones or advanced mobile devices.
The iPhone’s importance was its combination of a large touchscreen, web browsing, media features, and a consumer-focused interface. Android then helped expand the market by providing a smartphone platform used by many different manufacturers.
The result was a much larger and more competitive smartphone ecosystem.
When Did Smartphones Become Popular With the General Public?
For the general public, the strongest period of smartphone adoption was around 2010 to 2013.
By 2011, a significant share of American adults already owned smartphones. By 2013, a majority did.
So while smartphones existed in the 1990s and became much more advanced during the 2000s, it was the early 2010s that really brought smartphones into the mainstream.
A Simple Smartphone Popularity Timeline
- 1994: IBM Simon introduced one of the earliest devices commonly described as a smartphone.
- Late 1990s–2000s: BlackBerry and other advanced mobile devices gained popularity, particularly among business users.
- 2007: Apple introduced the first iPhone.
- 2008: Android-powered smartphones entered the market.
- 2011: About 35% of U.S. adults owned a smartphone.
- 2012: Smartphone ownership among U.S. adults reached 46%.
- 2013: A majority of U.S. adults, 56%, owned smartphones.
- 2010s: Smartphones became increasingly common around the world.
- 2020s: Smartphones became a standard part of everyday digital life.
Final Answer: When Did Smartphones Become Popular?
So, when did smartphones become popular?
Smartphones began gaining serious consumer attention in the late 2000s, especially after the iPhone arrived in 2007 and Android expanded the market in 2008.
However, smartphones became truly mainstream during the early 2010s, particularly around 2010–2013. By 2013, more than half of American adults owned a smartphone, showing how quickly the technology had moved into everyday life.
Today, smartphones are much more than phones. They have become powerful computing devices that combine communication, entertainment, photography, navigation, internet access, and thousands of other functions in a single device.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did smartphones become popular?
Smartphones became widely popular during the early 2010s, especially between 2010 and 2013. The iPhone in 2007 and the growth of Android helped accelerate their adoption.
When was the first smartphone invented?
The IBM Simon, introduced in 1994, is commonly considered one of the earliest smartphones. It combined phone functions with features such as email, a calendar, notes, and a touchscreen.
When did smartphones become mainstream?
Smartphones became mainstream during the early 2010s. By 2013, 56% of American adults owned a smartphone, showing how quickly smartphones had moved into the mainstream.
Did the iPhone make smartphones popular?
The iPhone played an important role in making smartphones appealing to a wider consumer audience, but it was not the first smartphone. Earlier devices from companies such as BlackBerry, Palm, and Nokia had already introduced advanced smartphone features.
When did Android phones become popular?
Android phones entered the market in 2008 and helped smartphone adoption grow by giving consumers more device choices and manufacturers another major smartphone platform.
Why did smartphones become so popular?
Smartphones became popular because they combined mobile internet, apps, cameras, social media, messaging, navigation, entertainment, and other functions in one portable device. Falling prices also made smartphones accessible to more people.
Were smartphones popular in the 1990s?
Smartphones existed in the 1990s, but they were not mainstream. Early devices were generally expensive and had limited features, so they were mainly used by business users, technology enthusiasts, and other specialized users.
When did most people start using smartphones?
In the United States, smartphone ownership passed 50% of adults by 2013. This makes the early 2010s an important period when smartphones shifted from popular technology to a mainstream consumer product.
