12 pioneering phones that launched ahead of their time

I have spent the better part of two decades reviewing the best smartphones, witnessing firsthand and living through the advent of the modern smartphone era and the ensuing specification wars.

As a veteran, I can attest to the fact that while it is easy to get caught up in the incremental upgrades of the current flagship cycle, if you look closely at the latest iPhones or Galaxy phones, you will realize these are not just the products of Apple or Samsung’s latest genius. These phones were built on the shoulders of giants. Some didn’t make much of an impact at launch, some were recognized, and others were ridiculed experiments that failed to find a market or relevant recognition in their own time.