Not every phone looks like a masterpiece. Some smartphones try way too hard to look futuristic, while others end up feeling bulky or just plain confusing. Still, some had pretty good practical purposes for their design. With that said, here are 10 mobile phones that are often remembered as some of the weirdest devices ever released.
10. LG Wing
The LG Wing is a phablet that experimented with a rotating dual-screen setup. It definitely turned heads when it was announced in 2020, as the phone looked like a tiny T-shaped gadget when its main screen flipped horizontally to reveal a smaller secondary screen. This feature is practical for many reasons, such as multitasking and GPS navigation.
(Image Credit: LG)
9. Nokia 7600
Nokia was no stranger to experimentation in the early 2000s, and the Nokia 7600 was one of its weirdest releases. The teardrop-shaped body forced people to hold the phone in a pretty unnatural way. On top of that, the keypad wrapped around the sides of the screen, which made it slightly challenging for some. Don't get us wrong — it is definitely unique and futuristic, but it's not exactly appealing.
(Image Credit: Nokia)
8. Samsung Galaxy Round
Samsung Galaxy Round is somewhat of a forgotten device. It was first announced in 2013. At the time, curved phones were breaking through the scene because of their unorthodox yet futuristic appearance. The Galaxy Round's curved screen made the device appear warped, and the thick frame made it feel oddly shaped in the hand. Still, Samsung deserves credit for trying something different, as it was certainly innovative.
(Image Credit: Samsung)
7. Motorola Flipout
The Motorola Flipout is a self-described "swivel-style" phone that featured one of the strangest rotating mechanisms ever seen on a phone. Its square body already looked slightly unusual, but the swivel-out keyboard that protrudes from the main body. The phone had a compact and clever design.
(Image Credit: Motorola)
6. Nokia N-Gage
The Nokia N-Gage is legendary for many reasons. Nicknamed the "Game Deck", its taco-like shape combined the functionality and mechanics of a mobile phone and gaming device. Visually, its body was sleek, but it turned out to be one of the strangest devices Nokia ever released, since the button placements were not exactly ergonomic for gamers. Its reception was so poor at the time that some considered it a commercial failure.
(Image Credit: Nokia)
5. Samsung Galaxy Beam
The Samsung Galaxy Beam looks like a regular device from the front, but lay it on a table, and you'll notice a rather glaring feature. It includes a huge built-in projector built directly into the hardware of the smartphone. The result is a rather awkward and thick body with bright yellow accents. Our first impression of it was that we thought it could be mistaken for some sort of construction tool. Definitely a bold choice from Samsung, which we obviously applaud. Probably just not very practical for the everyday person.
(Image Credit: Samsung)
4. Sierra Wireless Voq
The Sierra Wireless Voq is the first and only smartphone manufactured by Canadian tech company Sierra Wireless. The most noticeable aspect about it is its bizarre sideways keyboard design, which made the phone look wider than it needed to be. The keyboard could be folded outwards like a book. The proportions feel completely off, especially when you consider the device's slightly curved body.
(Image Credit: Sierra Wireless)
3. HTC Dream
The HTC Dream, also known as the T-Mobile G1, deserves credit for being the first Android phone in the world. But, visually? It was all over the place. The chunky chin at the bottom made the phone look oddly lopsided, but the best part about the phone is its sliding keyboard mechanism, which was quite an impressive piece of tech at the time (circa 2008). It was definitely ahead of its time.
(Image Credit: HTC)
2. Motorola Aura
The Motorola Aura was designed to be a luxury statement piece, as it features a giant circular display and an exposed rotating mechanism. Mechanically, it resembled a lot like a watch — it is strange yet elegant. It also has a stainless steel body and a sapphire camera lens. Overall, the phone feels like an expensive sci-fi gadget. The 300° swivel is certainly more flashy than practical, but again, we still appreciate the innovation.
(Image Credit: Motorola)
1. Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha
The Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha is the greatest phone that never was. What we mean by that is that it was scheduled to be launched in late 2019, but logistical difficulties resulted in this being cancelled. This phone is striking mainly because of its display that wraps around the entire body of the phone. The final product is a futuristic but, honestly, overwhelming design. With screens covering the sides and back, the device looked impractical and fragile. This is definitely not a practical device for those who drop their phone often.
(Image Credit: Xiaomi)
Not every phone looks like a masterpiece. Some smartphones try way too hard to look futuristic, while others end up feeling bulky or just plain confusing. Still, some had pretty good practical purposes for their design. With that said, here are 10 mobile phones that are often remembered as some of the weirdest devices ever released.
