The Humble Beginnings: The Brick Phones

The first mobile phones were far from what we would consider "mobile" today. Introduced in the 1980s, early mobile devices like the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X were bulky, weighing over two pounds and resembling a brick—hence the term "brick phones." They were primarily used for making phone calls and could be carried only by those willing to lug around the extra weight. With a staggering price tag of around $4,000, these devices were status symbols rather than mass-market tools.

Oh, and let’s not forget the limited battery life, which was about 30 minutes of talk time—just enough time to call someone and complain about how heavy your phone is.