Bragging rights - who's using the oldest cell phone?

[Miss Piggy]

Another thread about someone being mocked for using an iPhone 5 (the horrors!), and some of the comments therein, gave me an idea...let's see who here us using the oldest, most out-of-date cell phone.

My phone is only a few months old, so I'm not in the running, but here it is:

Phone: Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Purchased: New in summer 2016
Age: Approximately 4 months


ETA: Lest I look completely anti-mustachian, my previous phone was a Galaxy Note 2 and was way past its contract end date. Got the new one because we switched carriers to cut our bill in half with my BIL's huge discount plan.

[boyerbt]

I am also out of the running with an iPhone 6s that I received about 3 months ago.

However, it is a company phone, so if I can add the last phone that I paid for was the iPhone 3G or whatever iPhone was somewhat recent in 2009.

[gggggg]

One of my best friends has an iphone 3, still works fine he says.

[bobechs]

Using for what?

I have an old $10 ca. 1996 Walmart/Tracfone analog-candybar-monochome-dumbphone that I sometimes use as an alarm clock.

Won't hold a charge overnight so I keep it plugged in to the charger.

It will call 911 in a pinch, which your bedside Sony clock-radio won't do.

ETA:  No it won't call 911.  It's an analog phone; the network doesn't even know it exists.

[ketchup]

Current phone: HTC 626s, bought new ($129) just over a year ago because my old phone only supported 3G on a frequency that had just got shut down in my area (refarmed to LTE).

Previous phone: Samsung Galaxy S (2010), owned from mid-2013 to mid-2015.  Bought for $20 from a high schooler (mommy and daddy bought him a new phone).
Previous previous phone: HTC G1 (2008), $60 on eBay, owned from late 2011 to mid-2013.  Dumped it when it started falling apart physically.
Before that: $15 flip phone from 2009-2011.

GF has a $500 iPhone SE, but she uses it for business and her one old phone (5S bought used) quit charging properly right before a business trip that would have cost her a lot more than $500 had she not bought it, and she needed some iOS specific app.  So unfortunately it was a "need new phone right now tonight" trip to the Apple store.  And they were out of stock of the $400 model.  But it should last her at least three years.

[MudDuck]

My spouse has an EnV2, purchased for $0 ($50 with a $50 rebate) in 2008.

[Gyosho]

I used a Motorola v220 for 9 years. I was hoping to make it to 10, but it died in March of this year.

My boss hated my phone and mistakenly thought he could not contact me on it.

[205guy]

My current phone is an iPhone 5s bought used and unlocked 9 months ago. The phone it replaced was an iPhone 3g, bought in 2008. It was so old that I had the unlimited data plan back when I was still paying $100/mo for AT&T.

Once I discovered MVNO on these forums, I had AT&T unlock the old iPhone, then I switched to the $10 no-data plan from puretalkusa. Both phones work just fine, since puretalk uses the AT&T network.

So the iPhone 3g was over 7 years old when I stopped using, and it still worked mostly (some of the pixels were blacked out). The battery got weak several years before, so I bought one online and followed the videos to replace it--fairly easy. I still have it and it still works as an iPod just fine.

[131071]

I'm using a Nexus 5, bought in October 2013.  I can't be the only one?!  My N5 proudly boasts the following features:

-Giant chunk of glass missing from screen
-Packaging tape covering the exposed circuit board

[snogirl]

I'm using a Motorola Razr Maxx HD build date Sep 25, 2013. Purchased new off ebay for $100.
It replaced my first Smartphone ~ a Motorola Razr Maxx HD ~ that died this summer after lasting a hard-use 4 years tucked in an Otterbox.
I couldn't go with another phone knowing what the first one went through.
It replaced a Motorola flip phone
 

[FIREdancer]

I just got my first smartphone a couple months ago, a Moto e.

Before that I had an LG Shine that was going strong for just under 10 years.

[pbkmaine]

Iphone 4.

[MilesTeg]

My current phone (Samsung S5) died a horrid death after 27 months of usage, and I am back to using my Samsung S3 (over 4 years old) which had been being used as a media player only.

Does that get me some sort of 'half in the running'? heh

[MsPeacock]

I have an IPhone 5 that I bought when it first came out. I think it is about 4 years old now.

[Stachey]

Mine is a Nokia from 2005!  It is older than SIM cards!   
Still chugging along though.
I can't bear to get rid of it since it's still working.

[FIRE me]

Another thread about someone being mocked for using an iPhone 5 (the horrors!), and some of the comments therein, gave me an idea...let's see who here us using the oldest, most out-of-date cell phone.

My Galaxy S4 broke last month. Bad motherboard losing contact with the sim card.

Instead of using that for an excuse to buy a new phone, I reactivated my Galaxy S2. The only thing I miss on the S4 is the IR blaster. The S2 is just over 4 years old, practically new by Mustachian standards, but an outlier for just about everyone else.

[Tyrist]

Droid razr purchased new Feb 2012

[alsoknownasDean]

LG G3 purchased August 2015.

My mum however uses a Nexus S purchased in late 2011. It's probably due for replacement now, but she's still happy with it.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

[2Birds1Stone]

My SO uses a Samsung Galaxy S3 purchased in May of 2012. I replaced the battery for her last year. Still going strong.

4 years & 3 months old.

[marty998]

Have a working Samsung Star purchased in 2008. Can't connect to internet, doesn't know what a smiley is.

Bought a new phone in Jan, but I still answer calls on the old one whenever people still call my old number.

[cerat0n1a]

Mine is from 2006, when it cost £20 and came with £10 of free credit. It does have a colour screen and a 320kilo pixel camera, so was a significant upgrade on my previous phone.

I've spent most of the past 20 years working on silicon chip designs for phones.

[kork]

Mine, an old LG flip phone with a colour screen.  2006.

Wife, second hand iPhone 4 (bought for $50 last year)

[former player]

Nokia 1100, Christmas present from my brother, 2003.  Original sim card still present and correct.  Battery lasts forever.  No reason to change.

[FIREdancer]

Mine is a Nokia from 2005!  It is older than SIM cards!   
Still chugging along though.
I can't bear to get rid of it since it's still working.

That's how I felt, mine was still working so why get rid of it?  But I folded and got a smartphone.  My digital camera was also starting to fail, though, so I sort of saw it as a two for one replacement of my phone and camera.

[MrMoneyAbsent]

I'm using a Nexus 5, bought in October 2013.  I can't be the only one?!  My N5 proudly boasts the following features:

-Giant chunk of glass missing from screen
-Packaging tape covering the exposed circuit board

I am also using a Nexus 5 from 2013; complete with smashed screen and broken charging port. It can only be charged with the inductive wireless charging pad! :D

[Spork]

I would have been in the running a year ago with my Hershey bar phone from 2008.  Alas, it finally took it's last digital breath and I replaced it with a cheap smart phone.  ($100 new/unlocked, so, yeah, cheap.)

[soccerluvof4]

I am still using a Samsung Note something (big phone with a stylus I have never used) not sure of the number or exact name as my wife sets this stuff up but its going on 4 years old. I dont want a new phone so hopefully it lasts another 4 at least but i doubt it.

[Stachey]

I distinctly remember having a conversation with a coworker a year or so ago and I mentioned that I think I have the oldest cell phone in North America.  She looked at me and said in her snootiest voice "That's nothing to brag about."

Oh hell yes it is!

And looking at this thread it looks like I can say I have one of oldest cell phones in the world!  LOL. That would have sent her over the edge.

[GuitarStv]

I've never owned a cell phone.  Five years ago I replaced our corded home phone with cordless ones though.

[TexasRunner]

Galuxy S3 for the win!

So far it looks like Stachey is winning with the 05 Nokia unless I missed someone.

[Cyaphas]

I was going through the shop the other day an came across an old case phone that my father won't get rid of. It plugs into the car charger and had a magnetic antenna to stick on your roof. Next time i'm over there I think I'll fire it up. I'm out of the running. My phone went for swim in the river last month and I had to replace my real estate phone. I now have 2 brand new smartphones... How unmustaschian of me!

I will say, if they brought back something like the original razor... I'd think about going back.

[Travis]

Galuxy S3 for the win!

So far it looks like Stachey is winning with the 05 Nokia unless I missed someone.

Galaxy S3 purchased used in 2012!

[libertarian4321]

I've got a pretty sweet LG/Tracfone pre-paid flip phone.  Probably about 6 years old?

All the cool kids are jealous...

[MoonLiteNite]

I had this bad boy up until a few 6 years ago.... from like 2002-2009


Then i had a blackberry curve for 3 years, and now a samsung galaxy s3, most likely will stay with this for a longggg time

edit: holy crap that is a big picture

[SpareChange]

Nexus 4 bought new in May 2012. The glass back has been cracked since about the 3rd week. Likes to randomly reboot and shut off, and for the last couple of months it has been telling me there is insufficient space for app upgrades. Planning to replace this fall.

[justajane]

Five year old flip phone that cost $15 originally.

[pancakes]

I have an iPhone 4 still.

I'll be looking to replace it soon as I use it for maps a lot and it has started to take a frustratingly long time to open a maps app and the app will crash several times along the way.

I purchased it new just after they were released and put it on a $30 prepaid plan. It was expensive upfront but I think I've got reasonable value out of it over the years. I think I've had it for 6 years now.

I actually have two because my work phone is also an iPhone 4. Although I can use it for personal use, I prefer to keep my work separate, also I will have to hand it back if I resign, go on maternity leave, etc. I had hoped they'd upgrade their devices so I could use it for maps and keep mine but they seem as stubborn as I am about upgrading phones.

[Astatine]

I got my iPhone 4S in May 2012. The battery life is starting to go but I'll keep using it til it's not usable.

[Jeremy E.]

Using for what?

I have an old $10 ca. 1996 Walmart/Tracfone analog-candybar-monochome-dumbphone that I sometimes use as an alarm clock.

Won't hold a charge overnight so I keep it plugged in to the charger.

It will call 911 in a pinch, which your bedside Sony clock-radio won't do.

ETA:  No it won't call 911.  It's an analog phone; the network doesn't even know it exists.

I feel like ETA doesn't mean what I think it means... I always thought it was estimated time of arrival.... If it's something different than that, why would they make something a TLA(three letter acronym) that's already used?

[Jeremy E.]

I have a 1st gen moto X, purchased in mid 2013, it's in horrible condition and i'll need to upgrade soon. Prior to this phone, my last phone was a flip phone that lasted from 2004-2013, it was a high quality phone, all the phones released nowadays are only made to last 2 years sadly.

[205guy]

I feel like ETA doesn't mean what I think it means... I always thought it was estimated time of arrival.... If it's something different than that, why would they make something a TLA(three letter acronym) that's already used?

ETA: edited to add

Three letter acronyms are not unique (how could they be) and so you have to go by context, just like some regular words. Of course, new ones appear all the time, and not everybody can know every one of them. Would've been simpler just to ask what it means in this case.

[yuka]

I should've gotten in on this when the competition was easy. Nexus 6p, November 2015. It's quite a phone, but I should've gotten a 5x. Metal exteriors make no sense for me, as I like keeping my phone naked.

[pbkmaine]

I got my iPhone 4S in May 2012. The battery life is starting to go but I'll keep using it til it's not usable.

I replaced the battery on mine. It was not expensive.

[tthree]

Samsung SIII.  It does everything I need it to do.  Plus I get a "cheap" (for Canada) monthly plan on it.

[JAYSLOL]

iPhone 4s bought in May 2012, replacing the iPhone 4 that died a saltwatery boating accident death.  My current 4s screen has been cracked since march of this year and i refuse to get it fixed because the screen protector is holding it together fine and it works.  I'll replace the phone only when i have to, hopefully in another year or 2. 

[nereo]

I've never owned a cell phone.  Five years ago I replaced our corded home phone with cordless ones though.

How have you adjusted to the change in technology? ;-)

[nereo]

apparently not the oldest in daily use here, but mine is a Samsung Rugby from 2011.
Still works just fine and its still waterproof.

[Davids]

I have the Virgin Mobile ZTE Awe I bought on sale for $20 in May 2014. It is a 3G android phone and I am still on their grandfathered $25/month plan although I average paying about $18.00/month because there is a seller on ebay who sells $45 top up refills for a range from $30 - $35 depending on timing. Not the oldest on this thread but old by most standards outside of MMM.

[Greenway52]

Mine is a Nokia from 2005!  It is older than SIM cards!   
Still chugging along though.
I can't bear to get rid of it since it's still working.

Me too! Mine's a Nokia 1600. What model is yours?

Mine is also one of the few intergenerational phones. The phone first belonged to my father and he gave it me in 2008 when he upgraded.

[GuitarStv]

I've never owned a cell phone.  Five years ago I replaced our corded home phone with cordless ones though.

How have you adjusted to the change in technology? ;-)

The biggest phone tech jump that I've had to deal with was when we moved from our rotary phone to a push button one in the mid 90s.  No longer did I have to fear the multi second delay after dialing a 9!