smartphone

American  

[smahrt-fohn] / ˈsmɑrtˌfoʊn /

Or smart phone

noun

1. a device that combines a cell phone with a handheld computer, typically offering internet access, data storage, email capability, etc.

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smartphone British  

/ ˈsmɑːtˌfəʊn /

noun

1. computing a mobile telephone with computer features that may enable it to interact with computerized systems, send e-mails, and access the web

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Etymology

Origin of smartphone

First recorded in 1995–2000

Compare meaning

How does smartphone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cell phone vs. smartphone

Example Sentences

More families are installing home phones to stave off smartphone use.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Only about 20% of smartphone owners currently use an AI assistant.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

In particular, the supply crunch for memory chips has weakened the smartphone market, which could limit the company’s short-term growth, Morgan Stanley argued.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

As Apple expands into the budget computer market, the company is also looking to seize share from its smartphone competitors during a period of memory crunch.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

And 2006 was an important year for the mobile phone because of the growth of smartphone devices.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel