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

Xiaomi’s 1Q revenue likely fell 13% on year to 97 billion yuan, with smartphone sales likely down 14%, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Xiaomi lost its position from the top 5 vendors in China, with analysts noting Xiaomi strategically lowered its low-margin smartphone shipment to protect profitability amid higher memory prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Meanwhile, overall smartphone shipments are expected to decline this year due to memory-chip shortages, a factor behind Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon’s recent downgrade of Qualcomm’s stock.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

Qualcomm’s stock surged due to reports of a smartphone collaboration with OpenAI.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

You need to use have only if you’re talking about two different times in the past: Until last year, Whiskers was the only cat to have googled on his own smartphone.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner