DynaTAC
A DynaTAC 8000X, the first commercially available handheld mobile phone from 1984 | |
| Manufacturer | Motorola |
|---|---|
| First released | March 6, 1983 |
| Availability by region | April 1984 (wide availability) |
| Discontinued | 1994 |
| Successor | MicroTAC |
| Compatible networks | Advanced Mobile Phone System or GSM on Ameritech |
| Form factor | Brick |
| Dimensions | 10 in (250 mm) Height |
| Weight | 2.5 lb (1.1 kg) |
| Charging | 10 Hours |
| Display | LED or vacuum fluorescent display |
| Data inputs | Push-button |
| Made in | U.S. |
The DynaTAC is a series of cellular telephones manufactured by Motorola from 1983 to 1994. Unveiled on March 6, 1983, the DynaTAC was the first commercially available handheld cellular phone. A full charge took roughly 10 hours, and it offered 30 minutes of talk time. It also offered a LED display for dialing or recall of one of 30 phone numbers. It was priced at US$3,995 in 1984, its commercial release year, equivalent to $12,091 in 2024.
Several models followed, starting in 1985 with the 8000s and continuing with periodic updates of increasing frequency until 1993's Classic II. The DynaTAC was replaced in most roles by the much smaller MicroTAC when it was first introduced in 1989, and by the time of the StarTAC's release in 1996, it was obsolete.