[evanelias]

Indeed Apple did not invent the concept of the smartphone. But by all accounts the first iPhone was absolutely considered a smartphone, based on its superior hardware, advanced operating system, and fully-functional web browser.

You seem to be equating "smartphone" with "has third party apps", but that isn't the defining characteristic of "smartphone" based on any common usage.

Besides, when the iOS App Store was launched ~1 year later, the original iPhone was able to use it.

[squiffsquiff]

I had a Nokia n95 at the time. It also had superior hardware and a fully functional web browser. Yes the iPhone was attractive at the time but not initially a smartphone and certainly not the first

[evanelias]

I did not say iPhone was the first, I said the opposite. And again, your definition which equates "smartphone" with "has an app store" simply differs from widespread usage of the term.

Both the n95 and original iPhone were widely considered to be smartphones at the time! Examples:

https://www.engadget.com/2006-09-26-nokias-n95-smartphone-go...

https://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/05/iphone-with-28-of-u-s-s...