In 2025, the smartphone world is dominated by AI-powered features. But before AI took center stage, phone manufacturers were in full experimentation mode—stuffing their devices with the wildest features imaginable. Some of these were genuinely ahead of their time, while others left people scratching their heads.
Here’s a nostalgic look at the 10 most bizarre and bold features ever crammed into a smartphone.
LG has always pushed boundaries, but the 2019 LG G8 ThinQ took it to a sci-fi level. It introduced Hand ID, which scanned the unique vein patterns in your palm using an infrared Z Camera. Yes, it literally read the blood flow in your hand to unlock the phone.
Alongside it came Air Motion gestures, allowing users to wave their hands in the air to control music, take calls, or adjust volume—without touching the screen. Cool in theory, but laggy in real-world use.
Could this work today with better AI and sensors? Maybe—but only if it doesn’t make you look like you’re casting spells in public.
2. YotaPhone: Dual Screens, One Flop
The YotaPhone series came with an innovative second E-Ink screen on the back for reading and notifications. On paper, it sounded like a productivity dream. In reality, it was underpowered and poorly supported by apps.
Though the YotaPhone 3 was its last model, the idea lives on in niche devices like the Hisense A5. And honestly, a flip phone with a low-power E-Ink cover display in 2025? That could still be a win.
3. Vertu Phones: A Concierge Button for Billionaires
Luxury smartphone maker Vertu made headlines with its jaw-dropping price tags and materials—think sapphire glass and gold accents. But its most unique feature was a concierge button that connected you to a 24/7 real-life assistant for booking flights, ordering caviar, or getting concert tickets.
It was more status symbol than necessity. But with AI concierges like Google Gemini and ChatGPT improving rapidly, this once-outrageous feature might become mainstream—digitally, of course.
4. Samsung Galaxy Beam: Projector in Your Pocket
Launched in 2012, the Galaxy Beam dared to do what no other phone did—a built-in projector capable of casting a 50-inch image onto a wall.
Perfect for impromptu movie nights or presentations, but it came at a cost—battery life took a big hit, and the projector wasn’t bright enough for all environments.
Still, the idea lives on in rugged phones like the Unihertz Tank 2, and perhaps an entertainment-focused smartphone with a modern projector isn’t such a bad idea after all.
5. LG Wing 5G: The Swiveling Screen Phone
Just before LG exited the smartphone market, it dropped one last bold idea—the LG Wing. Its main screen could swivel horizontally to reveal a smaller second display underneath, forming a “T” shape.
It was quirky, fun, and somewhat functional—but the lack of app support and bulky form factor held it back. As foldables gain popularity, maybe this swivel concept was simply ahead of its time.
6. RED Hydrogen One: Holograms That Hurt Your Eyes
Camera giant RED attempted a smartphone in 2018—and missed the mark badly. The Hydrogen One promised a glasses-free holographic “4V” display.
Instead of revolutionizing the market, it delivered a grainy, headache-inducing 3D effect that felt more like a gimmick. Add a bulky design and a $1,000+ price tag, and you had a recipe for failure.
7. HTC Evo 3D & LG Optimus 3D: The 3D Craze That Didn’t Last
Back when 3D TVs were hot, smartphone makers also joined the trend. The HTC Evo 3D and LG Optimus 3D both featured glasses-free 3D displays and could shoot 3D photos and videos.
The result? Low-resolution displays, awkward viewing angles, and barely any 3D content to enjoy. It faded fast—just like the 3D TV craze it tried to ride.
8. Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom: A Camera With a Phone Attached
Samsung once fused a point-and-shoot camera with a smartphone, birthing the Galaxy S4 Zoom. It had a massive 10x optical zoom lens that looked like a camera glued to a phone.
While image quality was impressive for its time, the bulkiness made daily use awkward. Samsung refined the concept in the Galaxy K Zoom, but ultimately abandoned it.
Fast forward to today, and slim phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra now offer 10x zoom using sleek periscope lenses. The vision survived—just in a more refined form.
9. PANTONE 107SH: The Radiation-Detecting Smartphone
In a post-Fukushima world, Japan’s SoftBank released the PANTONE 107SH, which came with a built-in radiation sensor.
A niche feature? Absolutely. Useful? Possibly—for those living in affected zones. For the rest of us, it was more novelty than necessity. Still, it foreshadowed today’s wave of environmental and health sensors in phones and wearables.
10. Amazon Fire Phone: A 3D Interface No One Wanted
Amazon’s 2014 Fire Phone tried to revolutionize UI with Dynamic Perspective—a pseudo-3D interface that tracked your head movement using four front-facing cameras.
It was unique but disorienting. App support was poor, and the overall experience felt more gimmicky than useful. The phone failed commercially, and Amazon hasn’t launched another smartphone since.
Could These Weird Features Return?
Some of these features were clearly ahead of their time—others were just plain weird. But what once seemed gimmicky is sometimes reimagined successfully later.
Look at foldables: Once mocked, now mainstream with phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Pixel Fold, and OnePlus Open leading the charge. Or the progress in camera hardware—Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Oppo Find X8 Ultra, and Vivo X200 Ultra are pushing mobile photography into DSLR territory with huge sensors and optical lens kits.
In fact, Vivo’s upcoming X200 Ultra will support an external zoom lens, co-developed with Zeiss, for pro-level photography on a smartphone.
Final Thoughts: Innovation Needs Risk
These strange smartphones remind us that not every idea has to succeed to matter. Sometimes, innovation looks weird before it becomes practical. While most of the features listed here didn’t last, they helped shape the evolution of today’s mobile tech landscape.
And who knows? In a few years, we might be reminiscing about foldables, AR glasses, or even brain-controlled UIs the same way.
I am Priyanshu Raj I have a great interest in technology and I am associated with smartphones, gadgets and latest technology from last many years and few months ago I thought to share this technology value with you people too, so I started a blog website named TechTrendsPool.com where I keep bringing news and reviews related to technology every day.
