Thread by @tyags6

My addiction for gadgets started in 2001, when my dad bought me the first home computer (assembled) where I got to choose chipset, graphics card, ram, HD type and size, the cabinet cooling, etc. But it really exploded with mobile phones. Here's a short history:

2003, Third year of undergrad

Nokia 3100 (sponsored by dad)

Had this exact one below. Glowing keypad, color screen, polyphonic ringtones. I was in love. Even back then, I was going for 'premium'

2005, Software grunt at CTS. My own salary for the first time.

N-Gage QD (a few months salary wiped out)

A gaming phone looking like that. A 22 year old me wasn't going to say no.

Between 2005 - 07 I did my MBA. Honestly, I have zero recollection of what phone I owned in that era. This period is like a black hole in that area.

2007, Consultant grunt at Deloitte, return back to phone form

Nokia N95.
Bought from a store in a mall. INR 45K. Debit card meant 3% extra. So, I ran to withdraw cash. Had Nike and Wipro (from MBA school) help out with withdrawals of their own. Like looking for a fix.

And the N95
A flip phone with a large screen. Carl Zeiss, it said on the camera in the back. It was a beast then and I simply had to have it.

2008, still with Deloitte and having sadly lost the N95

Nokia E71

Perhaps I was overcompensating for the Ngage. Or perhaps, I wanted to write a lot of emails from Phone. Either way, Nokia E71 was a beautiful phone (dainty perhaps) and I loved its aesthetics.

2011, Job change. Decided that I'd had enough of shunting between US and India. Moved to Bangalore from Hyderabad. And then got a job in this interesting company called Flipkart.

HTC Desire S, My Smartphone and Android era began

2012, Flipkart, Employee liquidation sale

Samsung Galaxy S3

I was in love with this hardware. Premium, sleek and amazing screen.Then I used the software. In 6 months, it got so laggy and horrible. I vowed to never buy a Samsung phone again (and I haven't)

2014, Moved on from FK to Amazon
OnePlus One
The most epic of the smarphones I've owned. When it launched on Amazon, I found the narrative around design and paying attention to customer experience enticing. Then the price. That Sandstone finish. Beautiful minimal Android based OS

2016, Left Amazon to head Chalkstreet a year back

OnePlus 3

Nope, not settling. That Dash Charge, phew!

2017, Transition year. After a year writing for the fantastic FactorDaily, I was back with Amazon.

Google Pixel 2, Bought on Flipkart (sorry Amazon)

I've not been sentimental about any phone as much as Pixel 2. The most usable phone I've ever owned. And the camera 🔥🔥🔥🔥

2019, A new phone. Another transition? Who knows.

OnePlus 7T, Third OnePlus phone I've bought. Nokia was the only brand I was this loyal to. Too early to tell about the phone. But I love the 90hz screen and Warp charge 30T.