Sooner: the first Android phone

In December 2007, through the website GizmodoA curious photo was presented to the world: that of first Android phone. This is the Sooner, prototype manufactured by HTC, the same one that would launch the HTC Dream for the premiere of Google OSLet's learn more about him now.

A brief history of Android.

The history of Android It begins long before 2007, in the distant year of 2003, when Andrew E. Rubin He founded the company of the same name. There, he and his team joined forces to develop a mobile operating system that ended up attracting the attention of... Google, leading her to buy it in 2005 in order to begin a transformation aimed at leading and democratizing the OS for use on various mobile phones. 

The arrival on the market of first version of Android 1.0 next to your main cell phone HTC Dream ( T-Mobile G1The launch of the new version of the phone (as it was also known) took place on October 22, 2008—one month after the release of the OS source code to the public (September 23, 2008). The launch held new features, but also some secrets, mainly regarding the previous version of the phone that was used for testing and was never released to the public: the HTC Soonerwhich we will detail in this article.

To learn more about the origins and evolution of Google OS, access the our article with the history of Android full details at this link, including a timeline with each version of the system (from Android 1.0 to 16) and its respective flagship smartphone.

Sooner, the first Android prototype

Still in the testing phase of what would become the first Android phoneAn engineering prototype device was built, whose configurations formed the First physical view of an Android device., moving beyond the realm of ideas that existed until then. He was also the first to envision Andy Le Sauce and Google about what it would be like first Android phone, setting the course for its launch.

Regarding the appearance of Soonerwe can notice similarities with BlackBerry, emphasizing the idea that he followed the trends of his time (with the later appearance of HTC Dream approaching iPhoneIts robust design, with dedicated buttons for calls and navigation, makes up the look of the device that was never commercially released.

O Sooner (also cited as HTC EXCA 300, an already existing device, according Steven Troughton-Smith) also had a variant in white color It consisted of four backlit buttons below the (non-touch) screen, as well as a full QWERTY keyboard with raised, rounded keys. On the back, there is a slot for a removable battery and SIM card, while the bottom contains a mini-USB port. The right side houses a volume button and the left a button and a slot for a mini-SD card.

Inside the device, we have the processor. IT OMAP850, 64 MB of RAM with 960mAh battery and connection GPRS (2G networks) without Wi-Fi access. Its LCD screen has a resolution 320 x 240 pixels and it has a rear camera without a flash of 1.3 megapixels. 

Regarding the OS that ran on HTC SoonerIt had many similarities to the final version of Android 1.0Among its features are: startup animation, initial lock screen, top status bar (showing the clock, battery status and signal), quick app launcher (including Calendar, Camera, Browser, Gmail, Maps, Notes, etc.), a bar indicating the open app, and more.

So many qualities of Sooner They made them crucial to the development of Android, which would become available to the general public through Android 1.0, released on October 22, 2008.

So, what did you think about learning more about it? HTC Sooner and the beginnings of first Android phone? Write to us in the comments!

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Text revised by Alexandre Marques in 02 / 03 / 2026.

Sources: Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Android Central, 9to5Google 1 | 2.