14 most iconic wallpapers that debuted with new phones
It used to be that smartphones had a stronger sense of personality. In the beginning, it wasn’t just the hardware that left an impression: the default wallpaper was a defining feature you’d see during the launch event and in every ad that followed. Here are some of the most iconic smartphone wallpapers of all time, in no particular order.
Clownfish
The Clownfish wallpaper debuted when Steve Jobs announced the original iPhone at MacWorld 2007. It is a vibrant image of two orange clownfish contrasting with the green anemone surrounding them.
The wallpaper was also used extensively in marketing materials for the iPhone, but here’s a Mandela effect for you: the Clownfish wallpaper was never available with the first iPhone, nor was it a wallpaper. The original iPhone hardware didn’t support wallpapers as we know them today; instead it was a lock screen.
If you wanted the Clownfish wallpaper on your first iPhone, you’ll have to download and set it up yourself. Technically speaking, the Clownfish wallpaper first appeared on iPhone with iOS 16’s “Collections” wallpapers, which are an homage to old-school designs.
Earth
The original iPhone came with a lock screen image of our beautiful Earth rather than clown fish. To be more specific, this is an image of the Western Hemisphere with lots of clouds against a pitch-black background that is definitely not space. Also called Blue Marble, this image was created by a data visualization engineer named Robert Simmon, who based it on NASA photos.
Oddly enough, Apple removed the Blue Marble wallpaper option in iOS 6. It later returned with the release of iOS 11 in 2017.
Dandelion
Dandelion wallpaper debuted with the Samsung Galaxy S3. In my opinion, this is the most iconic Samsung wallpaper of all time, thanks in large part to the phone it appeared on. The Galaxy S3 marked a significant change in Android smartphones, as the new version of the TouchWiz user interface offered a much cleaner and Frutiger Aero-esque software experience compared to its predecessors.
The S3’s sleek, rounded corners, combined with the then-massive 4.8-inch screen, were perfectly complemented by the soft, elegant close-up of a dandelion and a pale blue sky.
Nexus Live Wallpaper
You know a wallpaper has made an impact when its third-party app version has over 5 million downloads. This live wallpaper first appeared on the Nexus One, Google’s first Nexus phone, manufactured by HTC. What makes this wallpaper stand out are the animated cubes in Google colors that resemble a neural network. More cubes would appear when you touch the screen.
The original version debuted with Android 2.1, when support for live wallpapers was added, but there is also a second, less popular version of this wallpaper that appeared in Android 2.3-4.4.4.
Raindrops
Much like Dandelion, Rain Drops was iconic because of the phone it first appeared on, the iPhone 4. At the time of its release, the iPhone 4 was one of the thinnest and best-looking phones, featuring a stainless steel band sandwiched between two sheets of glass, similar to modern iPhones.
The simple colors and wallpaper design perfectly complement the phone’s design, allowing colorful apps to take center stage. Remember, smartphones were still a new and intimidating device for the average consumer, so it was important to make the learning curve as simple as possible.
Pink Top
To be honest with you, the only reason I’m writing this article is to share my all-time favorite wallpaper. It’s an old paper, but I still use a full size version of this wallpaper in my wallpapers folder on my PC.
This beautiful wallpaper first appeared on the Nexus 5, a Google smartphone manufactured by LG. This is a photograph of the snow-capped summit of Lone Pine Peak, California, against a backdrop of an impressive pink sky. Interestingly, a similar photo of the summit was used a few years later as the default wallpaper for macOS Sierra.
Colorful planets
This live wallpaper debuted with the iPhone XS, so it is the newest version on this list. It’s actually part of a collection of similar live wallpapers. These appear to be colored oils trapped in a petri dish, meant to resemble a planet that moves to create all kinds of crazy patterns when you touch the screen.
Of course, Colorful Planets wallpapers are also reminiscent of the original iPhone’s Earth wallpaper. Their exaggerated colors, interactive movements, and dark backgrounds helped define the iPhone
Never settle
OnePlus is a brand known for its motto “never settle,” which means the company will never give up on innovating and figuring out how to make the user experience the best possible. I like to think that this means you shouldn’t settle for a lower-quality smartphone, even if you’re not willing to spend a lot. The OnePlus One was the first high-profile “flagship killer”, whose motto was a pixelated red background, one of many such wallpapers released by OnePlus over the years.
Beach
Back in 2017, Apple had a bunch of cool nature-inspired wallpapers on its devices. Perhaps none are as iconic as the iOS 11 beach wallpaper. It’s elegant, simple, and beautiful.
As previously mentioned, iOS 11 also served to reintroduce classic iOS wallpapers like Earth. This was a good release for wallpaper fanatics and iOS fans.
Balloons
The Samsung Galaxy S4’s Balloons background shares a similar Frutiger Aero-esque style to the S3’s Dandelion. However, it’s much more lively, thanks to the child gracefully holding a bunch of colorful balloons. The S4 was one of the first smartphones with a 1080p display, so this photo was a great way to show off the sharpness.
Milky Way
The Milky Way first appeared in iOS 8 on one of the most important iPhones, the iPhone 6. It is a beautiful image of our galaxy that perfectly complements the elegant aluminum unibody chassis, especially in the Space Gray variant.
The photo also has an interesting origin story. Espen Haagensen, the person who took the photo, didn’t know Apple was going to use it for the iPhone 6 when signing the deal. It’s also worth mentioning that the original photograph contained a small cabin, which Apple removed to avoid unnecessary distraction, as the sky was fascinating enough on its own.
Nebula
Before the Milky Way, we had the Nebula on iOS 7. Unlike the Milky Way photo, this one doesn’t feature hills or other distractions, but instead features a stunning blue gradient.
Red and blue smoke
The LG G3 was one of the first smartphones with a 1440p display, so choosing the right wallpaper to accompany it was a big task at LG headquarters. I think LG couldn’t have done a better job. The swirling red and blue smoke is filled with small details that highlight the sharpness of the new screen while giving the phone a fresh and visually pleasing look.
White Feather
The white feather is to the Galaxy Note 2 what the dandelion is to the Galaxy S3, except it’s even better. Feathers, or more precisely quills, were traditionally used as pens. The Galaxy Note line is well known for its “S Pen” stylus, so that’s what the nib symbolizes. With the stylus, users could write, draw and interact with their screens. I had a slightly different use case on my Note 2, since I was using it to play video games in class without attracting the teacher’s attention.
Wallpapers may seem trivial or uninteresting, but they are an essential part of smartphone design. Many of the wallpapers on this list are now considered a defining part of the devices they debuted on. It’s similar to how the Bliss wallpaper instantly reminds people of Windows XP: these elements make a serious impression.
If you want a little nostalgia but can’t decide which iOS wallpaper you like best, you can automatically cycle through them all. You can also consider changing your wallpaper every day depending on your mood or an important event. It’s a simple and effective way to personalize your phone in just a few seconds!
