Smartphones originated from conceptual devices in the 1970s that combined telephony and computing capabilities. The term "smartphone" was first used in 1997 to describe Ericsson's Penelope concept. Smartphones have advanced computing abilities and connectivity compared to basic phones, running operating systems like Android, iOS, Windows Phone etc. They contain components like processors, memory, displays, and sensors. While smartphones provide many useful functions, their manufacture and disposal can negatively impact the environment due to mining for rare earth metals and improper e-waste disposal releasing toxic chemicals. Social factors also influence smartphone usage patterns.