What phone has a whistle ringtone?

Whistle ringtones have been a popular choice for mobile phone users for many years. Though basic ringtones were common on early mobile phones starting in the 1980s, the history of the whistle ringtone can be traced back specifically to 2002 when Nokia first introduced the tune on their Nokia 8210 phone model. The simple yet catchy melody quickly became one of the most widely used ringtones, and various versions of the whistle ringtone continue to remain popular worldwide across many phone brands.

The appeal of the whistle ringtone is its simplicity, memorability, and ability to stand out from other ringtones. Though modern smartphones allow users to set any song or audio file as a custom ringtone, the classic whistle ringtone remains nostalgic for many. This article will explore the origins and evolution of the iconic whistle ringtone over the past two decades.

Nokia Phones

Nokia phones are widely associated with whistle ringtones. Several popular Nokia models in the 1990s and early 2000s came preloaded with a whistle ringtone or allowed users to download a whistle ringtone. The simple and catchy whistle ringtone became a signature sound of Nokia phones during their heyday.

Classic Nokia models like the Nokia 3310 and Nokia 5110 featured the whistle ringtone by default. Other popular Nokia phones that commonly had whistle ringtones preinstalled or available for download include the Nokia 3210, Nokia 3330, Nokia 6010, Nokia 5510, Nokia 6610, and Nokia 8210.

The popularity of the whistle ringtone among Nokia phones stems from the early GSM models of the 1990s. The simple monophonic whistle tune was well-suited for early mobile ringtones. As polyphonic ringtones became standard in the 2000s, the whistle ringtone remained a nostalgic staple of the brand.

Samsung Phones

The Samsung whistle is one of the most iconic ringtones associated with Samsung mobile devices. Many Samsung Galaxy and Note models have come preloaded with a whistle ringtone or allow users to download it from Samsung’s content store.

The original whistle ringtone first appeared on the Samsung Galaxy S2 phone released in 2011. This version featured a six-note melody of a whistle that became a signature sound for Samsung devices for many years. The whistle gained huge popularity as a default ringtone and notification alert.

Later Galaxy models like the S3, S4, and S5 also included the whistle ringtone. In 2016, an updated whistle remix ringtone was introduced on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. This new version added electronic music elements while retaining the original six-note whistle melody.

Other Samsung phones that have come preloaded with a whistle ringtone or bell-like melody include the Galaxy Note series, A series, J series, and Core models. The whistle is frequently used across Samsung’s mid-range and flagship devices as an iconic brand sound.

While the whistle ringtone has changed slightly over the years, it remains one of the sounds most closely associated with Samsung mobile products. Millions of Samsung users instantly recognize the whistle ringtone as signifying a Samsung phone.

You can download the Samsung whistle ringtone for your Android or iOS device to get that iconic Samsung sound.

LG Phones

Several LG smartphone models, especially older models, came with a distinctive whistle ringtone. The whistle ringtone, sometimes called the “LG breeze ringtone”, became popular and recognizable as an LG brand ringtone starting in the early 2010s.

Some of the LG phone models that had the whistle ringtone preloaded or available for download include:

• LG Optimus L7 II (released 2013) – came preloaded with the “LG Whistle” ringtone
• LG Optimus L9 II (released 2013)
• LG Optimus F3 (released 2013)
• LG Lucid 2 (released 2013)
• LG Optimus F7 (released 2013)
• LG Optimus F5 (released 2013)

The whistle ringtone could be downloaded on some carrier versions of other 2013 LG models like the LG Optimus G Pro. It was also available as a downloadable ringtone on many older LG smartphone models. The ringtone was sometimes packaged together with other “LG Ringtones” on the Google Play store.

According to https://www.iphonetune.com/lg-ringtones/, the whistle ringtone remains popular and many people search for “LG whistle ringtone” or “LG breeze ringtone” to download the ringtone to non-LG devices. It’s recognizable as an LG brand ringtone and brings back nostalgia for some previous LG phone owners.

Apple iPhones

Apple iPhones have included a number of built-in ringtones over the years, but whistle ringtones have generally not been included. However, there are a few exceptions.

In 2008, the iPhone 3G came preloaded with a whistle ringtone called “Opening” that sounded like a referee’s whistle blowing (Iphone Whistle Ringtone). This simple, shrill ringtone stood out from other ringtones and became somewhat iconic among iPhone users at the time.

Additionally, iPhone users can download third-party whistle ringtones from sites like Phoneky to customize their ringtone selection. For example, Phoneky offers a ringtone called “Iphone Whistle” that can be downloaded and added to any iPhone (Iphone Whistle iPhone Ringtone).

So while built-in whistle ringtones have been rare for iPhones, users have always had the ability to download whistle ringtones to customize their experience. The “Opening” whistle ringtone on the iPhone 3G is perhaps the most well-known official whistle ringtone associated with Apple iPhones.

Android Phones

Android phones from various manufacturers like Samsung, LG, and others often come preloaded with a whistle ringtone or allow users to download whistle ringtones. The whistle ringtone became especially popular after being used in TikTok videos.

Yes, Android users can download whistle ringtones to set as their default ringtone, notification tone, or alarm tone. There are a few ways to get whistle ringtones on Android phones:

• Download an MP3 whistle ringtone file from a website like https://naghma.me/en/phone/1033/Samsung-Whistle and then set it as your ringtone through your phone’s settings.
• Use an app like Zedge to browse and download free whistle ringtones to your Android phone.
• Remix your own whistle ringtone using audio editing software and upload the MP3 file to your Android phone.

Other Smartphones

Some newer smartphone brands like OnePlus, Tecno and Vivo have also introduced whistle ringtones on their devices. OnePlus’s OxygenOS 11 update brought a new whistle notification tone that became quite popular.[1] Tecno’s WizUser interface has a whistle ringtone users can set for notifications.[2] Vivo phones running FuntouchOS allow users to download and set a whistle ringtone.[3]

These emerging smartphone brands seem to be taking cues from Samsung and LG in including fun ringtones like the whistle to differentiate. As Samsung’s whistle ringtone first gained popularity on the Galaxy S III, other brands have followed suit with their own versions to appeal to users.

The whistle ringtone strikes a balance between professional and playful, which is why many brands opt for this familiar tune for their smartphone notifications and ringtones. It provides a friendly accompaniment to notifications without being overly silly or abrasive.

[1] https://www.oneplus.com/oxygenos11
[2] https://www.tecno-mobile.com/tz/home/
[3] https://www.vivo.com/en/smartphone/funtouchos

Origins

The whistle ringtone first became popular in 2010 when Samsung launched it as the default ringtone on their Galaxy S1 smartphone. According to The Guardian, the ringtone is based on a Samsung theme song called “Over the Horizon” composed by Namyang Cho. Samsung likely chose the upbeat, catchy whistle as a way to brand their devices.

Whistling in songs was already common by 2010, with artists like Minnie Riperton and Mariah Carey using whistle registers in their vocals. But having an actual whistling ringtone preloaded on millions of Samsung phones brought the melodic sound directly into public spaces in a whole new way.

The simple, repetitive nature of the ringtone melody makes it attention-grabbing and recognizable. As Samsung phones proliferated, the whistle ringtone quickly became iconic and sometimes annoying, as people heard it ringing frequently in public places. But its catchiness and association with Samsung established it as a hugely popular ringtone.

Decline

Whistle ringtones declined in popularity for a few key reasons. Some sources suggest it was partially due to the shift in pop music trends. As this article points out, modern pop songs often don’t have very whistlable melodies anymore. So there were fewer catchy pop hits that people wanted to set as their custom ringtone.

Another factor was the rise in mobile phone usage and accessibility. As one Reddit discussion noted, as more people started carrying cell phones at all times, there was less novelty around personalized ringtones. The whistle ringtone specifically declined as general ringtone customization became less common.

Lastly, improvements in mobile technology allowed for more ringtone options beyond just whistles. As smartphones emerged, people had access to a wider variety of sounds, songs, and customization for ringtones. So the classic whistle ringtone became less popular among the many newer options available.

Conclusion

In summary, over the years several popular phone models and brands have become known for their signature whistle ringtones. The Nokia tune from Nokia phones was an early iconic whistle ringtone starting in the 1990s. More recently, Samsung’s default whistle ringtone introduced in 2010 has also become a widely recognized sound associated with Samsung Galaxy and other Samsung phones.

While the Nokia and Samsung whistles are perhaps the most famous, other brands like LG and Apple have also had whistle ringtones pre-loaded on models over the years. Even some Android phones have included whistle sounds as default ringtones or notifications. Though phone ringtones today are often customized, the whistle sound remains a nostalgic and iconic part of smartphone history.