Facebook Phone: The Facebook Button Phones of 2011 and What to Use Now

Back in 2011, phone makers thought the next big thing was a Facebook phone: a smartphone with its own dedicated Facebook button that shared your photos, videos and status updates in one press. Here is what those Facebook button phones were, what happened to them, and the simplest way to get one-tap Facebook on any phone in 2026.

Quick answer: Facebook phones such as the HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa (2011) had a hardware Facebook button for one-touch sharing. They are long discontinued, and so is the later HTC First with Facebook Home. Today you don’t need a special phone: install the Facebook app or Facebook Lite on any Android phone or iPhone, put it on your home screen, and share from any app with the built-in share menu.

What was a Facebook phone?

In August 2011 I wrote about a new trend: modern mobile phones were shipping with a Facebook button that connected your Facebook account and let you share in one touch.

HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa

The HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa were Android smartphones with a dedicated Facebook button. If you snapped a photo or recorded a video, you could post it to Facebook with one button press. The button even glowed to nudge you to share.

The ChaCha also came with Facebook widgets: a clock with a ticker of your Facebook updates, a calendar widget that remembered your friends’ birthdays and events, and a Friend Stream widget to follow your favourite friends. You can still watch the launch videos: HTC ChaCha first look (external site) and HTC Salsa first look (external site).

Vodafone 555 Blue

Vodafone was also quick to launch the Vodafone 555 Blue, a phone with a dedicated Facebook button. It promised access to your Facebook account in one click, with no separate app or login every time, so you could update your status and check your news feed and messages.

What happened to Facebook button phones?

The dedicated button did not catch on. Smartphones moved to touchscreen apps, and the Facebook app itself became the one-tap way in, on every phone, without special hardware.

Facebook tried again in 2013 with Facebook Home and the HTC First, a phone whose whole home screen was built around Facebook. It was much bigger than a single button, but it did not last either. None of these Facebook phones are sold today.

How to get a one-tap Facebook phone experience in 2026

Any current smartphone can do what the Facebook button did, and more:

• Facebook app (external site): install it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and keep it on your home screen or dock for one-tap access.
• Facebook Lite: a smaller, lighter version for older phones and slow connections. See how to download Facebook Lite.
• Share menu: in your camera or gallery app, tap Share and choose Facebook to post a photo or video, just like the old button did.
• Widgets and shortcuts: on Android you can add app widgets and shortcuts to the home screen, and on iPhone you can add widgets, so your most-used apps are always one tap away.

Do you need a special phone for Facebook?

No. Facebook works on any Android phone or iPhone, and in any modern mobile web browser. Choose a phone for its camera, battery and software updates, not for a social media button.

FAQ

Which phones had a Facebook button?

The best known were the HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa from 2011, and the Vodafone 555 Blue. All are long discontinued.

What was the HTC First Facebook phone?

The HTC First (2013) came with Facebook Home preinstalled, a launcher that put Facebook on the home screen and lock screen. It was short-lived.

Can I still buy a Facebook phone?

Not new. Instead, install the Facebook or Facebook Lite app on any current smartphone.

How do I share photos to Facebook in one tap?

Open the photo in your gallery or camera app, tap Share, and pick Facebook from the list.