Smartphone predecessors, for short NYT Crossword Clue

By Last Update: AUG 16, 2026 Follow on Google

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Clue History: Smartphone predecessors, for short

Complete History & Past Answers

Answer Letters Puzzle
Answer PDAS
Letters 4
Puzzle NYT Crossword - August 16 2026
Answer PDAS
Letters 4
Puzzle NYT Crossword - June 26 2026
Answer PDAS
Letters 4
Puzzle WSJ Crossword - October 21 2025
questions

Frequently Asked Questions About This Clue

The most common and recent 4-letter answer for "Smartphone predecessors, for short" is PDAS.
The clue refers to devices that came before smartphones and were used for personal management tasks. 'For short' indicates that the answer is an abbreviation, and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) were the handheld devices that served as digital organizers before smartphones became prevalent.
PDAs are handheld devices that functioned as personal organizers, popular before the widespread use of smartphones.
BlackBerrys, e.g., for short, Smartphone predecessors, in brief, PalmPilots, e.g., for short, Smartphone precursors, for short
NYT Crossword - August 16 2026 - NYT Crossword - June 26 2026

4-letter answer to Smartphone predecessors, for short in NYT Crossword August 16 2026 is PDAS

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The clue tells you the shape of the answer

  • An abbreviated answer gets signalled in the clue, either by an abbreviation, an “Abbr.” tag, or a phrase like “for short” or “briefly.”
  • A question mark at the end means wordplay, not a definition.
  • Quotation marks usually mean somebody says it out loud, unless the clue names a title.
  • Square brackets usually mean the answer is a sound or a gesture rather than words.
  • Tense, number and degree always agree.

The day of the week is a difficulty setting

Monday is nearly literal. Puns arrive Wednesday. Thursday is the trick day, where rebus squares hold several letters in one box. Friday and Saturday are almost always themeless and wide open, with Saturday the hardest of the week.

Sunday confuses people. At 21×21 it’s nearly twice the area of a weekday grid, but it’s edited to roughly Wednesday or Thursday difficulty. Long isn’t the same as hard.