Android Smartphone Epic Fails of 2022
The top 10 lists of the best Android smartphones are really a dime a dozen because let’s be honest, we’ve all heard of the best smartphones for Android users… But which have made it to the least-coveted list of worst?
Which are the ones you should avoid spending a dime on at all costs? While it’s true we live in an age where a smartphone is considered practically useless after a few good years (we’re talking 3-4 years, at best!), it doesn’t deny the fact that our phones are like an extended limb.
Irrespective of whether we use our phone for work emails, or keeping in touch with family and friends both near and far – our phones shape our lives. And let’s be honest – as much as we’re always glued to our devices – we use our phones even to chill out when we decide to check out some of the newest and best online casinos launched in New Zealand.
So here goes, our list of the least favorite android smartphones, or, in other words, phones you should avoid considering – let alone buying!
Samsung S21 FE 5G
Samsung’s Fan Edition line of phones are designed to be exactly that – made for the fans! However, this latest release, the S21 FE, doesn’t measure up to the same standard as the previous iteration of the smartphone, the S20 FE.
Sure, the 21FE comes with 5G, which is great for internet speeds (in certain areas) but it also has some serious shortcomings. One of the major ones is doing away with the traditional headphone jack in favor of a single USB-C connection port. This means, if you want to use traditional headphones, you’ll have to fork out extra for a converter cable. Another massive shortcoming is in its battery life. While Samsung themselves may put out some impressive battery life figures, the reality is a little less exciting. If you’re a power user, then you’ll definitely run out of juice before the day’s up. Boo!
Samsung Galaxy S22
Uh-oh! Another Samsung phone on our list! The Samsung S22 is the company’s flagship phone, and in the past, previous models have been high-performing crowd-pleasers. Not so for the S22 – among a certain subset of users.
Many users have noted very poor performance and battery life with what should be a first-class phone. Some have even reported only getting approximately 2-3 hours battery life from their phone! Unfortunately, this seems to be due to the quality assurance within targets for the chips used – Qualcomm and Exynos. This is honestly likely due to faulty/ineffective chips that have managed to slip through the cracks. If you find this in your own phone, make sure you take it back to the place that sold it to you.
Google Pixel 6
When it comes to its line of products, Google doesn’t always get it right. Their ecosphere is littered with abandoned projects and product flops and, among many users, the Google Pixel 6 is just another one to add to the list.
Google’s line of smartphones continues to cause a huge buzz on every release, but they’re often a huge disappointment to consumers – like the Pixel 6, which can come with plenty of issues. So, just what’s the problem with this phone?
Firstly, there are a lot of caveats for Google to store your data. The Bluetooth connection for audio means that the volume is very low and the quality isn’t great, which can be a real hassle both for calls and for playing music, videos, and games. The fingerprint scanner doesn’t do its job properly a lot of the time. And on top of that, the cellular reception is known to suck. Not good.
Xiaomi 13 Pro
Xiaomi 13 Pro is a phone that is a part of the company’s flagship lineup and it features a lot of high-end specs. It is a budget-friendly smartphone that still manages to pack a punch. The phone has a 6.39-inch OLED display, a Snapdragon 855 processor, and 6GB of RAM. If you’re looking for a capable phone that won’t break the bank, the Xiaomi 13 Pro Price in Pakistan is low which is definitely worth considering. It also has 128GB of storage, a microSD card slot, and a 4000mAh battery. But, Xiaomi 13 Pro is just a successor to the 12 Pro and has nothing special specs which make it unique.
How to avoid purchasing a bad smartphone
As this list can show to you, just because a phone is produced by a reputable brand, has a high price tag, and can demonstrate that previous versions of the phone were awesome, doesn’t mean that the producer can’t make mistakes.
Buying a new-release phone in general always means taking a risk. There are ways to combat this, though.
Don’t buy a phone very close to its release date
Waiting a few months after the release of a smartphone will allow the flaws in it to become apparent – which people will be happy to elaborate on in online reviews. These will be reviews from actual users and not just people who’ve tried the phone out for a magazine review.
Do side-by-side comparisons
A particular phone you’re looking at might seem great, but unless you’ve made side-by-side comparisons with competitors, you won’t know whether you’re missing out on a great camera, overpaying, or looking at a poor multi-tasker.
Be wary of the brand
Don’t want Google collecting all your data? Might be best to avoid a Google phone. Want to be able to purchase any peripheries you want? An Apple phone locks you into their line of products. Concerned about China? You might consider giving Huawei a miss!
As you can see, choosing the right smartphone isn’t as easy a feat as you might have thought. There’s a lot that goes into it, and you want to make sure that whichever phone you’re investing in is one that won’t make you want to kick yourself because you failed to do the proper research.