There are various boxes to be ticked when choosing the best smartphone. Our phones are so much part of our lives that they may as well be considered an extra limb!
Whether for work correspondences, keeping in touch with friends and family, or even leisurely activities like checking out exclusive bonuses at a hot new online casino – choosing the right device is super important.
But, this is not your average, run-of-the-mill list – no sir-Rey! Instead of recommending the best smartphones, we’ve decided to flip the script and advise you which devices to steer clear of.
If you’re reading this article on one of the smartphones mentioned, I hope you make it to the end!
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
Now, here me out. Samsung has come a long way since its food processing, textile, and insurance days to be one of the leading brands in the electronics industry. Samsung does incredible products; some are so light that it’s dangerous. Maybe this is something I need to bring up at therapy because I just can’t move on from Samsung’s arson in our pockets.
In 2016 the Galaxy Note 7 went to the market and exploded- in sales and literally. The phones were released too early, overheating the battery, causing the phone to catch fire. Without too much convincing ( I think), Samsung withdrew the new phone from the market pretty soon after the disaster.
Huawei
Speaking of trust issues… Huawei’s smartphones don’t explode or have any technological problems- in fact, they’re extremely popular. But, the company has been accused of everything from industrial theft to espionage (with no evidence).
Without going into too much detail on the ‘Huawei ban’, since 2019, the smartphone has been affected by the ongoing battle with the United States government, causing drastic modifications to its software applications and business practices.
It’s also the uncertainty of Huawei products. We look for longevity in our phones now, so making a long-term commitment with Huawei can feel risky.
BlackBerry Passport
BlackBerry stans will go to their graves arguing that they are the best smartphones. Heck, their tombstones could even be the BlackBerry Passport; it’s that large!
Imagine today’s generation lugging around a 5-inch square in their pockets and subtly trying to whip it out to film a dispute on the street? Maybe that’s why it was a flop. Its design, functionality, and price didn’t fit into 2014 smartphone standards or expectations- unless you fancy yourself a corporate mogul and only use it for business.
The Passport was considered the widest phone ever, yet surprisingly showed low-quality performing videos and apps as it wasn’t running on Android OS.
Plus, you basically had to use both hands to use it 🙌.
RED Hydrogen One
There was a lot of hype when esteemed camera manufacturer, RED, launched their smartphone Hydrogen One. Naturally, we had high hopes for high res – but instead, we got an intriguing yet complicated 3D holographic display.
Was it supposed to transform camera phones into a revolutionary 3D holographic format, blueprinting RED as a pioneer in the shift of all of our Instagram pictures? Maybe, but instead, users said the technology made them feel dizzy and that the images looked more like gimmicky cut-outs.
The phone itself was huge and bulky with sensitive side buttons that could lead to pocket calling your mum 10 times at 1 am.
They were looking through the trippy holographic camera lens when they thought paying 1600 euros would be reasonable.
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Samsung showed us their cards and folded them with this smartphone.
After just a day or two of receiving the Galaxy Fold, people reported that their screens broke and the flexible OLED panels had bulges. Samsung didn’t openly warn consumers that the phone’s ‘polymer layer’ is built-in and isn’t to be removed.
Unfortunately, users who peeled this faux screen protector and ruined their displays flocked to Twitter to warn others of their experiences.
Users also mentioned that it felt like you have two phones lumped together but with an air gap collecting dust because it doesn’t fold flat.
Samsung folded under pressure and removed the phone from the market.
Special mention to the worst smartphone that didn’t make it out alive…
Energizer Power Max P18K
When we said we wanted longer-lasting charge in our smartphones, Energizer really heard us. Courtesy of a prototype at Mobile World Congress in 2019, Avenir Telecom asked the world to support their brick with a screen for $1.2 million.
The Power Max could have been a power-full (pun intended) phone that delivered 90 hours of call time, two days of video playback, and 50 days of standby.
