The 10 most failed mobile phones of 2024

2024 is going to be a pretty good year for smartphones. Apple finally adopted RCS to give Android users a more modern text messaging service, Google released a pocket-sized Pixel phone with a pro-grade camera, and Samsung became the second brand to commit to updates for up to seven years.
Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Here are the biggest phone flops and flops of 2024, including some that aren’t quite phone-related.
What is the worst failure of 2024?
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1. The popularity of artificial intelligence devices

Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
Technically, it’s not a smartphone, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t highlight the popularity of AI gadgets in early 2024, as several startups launch standalone AI devices. The two most famous works in this regard are Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin.
The former is a pocket-sized AI gadget with a large action model that effectively promises to be a butler who can perform app actions on your behalf. Unfortunately, the device and platform were plagued by major security issues at launch and were missing many features to begin with. The Humane AI Pin isn’t much better, as the shirt-wearing gizmo takes your input and outputs answers via a mini-projector or audio. Reviews condemned the product as unfinished and the projector itself was useless outdoors. Ouch.
Both products were disappointingly lackluster and limited in functionality at launch, but critics also pointed out that the Rabbit R1 could and perhaps should have been an app. Regardless, smartphone brands and chip manufacturers are touting this proxy approach as the next big thing.
2. Apple and Google’s terrible AI ads
Apple jumped on the artificial intelligence train this year with its Apple Intelligence feature suite, trying to catch up with Android rivals in this field through features such as writing help and notification summaries. Unfortunately, the company has been criticized for a dystopian, tone-deaf ad that emphasized Apple’s intelligence. The film shows children surprising a father with birthday gifts while his wife silently realizes she forgot both his birthday and the gift. Don’t worry, she’ll soon be creating an AI-created slideshow of memories on her iPhone. Seriously.
Apple isn’t the only brand whose artificial intelligence advertising has failed to hit the mark. A controversial Google ad depicts a father asking a Gemini to help his daughter write a letter to a famous Olympic athlete. Do you really want a heartfelt letter from someone, generated by artificial intelligence? Isn’t it a parent’s job to help your children in times like these? Next, OpenAI teaches kids how to ride a bike?
In 2024, Google will also face more embarrassments related to artificial intelligence. But hey, at least these companies are launching generative AI features quickly to appease investors, right?
3. Google’s multiple cuts to Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority
We called the Pixel 9 Pro Fold Google’s most impressive foldable phone yet and gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars. This is mainly due to the thin and light design, huge display and constant updates. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find some significant downgrades compared to the standard Pixel 9 Pro series.
Perhaps the most notable issue is that the $1,800 foldable phone has significantly inferior camera hardware compared to Google’s traditional phones. It’s a frustrating situation for a foldable device, but not a surprise. Unfortunately, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s wired and wireless charging speeds are also extremely slow, maxing out at 21W and 7.5W respectively. Even the $800 Pixel 9 has higher wattage. Is there a Pixel stand? Well, this charging accessory is not supported on foldable devices.
Add in some missing video enhancements (8K, ultra-high-resolution zoom video), and it’s clear that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold doesn’t actually compare to other Pixel 9 Pro phones, as its name suggests. It’s still a great foldable phone, but it’s not a Pro device.
4. Samsung’s hostile repair methods

Lanh Nguyen / Android Authority
The vast majority of smartphones are difficult to repair, and Samsung devices are no exception. Unfortunately, 2024 revealed that the Galaxy manufacturer has done something nefarious in this regard.
The first major controversy came in May, when DIY repair platform iFixit announced it was ending its partnership with Samsung. This means it will no longer be the Korean brand’s official third-party tool and parts distributor. The platform noted that Samsung does not take DIY repairs seriously and cited various issues. These include high parts prices, a lack of parts for new phones and Samsung’s refusal to let iFixit help local repair shops.
These crude restoration practices didn’t end there. Independent repair shops must inform Samsung if they find parts in a customer’s Galaxy phone that do not come from Samsung. The stores are also required to disassemble customers’ phones if they contain parts not from the Galaxy manufacturer. That says a lot when the latest iPhones are easier to repair. Maybe Samsung should copy Apple (again).
5. OSOM’s chaotic demise

OSOM was born from the ashes of Essential a few years ago. The upstart brand initially launched the Solana Saga phone and then released a so-called privacy cable for data transfer and charging. But word came in August that the company was actually closing.
It’s not unheard of for smartphone companies to fail. In fact, Royole and Bullitt Group are the other two brands to close Decline in 2024. First class tickets and more. Either way, this is another DNF for Keats (sorry).
6. T-Mobile’s price-lock controversy

Edgar Cervantes/Android Authority
One of the biggest flops in 2024 is T-Mobile’s price lock controversy. The company offers what’s called a Price Lock Guarantee, and you’d naturally think that means you’d pay the same price for the duration of the contract, right? This is how price locking works elsewhere.
Unfortunately, this just means that if you choose to leave due to a price increase, the carrier will pay for your last month of service. If it wasn’t called “Price Lock,” it would be a pretty good offer. The U.S. National Advertising Department eventually asked the company to stop or modify the price lock statement. I really have a hard time believing that at least someone at T-Mobile didn’t speak out about this misleading name in the first place.
7. Galaxy Z Fold special edition is on sale in limited quantities

Samsung released the Galaxy Z Fold 6 back in July, but it had few changes compared to the Z Fold 5. Other than that, the phone is virtually unchanged from the older model.
Want a more radical upgrade? That’s where the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition comes in, with a more smartphone-like cover display, a larger foldable screen, a 200MP main camera, more RAM, faster Wi-Fi, and a slimmer design. However, the latter comes at the expense of S Pen support.
Nonetheless, we’re very disappointed with the limited release of the special edition model. The device was only launched in South Korea but is available in China as Samsung W25. It’s a shame Samsung isn’t bringing this phone to more markets, especially when Chinese rivals have largely continued to offer more compelling hardware.
8. Verizon Pixel Vulnerability

Robert Triggs/Android Authority
Pixel 8
Bloatware is always a concern, but Google Pixel phones on Verizon come with an annoying third-party app pre-installed. Security firm iVerify has discovered a major security flaw in the Showcase APK on Verizon Pixels. This vulnerability opens the door to man-in-the-middle attacks, spyware installation, and more. This requires the user’s password and physical access to the device, but is still a risk.
The third-party app was used to promote demo mode on Pixel phones in the Verizon store and was eventually removed from Pixel devices as part of the September 2024 update. Google also insists it has seen no evidence that the flaw is being actively exploited, while adding that Pixel 9 phones don’t ship with the app at all.
9. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro quality control issues

Ryan Haines / Android Authority
This isn’t a definite smartphone failure again, but rather the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro launching alongside Samsung’s 2024 foldable phones. Some promotions are also pairing the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with these earbuds.
You might expect $250 wireless headphones to have excellent build quality, but that’s not the case here. Many Galaxy Buds 3 Pro users have reported that the earbuds are flimsy and tear easily when trying to remove them, while others have reported strange production issues like uneven seams, different heights, dust and dirt on newer models. Residues etc. No wonder Samsung temporarily pulled them to fix these quality control issues.
10.MKBHD Wallpaper App

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
Popular YouTuber Marques “MKBHD” Brownlee launched a wallpaper app called “Panels” in September. While the wallpaper app itself isn’t an issue, many viewers are unhappy with the pricing structure.
The panel initially has free and subscription-based tiers. The free plan offers SD resolution wallpapers after watching ads, while the paid plan offers HD wallpapers for $12 per month or $50 per year. Critics objected to the SD limit of the free plan, but also lamented the expensive subscription fee, which is especially disappointing when subscriptions are ubiquitous and growing. It doesn’t help that the app has some questionable permissions.
The good news is that Brownlee seems to have solved most of the problems, while also offering an ad-free plan for $2 per month. Users can also pay to purchase wallpaper collections from individual artists, or opt for the existing $12-per-month/$50-per-year plan to unlock all content. Still don’t want to pay for wallpaper? Then, you can always check out our free Wednesday Wallpapers collection, which features contributions from readers and Android Authority team.
That’s it for our list of phone glitches and failures in 2024.