The 6 Worst Smartphones of the Last 10 Years | Biggest Tech Failures

Over the past decade, the smartphone market has witnessed remarkable advancements, with companies competing to deliver the best technologies and features to users. However, not all releases were successful. Some phones failed miserably due to design flaws, performance issues, or even poor marketing decisions. In this article, we will explore the 6 worst smartphones of the last 10 years, which turned from ambitious projects into technological disasters you need to know about!

The 6 Biggest Smartphone Failures of the Last Decade | Devices That Flopped Badly

In the world of smartphones, we witness innovations and technologies every year that reshape how we use mobile devices. However, not every phone achieves the success that companies aspire to. Sometimes, technical flaws, poor marketing decisions, or even bizarre designs turn certain devices into complete disasters.

The 6 Worst Smartphones of the Last 10 Years | Biggest Tech Failures

In this report, we will take a look at the six biggest smartphone failures of the last decade: phones that were supposed to revolutionize the market but ended in total failure. Whether due to battery issues, software bugs, or impractical ideas from the start, these devices serve as cautionary tales. Stay with us until the end, as some of these phones might surprise you!

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 7

The phone that exploded! When Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 7 in 2016, everyone was excited about this flagship device, which featured powerful specifications, a stunning display, and the iconic S Pen. However, this excitement didn’t last long, as the phone quickly went from being the best smartphone of 2016 to one of the biggest technological disasters in smartphone history.

After a short period of being on the market, reports started pouring in about the phone exploding and catching fire during charging or even regular use. It was later found that the problem was in the battery, where a design flaw caused short circuits, leading to the phone overheating and exploding.

After multiple incidents were recorded, Samsung was forced to recall all sold devices and launch a modified version. However, the problem did not end there, as reports of burning phones continued even after the fix, which led the company to completely stop production and recall the phone from global markets.

Samsung lost approximately $17 billion due to this scandal, which severely damaged the reputation of the Note series for a long time. The company was forced to enhance safety tests for all its future smartphones.

2. Amazon Fire Phone (2014)

In 2014, Amazon, the e-commerce giant, decided to enter the smartphone market with great ambition. The goal was clear: to deliver a unique device capable of competing with industry giants like Apple and Samsung. Thus, the Fire Phone was born as a device that Jeff Bezos and his team believed would revolutionize the market. Instead, it became one of the biggest failures in smartphone history.

When Amazon unveiled the Fire Phone, it was clear that the company wanted to introduce something different. The phone wasn’t just another smart device; it was packed with unique features, the most notable being Dynamic Perspective, a technology that used four front-facing cameras to track head movements, allowing users to navigate the interface by simply tilting their heads.

A great idea on paper, but not practical in reality. Additionally, the phone integrated the Firefly feature, which allowed users to scan and identify products for instant purchase from Amazon. It seemed as though the phone was designed to be more of a portable shopping tool rather than a device that met users' everyday needs.

As soon as the phone hit the market, issues began piling up. The first major problem was its high price of $649 unlocked, a price very close to the iPhone but without offering a similar experience. Performance wasn’t impressive, and the battery was mediocre.

• Additionally, the operating system was based on a modified version of Android without Google services, making the user experience extremely limited.

• However, the biggest downfall was the lack of apps Amazon’s app store simply couldn’t compete with Google Play, making the phone unappealing to users.

• On top of that, the uninspired design failed to bring anything new, making the device feel unfinished from the very beginning.

• Just a few months after its launch, it became clear that the Fire Phone was heading toward disaster. Sales were terrible, and reviews were brutally negative. Even Amazon realized the scale of the problem, slashing the phone’s price from $199 to just 99 cents with a contract in a desperate attempt to save it.

• But the damage was already done. By late 2015, Amazon pulled the phone from the market and shut down the project entirely, suffering an estimated loss of $170 million.

3. LG G5 (2016)

• In 2016, LG took a bold step in the smartphone industry—one that aimed to change the game but instead ended in an unforgettable failure.

• The LG G5 wasn’t just another smartphone; it was a completely different vision for the future of mobile devices. 

• The phone was built around a modular design, allowing users to easily swap out components like the battery and camera and even add accessories to enhance performance.

When LG unveiled the G5 at MWC 2016, its revolutionary concept turned heads. Imagine a smartphone where you could detach the bottom and add modular components to enhance the user experience; it seemed like the future of smartphones. For a brief moment, the LG G5 stole the spotlight from its competitors. But soon, the problems began to emerge.

• The main issue with the modular design was its poor execution. Instead of offering a smooth and effortless swapping experience, users found the process complicated and impractical. 

• Removing the battery and attaching accessories took longer than expected, making the entire concept frustrating.

• Additionally, the number of modular accessories was very limited, failing to attract most users.

• One of the biggest criticisms of the LG G5 was its build quality. While competitors like Samsung and Apple were launching premium metal and glass designs, the G5 featured a metal body covered with a plastic coating. This gave the phone a cheap feel compared to its rivals.

• Even worse, this coating scratched easily, causing the device to lose its premium look within a short period of use.

• The design wasn’t the only problem; the performance was also disappointing. Despite featuring the powerful Snapdragon 820 processor, the user experience wasn’t as smooth as expected, mainly due to software issues.

• Additionally, the removable battery, which was supposed to be an advantage, delivered poor performance compared to competitors, further worsening the situation.

• In the end, the LG G5 was a bold experiment but came at the wrong time. The modular phone concept was not mature enough, and the user experience fell short of the company’s promises.

• Instead of marking the beginning of a new era, the G5 became a turning point in LG’s decline in the smartphone market, eventually leading to the company’s complete exit from the industry in 2021.

4. Essential Phone 2017

In 2017, a new name emerged in the world of smartphones, promising to change the game. That was the Essential Phone, a device from Essential, the company founded by Andy Rubin, one of the masterminds behind the Android system. Everyone expected this phone to be a new revolution, coming from someone who knew the system inside out, but what happened was the complete opposite.

When the Essential Phone was announced, it seemed like the phone of the future. Its design was extremely elegant, featuring a titanium and ceramic body—something uncommon at the time. Most importantly, it was one of the first phones to adopt the small notch in the screen before this feature became a standard in modern smartphones. The device was equipped with powerful specifications, yet it failed to survive in the competitive market.

On paper, the phone seemed perfect—a nearly bezel-less screen, Snapdragon 835 processor, dual camera, and a premium design. However, once it reached users, problems began to emerge. The camera’s performance was disastrous, producing dull and poor-quality images compared to competitors. Users also faced issues with screen responsiveness, making the overall experience less smooth.

There was no 3.5mm headphone jack, which was not common at the time, frustrating many users. Most importantly, the company failed to provide sufficient software support and updates, making the phone feel like an abandoned project from the start.

Despite a price reduction shortly after its launch, the phone failed to achieve any significant success. It couldn’t convince users and wasn’t a true competitor against industry giants like Samsung and Apple. With low sales, Essential began facing massive financial difficulties, ultimately leading to the company shutting down completely in 2020—just three years after releasing its first and only phone.

5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 1 (2019)

• In 2019, Samsung announced a bold step that was set to change the shape of smartphones forever.

• The Galaxy Fold, the company's first foldable phone, is meant to represent the future of mobile devices. 

• The world eagerly awaited this moment, and the concept seemed incredible.

• a phone with a large foldable screen that could instantly transform from a regular smartphone into a small tablet. However, what happened next was completely unexpected.

As the first units were sent out to tech reviewers, the excitement began to fade little by little. Reports quickly emerged indicating that the foldable screen suffered from serious issues, with some devices breaking or developing bulges just days after use. 

Worse still, some users removed the protective layer on the screen, assuming it was a regular screen protector, only to discover that it was an essential part of the screen’s structure—leading to complete device failure.

• This was a major blow to Samsung’s reputation. After massive marketing campaigns and promotional efforts claiming that the phone was a leap into the future, the company found itself forced to delay the official launch and recall all units distributed to reviewers. 

• Samsung began working on solutions, redesigning certain elements such as reinforcing the hinge and adding clear warnings to users about removing the protective layer.

In September 2019, Samsung re-released the phone after making design improvements. However, despite these changes, the device still suffered from some issues and wasn’t practical for many users, especially given its steep price, which exceeded $2,000.

6. iPhone 12 Mini (2020)

When Apple announced the iPhone 12 Mini in 2020, the idea was clear: to offer a flagship iPhone experience in a compact size for fans of smaller phones. The device featured an elegant design, a stunning OLED display, and the powerful A14 Bionic chip used across the entire iPhone 12 lineup. Apple was responding to users who had complained about the increasing size of modern smartphones. However, what happened next was unexpected.

At first, the iPhone 12 Mini was met with enthusiasm, especially from those who preferred small and lightweight phones. However, a problem soon emerged that wasn’t immediately apparent—battery life. The compact size of the phone meant a smaller battery.

Despite Apple’s efficient processor, it wasn’t enough to offset power consumption. Users began complaining that the phone barely lasted a full day, especially when using demanding apps like games or video streaming. In a world where battery life is a crucial factor in choosing a new phone, this became a major setback.

Although Apple did not officially declare the device a failure, the numbers were clear. The iPhone 12 Mini was by far the lowest-selling model in the iPhone 12 series, with significantly less demand compared to larger models like the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro.

• Multiple reports confirmed that Apple decided to drastically reduce its production just a few months after its launch, signaling that the phone did not meet expectations.

• In an unsurprising move, the company ultimately discontinued its production after just one year and attempted the concept one last time with the iPhone 13 Mini, which later met the same fate.