I wouldn't buy these phones, and neither should you

I’m the Shallow Hal of Android fandom. I wouldn’t touch certain Android phones with a ten-foot pole if they have a specific trait I don’t like.

I’m not talking about smartphones with overwhelmingly negative reviews. In fact, there are a few poorly reviewed products I take a fancy to. I’m referring to smartphones that have one or two deal-breakers, in spite of their positive first impressions. It could be as trivial as a missing feature, or more unforgivable like a substantial price hike. Whichever it may be, I’d rather save my money for something else.

Even though the phones listed below have mostly good reviews in 2026, their deal-breakers are enough to discourage me from making the purchase. I suggest you stay clear of these phones if any of these non-negotiables speak to you, too.

Bloatware: Motorola Moto G Stylus (2026)

What’s not to love about a midrange Android phone with a stylus? This year’s Motorola Moto G Stylus has an active stylus that can do more than last year’s passive pen. It feels less like an afterthought and more like what Samsung did for the Galaxy Note line. That’s where the innovation ends, though. The latest Moto G Stylus surprises me in other ways.

Although it has close to stock Android, the Moto G Stylus is riddled with ads. I don’t like ads, especially when they appear outside of a web browser. In this case, they appear as soon as you open the app drawer. Inside, you’ll find a secondary news feed that’s loaded with bloat. If you start a mobile game to get away from the clutter, you’d be greeted with an overlay showing sponsored titles. This is on top of all the AI-powered software that follows you around the interface. I don’t care if they can be disabled; this shouldn’t happen on a $500 phone.

On the bright side, the Moto G Stylus retains the microSD card slot and 3.5mm audio port. Combined with the stylus, it’s the closest present-day equivalent to the Galaxy Note 9. These legacy features should help us forget about the lackluster software support; the newest Moto G Stylus is limited to only two major OS updates and three years of security patches. That’s right: it ends with Android 18, with security updates until mid-2029. Yikes.

Poor value: Samsung Galaxy A57

Don’t get me wrong, the Samsung Galaxy A57 is a great phone. It’s what midrange smartphones should strive to be in 2026. Its build quality and gorgeous display put a lot of flagship phones to shame. It’s also a shame that it’s priced so similarly to higher-end phones. One look at Samsung’s lineup proves how close the Galaxy A57’s price is to the Galaxy S series’s.

The Galaxy S25 FE, for example, can be bought for close to the Galaxy A57’s retail price of $550. The Galaxy S25 FE has a substantially faster chipset, its own telephoto lens, and wireless charging. Add Samsung’s DeX capabilities, and you get a solid deal for $100 more. That’s without discounts, though. The Galaxy S25 FE is a year old now, making it easier to find at a discount. The Galaxy S26 FE has launched, too, which may bring down the previous model’s sale-day prices even lower.

Another thing to note is their promised software updates. The Galaxy A57 has six years of OS upgrades and security patches compared to the Galaxy S25 FE’s seven years. That means their software support ends at the same time. This nullifies the Galaxy A57’s fresher start. Chances are Samsung will also update the Galaxy S25 FE sooner in 2032. Year after year, Samsung’s top Galaxy A phone flies way too close to the Galaxy S lineup’s orbit.

Too pricey: Sony Xperia 1 VIII

I’m glad Sony’s Xperia line is still around. I honestly thought it would be discontinued along with HTC and LG’s Android phones. More competition is always good, and Sony still knows how to crank out a premium phone to stir the flagship pot. So, what gives with the Xperia 1 VIII aside from its awful naming scheme?

On the surface, the Xperia 1 VIII looks like an all-around great. Heck, having a microSD card slot and headphone jack in a flagship smartphone is enough to turn heads. The Xperia 1 VIII instead falls flat everywhere else. It’s not particularly great at any aspect, and yet it costs over $1,500. With only four years of Android updates, it’s a tough sell.

For comparison, there are various, more capable Android flagships available for less than that. The top-rated Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Google Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max all start at $1,300. I’d pick any of these over the Xperia 1 VIII in a heartbeat. If I were to spend $1,500 on an Android phone, it better fold. The Xperia 1 VIII is a truly niche product for a niche market.

Minuscule upgrade: Google Pixel 10a

Didn’t expect this one, did you? The Pixel 10a received a glowing review from us and is constantly mentioned as an ideal alternative in several of our phone reviews. What I can’t stomach is the Pixel 10a’s recent price hike. It’s no longer a good deal at its new price range, and I’m back to recommending the Pixel 9a instead or waiting for the Pixel 11a.

For reference, the Pixel 9a has the same processor as the Pixel 10a’s, and the upcoming Pixel 11a is expected to use the Tensor G6. That’s two generations newer than the Pixel 9a and 10a’s aging chipset. In other words, the Pixel 9a is much cheaper with similar performance, and the Pixel 11a will likely be significantly more powerful.

Going from $500 to $600 also brings the Pixel 10a dangerously close to discounted flagship territory, without being notably better than the Pixel 9a. Back when we first reviewed the Pixel 10a, its pricing in relation to the minuscule upgrades over the previous model seemed justified. The Pixel 10a is at least $100 too expensive now. We all have to wait for year-end sales to bring the Pixel 10a back to its original retail price.

Full of compromises: Nothing Phone 4b

I’m holding on to a Nothing Phone 1 as my daily driver. Not because it’s a perfect phone, but because I haven’t found the right upgrade at the right price, yet. As much as I’d love to stick to the Nothing brand, nothing has caught my attention. The Nothing Phone 3’s design doesn’t appeal to me, and the company’s midrange phones generally have a poor price-to-performance ratio.

The biggest bummer, however, is the Nothing Phone 4b. For some odd reason, units sold outside of India come with a smaller battery. And despite its all-plastic build, it lacks the semi-modularity found in more affordable CMF Phone models. The Nothing Phone 4b is the awkward middle child, sandwiched between the more attractive Nothing Phone 4a and better-valued CMF Phone 2 Pro.

The Nothing Phone 4b is in such a compromised spot. The B-series is somehow cheaper than the budget-friendly A-series, while retaining the premium Nothing branding to set itself apart from the entry-level CMF sub-brand. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere. I know I will.

Not for me, but might be for you

I want to give a quick shoutout to the iPhone 17e. I have no plans of switching over to the Apple ecosystem, but if I do, it wouldn’t be because of the latest budget iPhone. Its 60Hz screen refresh rate and single rear camera are letdowns in 2026. What’s the point in having a flagship-grade processor in the A19 when it powers a half-hearted display and camera?

On the flip side, I understand why people would pick the iPhone 17e or the abovementioned Android phones. They have mostly positive reviews and a corresponding target market. I’m just not a part of any of them. Call my deal-breakers trivial, but they’re enough to steer me away from these products.