7 smartphone traits I want would die in 2026

[ad_1] <img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="eager" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Samsung Galaxy S25 in hand in Navy colorway" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-in-hand-in-Navy-colorway.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-in-hand-in-Navy-colorway-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-in-hand-in-Navy-colorway-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-in-hand-in-Navy-colorway-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-in-hand-in-Navy-colorway-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-in-hand-in-Navy-colorway-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-in-hand-in-Navy-colorway-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-in-hand-in-Navy-colorway-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Samsung Galaxy S25 in hand in Navy colorway" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-in-hand-in-Navy-colorway.jpg"/> C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

On the entire, 2025 was a reasonably good 12 months for Android telephones. Some manufacturers stepped up with extra respectable replace insurance policies, quite a lot of producers now supply telephones with completely gigantic batteries, and top-end units have a loopy quantity of horsepower.

It’s not all sunshine and roses, although, as we additionally noticed numerous disappointing practices throughout the trade in 2025. So listed here are the smartphone traits that I don’t need to see return in 2026.

What smartphone development would you prefer to die in 2026? 284 votes

Proprietary chargers for optimum speeds

12%

Extremely-thin telephones

16%

Peak speeds over sustained efficiency

6%

Beauty/dummy digital camera lenses

12%

Quick replace insurance policies for affordable telephones

13%

AI as a smokescreen for few {hardware} upgrades

30%

Nice telephones getting restricted releases

7%

Different (depart a remark)

3%

1. Proscribing quick charging to proprietary protocols

<img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="xiaomi 13 pro with charger" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/xiaomi-13-pro-with-charger.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/xiaomi-13-pro-with-charger-1918w-1080h.jpg 1918w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/xiaomi-13-pro-with-charger-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/xiaomi-13-pro-with-charger-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/xiaomi-13-pro-with-charger-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/xiaomi-13-pro-with-charger-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/xiaomi-13-pro-with-charger-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/xiaomi-13-pro-with-charger-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/xiaomi-13-pro-with-charger-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="xiaomi 13 pro with charger" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/xiaomi-13-pro-with-charger.jpg"/> Ryan Haines / Android Authority

I used to be amazed by 40W wired charging again in 2018 once I purchased my HUAWEI Mate 20 Professional, and I initially dismissed criticism that the telephone charged extraordinarily slowly through USB-PD. Quick-forward to 2025, although, and I’m downright irritated when any telephone doesn’t assist super-fast charging through the user-friendly USB-PPS protocol. So I actually hope we don’t see crappy speeds through this protocol in 2026.

The excellent news is that extra manufacturers have just lately joined Google and Samsung in embracing quick charging through PPS. Telephones just like the Xiaomi 17 sequence and POCO F8 Extremely truly supply 100W speeds through PPS. Even units just like the OPPO Discover X9 Professional and realme GT8 Professional supply as much as 55W speeds through these plugs. Sadly, the OnePlus 15 reportedly tops out at 36W through PPS, however 80 or 120W through the SuperVOOC adapter. However, issues are positively transferring in the precise course, but it surely’s time for a couple of stragglers to catch up.

2. Extremely-thin telephones

<img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge thickness" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-Edge-thickness.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-Edge-thickness-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-Edge-thickness-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-Edge-thickness-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-Edge-thickness-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-Edge-thickness-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-Edge-thickness-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-Edge-thickness-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge thickness" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-Edge-thickness.jpg"/> Ryan Haines / Android Authority

I don’t recall anybody asking for super-thin telephones final 12 months, however Samsung and Apple each launched slim units anyway. We noticed the 5.8mm Galaxy S25 Edge again in Could, whereas the 5.6mm iPhone Air was unveiled in September.

Apple and Samsung made main sacrifices to their digital camera {hardware}, battery capability, and different areas to supply these skinny and light-weight designs. Is it, subsequently, any shock that each of those handsets had been reportedly business flops? Evidently, I actually don’t need to see extra ultra-thin telephones in 2026. If something, I’d a lot fairly see extra small telephones.

3. Peak speeds over sustained efficiency

<img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Realme GT7 Pro specs page edited" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Realme-GT7-Pro-specs-page-edited.jpg 2560w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Realme-GT7-Pro-specs-page-edited-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Realme-GT7-Pro-specs-page-edited-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Realme-GT7-Pro-specs-page-edited-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Realme-GT7-Pro-specs-page-edited-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Realme-GT7-Pro-specs-page-edited-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Realme-GT7-Pro-specs-page-edited-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Realme-GT7-Pro-specs-page-edited-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Realme-GT7-Pro-specs-page-edited-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Realme GT7 Pro specs page edited" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Realme-GT7-Pro-specs-page-edited.jpg"/> Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

One main development we seen with a number of Snapdragon 8 Elite telephones is that they prioritize peak speeds over sustained efficiency. This implies we get telephones that excel at one-off artificial benchmarks however completely battle to keep up that efficiency in stress exams attributable to excessive temperatures. This has real-world penalties when taking part in demanding cell video games and bleeding-edge emulation.

Don’t need to miss the perfect from Android Authority?

<img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge light@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge light@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png"/><img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge dark@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge dark@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png"/> Sadly, it tentatively seems like producers are persevering with this observe with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 telephones. We seen poor sustained efficiency in telephones just like the OnePlus 15 and realme GT8 Professional. OnePlus has fortunately addressed this drawback with a subsequent replace, however I actually hope this isn’t an indication of issues to come back from different flagship Android telephones in 2026. Hey smartphone makers, it’s okay to prioritize stability and a cool gadget as an alternative of making an attempt to beat the iPhone for an inexpensive PR win.

4. Beauty digital camera lenses

<img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Motorola Moto G Stylus 2025 cameras close" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Motorola-Moto-G-Stylus-2025-cameras-close.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Motorola-Moto-G-Stylus-2025-cameras-close-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Motorola-Moto-G-Stylus-2025-cameras-close-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Motorola-Moto-G-Stylus-2025-cameras-close-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Motorola-Moto-G-Stylus-2025-cameras-close-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Motorola-Moto-G-Stylus-2025-cameras-close-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Motorola-Moto-G-Stylus-2025-cameras-close-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Motorola-Moto-G-Stylus-2025-cameras-close-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Motorola Moto G Stylus 2025 cameras close" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Motorola-Moto-G-Stylus-2025-cameras-close.jpg"/> Ryan Haines / Android Authority

The observe of including dummy digital camera lenses to smartphone digital camera bumps has been occurring for years, however I nonetheless discover it ridiculously annoying and downright silly in 2025. There’s merely no solution to justify it, because it appears to be a concerted effort to mislead prospects into pondering a telephone has extra cameras than it actually does.

Price range telephones from manufacturers like OPPO, Xiaomi/POCO, Motorola, and realme are regularly essentially the most high-profile offenders right here. In any occasion, it’s excessive time that these firms cease with this frankly silly strategy to smartphone design. I can settle for a flash positioned in one in every of these digital camera cutouts, however not a dummy digital camera lens that serves no actual objective.

5. Quick replace insurance policies for affordable telephones

<img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Motorola Moto G 5G 2025 home screen" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Motorola-Moto-G-5G-2025-home-screen.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Motorola-Moto-G-5G-2025-home-screen-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Motorola-Moto-G-5G-2025-home-screen-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Motorola-Moto-G-5G-2025-home-screen-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Motorola-Moto-G-5G-2025-home-screen-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Motorola-Moto-G-5G-2025-home-screen-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Motorola-Moto-G-5G-2025-home-screen-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Motorola-Moto-G-5G-2025-home-screen-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Motorola Moto G 5G 2025 home screen" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Motorola-Moto-G-5G-2025-home-screen.jpg"/> Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Replace insurance policies for high-end telephones have come a great distance within the final 5 years. It’s not unusual for flagship units to get 5, six, and even seven years of Android OS and safety upgrades. Sadly, many low cost telephones nonetheless lag far behind with extraordinarily brief replace guarantees.

Motorola is probably the worst offender, as units just like the Moto G Stylus 2025 solely supply two main Android upgrades and three years of safety patches. Equally priced telephones from manufacturers like realme, HONOR, and Xiaomi are additionally disappointing. It’s not all unhealthy, although. For instance, the $200 Samsung Galaxy A16 5G will get a powerful six years of Android OS upgrades. However this dedication is an exception fairly than the rule in 2025.

In any occasion, I hope brief replace pledges are a factor of the previous throughout the board in 2026. I’m not anticipating seven years of updates for $200 or $300 telephones, however 5 - 6 years would nonetheless be a significant improve.

6. AI as a smokescreen for no {hardware} upgrades

<img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Samsung Galaxy S25 series home screens" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-series-home-screens.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-series-home-screens-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-series-home-screens-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-series-home-screens-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-series-home-screens-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-series-home-screens-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-series-home-screens-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-series-home-screens-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Samsung Galaxy S25 series home screens" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Samsung-Galaxy-S25-series-home-screens.jpg"/> C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

Whether or not it’s picture technology, audio transcriptions, or summarization smarts, it looks as if no Android telephone launch is full with out point out of its generative AI capabilities. Sadly, we’ve additionally seen a development through the years of generative AI getting used to cover an absence of {hardware} upgrades.

Samsung is probably essentially the most distinguished, if solely, instance of this unwelcome development. The Galaxy S25 sequence solely actually provided a brand new processor, so the corporate selected to focus on new Galaxy AI options like Now Temporary, Sticker Era, and pure language search. This fashion, it didn’t have to deal with the truth that it’s been utilizing the identical digital camera sensors and batteries for years now.

I actually want the Galaxy S26 telephones would buck this development and ship some main {hardware} upgrades. Nevertheless, leaks usually level to extra of the identical in 2026.

7. Restricted releases of telephones we truly need

<img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="oppo find x8 ultra camera 1" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/oppo-find-x8-ultra-camera-1.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/oppo-find-x8-ultra-camera-1-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/oppo-find-x8-ultra-camera-1-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/oppo-find-x8-ultra-camera-1-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/oppo-find-x8-ultra-camera-1-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/oppo-find-x8-ultra-camera-1-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/oppo-find-x8-ultra-camera-1-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/oppo-find-x8-ultra-camera-1-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="oppo find x8 ultra camera 1" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/oppo-find-x8-ultra-camera-1.jpg"/> Andy Walker / Android Authority

I get it. Telephone makers generally limit launches to a couple markets for quite a lot of authentic causes. They may solely have sufficient inventory for a small-scale launch, it is likely to be a telephone designed for a selected market, or they is likely to be testing the waters with an idea earlier than launching a successor extra extensively.

However, we noticed a number of glorious telephones launching in 2025 that didn’t get a large launch. This consists of the OPPO Discover X8 Extremely, the vivo X200 Extremely, the OPPO Discover N5, and the vivo X Fold 5. The Extremely telephones specifically had been two of the perfect digital camera telephones we’ve seen shortly.

The excellent news is that distinguished leaker Yogesh Brar says OPPO and vivo’s upcoming Extremely telephones are lastly going international. I actually hope this leak turns into actuality.