Why Readers Still Love This Older Android Flagship

A two-year-old Samsung still topping favorite Android phones

Legacy phone preference describes the tendency of users to keep favoring older smartphones over new releases when those legacy devices still meet or exceed their needs in performance, features, and long-term support compared with more recent models that offer only modest improvements. That pattern is clear in a new Samsung phone survey around the Moto G Stylus (2026). When Android Authority asked nearly 5,000 readers which alternative device they would pick around the same price, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, released in 2024, still came out on top. The poll compared five options: the latest Moto G Stylus, its 2025 predecessor, Google’s Pixel 10a, the Nothing Phone 4a Pro, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra, plus the 2025 Moto Razr. Despite its age, Samsung’s former flagship won by a wide margin, signaling that readers still see it as one of their favorite Android phones.

What the vote margins say about slowing upgrades

Android Authority reports that the Galaxy S24 Ultra took 27% of the poll, with 1,270 people calling it the best alternative to the Moto G Stylus (2026). The Pixel 10a followed with nearly 20% (931 votes), while the Nothing Phone 4a Pro reached 18% (849 votes) and the 2025 Moto G Stylus took 17% (808 votes). The 2025 Moto Razr trailed at about 14% (674 votes). Such close spacing among the newer devices contrasts with the clear lead of a two-year-old flagship. This suggests diminishing generational improvements in Android hardware design: year-on-year spec bumps are no longer enough to pull loyal users away from a proven high-end phone. Instead of chasing each refresh, many readers now view a mature flagship as a multi-year investment that can withstand several mid-range cycles.

Features readers defend when newer phones move on

The S24 Ultra’s enduring appeal comes from concrete hardware and software advantages that newer mid-range models have not replaced. Its specs beat the Moto G Stylus (2026) on "every front," including performance headroom and camera quality. It also offers longer software support than the new G Stylus, which is guaranteed only two Android version updates. Crucially, it is the last Samsung phone with a Bluetooth-enabled active stylus, directly challenging the G Stylus’s key selling point. At the same time, the 2025 Moto G Stylus stands out as the only rival with both a microSD card slot and a headphone jack, yet still underperforms in votes. Readers seem to value a focused set of premium features—top camera, stylus integration, long support—over a checklist of legacy ports when picking their favorite Android phones.

Consumer values vs. the marketing upgrade cycle

Together, the survey results show a gap between what marketing pushes and what people keep using. On paper, the Moto G Stylus (2026) costs USD 100 (approx. RM460) more than the previous model and enters the same price band as Google, Samsung, and Nothing options, but readers still gravitate to an older Galaxy flagship. That choice reveals core priorities for Android hardware design: meaningful longevity, standout camera quality, and specialized tools like an active stylus matter more than minor refreshes or novelty alone. A separate Droid-Life question—"If your current phone didn’t exist, what phone would you have?"—pushes the same idea, inviting people to imagine their next best fit rather than the newest launch. For many enthusiasts, the ideal upgrade is not the latest date on the box, but the device that best matches how they already use their phones.