Are Android phones fond of 'bricking'?

[andy]

I have heard of smartphones running on a different OS have the problem of not working properly after an update fails.

Are Android phones prone to this?

[Elaine]

I don't know if it was because of update problems, but my dad's had three or four Android phones crap out on him so far. I don't think he's doing anything "wrong" with them, they just...die.