The most effective smartphones to purchase in 2025

You may have already got a good suggestion of which smartphone you need to be your subsequent one. However there are extra stable choices out there now than ever earlier than, making the choice not as cut-and-dry because it was once. Whereas the choice is a bit simpler if you already know you need an iPhone, there’s even sufficient variation between these new fashions that you’ll have to consider it longer than you anticipated. Should you’re an Android particular person, you might have much more choices to select from — together with foldables — and extra inquiries to reply earlier than you spend any cash.

At Engadget, we evaluate telephones recurrently and have examined dozens through the years. Whether or not you’ve had your eye on certainly one of our present high picks, certainly one of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 telephones, a cheap phone or one other gadget, we’re right here that can assist you determine which is the very best cellphone to purchase this 12 months.

Desk of contents

Greatest smartphones for 2025

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Learn our full Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL review

Display dimension: 6.3-inch | Storage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM help: 1x eSim | Battery Life: 24+ hours

With the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, Google has as soon as once more refined its smartphone {hardware} whereas pushing its AI-powered software program in new and great methods. Not solely do each gadgets now help full high-res portrait photographs, its 100x Professional Res Zoom captures long-range pictures in ways in which lenses and megapixels alone merely can’t. Then you definately add in noticeably higher efficiency, greater batteries, brighter shows and correct Qi2 magnetic charging (the primary from a serious Android cellphone maker) by way of Pixelsnap and you’ve got actually sensible gadgets that makes choosing anything appear sort of dumb. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter

Execs

• Longer battery life
• Brighter shows
• 100x Professional Res Zoom provides main magnification
• Pixelsnap charging (aka Qi2 help)
• Magic Cue is tremendous useful (when it really works)

Cons

• No extra wi-fi powersharing
• Processing full-res pictures is a bit gradual
• Pixel 10 line is eSIM solely within the US

$999 at Amazon

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Learn our full iPhone 16e review

Display dimension: 6.1-inch | Storage capability: As much as 512GB | SIM help: Twin eSim | Battery Life: Greater than 24 hours

Whereas I believe that anybody who can afford the value distinction ought to go for the iPhone 17 over the iPhone 16e, I can’t deny that that is Apple’s finest entry-level iPhone thus far. It has an Motion button, USB-C, a bigger, brighter display screen and an A18 chip that allows Apple Intelligence.

My greatest issues with it are limitations introduced on by its single rear digicam setup — issues like not with the ability to seize ultrawide photographs or Portrait mode not working if there isn’t a face within the scene. Should you’re coming from an iPhone 11 or newer, it’s best to think about whether or not the improved digicam sensor is price giving up an ultrawide digicam for. Whether it is, and for those who can stay with out snapping portraits of objects and faceless objects, the iPhone 16e’s digicam can be satisfying.

There are different components to think about, like whether or not you recurrently use MagSafe equipment or wi-fi charging. Should you do, then the iPhone 16e will frustrate you because it doesn’t work with the magnetic attachment system (you may get a MagSafe case to treatment this) and fees at a slower pace than the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 (however there’s no repair for this). — Cherlynn Low, Managing Editor

Execs

• Stable efficiency
• Lengthy battery life
• Clear, sturdy design
• Vibrant, vibrant display screen

Cons

• Just one rear digicam, resulting in many limitations
• Costly in comparison with earlier iPhone SE
• No MagSafe

$599 at Apple

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Learn our full Google Pixel 9a review

Display dimension: 6.3-inch | Storage capability: As much as 256GB | SIM help: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery Life: As much as 28 hours

The Pixel 9a is not particularly flashy and it does not have any particular options that are not already out there on its dearer siblings. In reality, it truly has slower charging and it is lacking help for a few of Google’s homegrown software program just like the Screenshots app. However for everybody who simply desires a easy cellphone with a stable design, a pleasant display screen, glorious cameras and robust battery life, the Pixel 9a is admittedly arduous to beat. So whereas it isn’t tremendous fancy, the cellphone has all of its most vital bases lined (after which some). However most significantly, beginning at simply $499, this cellphone appears like an unimaginable deal that punches effectively above its value. — S.R.

Execs

• Smooth design
• Superior battery life
• Good show
• Nice cameras
• IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance

Cons

• Charging might be quicker
• No Pixel Screenshot app
• Macro Focus mode is usually a bit finicky

$499 at Amazon

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review

Display dimension: 8-inch (essential) 6.5-inch (folded) | Storage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM help: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery life: As much as 24 hours

One of many greatest points with foldable telephones is the added dimension and weight that always comes with the inclusion of a versatile show. Samsung has made {that a} factor of the previous on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which sports activities bigger screens — each in and out — whereas being 26 p.c thinner than earlier than. And as if that wasn’t sufficient, the Z Fold 7 additionally options improved sturdiness, elevated efficiency and a brand new 200MP essential digicam, matching or exceeding what you get from conventional flagship smartphones. The principle downsides are that at $2,000, it is nonetheless removed from reasonably priced and for long-time Samsung followers, the lack of S Pen help could also be a dealbreaker. However for individuals who need to expertise new heights in foldable cellphone design, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a masterpiece of contemporary gadget design. — S.R.

Execs

• Exquisitely skinny design
• Sleeker hinge
• Large 200MP essential digicam
• Bigger shows
• Prime-tier efficiency

Cons

• Very costly
• No S Pen help
• Mediocre charging speeds

$1,790 at Amazon

Mat Smith for Engadget

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review

Display dimension: 6.9-inch (essential) 4.1-inch (entrance) | Storage capability: As much as 512GB | SIM help: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery life: As much as 31 hours

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a slimmer design and considerably improved battery life. With a bigger, brighter entrance show, it’s simpler to make use of and the hinge mechanism has additionally been strengthened for a extra stable really feel.

Regardless of it being the smaller mannequin of Samsung’s foldable household, the corporate made the first show even greater and introduced it nearer to the normal facet ratios of most conventional smartphones. It’s one other sensible enchancment that makes the Flip 7 simpler to make use of than its predecessors.

A bigger battery has considerably prolonged how lengthy Samsung’s newest Flip can run for between fees, though it runs just a little sizzling with heavy apps, duties and video games.

Software program additions embrace the Now Bar and Gemini Dwell integration for the entrance show, however utilizing most different apps nonetheless requires a widget launcher workaround.

Nevertheless, the cameras stay largely unchanged from the earlier mannequin, with a 50MP main and 12MP ultrawide lens. Sadly there’s nonetheless no devoted telephoto lens, which makes it much less helpful in some taking pictures conditions. Different areas are lengthy due an improve, too, just like the Flip 7’s sluggish charging speeds. — Mat Smith, UK Bureau Chief

Execs

• Larger entrance display screen
• Higher battery life
• Slimmer design

Cons

• Cameras are dated
• Entrance display screen utility continues to be restricted
• Sluggish cost pace

$970 at Amazon

Different smartphones we have examined

iPhone Air

At simply 5.6mm, the iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever made. Nevertheless it’s a lot greater than that. It’s fantastically crafted and because of a titanium body, Ceramic Protect 2 display screen and an IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance, it’s surprisingly sturdy too. The Air additionally has a beautiful 6.5-inch show with ProMotion help and an A19 Professional processor, so it delivers practically the identical efficiency as you get from the iPhone 17 Professional line. And regardless of its tremendous skinny chassis not leaving a ton of room for an enormous energy cell, battery life isn’t a problem. Briefly, that is the iPhone design that everybody desires. Nevertheless, with the Air solely having a single rear digicam, the query it is advisable reply is for those who’re prepared to surrender some additional lenses to get essentially the most exquisitely engineered iPhone and all of its model and sleekness. — S.R.

Google Pixel 10 Professional Fold

Whereas the design and efficiency of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is so good that we needed to choose it as our favourite foldable of this era, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold isn’t that far behind. Positive, it’s greater and bulkier, nevertheless it nonetheless has the very best cameras on any foldable cellphone together with higher software program and a bigger battery. However maybe most significantly, it now has a correct IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance — one thing you gained’t discover on any of its rivals. This might save the cellphone from an early demise and stop plenty of complications for those who frequent the seaside or just about anyplace with little particles that might threaten the insides of your gadget. — S.R.

OnePlus 13

Whereas the OnePlus 13 options some fundamental AI options like Google’s Circle to Search and Gemini assistant, it’s actually simply an old style flagship in all the very best methods. That’s as a result of as a substitute of specializing in machine studying, OnePlus crammed the cellphone with tons of top-notch {hardware}. It sports activities a 6.8-inch OLED show with an unimaginable peak brightness of as much as 4,500 nits. The OP13 additionally presents glorious efficiency due to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, together with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There are additionally three 50-MP rear cameras together with one with a 3x telephoto zoom and a large 6,000 mAh battery that’s greater than what you get in virtually all of its opponents.

OnePlus didn’t skimp on the cellphone’s design both, because the OP13 nonetheless comes with the corporate’s signature Alert Slider. Plus, for those who go for the blue or white variants, you’ll get a sturdy and really touchable vegan leather-based again that helps the cellphone stand out amongst all its glass brick rivals. However the very best half is that beginning at $900, it prices lower than an equal Galaxy S25+ too.

What to search for in a smartphone

Android or iOS?

Whenever you’re trying to find the very best smartphone, it turns into clear that every OS has its professionals and cons. Apple’s tight-knit ecosystem makes it tremendous straightforward to share information between iPhones, iPads and Macs or seamlessly hand-off cellphone calls or music from one gadget to a different. On the identical time, you’re successfully locked in, as companies like Apple Messages aren’t out there on different platforms.

As for Android, there’s a a lot wider vary of handsets from firms like Google, Samsung, Sony and extra. Nevertheless, Android telephones don’t get pleasure from that very same size of software program help and infrequently have decrease trade-in values. Briefly, there’s no fallacious reply. Nevertheless, you’ll want to think about how your cellphone will slot in with the remainder of your gadgets. So until you’re actually fed up with one OS and prepared to be taught one other, it most likely doesn’t make plenty of sense to modify from an iPhone to an Android cellphone (or vice versa) – particularly if everybody else in your family is utilizing the identical platform.

Cameras

Since your cellphone typically pulls double responsibility as your main digicam, determining what sort of photograph instruments you need is vital. These days, virtually each cell phone can take a fantastic image in shiny mild. However if you would like a protracted optical zoom, you’ll most likely should improve to a dearer gadget.

Mid-range phones typically solely have two rear cameras (a main wide-angle lens and a secondary ultra-wide digicam) and might generally wrestle in low-light conditions. Every cellphone maker additionally has varied options that is perhaps a greater match in your model, with Apple providing 4 completely different coloration presets on the most recent iPhones, whereas Google’s Pixel 9 Professional comes with neat instruments like devoted lengthy publicity and Motion Pan modes.

Will you get mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7?

The excellent news is that in 2025, most telephones have no less than Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6e and help for some sort of 5G connectivity. Nevertheless, if you would like the quickest wi-fi speeds potential, it’s going to value you just a little additional. For instance, on sure networks, mmWave 5G presents as much as gigabit obtain speeds, much less latency and higher bandwidth. However mmWave 5G additionally requires extra subtle (and pricier) modems, which implies help for it’s typically lacking on cheaper gadgets.

On the brilliant facet, mmWave 5G isn’t as broadly out there as different variations of 5G, so relying on the place you reside and what community you’re on, you might not be lacking out on a lot proper now for those who purchase a cellphone that doesn’t help it. It’s an analogous state of affairs for Wi-Fi 7, which is accessible on some high-end handsets just like the Galaxy S25, however more durable to seek out on cheaper gadgets. Wi-Fi 7 additionally requires you to have a compatible router, so until you already know you want it or have a particular use case in thoughts, the dearth of help for mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7 shouldn’t be a dealbreaker when in search of a brand new cellphone.

Different options to think about

As a result of not everybody agrees on what makes the very best cellphone, it’s best to take into consideration every other specs that is perhaps additional vital for you. Cell avid gamers will nearly definitely admire the 120Hz refresh charges you get on telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy S25 or the Apple iPhone 17 Professional. Alternatively, if lengthy battery life is vital, you’ll most likely need to go together with a bigger iPhone or an Android cellphone with a battery that’s between 4,000 and 5,000 mAh in dimension. In the meantime, if you end up juggling plenty of gadgets, it may be very nice to have a cellphone that helps reverse wi-fi charging, which on Samsung telephones even helps you to recharge the corporate’s Galaxy Watches.

Smartphone FAQs

How do I do know which smartphone is the very best for me?

Whereas selecting the very best smartphone might be difficult, it principally comes right down to how you propose on utilizing the gadget. The entire finest telephones out there now get the fundamentals proper — you’ll be capable to make calls, textual content and entry the web with out many hiccups. In case your smartphone is your most used gadget, it’s possible you’ll need to think about paying for a tool on the upper finish of the value spectrum. That can get you higher general efficiency, higher-quality cameras and a cellphone that may final for a few years. Should you don’t use your cellphone for the whole lot, you might be able to compromise on efficiency and additional perks and spend much less on a still-capable handset.

How a lot is a smartphone?

Smartphones vary in value from $300 to over $1,500. The most effective price range telephones out there now will normally compromise on general efficiency, design, digicam prowess and additional options to maintain prices down. On the flip facet, the most costly telephones may have highly effective processors, triple-camera arrays and even flip or fold designs. Most individuals will discover a cellphone that matches their wants someplace in the midst of that vast value vary — we’ve discovered that many of the finest smartphones out there proper now value between $500 and $1,000.

What are you able to do on a smartphone?

Smartphones are basically small, transportable computer systems that allow you to do issues like verify e mail, browse social media, comply with map instructions, make contactless funds and extra. That is all on high of the fundamentals like making cellphone calls and texting, which we’ve come to count on in all trendy cell telephones. Smartphones have additionally principally changed compact cameras due to their high-quality, built-in shooters, and the truth that most smartphones at the moment as simply as transportable, if no more so, as compact cameras.

How lengthy do smartphones final?

Smartphones can final years and persons are holding on to their phones longer now than ever earlier than. Software program updates and battery life are two of the largest components that may have an effect on cellphone longevity. Apple guarantees 5 years price of software program updates for its newest iPhones, and Google guarantees the identical for its Pixel telephones. Samsung telephones will get 4 years price of Android updates from the time they launch. As for charging speeds and battery life, your cellphone can deteriorate over time as you utilize and recharge your cellphone regularly.

Latest updates

September 2025: Up to date to incorporate the iPhone 17 Professional.

August 2025: Up to date to incorporate the Google Pixel 10 Professional.

July 2025: Up to date to incorporate the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

April 2025: Up to date to incorporate the Google Pixel 9a.

February 2025: Up to date to incorporate the iPhone 16e.

January 2025: Up to date to incorporate particulars about Samsung’s newest Galaxy S-series telephones.