One of the best smartphones to purchase in 2025

You would possibly have already got a good suggestion of which smartphone you wish to be your subsequent one. However there are extra strong choices obtainable 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 need an iPhone, there’s even sufficient variation between these new fashions that you’ll have to consider it longer than you anticipated. For those who’re an Android particular person, you’ve got much more choices to select from — together with foldables — and extra inquiries to reply earlier than you spend any cash.

At Engadget, we assessment telephones often and have examined dozens through the years. Whether or not you’ve had your eye on considered one of our present prime picks, considered one of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 telephones, a cheap phone or one other machine, we’re right here that will help you resolve which is the very best telephone to purchase this yr.

Desk of contents

Greatest smartphones for 2025

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

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

Display measurement: 6.3-inch | Storage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM assist: 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 units now assist full high-res portrait pictures, its 100x Professional Res Zoom captures long-range images in ways in which lenses and megapixels alone merely can’t. Then you definately add in noticeably higher efficiency, larger batteries, brighter shows and correct Qi2 magnetic charging (the primary from a serious Android telephone maker) by way of Pixelsnap and you’ve got really good units that makes selecting the rest appear sort of dumb. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter

Professionals

• Longer battery life
• Brighter shows
• 100x Professional Res Zoom provides main magnification
• Pixelsnap charging (aka Qi2 assist)
• 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 measurement: 6.1-inch | Storage capability: As much as 512GB | SIM assist: Twin eSim | Battery Life: Greater than 24 hours

Whereas I feel 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 so far. It has an Motion button, USB-C, a bigger, brighter display screen and an A18 chip that allows Apple Intelligence.

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

There are different components to think about, like whether or not you often use MagSafe equipment or wi-fi charging. For those who 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 expenses at a slower pace than the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 (however there’s no repair for this). — Cherlynn Low, Managing Editor

Professionals

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

Cons

• Just one rear digital camera, 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 measurement: 6.3-inch | Storage capability: As much as 256GB | SIM assist: 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 obtainable on its costlier siblings. In actual fact, it truly has slower charging and it is lacking assist for a few of Google’s homegrown software program just like the Screenshots app. However for everybody who simply needs a easy telephone with a strong design, a pleasant display screen, glorious cameras and powerful battery life, the Pixel 9a is actually onerous to beat. So whereas it is not tremendous fancy, the telephone has all of its most essential bases coated (after which some). However most significantly, beginning at simply $499, this telephone appears like an unimaginable deal that punches properly above its worth. — S.R.

Professionals

• Glossy design
• Superior battery life
• Good show
• Nice cameras
• IP68 score for mud and water resistance

Cons

• Charging could possibly be quicker
• No Pixel Screenshot app
• Macro Focus mode could be a bit finicky

$499 at Amazon

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review

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

One of many largest points with foldable telephones is the added measurement and weight that usually 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 inside and outside — 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 important digital camera, matching or exceeding what you get from conventional flagship smartphones. The principle downsides are that at $2,000, it is nonetheless removed from inexpensive and for long-time Samsung followers, the lack of S Pen assist could also be a dealbreaker. However for individuals who wish to expertise new heights in foldable telephone design, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a masterpiece of recent gadget design. — S.R.

Professionals

• Exquisitely skinny design
• Sleeker hinge
• Massive 200MP important digital camera
• Bigger shows
• High-tier efficiency

Cons

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

$1,850 at Amazon

Mat Smith for Engadget

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review

Display measurement: 6.9-inch (important) 4.1-inch (entrance) | Storage capability: As much as 512GB | SIM assist: 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 strong really feel.

Regardless of it being the smaller mannequin of Samsung’s foldable household, the corporate made the first show even larger and introduced it nearer to the standard side ratios of most conventional smartphones. It’s one other good 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 expenses, though it runs a bit of scorching with heavy apps, duties and video games.

Software program additions embody the Now Bar and Gemini Reside 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 major 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

Professionals

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

Cons

• Cameras are dated
• Entrance display screen utility remains 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. But it surely’s a lot greater than that. It’s superbly crafted and because of a titanium body, Ceramic Defend 2 display screen and an IP68 score for mud and water resistance, it’s surprisingly sturdy too. The Air additionally has a stunning 6.5-inch show with ProMotion assist and an A19 Professional processor, so it delivers almost 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 needs. Nevertheless, with the Air solely having a single rear digital camera, the query that you must reply is for those who’re keen to surrender some additional lenses to get probably the most exquisitely engineered iPhone and all of its fashion 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 larger and bulkier, nevertheless it nonetheless has the very best cameras on any foldable telephone together with higher software program and a bigger battery. However maybe most significantly, it now has a correct IP68 score for mud and water resistance — one thing you gained’t discover on any of its rivals. This might save the telephone from an early demise and forestall plenty of complications for those who frequent the seashore or just about anyplace with little particles that might threaten the insides of your machine. — S.R.

OnePlus 13

Whereas the OnePlus 13 options some primary 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 telephone 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 affords 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 an enormous 6,000 mAh battery that’s larger than what you get in virtually all of its rivals.

OnePlus didn’t skimp on the telephone’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 telephone 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 execs and cons. Apple’s tight-knit ecosystem makes it tremendous simple to share knowledge between iPhones, iPads and Macs or seamlessly hand-off telephone calls or music from one machine to a different. On the identical time, you’re successfully locked in, as companies like Apple Messages aren’t obtainable 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 assist and sometimes have decrease trade-in values. Briefly, there’s no flawed reply. Nevertheless, you’ll want to take into account how your telephone will slot in with the remainder of your units. So until you’re actually fed up with one OS and keen to be taught one other, it most likely doesn’t make plenty of sense to modify from an iPhone to an Android telephone (or vice versa) – particularly if everybody else in your family is utilizing the identical platform.

Cameras

Since your cellular phone typically pulls double responsibility as your major digital camera, determining what sort of picture instruments you need is essential. These days, virtually each cell phone can take an awesome image in shiny mild. However if you’d like an extended optical zoom, you’ll most likely need to improve to a costlier machine.

Mid-range phones typically solely have two rear cameras (a major wide-angle lens and a secondary ultra-wide digital camera) and may generally battle in low-light conditions. Every telephone maker additionally has varied options that is perhaps a greater match on your fashion, with Apple providing 4 totally different shade presets on the newest 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 at the very least Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6e and assist for some sort of 5G connectivity. Nevertheless, if you’d like the quickest wi-fi speeds attainable, it’s going to value you a bit of additional. For instance, on sure networks, mmWave 5G affords as much as gigabit obtain speeds, much less latency and higher bandwidth. However mmWave 5G additionally requires extra subtle (and pricier) modems, which suggests assist for it’s typically lacking on inexpensive units.

On the intense facet, mmWave 5G isn’t as extensively obtainable as different variations of 5G, so relying on the place you reside and what community you’re on, you is probably not lacking out on a lot proper now for those who purchase a telephone that doesn’t assist it. It’s an identical scenario for Wi-Fi 7, which is on the market on some high-end handsets just like the Galaxy S25, however tougher to seek out on cheaper units. Wi-Fi 7 additionally requires you to have a compatible router, so until you want it or have a particular use case in thoughts, the dearth of assist for mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7 shouldn’t be a dealbreaker when searching for a brand new telephone.

Different options to think about

As a result of not everybody agrees on what makes the very best telephone, it is best to take into consideration every other specs that is perhaps additional essential 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 essential, you’ll most likely wish to go along with a bigger iPhone or an Android telephone with a battery that’s between 4,000 and 5,000 mAh in measurement. In the meantime, if you end up juggling plenty of units, it may be very nice to have a telephone that helps reverse wi-fi charging, which on Samsung telephones even allows 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 will be difficult, it principally comes all the way down to how you propose on utilizing the machine. All the finest telephones obtainable now get the fundamentals proper — you’ll be capable of make calls, textual content and entry the web with out many hiccups. In case your smartphone is your most used gadget, you could wish to take into account paying for a tool on the upper finish of the value spectrum. That may get you higher general efficiency, higher-quality cameras and a telephone that can final for a few years. For those who don’t use your telephone for all the things, 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 worth from $300 to over $1,500. One of the best price range telephones obtainable now will normally compromise on general efficiency, design, digital camera prowess and additional options to maintain prices down. On the flip facet, the most costly telephones could have highly effective processors, triple-camera arrays and even flip or fold designs. Most individuals will discover a telephone that matches their wants someplace in the midst of that large worth vary — we’ve discovered that a lot of the finest smartphones obtainable proper now value between $500 and $1,000.

What are you able to do on a smartphone?

Smartphones are primarily small, transportable computer systems that allow you to do issues like examine electronic mail, browse social media, comply with map instructions, make contactless funds and extra. That is all on prime of the fundamentals like making telephone calls and texting, which we’ve come to anticipate in all fashionable cell telephones. Smartphones have additionally principally changed compact cameras due to their high-quality, built-in shooters, and the truth that most smartphones right this 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 telephone 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 telephone can deteriorate over time as you utilize and recharge your telephone frequently.

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.