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 before, making the determination not as cut-and-dry because it used to be. Whereas the determination is a bit simpler if you need an iPhone, there’s even sufficient variation between these new fashions that you could have to give it some thought longer than you anticipated. For those who’re an Android particular person, you will have much more choices to select from — together with foldables — and extra questions to reply before you spend any cash.
At Engadget, we overview telephones often and have examined dozens over 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 system, we’re right here to assist you resolve which is the greatest telephone to purchase this 12 months.
Desk of contents
Finest smartphones for 2025
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our full iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max review
Display dimension: 6.3-inch or 6.9-inch | Storage capability: Up to 2TB | SIM help: Twin eSim | Battery Life: Up to 39 hours
If you need the greatest, most full iPhone expertise, you must go together with the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max. They’re largely the identical telephone apart from slight variations in display screen dimension (6.3 inches vs 6.9 inches) and battery life, and each handsets embody all of the most superior {hardware} and software program options Apple has to supply.
The Professional household might not look as flashy as the iPhone Air, however they’re additional sturdy and tremendous modern, that includes steel unibody designs and a customized thermal administration system inside that permits glorious efficiency whereas maintaining warmth at bay. Each smartphones are powered by the A19 Professional chipset and iOS 26, the latter of which you’ll expertise in all of its Liquid Glass and Apple Intelligence glory. Each telephones can even final all day after which some on a single cost, they usually help Qi2 wi-fi charging up to 25W.
Arguably the largest design change you’ll be able to see is the large digicam plateau on the iPhone 17 Professional collection’ backs, which features a trio of 48MP lenses. Whereas the leap in photograph and video high quality from, say, the iPhone 16 Professional collection isn’t all that massive, these with an iPhone 14 Professional or earlier will see massive enhancements of their pictures and videography. Even the selfie digicam obtained an improve: the Middle Stage digicam now contains a 24MP sensor that merchandise 18MP photos and may robotically maintain you in the center of the body if you’re making FaceTime calls.
With the introduction of the iPhone Air and the steady enhancements Apple has made to its base iPhone 17 lineup, the iPhone 17 Professional and Professional Max actually really feel like the {most professional} variations of an iPhone you may get. Some may not want all that energy or the additional perks that include it, however it’s nonetheless the best choice if you would like to need to have the newest and biggest in Apple smartphone expertise. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
- Progressive and helpful Middle Stage selfie digicam
- Versatile triple-sensor system for rear cameras
- Aluminum unibody feels sturdy and scratch-resistant
- Improved AI and thermal efficiency
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our full Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL review
Display dimension: 6.3-inch | Storage capability: Up to 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 units 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. You then add in noticeably higher efficiency, larger batteries, brighter shows and correct Qi2 magnetic charging (the first from a significant Android telephone maker) through Pixelsnap and you’ve got actually good units that makes choosing anything appear form of dumb. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter
- 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)
- No extra wi-fi powersharing
- Processing full-res photos is a bit sluggish
- Pixel 10 line is eSIM solely in the US
Cherlynn Low for Engadget
Learn our full iPhone 16e review
Display dimension: 6.1-inch | Storage capability: Up to 512GB | SIM help: Twin eSim | Battery Life: Greater than 24 hours
Whereas I feel that anybody who can afford the worth distinction ought to go for the iPhone 17 over the iPhone 16e, I can’t deny that this is Apple’s greatest entry-level iPhone to date. It has an Motion button, USB-C, a bigger, brighter display screen and an A18 chip that permits Apple Intelligence.
My largest issues with it are limitations introduced on by its single rear digicam setup — issues like not having the ability to seize ultrawide photographs or Portrait mode not working if there isn’t a face in the scene. For those who’re coming from an iPhone 11 or newer, you must think about whether or not the improved digicam sensor is price giving up an ultrawide digicam for. If it is, and when you can stay with out snapping portraits of objects and faceless objects, the iPhone 16e’s digicam might 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 costs at a slower velocity than the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 (however there’s no repair for this). — Cherlynn Low, Managing Editor
- Stable efficiency
- Lengthy battery life
- Clear, sturdy design
- Shiny, vibrant display screen
- Just one rear digicam, main to many limitations
- Costly in contrast to earlier iPhone SE
- No MagSafe
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our full Google Pixel 9a review
Display dimension: 6.3-inch | Storage capability: Up to 256GB | SIM help: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery Life: Up to 28 hours
The Pixel 9a is not particularly flashy and it would not have any particular options that are not already out there on its costlier siblings. In actual fact, it truly has slower charging and it is lacking help for a few of Google’s homegrown software program like the Screenshots app. However for everybody who simply desires a easy telephone with a stable design, a pleasant display screen, glorious cameras and robust battery life, the Pixel 9a is actually exhausting to beat. So whereas it is not tremendous fancy, the telephone has all of its most essential bases lined (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.
- Glossy design
- Superior battery life
- Good show
- Nice cameras
- IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance
- Charging may very well be quicker
- No Pixel Screenshot app
- Macro Focus mode could be a bit finicky
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review
Display dimension: 8-inch (primary) 6.5-inch (folded) | Storage capability: Up to 1TB | SIM help: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery life: Up to 24 hours
One in every of the largest 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 before. And as if that wasn’t sufficient, the Z Fold 7 additionally options improved sturdiness, elevated efficiency and a brand new 200MP primary digicam, matching or exceeding what you get from conventional flagship smartphones. The primary downsides are that at $2,000, it is nonetheless far from inexpensive and for long-time Samsung followers, the lack of S Pen help could also be a dealbreaker. However for many who need to expertise new heights in foldable telephone design, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a masterpiece of recent gadget design. — S.R.
- Exquisitely skinny design
- Sleeker hinge
- Huge 200MP primary digicam
- Bigger shows
- High-tier efficiency
- Very costly
- No S Pen help
- Mediocre charging speeds
Mat Smith for Engadget
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review
Display dimension: 6.9-inch (primary) 4.1-inch (entrance) | Storage capability: Up to 512GB | SIM help: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery life: Up to 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 use 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 firm made the main show even larger and introduced it nearer to the conventional facet ratios of most conventional smartphones. It’s one other good enchancment that makes the Flip 7 simpler to use than its predecessors.
A bigger battery has considerably prolonged how lengthy Samsung’s newest Flip can run for between costs, though it runs somewhat scorching with heavy apps, duties and video games.
Software program additions embody 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, like the Flip 7’s sluggish charging speeds. — Mat Smith, UK Bureau Chief
- Larger entrance display screen
- Higher battery life
- Slimmer design
- Cameras are dated
- Entrance display screen utility is nonetheless restricted
- Sluggish cost velocity
Different smartphones we have examined
iPhone Air
At simply 5.6mm, the iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever made. However it’s a lot greater than that. It’s fantastically crafted and thanks to a titanium body, Ceramic Defend 2 display screen and an IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance, it’s surprisingly sturdy too. The Air additionally has a stunning 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. In brief, this is the iPhone design that everybody desires. Nevertheless, with the Air solely having a single rear digicam, the query you want to reply is when you’re prepared to quit some additional lenses to get 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 had 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, however it nonetheless has the greatest cameras on any foldable telephone 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 telephone from an early demise and stop quite a lot of complications when you frequent the seaside or just about wherever with little particles that might threaten the insides of your system. — 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 school flagship in all the greatest methods. That’s as a result of as an alternative of focusing on 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 up to 4,500 nits. The OP13 additionally affords glorious efficiency thanks 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 larger than what you get in virtually all of its opponents.
OnePlus didn’t skimp on the telephone’s design both, as the OP13 nonetheless comes with the firm’s signature Alert Slider. Plus, when you 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 better part is that beginning at $900, it prices lower than an equal Galaxy S25+ too.
What to search for in a smartphone
Android or iOS?
While you’re looking for the greatest smartphone, it turns into clear that every OS has its professionals and cons. Apple’s tight-knit ecosystem makes it tremendous straightforward to share knowledge between iPhones, iPads and Macs or seamlessly hand-off telephone calls or music from one system to one other. At the identical time, you’re successfully locked in, as providers like Apple Messages aren’t out there on different platforms.
As for Android, there’s a a lot wider vary of handsets from corporations like Google, Samsung, Sony and extra. Nevertheless, Android telephones don’t get pleasure from that very same size of software program help and sometimes have decrease trade-in values. In brief, there’s no unsuitable reply. Nevertheless, you will have to think about how your telephone will slot in with the remainder of your units. So except you’re actually fed up with one OS and prepared to be taught one other, it in all probability doesn’t make quite a lot of sense to change 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 mobile phone typically pulls double obligation as your main digicam, determining what sort of photograph instruments you need is key. These days, virtually each cell phone can take an important image in shiny mild. However if you would like a protracted optical zoom, you’ll in all probability have to improve to a costlier system.
Mid-range phones typically solely have two rear cameras (a main wide-angle lens and a secondary ultra-wide digicam) and may typically battle in low-light conditions. Every telephone maker additionally has numerous options that could be a greater match in your fashion, with Apple providing 4 totally different colour 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 least Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6e and help for some form of 5G connectivity. Nevertheless, if you would like the quickest wi-fi speeds attainable, it’s going to price you somewhat additional. For instance, on sure networks, mmWave 5G affords up to gigabit obtain speeds, much less latency and higher bandwidth. However mmWave 5G additionally requires extra refined (and pricier) modems, which implies help for it is typically lacking on cheaper units.
On the shiny 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, it’s possible you’ll not be lacking out on a lot proper now when you purchase a telephone that doesn’t help it. It’s an identical state of affairs for Wi-Fi 7, which is out there on some high-end handsets like the Galaxy S25, however tougher to discover on cheaper units. Wi-Fi 7 additionally requires you to have a compatible router, so except you want it or have a selected use case in thoughts, the lack of help for mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7 shouldn’t be a dealbreaker when on the lookout for a brand new telephone.
Different options to think about
As a result of not everybody agrees on what makes the greatest telephone, you must take into consideration another specs that could be additional essential for you. Cell players will virtually definitely recognize the 120Hz refresh charges you get on telephones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 or the Apple iPhone 17 Professional. Alternatively, if lengthy battery life is essential, you’ll in all probability need to go together with a bigger iPhone or an Android telephone with a battery that’s between 4,000 and 5,000 mAh in dimension. In the meantime, if you end up juggling quite a lot of units, it may be very nice to have a telephone that helps reverse wi-fi charging, which on Samsung telephones even permits you to recharge the firm’s Galaxy Watches.
Smartphone FAQs
How do I do know which smartphone is the greatest for me?
Whereas selecting the greatest smartphone will be difficult, it largely comes down to how you propose on utilizing the system. All of the greatest telephones out there now get the fundamentals proper — you’ll give you the chance to make calls, textual content and entry the web with out many hiccups. In case your smartphone is your most used gadget, it’s your decision to think about paying for a tool on the larger finish of the worth spectrum. That can get you higher general efficiency, higher-quality cameras and a telephone that may final for a few years. For those who don’t use your telephone for the whole lot, it’s possible you’ll give you the chance 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. The very best funds telephones out there now will often compromise on general efficiency, design, digicam prowess and additional options to maintain prices down. On the flip facet, the costliest telephones may 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 center of that large worth vary — we’ve discovered that almost all of the greatest smartphones out there proper now price 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 electronic mail, browse social media, observe map instructions, make contactless funds and extra. This is all on high of the fundamentals like making telephone calls and texting, which we’ve come to anticipate in all fashionable cell telephones. Smartphones have additionally largely changed compact cameras thanks to their high-quality, built-in shooters, and the reality that almost all smartphones right this moment as simply as transportable, if not extra so, as compact cameras.
How lengthy do smartphones final?
Smartphones can final years and other people are holding on to their phones longer now than ever before. 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 on a daily foundation.
Latest updates
September 2025: Up to date to embody the iPhone 17 Professional.
August 2025: Up to date to embody the Google Pixel 10 Professional.
July 2025: Up to date to embody the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
April 2025: Up to date to embody the Google Pixel 9a.
February 2025: Up to date to embody the iPhone 16e.
January 2025: Up to date to embody details about Samsung’s newest Galaxy S-series telephones.
Disclaimer: This article is sourced from external platforms. OverBeta has not independently verified the information. Readers are advised to verify details before relying on them.
