Best smartphones of 2025: which one is right for you?

The world of smartphones in 2025 has reached new heights, offering devices that cater to every user’s needs. From foldable designs and massive battery capacities to ultra-small compact models and gaming beasts, this year has something for everyone. Here’s a dive into the best smartphones of 2025, highlighting the most notable models in each specific category.

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Most improved: iPhone 17 wins the Glow-Up Award

Apple’s base iPhone model took everyone by surprise this year. The iPhone 17 features dramatic upgrades across the board, making it the most improved smartphone of 2025. The screen is now among the best in its price category, the base storage has doubled, and Apple achieved this without increasing the price. While Samsung's Galaxy ZFold 7 may have achieved significant weight and thickness reductions compared to the ZFold 6, it ultimately couldn’t outweigh the comprehensive enhancements made to Apple’s iPhone 17.

Why the iPhone 17 stands out:

• Vastly brighter and clearer display
• Doubled base storage (128GB to 256GB)
• Same price as last year’s model despite improvements

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Outside-the-box design: Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Trifold is the standout for delivering true innovation. While foldable phones have been evolving for years, Samsung broke major ground with the Trifold. When unfolded, the phone offers an enormous 10-inch widescreen display, ideal for content consumption. Although thicker when folded than traditional models, its utility outweighs the compromises.

Key benefits of the Galaxy Z Trifold:

• Triple folding design creates a unique widescreen experience
• 10-inch display perfect for multitasking and video watching
• A potential game-changer for foldables in the mainstream market

Other notable entrants like Xiaomi’s second screen-equipped 17 Pro and “Minimal phones” with black-and-white e-ink displays couldn’t match the Trifold’s functionality.

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Unkillable Battery Award: Oppo Find X9 Pro

2025 is a milestone year for battery innovations in smartphones. Oppo’s Find X9 Pro edges out competitors with a massive 7,500mAh battery, making it the definitive endurance leader. Its dual-cell design not only circumvents EU regulations on battery size but also improves overall charging speed. Unlike other phones, such as the OnePlus 15, which skimp on camera hardware, the Find X9 Pro boosts photography quality while still offering stellar battery performance.

Top picks for exceptional battery life:

Phone Model	Battery Capacity	Charging Speed	Key Feature
Oppo Find X9 Pro	7,500mAh	80W	Excellent cameras
OnePlus 15	7,300mAh	120W	Most ergonomic phone design
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max	7,500mAh	100W	Includes a rear second screen
iPhone 17 Pro Max	5,000mAh	40W	Best optimization in mainstream

Key takeaway: While Oppo sacrifices some charging speed, its overall combination of specs, performance, and dual-battery engineering makes it the battery champ in 2025.

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Filmmakers’ choice: Vivo X300 Pro

For photographers and videographers, the Vivo X300 Pro establishes itself as the best choice of the year. Vivo has pushed its camera hardware two generations ahead of mainstream competitors, featuring a 200-megapixel telephoto lens, class-leading low-light performance, and cutting-edge software for editing. Its screen, peaking at 4,500 nits of brightness, ensures visibility in all environments. Despite heavy competition from the Oppo Find X9 Pro, Vivo takes the lead thanks to its focus on camera fidelity.

What makes the X300 Pro exceptional:

• 200MP telephoto lens for lossless zoom shots
• Extreme brightness (4,500 nits) for outdoor use
• Polished camera app and intuitive interface
• Ideal for professionals seeking portable, high-quality video capture

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Best for gaming: Red Magic 11 Pro

Most users won’t need a dedicated “gaming phone” in 2025, but for those who do, the Red Magic 11 Pro is the standout option. It introduces active liquid cooling paired with multiple cooling systems, allowing sustained performance for long gaming sessions. Starting at $729, it offers excellent value despite corner-cutting in its cameras.

How the Red Magic 11 Pro delivers for gamers:

• Active liquid cooling enhances thermal performance
• 144Hz refresh rate display for ultra-smooth graphics
• Starting price well under $800

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Most user-friendly: Google Pixel 9a

For those seeking simplicity and reliability, the Google Pixel 9a outmatches its competitors. Perfect for older users or anyone less tech-savvy, the phone features “Simple View,” an intuitive interface designed to reduce clutter. With no redundant apps and straightforward navigation, the Pixel 9a stands out as the most accessible smartphone this year.

Pixel 9a highlights:

• Clean Google software with no bloatware
• Compact size paired with efficient hardware
• Simple View mode simplifies navigation
• Affordable entry point for a high-quality device

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Compact excellence: Xiaomi 17 Pro

Compact phones are still redefining what users can expect from smaller devices. The Xiaomi 17 Pro offers flagship specs in a small, easy-to-handle form factor. It even includes the rear second display seen in its larger sibling, offering excellent performance without compromise.

Why choose the Xiaomi 17 Pro:

• Compact device with full flagship specs
• Exceptional battery life for its size
• Top-tier Snapdragon processor
• Great for those prioritizing one-handed usability

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Key takeaway: best 2025 smartphones for each need

• Most improved: iPhone 17
• Foldable innovation: Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold
• Battery life: Oppo Find X9 Pro
• Camera experience: Vivo X300 Pro
• Gaming: Red Magic 11 Pro
• User-friendly design: Google Pixel 9a
• Compact power: Xiaomi 17 Pro

2025 has delivered an array of smartphones that push boundaries in design, usability, and performance. Whether you’re looking for endurance, innovation, or camera capabilities, this year’s lineup does not disappoint.