The perfect smartphones to purchase in 2025

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

At Engadget, we overview telephones commonly and have examined dozens over time. 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 machine, we’re right here that will help you determine which is the perfect cellphone to purchase this yr.

Desk of contents

Finest smartphones for 2025

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

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

Display screen 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 pictures, its 100x Professional Res Zoom captures long-range images in ways in which lenses and megapixels alone merely can’t. Then you definitely add in noticeably higher efficiency, larger batteries, brighter shows and correct Qi2 magnetic charging (the primary from a significant Android cellphone maker) by way of Pixelsnap and you’ve got really good gadgets that makes choosing anything 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 help)
• Magic Cue is tremendous useful (when it really works)

Cons

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

$999 at Amazon

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Learn our full iPhone 16e review

Display screen dimension: 6.1-inch | Storage capability: As much as 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 that is Apple’s finest entry-level iPhone so far. It has an Motion button, USB-C, a bigger, brighter display and an A18 chip that permits Apple Intelligence.

My greatest 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. If you happen to’re coming from an iPhone 11 or newer, you must contemplate whether or not the improved digital camera sensor is value giving up an ultrawide digital camera for. Whether it is, and in the event you can dwell with out snapping portraits of objects and faceless gadgets, the iPhone 16e’s digital camera might be satisfying.

There are different components to contemplate, like whether or not you commonly use MagSafe equipment or wi-fi charging. If you happen to 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

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

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 screen 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 would not have any particular options that are not already accessible on its costlier siblings. In actual fact, it really 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 needs a easy cellphone with a stable design, a pleasant display, wonderful cameras and powerful battery life, the Pixel 9a is de facto onerous to beat. So whereas it isn’t tremendous fancy, the cellphone has all of its most necessary bases lined (after which some). However most significantly, beginning at simply $499, this cellphone appears like an unbelievable deal that punches nicely above its value. — S.R.

Professionals

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

Cons

• Charging may very well be sooner
• No Pixel Screenshot app
• Macro Focus mode generally is a bit finicky

$499 at Amazon

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review

Display screen 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 inside and outside — whereas being 26 % 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 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 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.

Professionals

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

Cons

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

$1,820 at Amazon

Mat Smith for Engadget

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review

Display screen 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 larger and introduced it nearer to the standard facet 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 little bit scorching with heavy apps, duties and video games.

Software program additions embrace the Now Bar and Gemini Stay 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 capturing 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
• Higher battery life
• Slimmer design

Cons

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

$1,220 at Amazon

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 superbly crafted and due to a titanium body, Ceramic Protect 2 display 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 difficulty. Briefly, that is the iPhone design that everybody needs. Nevertheless, with the Air solely having a single rear digital camera, the query you must reply is in the event you’re keen to surrender some further lenses to get essentially the most exquisitely engineered iPhone and all of its model and sleekness. — 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 perfect methods. That’s as a result of as an alternative 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 unbelievable peak brightness of as much as 4,500 nits. The OP13 additionally gives wonderful 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 larger than what you get in virtually all of its rivals.

OnePlus didn’t skimp on the cellphone’s design both, because the OP13 nonetheless comes with the corporate’s signature Alert Slider. Plus, in the event you 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 perfect 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?

While you’re trying to find the perfect 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 cellphone calls or music from one machine to a different. On the identical time, you’re successfully locked in, as providers like Apple Messages aren’t accessible 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 take pleasure in that very same size of software program help and infrequently have decrease trade-in values. Briefly, there’s no fallacious reply. Nevertheless, it would be best to contemplate how your cellphone will slot in with the remainder of your gadgets. So until you’re actually fed up with one OS and keen to be taught one other, it most likely doesn’t make a variety 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 obligation as your main digital camera, determining what sort of photograph instruments you need is essential. These days, virtually each cell phone can take a fantastic image in brilliant mild. However if you would like an extended optical zoom, you’ll most likely must improve to a costlier machine.

Mid-range phones typically solely have two rear cameras (a main wide-angle lens and a secondary ultra-wide digital camera) and may typically wrestle in low-light conditions. Every cellphone maker additionally has numerous options that is likely to be a greater match to 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 a little bit further. For instance, on sure networks, mmWave 5G gives as much as gigabit obtain speeds, much less latency and higher bandwidth. However mmWave 5G additionally requires extra refined (and pricier) modems, which suggests help for it’s typically lacking on inexpensive gadgets.

On the intense aspect, mmWave 5G isn’t as broadly accessible as different variations of 5G, so relying on the place you reside and what community you’re on, you will not be lacking out on a lot proper now in the event you purchase a cellphone that doesn’t help it. It’s an identical state of affairs for Wi-Fi 7, which is obtainable on some high-end handsets just like the Galaxy S25, however tougher to search out on cheaper gadgets. Wi-Fi 7 additionally requires you to have a compatible router, so until you want it or have a selected use case in thoughts, the shortage of help for mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7 shouldn’t be a dealbreaker when searching for a brand new cellphone.

Different options to contemplate

As a result of not everybody agrees on what makes the perfect cellphone, you must take into consideration some other specs that is likely to be further necessary for you. Cellular players will virtually definitely recognize 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 necessary, 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 a variety 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 perfect for me?

Whereas selecting the perfect smartphone might be difficult, it largely comes all the way down to how you intend on utilizing the machine. The entire finest telephones accessible 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 need to contemplate paying for a tool on the upper finish of the worth spectrum. That may get you higher general efficiency, higher-quality cameras and a cellphone that may final for a few years. If you happen to don’t use your cellphone for every little thing, you could possibly compromise on efficiency and further 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 perfect funds telephones accessible now will normally compromise on general efficiency, design, digital camera prowess and further options to maintain prices down. On the flip aspect, the costliest telephones could 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 course of that huge value vary — we’ve discovered that a lot of the finest smartphones accessible proper now value between $500 and $1,000.

What are you able to do on a smartphone?

Smartphones are primarily small, moveable computer systems that allow you to do issues like verify e mail, browse social media, observe 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 fashionable cell telephones. Smartphones have additionally largely changed compact cameras due to their high-quality, built-in shooters, and the truth that most smartphones right this moment as simply as moveable, if no more so, as compact cameras.

How lengthy do smartphones final?

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