Choosing the best phone in 2025 feels a bit like picking your favourite ice cream flavour—so many options, and they all promise to be the best. From AI-powered photo magic to foldable screens that scream “future tech,” this year’s smartphones are packed with features designed to dazzle. But with so many choices, how do you know which one’s worth your hard-earned cash? Whether you’re looking for a flagship phone, a budget-friendly gem, or just something that makes your TikToks pop, we’ve got you covered. Let’s break down the best phones of 2025 and help you find your perfect match!
The 2025 phone market is packed with options. Apple’s iPhone 16 leads the pack with iOS 18’s smarter Siri, a new Camera Control button, and upgraded ultrawide and macro photography. Google’s Pixel 9 lineup, Samsung’s Galaxy S24, and the foldable Motorola Razr Plus (2024) also bring strong competition.
You don’t need $1,000 to get a great phone, though. The Pixel 8A offers excellent performance for less. But for most, the $799 iPhone 16, with its vibrant display, long-lasting battery, and advanced photo tools, is the sweet spot. Plus, its Action button and Visual Intelligence feature make it a standout choice for years to come.
Samsung just dropped the Galaxy S25 lineup—S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, and S25 Edge. We’re waiting for more trusted reviews before we commit to this line up, so stay tuned. If you’re shopping for a new phone, the S25 series might be worth your attention.
Best Phone- Apple iPhone 16
With sleek new photography tricks, a versatile Action button, and an elegant design, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are solid picks for Apple fans on the hunt for their next upgrade. These phones are more than just pretty faces—they’re built for the long haul. Thanks to support for Apple’s emerging Apple Intelligence features, like smarter Siri integration and Visual Intelligence for the camera, they’re poised to stay fresh and relevant for years. If you don’t need the Pro’s extra camera muscle or marathon battery life, the iPhone 16 hits the sweet spot. The only real difference between the regular and Plus models? Screen size (6.1 inches vs. 6.7 inches), battery capacity, and price.
Of course, no phone is perfect. The iPhone 16 still skips an always-on display, and Apple’s wired charging speeds feel stuck in a time warp. But it nails the essentials—and throws in some fun extras—making it a dependable and exciting choice for most users.
Best Flip Phone Foldable- Motorola Razr Plus (2024)
The Motorola Razr Plus isn’t just a phone—it’s a pocket-sized delight. With its stunning 4-inch cover screen, it feels like you’re carrying two phones in one. Whether you’re replying to messages, binge-watching TikToks, making video calls, or even gaming, the outer display is so functional you might forget to flip it open.
But when you do unfold it, you’ll find more to love: improved cameras for sharper shots, fast charging for quick top-ups, and battery life that keeps up with your day. Plus, it’s got an IPX8 rating, meaning it can handle an accidental dunk like a champ.
Sure, the $1,000 price tag might make you hesitate, but you’re getting one of the best clamshell foldables money can buy. It’s stylish, durable, and oh-so-fun to use—foldable fans, this one’s for you!
Best Android Phone- Samsung Galaxy S24
What really wows me about the Samsung Galaxy S24 isn’t the fancy new Galaxy AI features, the vibrant display, or the trusty cameras—it’s the battery life. This phone is an absolute tank when it comes to staying powered up. After putting it through its paces, I can confidently say the larger battery handles a full day of heavy use without breaking a sweat.
The Galaxy S24 is a sleek, well-crafted device that feels polished right out of the box, much like its almost-twin siblings, the S22 and S23. This familiarity can be seen as a pro—it’s the result of three years of fine-tuning—or a con, since features like the camera hardware haven’t changed much since 2022. But honestly, who’s complaining when the battery life is this good? No one’s ever said, “Ugh, I wish my phone lasted less time.”
The Galaxy S24 may not reinvent the wheel, but it’s a dependable workhorse with the juice to keep you going all day—and that’s a win in my book.
Best Premium iPhone- Apple iPhone 16 Pro
The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are exactly what you’d expect from Apple’s annual upgrade cycle—and then some. The 6.3-inch Pro and the jumbo 6.9-inch Pro Max deliver solid battery life, bigger and brighter displays, and cameras so good you’ll be tempted to start a photography side hustle. With features like high-res slo-mo, a slick new Camera Control button, iOS 18 perks, and Apple Intelligence tools that make Siri smarter and your life easier, these phones are packed to impress.
That said, they’re not flawless. Starting at $1,000, you only get 128GB of storage, the color options are… meh, and the shiny new Camera Control button? Great in theory, but too easy to hit by accident.
One noteworthy change: this year, the Pro and Pro Max have identical cameras, unlike last year’s models. So your choice comes down to screen size, battery life, and, of course, your budget. If you can swing the price, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are premium phones ready to shine in your pocket (or maybe just barely fit in it if you go for the Max).
Best Premium Android Phone- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
With a crystal-clear 5x optical zoom, lightning-fast processor, and that massive display paired with 100x digital zoom, the Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to be a dream for mobile photographers who want all the screen space. It’s also one of the first to show off Samsung’s new Galaxy AI tools, like instant message and call translations and the clever “Circle to Search,” where you can draw a circle around almost anything to Google it instantly. And yes, the iconic embedded S Pen is back, perfect for note-taking, doodling, or channeling your inner Picasso. Best of all, Samsung promises seven years of Android updates, so this powerhouse will stay fresh for the long haul.
But, as with all things fancy, there are a few catches. At $1,300, the Ultra is a pricey investment, so hunt for trade-in deals if you’re upgrading. And while Galaxy AI is cool, it’s the same across all S24 and even S23 models—nothing Ultra-specific here. Honestly, at this price, some exclusive AI tools for the S Pen would’ve been a nice touch. Bottom line: the S24 Ultra is incredible, but if Galaxy AI is your main draw, you might not need to go all-in on the priciest model.
Best iPhone under $700- iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 brings plenty of goodies to the table, making it a standout upgrade for anyone with an older iPhone. With the Dynamic Island stealing the show, a USB-C port for easier charging, and an upgraded camera with sharper resolution and zoom, it’s like a mini iPhone 14 Pro—but without the Pro price tag.
You’ve got two size options: the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 or the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus. Both pack the A16 Bionic chip from last year’s Pro, delivering serious performance gains for those coming from older models. Plus, the second-gen ultra-wideband chip makes finding friends or family in a crowd a breeze—perfect for festivals, airports, or chaotic family reunions.
If you can snag a discounted iPhone 14 Pro, it might be worth considering for the telephoto lens. But honestly, the iPhone 15 feels like the biggest leap forward for Apple’s standard lineup in years—finally making the “entry-level” iPhone anything but basic.
Best Google has to offer- Google Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL
The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL are here to dazzle, rocking sleek new designs, long software support, and AI smarts that’ll make your jaw drop. From the conversational wizardry of Gemini Live to Pixel Studio, which can turn your quirky text prompts into bizarrely brilliant images, these phones are all about blending creativity and tech.
But hey, they’re not perfect. The cameras shine in bright light but stumble a bit in low-light and night mode. And while the coolest AI features are incredible, they’ll eventually cost you a monthly subscription (though the first year’s free—yay!). Still, if you’re itching to dive into the future of AI on your phone, the Pixel 9 Pro lineup is your perfect playground.
