The Best Smartphone of 2025? It Depends on What You Need
Choosing the best smartphone of 2025 isn’t easy. With so many options, the “best” phone depends on what you’re looking for. Some people want huge displays, blazing-fast processors, and tons of storage, while others prioritize an incredible camera or a flashy foldable design. Then there are those who just want a simple, budget-friendly phone that fits in their pocket without breaking the bank.
That’s where we come in! Before picking a phone, the first big decision is choosing between Android and iOS.
Android vs. iOS: Which Side Are You On?
The Android operating system, backed by Google, dominates globally with over 70% market share, thanks to its affordability and availability across multiple brands. But in the U.S. and Canada, Apple’s iPhones have taken the lead, recently surpassing 50% market share for the first time.
Which Phone Should You Buy?
Before you start shopping, think about which ecosystem you’re most comfortable with.
- Apple’s “Walled Garden” is beautifully designed and seamless, but it comes with restrictions. iPhones are generally more expensive and offer less customization than Android devices.
- Android phones, on the other hand, come in all shapes and sizes, often at a lower cost. However, not all Android brands offer long-term software and security updates like Google and Samsung, which now promise seven years of updates for their flagship phones.
At the end of the day, the best phone is the one that fits your needs and lifestyle. Whether you’re team Android or iOS, there’s an option out there that’s perfect for you.
The Best Android Phone
Our Pick: Google Pixel 9 Pro ($1,000)
The Google Pixel phones have truly stepped up their game these last few iterations. The latest is easily the greatest. The Google Pixel 9 Pro delivers a form factor reminiscent of the iPhone. If you’re disappointed by the lack of sloped sides, you may want to wrap your hands around it to feel the heft.
It’s a good phone with Pixel’s usual excellent camera suite. The one thing that may turn you off is the full integration of Gemini AI into every aspect of Google’s device. You won’t be able to use it and fully ignore it. It’s only going to get more prominent as Google expands Gemini Live. The Pro models also have exclusive camera features, and it’s still the best size for most hands.
The Best Apple iPhone
Our Pick: iPhone 16 Pro ($1,000)
In many ways, the iPhone 16 Pro is so damn close to the iPhone 15 Pro you won’t be the only one doing a double take. But this is it if you want the latest and greatest from Apple. Even if you ignore the whole heap of promises from Apple Intelligence, the new phone’s few additional features make it a better phone. The Camera Control button doesn’t change how you use the phone; the cameras are better at capturing brighter details.
The A18 Pro chip is faster than previous iPhone CPUs. Plus, you don’t have to opt for the Pro Max to get the farthest optical zoom this time around. However, unless you desperately need the extra camera sensors and faster chips, consider the base iPhone 16 to save money. It has the A18 chip, the Camera Control button, and the Action Button. Then, you get to save several hundred dollars on a new phone.
The Best Budget Phone
Our pick: Google Pixel 8a ($500)
Google’s budget-end phones are still some of the most capable devices for their price. The 7a was great, and the Google Pixel 8a marries a solid form factor (still maintaining Google’s old sloped sides and camera bar). It has access to most of the Android 15 and Gemini features you need from Google’s ecosystem. It’s using the same Tensor G3 chip as the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. It’s so capable that it’s hard to recommend that most people buy flagship phones when the trade-off is slightly better camera quality for $200 more.
Coming soon: The Pixel 9a is fueling up the Android rumor mill lately, which means change is imminent. It’s about that time of year when Google announces an update, so stay tuned for what’s next in this budget phone category.
The Best Big Phone
The lighter Galaxy S25 Ultra is only worth the upgrade if you’ve got deals stacked on deals.
Our Pick: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra ($1,300)
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is out and the lightest it’s ever been. This phone is still just $1,300 with a starting storage space of 256GB and 12GB of RAM, with up to 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM. It has a 200-MP primary camera with 100x digital Space zoom, which is excellent for shooting planes, trains (from far away), and especially birds. The telephoto lenses are the same as in the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the ultra wide-angle lens is now 50 MP, enabling higher-resolution landscape shots.
Because it’s lighter, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is also more comfortable to hold than last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra. It’s a whole 15 grams lighter! And it still comes with a stowaway S Pen, which you can use to write, draw, crop images off the screen, and invoke AI—Smart Select is now AI Select, and if you missed that whole conversion, you can catch up here.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s specifications have stayed relatively the same across the last two generations—it’s one of our complaints in the review because it doesn’t give us a reason to tell you to abandon older models. Although this latest version of Samsung’s mega flagship is the best in its category, you can get away with the Galaxy S24 Ultra at a discount, especially with that seven-year software promise Samsung had for it last year (which I guess would put it at six years now). I wouldn’t tell if you went as far back as the Galaxy S23 Ultra to save some more cash, either—that phone is still a banger, too.
Also Consider: iPhone 16 Pro Max ($1,200)
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is everything we liked about the Pro but with a larger screen size and slightly bigger battery. It is for big-handed or phablet-loving Apple fans.
The Best Small Phone
The Galaxy S25+ (left) and the Galaxy S25 (right) for size comparison.
Our pick: Samsung Galaxy S25 ($800)
For Android users, give the smaller Samsung Galaxy S25 a try. The 6.2-inch device is a souped-up little version of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung even increased the memory this time and bumped it up to 12GB, so there’s plenty for all that AI stuff that’s taking off. Although the display is smaller than the norm, it is Samsung’s signature Super AMOLED with a whopping 120Hz refresh rate, so using it will feel just as smooth as its big brothers. This year’s Galaxy S25 also supports UWB, which lets you get the most out of your carrier each month.
Also consider: Apple iPhone 16 ($800)
For those looking for a small, pocketable phone with just as much pizazz as its Pro brethren, there’s the 6.1-inch iPhone 16. It’s back with the Dynamic Island, Action Button, and the new Camera Capture button, which lets you invoke the camera in a particular mode or Apple Intelligence. Apple bundled this device with the A18 processor, the same that’s in its Pro brothers.
The Best Foldable Phone
Our Pick: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold ($1,800)
For years, Samsung has reigned over foldables, but the competition has finally caught up. The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a massive improvement over the 2023 Pixel Fold. It’s thinner and snappier, equivalent to the feel of the excellent OnePlus Open from 2023. It has solid cameras (though not technically as capable as the Pixel 9 Pro flagship), and its software has also gotten a big boost thanks to an easy-to-use split screen.
It’s still missing multiple app windows that Samsung has in its Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the performance isn’t entirely on par with flagship chipsets from Qualcomm and Apple, despite costing $1,800. If all that’s bringing you down, remember that half the reason you use the Pixel Fold is because of the hinge. Google’s phone feels great, so it edges out as our pick.
Best Clamshell Foldable
Our Pick: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 ($1,100)
We have problems with Samsung’s clamshell foldable, mainly because it’s so restrictive with what apps and widgets you can use on the exterior screen. Despite that, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 foldable’s build quality over six iterations gives it the edge. It’s fast and has solid cameras with a 50 MP photo option. For those worried about the foldable’s durability, this is the only clamshell rated for IPX dust resistance. It’s also a gorgeous phone, with our personal favorite being the yellow back with gold trim. This might be your best bet if you’re looking for a phone that looks good as an accessory.
Also, consider: Motorola Razr 2024 ($700)
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is $1,100 without any sales or discounts. You’ll find it on sale for less or get money off of trade-in, but no matter what, it’s still an expensive device. Then, there’s the $700 Motorola Razr. It uses a less-capable CPU, and its camera doesn’t quite match the competition, but then again, it’s $700, which means it’s cheaper with sales and trade-ins. And for that, you get a phone that’s very open to what apps you can use on its 4-inch exterior display. The display is so large it wraps around the camera bumps. It’s a strange and sometimes awkward phone. The vegan leather and vegan suede backs are largely unnecessary. Yet, it’s such a bold phone that’s fun to wield. Simply put, it’s the cheapest foldable you can find today.
