The most effective smartphones to p...

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 once. Whereas the choice is a bit simpler if you realize you need an iPhone, there’s even sufficient variation between these new fashions that you could have to consider it longer than you anticipated. Should you’re an Android particular person, you’ve gotten much more choices to select from — together with foldables — and extra inquiries to reply earlier than you spend any cash.

At Engadget, we evaluate telephones usually and have examined dozens through the years. Whether or not you’ve had your eye on certainly one of our present prime picks, certainly one of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 telephones, a cheap phone or one other gadget, we’re right here that can assist you resolve which is the very best telephone to purchase this 12 months.

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 photographs, its 100x Professional Res Zoom captures long-range images in ways in which lenses and megapixels alone merely can’t. Then you definately add in noticeably higher efficiency, larger batteries, brighter shows and correct Qi2 magnetic charging (the primary from a serious Android telephone maker) through Pixelsnap and you’ve got actually good gadgets that makes selecting 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 pictures 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 thus far. It has an Motion button, USB-C, a bigger, brighter display screen and an A18 chip that allows Apple Intelligence.

My largest considerations 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 within the scene. Should you’re coming from an iPhone 11 or newer, it’s best to take into account whether or not the improved digicam sensor is price giving up an ultrawide digicam for. Whether it is, and in the event you can dwell with out snapping portraits of objects and faceless gadgets, the iPhone 16e’s digicam will probably be satisfying.

There are different components to contemplate, like whether or not you usually use MagSafe equipment or wi-fi charging. Should you 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 fees at a slower velocity than the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 (however there’s no repair for this). — Cherlynn Low, Managing Editor

Professionals

• Stable efficiency
• Lengthy battery life
• Clear, sturdy design
• Brilliant, vibrant display screen

Cons

• Just one rear digicam, 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 dearer siblings. In truth, 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 telephone with a stable design, a pleasant display screen, glorious cameras and robust battery life, the Pixel 9a is basically onerous to beat. So whereas it isn’t tremendous fancy, the telephone has all of its most necessary bases coated (after which some). However most significantly, beginning at simply $499, this telephone appears like an unbelievable deal that punches effectively above its value. — S.R.

Professionals

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

Cons

• Charging might be sooner
• No Pixel Screenshot app
• Macro Focus mode is usually a bit finicky

$499 at Amazon

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review

Display screen dimension: 8-inch (primary) 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 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 inside and outside — whereas being 26 p.c 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 primary digicam, matching or exceeding what you get from conventional flagship smartphones. The primary downsides are that at $2,000, it is nonetheless removed 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.

Professionals

• Exquisitely skinny design
• Sleeker hinge
• Huge 200MP primary digicam
• Bigger shows
• High-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 (primary) 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 side 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 fees, though it runs somewhat scorching with heavy apps, duties and video games.

Software program additions embrace the Now Bar and Gemini Reside 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 major 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, just like the Flip 7’s sluggish charging speeds. — Mat Smith, UK Bureau Chief

Professionals

• Larger entrance display screen
• Higher battery life
• Slimmer design

Cons

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

$1,220 at Amazon

Different smartphones we have examined

iPhone Air

At simply 5.6mm, the iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever made. Nevertheless it’s a lot greater than that. It’s superbly crafted and because of a titanium body, Ceramic Protect 2 display screen 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 almost 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. In brief, that is the iPhone design that everybody needs. Nevertheless, with the Air solely having a single rear digicam, the query you should reply is in the event you’re keen to surrender some additional lenses to get probably the most exquisitely engineered iPhone and all of its type 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 very best methods. That’s as a result of as an alternative of specializing in machine studying, OnePlus crammed the telephone 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 provides glorious efficiency because of 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 telephone’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 telephone stand out amongst all its glass brick rivals. However the very best 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 very best smartphone, it turns into clear that every OS has its execs and cons. Apple’s tight-knit ecosystem makes it tremendous simple to share information between iPhones, iPads and Macs or seamlessly hand-off telephone calls or music from one gadget to a different. On the identical time, you’re successfully locked in, as companies 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 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’ll want to take into account how your telephone will slot in with the remainder of your gadgets. So until you’re actually fed up with one OS and keen to study one other, it in all probability doesn’t make a number 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 cellular phone typically pulls double obligation as your major digicam, determining what sort of picture instruments you need is vital. These days, virtually each cell phone can take an important image in shiny gentle. However if you would like an extended optical zoom, you’ll in all probability need to improve to a dearer gadget.

Mid-range phones typically solely have two rear cameras (a major wide-angle lens and a secondary ultra-wide digicam) and might typically battle in low-light conditions. Every telephone maker additionally has numerous options that is likely to be a greater match on your type, with Apple providing 4 completely 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 very least 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 doable, it’s going to value you somewhat additional. For instance, on sure networks, mmWave 5G provides 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 cheaper gadgets.

On the brilliant aspect, mmWave 5G isn’t as extensively accessible as different variations of 5G, so relying on the place you reside and what community you’re on, you is probably not lacking out on a lot proper now in the event you purchase a telephone that doesn’t help it. It’s the same state of affairs for Wi-Fi 7, which is accessible on some high-end handsets just like the Galaxy S25, however more durable to seek out on cheaper gadgets. Wi-Fi 7 additionally requires you to have a compatible router, so until you realize you want it or have a particular 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 telephone.

Different options to contemplate

As a result of not everybody agrees on what makes the very best telephone, it’s best to take into consideration every other specs that is likely to be additional necessary for you. Cellular avid gamers will nearly actually respect 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 in all probability need to go along 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 a number of gadgets, 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 corporate’s Galaxy Watches.

Smartphone FAQs

How do I do know which smartphone is the very best for me?

Whereas selecting the very best smartphone could be difficult, it principally comes all the way down to how you intend on utilizing the gadget. All the finest telephones accessible now get the fundamentals proper — you’ll have the ability to make calls, textual content and entry the web with out many hiccups. In case your smartphone is your most used gadget, chances are you’ll need to take into account paying for a tool on the upper finish of the worth spectrum. That can get you higher general efficiency, higher-quality cameras and a telephone that can final for a few years. Should you don’t use your telephone for every little thing, you might be able 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 value from $300 to over $1,500. The most effective price range telephones accessible now will normally compromise on general efficiency, design, digicam prowess and additional 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 telephone that matches their wants someplace in the course of that large value vary — we’ve discovered that many 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 prime of the fundamentals like making telephone calls and texting, which we’ve come to count on in all trendy cell telephones. Smartphones have additionally principally changed compact cameras because of 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 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 frequently.

Current 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.