Best smartphones 2025: These are the absolute winners of 2025 – for your new smartphone in 2026

The best smartphones of 2025?! In a world where we are constantly being sold glasses that can read our minds and artificial intelligence that can write love letters for us, one undeniable truth remains: the smartphone is still the alpha and omega of our existence. It is our personal computer, our camera, and our ticket to the world. And the year 2025? The year 2025 was to phones what 1964 was to Ford Mustang. Groundbreaking. In front of me is an imaginary table full of silicon, glass and promises. And I will, in the spirit of automotive journalism, separate the wheat from the chaff or V12 engines from electric grinders. I have reviewed the specifications, checked the opinions of the world's greatest authorities, and added my infallible sense of "the tin". Buckle up, we are off at full throttle.

“Highway Cruiser” Category (Best Large Phone)

Winner: Xiaomi 17 Pro Max

If this phone were a car, it would be Cadillac Escalade with a sporty chassis and nitro power. In the past, we knew “normal” phones and so-called “phablets”. Today, all phones are the size of table tennis rackets, but this year Xiaomi said: “If we're going to be big, let's be absurdly big and at the same time absurdly useful."It's a 6.9-inch beast. Under the hood, it's the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which has been sweeping the competition this year. But the real magic is in the back. That's where you'll find a nearly 3-inch secondary display with 1,000 nits of brightness. Why? Because it can. And because it's by far the best selfie viewfinder with the main camera. Plus, it's got a 7,500 mAh battery, which means you won't be charging it every five minutes. It's big, bold, and makes the most of its bulk.

Category “City Kid with a Big Heart” (Best Small Phone)

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

I've been saying for a long time that small phones are dead. And they are. Unless they fold. Samsung is doing it with the model Z Flip 7 finally hit the nail on the head. It's a massive 6.9-inch phone when open, and when closed, it fits into any pocket of skinny jeans, no matter how tight. The key difference this year? The external screen measures a whopping 4.1 inches from corner to corner. That means you can actually use the phone without even opening it. You can reply to messages, check the weather, and manage urgent matters without falling into the "doomscrolling" on TikTok. It's the perfect combination of digital detox and full connectivity. It's the Fiat 500 Abarth of phones - small, fun, and when you press the gas, it flies. It convinced me that the clamshell format is finally ripe for the masses, not just tech enthusiasts.

Category “For those who think they are photographers” (Best Camera)

Winner: Oppo Find X9 Pro

Every year we hear how iPhone the best camera. And every year we get it wrong. This year, Oppo took the crown. Why? Because they went all or nothing. It has four cameras. The main and ultra-wide are 50 MP, and the telephoto lens is absurdly large. 200 MP. But numbers are one thing, practice on the tarmac is another. The photos are sharp, the colors are great, and best of all – they added a physical camera button. The craziest addition? The Hasselblad mount. Buy the case, attach a lens to it, and you get a 10x optical zoom that takes pictures that would make even DSLR owners blush. This is not a camera phone; this is a camera that you can also accidentally call your mom with. It's an absolute champion for anyone who wants more than just Instagram likes, but a real photography tool in their pocket.

Category “Nuclear power plant in your pocket” (Best battery)

Winner: OnePlus 15

Year 2025 will be remembered in the technological history books for one thing: the breakthrough of silicon-carbon batteries. This is the technology we have been waiting for like rain in the desert. And OnePlus 15 is its prophet. This phone has a battery with a capacity of 7300 mAh. To put that in perspective – that’s enough power for three days of serious use. Three days! That's like driving your car for 2,000 kilometers on a single tank of fuel. And when it finally runs out, top it up with 120W (wired) or 50W (wireless) charging faster than you can drink an espresso at a gas station. The OnePlus 15 officially puts an end to range anxiety. If your priority is to keep your phone running when everyone else is already searching for an outlet, this is the only logical choice on the market. Definitely one of the top three contenders for the best in the lists – the best smartphones 2025.

Category “The most beautiful piece of jewelry” (Design of the year)

Winner: iPhone Air

Ah, AppleMasters of creating things we don't necessarily need but desperately want. iPhone Air is controversial. It has a worse battery. It only has one camera. It is technically “weaker”. But, my god, how beautiful it is. It is impossibly thin and light. It feels like a piece of fine jewelry or a high-end Italian watch in the hand. They crammed all the internal components into the upper part around the camera, which is an engineering marvel. It is completely impractical for demanding users like me (where is my telephoto camera?!), but for minimalists? It is the Alfa Romeo 4C. Beautiful, impractical, but when you look at it, you forgive it all its faults. It proves that in a world of boring rectangles, aesthetics can still be queen, even if functionality suffers.

“Origami Masterpiece” Category (Best Foldable Phone)

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

If you had to choose a phone that replaces both a tablet and a phone, this is it. With Fold 7. It's not the thinnest in the world, it's not the craziest. But it's like a Volkswagen Golf - it just works, and it works great. This year they finally slimmed it down to the point where it works like a perfectly normal phone when closed, which has always been its biggest drawback. The software is (finally) polished to a shine. When you open it, you have an 8-inch canvas for work or play. It's reliable, robust and finally mature. If you're a business person who wants to edit spreadsheets on the go, or just someone who likes to watch movies on a bigger screen on a plane, this is a device without competition. Samsung has shown here that practice makes perfect, if the master only listens to user criticism over the years.

Category “Most music for your money” (Best value)

Winner: CMF Phone 2 Pro

This is where it gets interesting. For the price approximately 260 EUR ($279) you get a phone that shouldn't exist. CMF (sub-brand of the company Nothing) made a phone with a 6.8-inch 120Hz display, three cameras, and a modular design. You can swap out back covers, add physical accessories, and the software is fluid. Nothing “counts.” In a world where phones they cost 1500 euros, this is a refreshing slap in the face of inflation. Usually with cheap phones you get the feeling that the manufacturer has cheated you somewhere – be it the screen or the camera. This feeling is not there here. It is proof that good technology does not have to be expensive and that with a little innovation and courage you can shake up a market that has become too comfortable with its high margins.

Category “Loser of the Year” (Disappointment of the Year)

Winner: iPhone 16E

Every class has that one student who doesn't try hard, but still expects an A just because of their last name. This year it's Apple with iPhone 16E model. They wanted to make a “cheap” iPhone. Instead, they made a device for 600+ EUR, which has a 60 Hz refresh rate screen (in 2025?!), a single camera and a processor that they probably found in a drawer with leftovers. It doesn’t have modern Wi-Fi standards or that new camera button of theirs. This is not an “entry model”, it’s an insult to customers. If you’re thinking about buying this phone, stop. Buy a used Pro model or throw your money in the fireplace – at least you’ll be warm. Apple is not doing itself a favor with such moves, it’s just testing the limits of its loyal customers’ patience. And this time they went too far.

Category “Car of the Year… I mean, Phone of the Year” (MVP)

Winner: iPhone 17

And now, the grand finale. MVP. The most useful player. It's not necessarily the phone with the best specs on paper (that's Xiaomi), but the phone with the best story and the most complete package. And ironically, it's the basic one iPhone 17. Why? Because Apple finally stopped skimping on the wrong things. The base model is finally got a 120 Hz ProMotion display. Thank goodness! It's like Ferrari finally putting power steering in the base model after 10 years. They doubled the base memory, improved the selfie camera, and kept the price down. Suddenly the base iPhone is no longer "the phone for those who can't afford the Pro model." It's a phone I recommend to 90 % people. It's fast, has great battery life, long-term support, and finally a screen that doesn't look like a slide projector from 2015. This is - at the top of the list - the best smartphones of 2025.

Shopping List: Fill Your Digital Garage

Enough of the theory and “screwing” into the void. If you’ve read the above lines and felt that familiar itch in your wallet – or if your current phone is slower than a Yugo on an uphill climb – here’s the curated list. These are the winners that passed my test. I’ve prepared them by simply clicking on them on Amazon (because we know that deliveries there are more reliable than politicians’ promises).

I only have one piece of advice: when ordering, pay attention to the labels "Global Version" or "EU Version" so that you don't end up looking for adapters for Chinese sockets at home.

Xiaomi 17 Pro Max If you're buying this cruiser, don't skimp on the storage. Get at least the 512GB version. This is a phone you're buying for multimedia, so make sure you have enough space in your trunk for all those 8K footage. PURCHASE

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Style is key here. Don't buy boring black unless you're an undertaker. Look for bolder colors. And since Samsung likes to stuff the phone with system, I recommend a model with more memory to keep the "engine" breathing. PURCHASE

Oppo Find X9 Pro Attention! This phone is without Hasselblad camera mount only a half-baked product – like a Ferrari on 15-inch steel wheels. Check if it's included in the package or available as an option. Essential. PURCHASE

OnePlus 15 Look for the 16GB RAM variant. This phone has a battery that will last for years, so make sure the rest of the specs can stand the test of time. This is a marathon runner, equip it accordingly. PURCHASE

iPhone Air You are buying jewelry. So look at the materials. “Titanium” or “Silver” finish is the only way to go. 256GB will be enough, as you will probably use it mainly for showing off on a coffee shop table. PURCHASE

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 The ultimate office. If you're a serious user (or CEO), look towards the 1TB version. This is a work machine, not a toy. Color? Phantom Black or gray. Make it look professional. PURCHASE

CMF Phone 2 Pro (by Nothing) Pay attention to the accessories (accessories). The charm of this phone is in its modularity. Throw in a fun interchangeable cover or stand. For this price, you can afford to personalize it. PURCHASE

iPhone 17 (Base model) Most importantly: Check the specifications and make sure it says 120Hz display (ProMotion). Don't be fooled by the old stock of the "sixteen". This is the best "daily driver" on the market, treat yourself to it in a new, fresh color. PURCHASE

(Editor's note: The iPhone 16E model is not on this list. Friends don't let friends buy bad tech.)

Conclusion: Best Smartphones 2025 for 2026

Year 2025 has taught us a clear lesson: technology is not stagnant, it's just moving in a direction we didn't necessarily expect. Batteries are finally became top-notch (thanks, silicon-carbon!), phones have become either monstrously large or wonderfully thin. If I had to choose one to escape to the end of the world by car? I would take OnePlus 15 because of the battery. What if you wanted to impress on a date? iPhone AirBut what if you had to buy a phone with your own money and use it every day for the next four years? iPhone 17. Motoring teaches us that there is no perfect car for every road. And the same goes for phones.

But at least this year we have a choice that isn't just a "boring black rectangle." And that, my dears, is progress worth celebrating.