Everyone knows the most exciting smartphones launch in the back half of the calendar. Samsung’s foldables, Google’s latest Pixels, and of course the iPhone 17 are all tipped to come out after June, if rumors are to be believed. Having said that, we can still celebrate the phones that have already come out in 2025. Why not? There are no laws against it.

While it’s true that this list will focus mostly on non-flagship models, that doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy of praise. So far, 2025 has brought us plenty of interesting smartphones at compelling prices, as well as a couple of bona fide flagships that are worth your attention.

So, here are the best smartphones from 2025. To be clear, this list is not ranked in any particular order. These are just five good phones, folks.

Google Pixel 9a

Google’s Pixel A-series of budget phones with flagship-like specs has always provided great value. The 2025 variant is no different.

The Pixel 9a is a lot like previous A-series Pixel phones in that it’s very similar to the base Pixel 9, but with a few little compromises here and there to get the price down to a downright agreeable $499. You get a spiffy 6.3-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a large 5,100mAh battery, and Google’s latest Tensor G4 processor for that price. Sure, you lose a bit of RAM and storage capacity by going with Pixel 9a, but those are small potatoes compared to the ways in which Pixel 9a is similar to Pixel 9, but for less money.

Google also unveiled a new Pixel design with the 9a, which dropped the horizontal camera bar that had adorned Pixel phones for the past several years. Sure, it looks a bit more generic than before, but it also lies flatter on a table than before, too. Between all of that and traditionally solid cameras courtesy of Google, the Pixel 9a might be the best overall value on this list.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra stands as one of the most powerful flagship smartphones of 2025, combining premium hardware with advanced AI-driven features. It features a large 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, delivering sharp visuals, vibrant colors, and extremely smooth scrolling whether you’re gaming, watching videos, or browsing. The device is powered by a top-tier flagship chipset paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, ensuring exceptional performance for demanding apps, multitasking, and high-end mobile gaming.

Photography is one of the S25 Ultra’s biggest strengths. The phone boasts a versatile quad-camera system, headlined by a 200MP main sensor, alongside a 50MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP 5× telephoto lens, and a 10MP 3× telephoto camera. This setup allows users to capture incredibly detailed photos, expansive landscapes, and sharp zoom shots at long distances. For selfies and video calls, the device includes a 12MP front camera capable of producing clear and natural-looking images.

Powering the device is a 5,000mAh battery, designed to comfortably last through a full day of heavy usage. The phone also supports fast charging and optimized power management features, helping users stay productive and entertained for longer. Additional premium features such as the integrated S Pen, advanced AI capabilities, and Samsung’s refined software experience further enhance productivity and creativity, making the Galaxy S25 Ultra a complete flagship package for power users.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is designed for users who want flagship performance in an incredibly slim and lightweight smartphone. With a thickness of just 5.8 mm and a weight of around 163 g, it is one of the thinnest premium smartphones Samsung has ever produced, combining elegant design with durable materials such as a titanium frame and strengthened glass. Despite its slim profile, the device still delivers the premium build quality and reliability expected from Samsung’s flagship lineup.

The phone features a 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate, providing smooth animations, vibrant colors, and sharp detail for videos, games, and everyday use. Under the hood, it is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, paired with 12 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of storage, ensuring strong performance for multitasking, gaming, and AI-powered features built into Samsung’s software experience.

Photography is handled by a 200 MP main camera capable of capturing highly detailed images, supported by a 12 MP ultra-wide lens for landscapes and group shots. Samsung’s advanced image processing and AI tools further enhance photos by improving color accuracy, detail, and low-light performance. On the front, a 12 MP selfie camera provides clear photos and high-quality video calls.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is equipped with a 3,900 mAh battery with fast wired and wireless charging support, along with modern connectivity features such as 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4. Running Android 15 with One UI, the device also integrates Samsung’s Galaxy AI tools, offering smart features that enhance productivity, editing, and everyday smartphone use.

OnePlus 13

The OnePlus 13 is one of the most impressive flagship smartphones of 2025, offering top-tier performance, a premium display, and exceptional battery life. It features a large 6.82-inch QHD+ LTPO AMOLED display with a dynamic 1–120 Hz refresh rate, delivering sharp visuals, vibrant colors, and ultra-smooth scrolling for gaming, streaming, and everyday use. The screen can reach extremely high brightness levels, making it easy to view even under direct sunlight.

Powering the device is the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, paired with 12 GB or 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512 GB of UFS 4.0 storage. This combination provides outstanding performance for demanding apps, multitasking, and high-end mobile gaming. The phone runs OxygenOS based on Android 15, known for its clean interface and fast, smooth user experience.

The OnePlus 13 also delivers strong camera performance with a triple-camera system, including a 50 MP main sensor, 50 MP ultra-wide camera, and 50 MP telephoto lens, enabling detailed photos, wide landscape shots, and high-quality zoom photography. Advanced image processing helps improve color accuracy and low-light performance.

Battery life is another standout feature. The phone packs a large 6,000 mAh battery, one of the biggest in a flagship device, supporting 100W SUPERVOOC wired charging and 50W wireless charging for extremely fast top-ups. Combined with efficient hardware and software optimization, the OnePlus 13 easily lasts through a full day of heavy use.

iPhone 16e

The Apple iPhone 16e is Apple’s more affordable flagship-level smartphone for 2025, offering strong performance and modern features while maintaining the classic iPhone design. It features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with vibrant colors, HDR support, and excellent brightness for watching videos, browsing, and everyday use. The display is protected by Ceramic Shield glass, improving durability against drops and scratches.

Powering the device is the Apple A18 chip, built on an advanced architecture that delivers fast performance and efficient power usage. Paired with 8 GB of RAM and storage options up to 512 GB, the iPhone 16e handles multitasking, gaming, and demanding apps smoothly while supporting Apple’s latest AI-driven features.

For photography, the phone includes a 48 MP Fusion main camera, capable of capturing highly detailed images and enabling a 2× telephoto crop for closer shots without significant quality loss. Apple’s computational photography features—such as Smart HDR, Night Mode, and Deep Fusion—help produce balanced colors and improved low-light photos. The device also supports 4K Dolby Vision video recording, making it a strong option for mobile content creation.

Battery life is another highlight, with up to 26 hours of video playback, along with fast charging and Qi wireless charging support. Combined with iOS 18, Face ID security, and Apple’s tightly optimized ecosystem, the iPhone 16e delivers a reliable and well-balanced smartphone experience for users who want Apple performance without the higher price of the Pro models.