The perfect Android telephones of 2025: 40+ examined and in contrast!

From the minute you are taking it out of the field, the Galaxy S25 Extremely looks like a device that’s able to work. Its large titanium body protects panels of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on each the back and front, and it continues to accommodate the S Pen that’s boosted productiveness customers because the days of the Galaxy Be aware lineup. Sure, Samsung simplified its built-in stylus a bit this 12 months and took away a number of options, but it surely stays the best option to take notes and doodle your method into Sketch to Picture on the beautiful 6.9-inch AMOLED panel.

To me, although, the Galaxy 25 Extremely stands out due to its 4 rear cameras. Just like the earlier era, the beginning of the present is a big 200MP sensor that covers a lot of the short-range zoom till the twin 3x and 5x optical telephoto sensors take over to push to 100x Area Zoom with a little bit of assist from some Galaxy AI processing. I favor the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s photographs as much as in regards to the 10x zoom size, as there’s barely any drop in high quality, and the built-in digital camera filters make it simpler to place some character into your photos proper off the bat.

The remainder of Samsung’s internals maintain the Galaxy S25 Extremely well-positioned for the long run, even when they arrive at a price. Sure, this ultra-tier flagship begins at $1,299 — greater than any of our different major picks — however that’s what you pay for an “Extremely” cellphone, and to your cash, you get an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 12GB of RAM throughout most configurations, regularly up to date Galaxy AI options, and the quickest charging that you simply’ll at the moment discover on a Samsug cellphone at 45W. However, with seven years of updates, you’ll be able to stretch your time with the Galaxy S25 Extremely additional than most of its rivals.

In virtually each method, the Pixel 9a is simply the kind of addition the bigger Pixel 9 collection wanted. It carries over a lot of the nice AI-powered options I discussed falling in love with on the Pixel 9 Professional XL, like entry to the Pixel Studio, utilizing Gemini to multitask throughout apps, and receiving the identical common Pixel Drops as its flagship siblings. It’s a bummer to see Pixel Screenshots wind up on the chopping room flooring, however I’ve at all times discovered screenshot administration in Pictures adequate that I don’t thoughts an excessive amount of.

Maybe the one factor that originally stunned me in regards to the Pixel 9a was its up to date design. I’d seen leaks and rumors that the digital camera bar was going away, and I didn’t wish to consider it. Nonetheless, since spending time with Google’s most reasonably priced mannequin, I’ve come round to the advantage of simplicity. Google didn’t simply axe its iconic digital camera bar for enjoyable, however as an alternative discovered methods to slim the interior elements to unencumber the area to embed its cameras deeper into the physique. The result’s a cellphone that doesn’t accumulate mud round its cameras, however nonetheless manages to have the identical Google-y character I like about Pixels.

Together with that refreshed design, Google gave its mid-ranger a number of different updates to make the $500 price ticket really feel like much more of a discount. It carries the identical Tensor G4 chipset as its flagship siblings, and has swapped to a wider 48MP major digital camera that allows extra mild for Google’s sensible picture processing to play with, and it’s all topped off with the most important battery on any Pixel at 5,100mAh. I referred to as it one of the best $500 cellphone I’ve ever used, and I’ll stand by that till the Pixel 10a comes round.

The modular design is probably the most enjoyable I’ve had with a cellphone since Samsung introduced again the flip cellphone with its Galaxy Z Flip lineup. The design nonetheless works the identical because it did on the primary CMF Telephone, having you launch the again panel with a collection of screws earlier than attaching completely different equipment like a lanyard, card holder, or a kickstand.

I believe the best accent that the workforce at CMF has cooked up is one which’s out for Second’s lunch. The Telephone 2 Professional helps new exterior digital camera lenses, which you’ll be able to screw on and off the up to date 50MP sensors to offer them macro and fisheye performance. It’s maybe a barely old school tackle what’s normally executed with software program or a devoted sensor, however I like that it means you don’t have to fret about macro mode turning on and off because it senses you nearing a topic. Oh, and have I discussed that you may give this quirky choose a strive for lower than $300?

At that worth, we normally anticipate some fairly important cuts to price range telephones, however I believe the Telephone 2 Professional has managed to keep away from a lot of the pitfalls. Its Dimensity 7300 Professional is up for many duties, and including the Important Key permits the price range choose to faucet into the identical handy AI journal that Nothing launched on its latest Telephone 3a duo. The upgraded IP54 ranking (up from IP52) can also be a pleasant contact, but it surely falls barely behind the IP68 safety that Samsung and Motorola have began including to their reasonably priced choices.

I spent a good portion of my winter with the Galaxy A16 5G in my pocket, and I got here away impressed as a rule. Sure, I’ve to place it into the context that that is merely a $200 Android cellphone, however generally adequate is all you want. Its show is shiny sufficient in most situations, its major digital camera is versatile sufficient to cowl day-to-day taking pictures in respectable lighting, and its battery life is fairly stable due to the power-sipping processor. Nonetheless, one factor actually provides a mountain of worth to a cellphone that prices little greater than a mole hill.

Sure, it’s Samsung’s downright exceptional dedication to software program updates. Regardless of costing about the identical as a premium pair of trainers, the Galaxy A16 5G is on faucet for six years of updates throughout main Android patches and common safety protection. That places this price range possibility at extra updates than both the OnePlus 13 or Motorola Razr Extremely can match, regardless of each flagships costing not less than 4 occasions extra.

Finally, that blend of worth and long-term assist makes the Galaxy A16 5G nice for a number of specific teams of individuals, like children or grandparents. It is smart for the previous as you received’t have to fret an excessive amount of in regards to the cellphone choosing up scuffs or scrapes because it doesn’t price an excessive amount of to restore or substitute, whereas it is smart for the latter as One UI most likely received’t change an excessive amount of over the course of its many updates, making it straightforward so that you can assist because the go-to tech assist individual in your loved ones.

Google’s 6.3-inch flagship packs the identical {hardware} — 50MP major, 48MP periscope telephoto, and 48MP ultrawide sensors — because the Pixel 9 Professional XL, however the smaller physique makes it a lot simpler to drag out of your pocket and seize a photograph earlier than you miss the second. On prime of that, the Pixel 9 Professional nonetheless helps all the identical AI-powered taking pictures modes like Add Me, the refreshed Panorama mode, and the power to edit your photographs after the very fact with Magic Editor.

Need to see the proof for your self? You’ll be able to take a look at an entire bunch of our digital camera check samples in this Google Drive.

After all, to make its compact Professional mannequin run easily, Google needed to make a minimize or two. Fortunately, it didn’t comply with the trail of Apple’s earlier Execs, placing completely different telephoto sensors on every measurement, however as an alternative opted for a smaller battery. The Pixel 9 Professional packs a still-solid 4,700mAh battery with 27W wired charging from the identical USB-C Pixel charger I’ve talked about a couple of times and 21W wi-fi charging from the in-house Pixel Stand. In any other case, although, the whole lot from the mixture of aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to the top-notch construct high quality and the still-questionable Temperature Sensor is an ideal match for the full-sized flagship.

Extra particularly, the Razr Extremely packs a formidable 16GB of RAM in its base configuration with 512GB of storage by default, each of that are greater than any of Samsung’s foldables can match. It then pairs them up with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a 4,700mAh battery that towers over that of most flip telephones I’ve reviewed. Not solely that, however Motorola’s top-tier flip cellphone additionally packs a charging setup price writing residence about. The Razr Extremely ships able to deal with as much as 68W wired TurboPower speeds with 30W wi-fi charging as a backup, not less than so long as you might have a succesful charger. That’s quick sufficient to run circles round everybody however OnePlus within the US, and makes an already nice cellphone really feel even higher.

Maybe what wins the Razr Extremely probably the most factors over Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip lineup is that I nonetheless favor its cowl display screen expertise. There aren’t any hoops to leap by way of, no additional software program to put in, and no bizarre layouts to keep away from. Sure, your apps use your complete show by default, that means they could get minimize off by the digital camera cutouts, however you’ll be able to shortly repair that with a press of the gesture tablet to compact the interface right into a smaller sq.. On prime of that, AI companions like Perplexity, Gemini, and Moto AI come optimized for the duvet display screen, making it straightforward to ask for assist when wanted.

Whereas I don’t normally prefer to put an excessive amount of inventory into the best way a cellphone seems to be — particularly if I’m going to place it right into a case — there’s no method round it on the Razr Extremely. Each colourful end that Motorola affords comes from its shut partnership with Pantone, and the completely different again panels provide extra character than the same old mixture of Gorilla Glass can match. I reviewed the Mountain Path model, which comes with a picket again and a bronzed aluminum body, however Motorola’s Scarab end is an eye-catcher with its deep inexperienced shade and barely fuzzy Alcantara again panel. I is perhaps involved about the way it’ll age within the coming years, however I can’t say I’ve seen anybody use supplies fairly like Motorola.

What stunned me most about coming to the Pixel 9 Professional Fold a bit late within the sport is that it doesn’t really feel too completely different from the small Pixel 9 Professional, not less than not when closed. In consequence, I’m way more keen to drag it out of my pocket for informal duties like streaming, social media, and updating my Strava actions with out feeling like I’m making an attempt to kind on a knife’s edge. Then, after I’ve discovered no matter present I’m desperately making an attempt to maintain up with, I’m completely snug opening the almost bezelless inside show and solely dropping a little bit of area to letterboxing.

Though it’s an enormous leap ahead for Google’s foldables total, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold isn’t with out its quirks. Its slim type issue means the Tensor G4 chipset has to work a bit more durable to vent warmth, whereas the 4,650mAh battery is held again by simply 21W wired charging — barely sooner than what you get from the Pixel 9a for a 3rd of the price. Google’s peripheral cameras really feel like odd selections, too, with only a 10.8MP telephoto and 10.5MP ultrawide to carry down the newly sq. digital camera bump.

And but, I nonetheless really feel just like the Pixel 9 Professional Fold is one of the best tablet-style foldable you may get your fingers on. Possibly it’s as a result of lots of the Android Authority crew are Pixel followers by nature, however I really feel like Google’s method to Android stays one of many cleanest and best to navigate, with the correct mix of optimizations for the interior show. You’ll additionally get the complete suite of AI-powered options like Name Display screen, Pixel Studio, and Gemini Reside, simply with way more actual property on which to discover them.

Up first, the cell that retains the lights on. The OnePlus 13’s 6,000mAh cell is giant sufficient to make all however probably the most devoted gaming telephones really feel insufficient. It’s a full 1,000mAh bigger than the battery Samsung tapped for its Galaxy S25 Extremely or Google selected for its Pixel 9 Professional XL, but the OnePlus 13 isn’t any thicker than both one. It could possibly obtain such a exceptional capability due to its change from lithium-ion know-how to silicon-carbon, a transfer that we’d like to see the likes of Samsung copy the following time it tries an ultra-thin Edge mannequin.

Higher, our goal drain testing confirmed that the OnePlus 13 can go on and on due to its spectacular cooling setup and environment friendly Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. It does expertise some fairly excessive throttling right here and there, often quitting out benchmarking checks within the identify of thermal administration, however I’ve at all times been in a position to go two days between expenses, so I’m not complaining.

And, once you inevitably drain your OnePlus 13, SuperVOOC charging is a number of the finest within the enterprise. You’ll have to maintain the included USB-A charger shut at hand since SuperVOOC is a a lot completely different customary than USB PD PPS by way of assist, however once you watch the OnePlus 13 fly again to a 50% cost in simply 13 minutes, you most likely received’t have a problem with it. OnePlus’s newest flagship additionally helps 50W wi-fi charging by way of a brand-new magnetic charger with a built-in fan, although you’ll want a magnetic charger and may need to make use of a particular plastic panel to guard the Arctic Daybreak end must you select that colorway — it’s a little bit of a complicated mess, and the one blot on an in any other case near-perfect package deal.

After all, these options aren’t fully unparalleled within the flagship Android phase — effectively, 24GB of RAM is loads — however its intelligent gaming tweaks set the ROG Telephone 9 Professional aside. It pulls the programmable matrix from the again of the ROG Zephyrus and pairs it with pressure-sensitive triggers dotted across the body that will help you draw a number of the controls off the 6.78-inch AMOLED itself. These options, mixed with the improved effectivity of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, had my colleague Rob Triggs gaming with a smile, pushing the ROG Telephone 9 Professional as arduous as he wished to search out out the place its throttling level lay.

For what is perhaps the primary time, although, Rob additionally declared this to be a gaming cellphone he won’t thoughts utilizing each day. See, a number of gaming-specific gadgets fall into the widespread lure of being too huge, too edgy, and too costly for informal utilization, to not point out the truth that digital camera {hardware} virtually at all times comes final. On the ROG Telephone 9 Professional, nevertheless, you get an up to date 50MP LYTIA 700 sensor for the majority of your pictures, and ASUS has reimagined its stabilization for higher video taking pictures. The show can also be brighter and smoother than earlier than, topping out at a 185Hz refresh fee and a couple of,500 nits of brightness, which is greater than sufficient for a shiny, sunny day.

Additionally, in the event you’re critical about pushing the ROG Telephone 9 Professional to its gaming limits (and why wouldn’t you be?), ASUS has a number of equipment price testing. Rob bought loads of mileage out of the removable controller beneath, although he additionally talked about the exterior cooling setup as a useful possibility when making an attempt to sport and cost concurrently. And, in the event you’re not set on the customizable LED matrix on the again, it’s also possible to take a look at the ROG Telephone 9 to avoid wasting a few bucks.