The best smartphones to buy in 2025

The smartphone market continues to be highly competitive, with companies being pushed and pulled by each other to innovate. In this guide we take a look at the best smartphones to buy in 2025, analysing what has made each of them stand out and impress.
If one of these phones catches your eye, browse our selection of affordable contract, refurbished and SIM-free devices, available in various styles and storage sizes.
1 - Best overall phone
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Release date: 31st January 2024
• Weight: 232g
• Dimensions: 162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm
• OS: Android 15
• Screen size: 6.8” Dynamic AMOLED
• Resolution: 3120 x 1440
• CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• RAM: 12GB
• Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
• Battery: 5000mAh
• Rear camera: 200MP + 50MP + 12MP + 10MP
• Front camera: 12MP
Reasons to buy
• Extremely fast and responsive
• Large battery capacity
• Powerful camera array
• 7 years of updates
Things to consider
• One of the more expensive phones available
• Large size, so not the most pocket-friendly device
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra takes our top spot for the best phone available in 2025. Its deft combination of exceptional performance, beautiful design and brilliant cameras is truly industry-leading, offering one of the most premium smartphone experiences.
From top to bottom, the S24 Ultra is as premium as it gets in the smartphone world. Its sharp, boxy frame is wrapped in a titanium shell that provides excellent protection against bumps and knocks, while also giving the S24 Ultra an air of elegance; you know you’re looking at a premium piece of technology.
On the front of this beautiful phone is a 6.8” Dynamic AMOLED screen with a resolution of 3120 x 1440. The visuals provided by this display are some of the best you’ll see on any smartphone, producing images that are bursting with detail and exceptionally vibrant.
Performance here is also best-in-class, delivered by the lightning-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. This is an incredible piece of silicon, capable of running games at the highest graphics settings with plenty of horsepower to spare. It also contributes to the S24 Ultra’s AI features built into Galaxy AI, such as Circle to Search and Live Translate.
If you want the absolute best of the best, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the phone to choose. Whether you love taking photos, playing games or watching videos, this handset excels no matter what is thrown at it.
2 – Best phone from Apple
iPhone 16 Pro Max
• Release date: 20th September 2024
• Weight: 227g
• Dimensions: 163 x 77.6 x 8.25mm
• OS: iOS 18
• Screen size: 6.9” Super Retina XDR
• Resolution: 2868 x 1320
• CPU: A18 Pro
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
• Battery: 4685mAh
• Rear camera: 48MP + 12MP + 48MP
• Front camera: 12MP
Reasons to buy
• Camera Control button
• 4K 120FPS video recording
• Apple Intelligence
• Super Retina XDR display
Things to consider
• Features for Apple Intelligence rolled out over time
• Most expensive of the iPhone 16 series
The best phone you can buy from Apple in 2025, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is an exceptional device. It built on the brilliance of the 15 Pro Max by incorporating a larger screen, a faster processor, and new buttons to considerably improve the user experience. This is undoubtedly one of the best handsets released in recent years.
One of the biggest additions to the 16 Pro Max was the Camera Control button; a lifesaver if you enjoy taking photos. With a single tap or double-press, you can adjust settings like zoom without needing to open a separate menu. That might not seem significant, but if you’ve ever tried tweaking the zoom on a photo while holding the phone, you’ll know how useful the Camera Control button can be.
In our review, we noted how the 16 Pro Max felt like a mix of old and new. The Camera Control button - as well as the Action button which was carried over from the 15 series - hark back to the days when the iPhone felt more tactile and focused less on digital buttons. That’s not to say that digital buttons don’t have a place, but the hybrid approach on the 16 Pro Max is a reminder of how nice it feels to physically interact with a smartphone.
Whilst the presence of these buttons has us looking back to the iPhone’s past, Apple Intelligence is gazing into the future of smartphone technology. Apple’s take on AI really impressed us with its useful generative features like Genmoji and Image Wand, which make it far easier to personalise your 16 Pro Max experience. Apple Intelligence is also incredibly simple to use, whether you’ve used smartphone AI before or are new to the technology
3 – Best phone from Google
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
• Release date: 22nd August 2024
• Weight: 221g
• Dimensions: 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm
• OS: Android 15
• Screen size: 6.8” Super Actua OLED
• Resolution: 1344 x 2992
• CPU: Google Tensor G4
• RAM: 16GB
• Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
• Battery: 5060mAh
• Rear camera: 50MP + 48MP + 48MP
• Front camera: 42MP
Reasons to buy
• Superb cameras
• Pixel AI
• Packed full of software features
• 7 years of updates
Things to consider
• Much larger than other Pixel phones
When it comes to software, few phones can match the Pixel series from Google. From the camera suite to the onboard AI, there are a multitude of ways you can use your Pixel phone to suit you, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL represents the best that the series has to offer.
Being the XL member of the Pixel 9 family, this smartphone is the largest of the three. It has a significantly bigger screen as a result, but it also means you might have trouble fitting into your pocket compared to the base and Pro models. Going back to the screen, this 6.8” OLED display is a beauty to look at regardless of what you’re watching. It’s also supported by a 120Hz refresh rate to ensure everything looks and feels silky-smooth.
When it comes to artificial intelligence, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is one of the most feature-packed smartphones available. Not only are you getting Google Gemini and its real-time search functionality, Pixel AI is also included as another tool in the arsenal. Pixel AI encompasses a wide range of AI-powered features such as Circle to Search, Video Boost and Best Take, all of which elevate the Pixel 9 Pro XL into a truly exceptional smartphone.
4 – Excellent flip phone option
Motorola Razr 50 Ultra
• Release date: June 2024
• Weight: 189g
• Dimensions: 73.99 x 171.42 x 7.09mm (open)
• OS: Android 15
• Screen size: 6.9” pOLED (main display); 4.0” pOLED (cover display)
• Resolution: 2640 x 1080 (main display); 1272 x 1080 (cover display)
• CPU: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
• RAM: 12GB
• Storage: 512GB
• Battery: 4000mAh
• Rear camera: 50MP + 50MP
• Front camera: 32MP
Reasons to buy
• Brilliant flip form factor
• Beautiful cover display
• Great battery life
Things to consider
• The cover display camera is okay for selfies, but better options available
Flip phones have come a long way over the years, to the extent that many modern flip phones are comparable to the very best traditional smartphones. The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is one of greatest examples of this, serving up stunning displays and a great suite of software features.
A top flip phone is often defined by two things: how good the displays are, and the visibility of a crease where the screens fold over. The Razr 50 Ultra excels on both fronts, as Motorola have not only included two beautiful OLED screens, but the crease between them is almost non-existent. As a result, the clarity of these displays is second-to-none in the flip phone world.
We can’t talk about the Razr 50 Ultra without also addressing its excellent battery life. The capacity of its battery isn’t the standout here, although it is a very reasonable 4000mAh; the recharge speeds are the star of the show. 45W wired charging is supported, as well as 15W wireless charging if you’re on-the-go. These really are exceptional charging speeds and put the Razr 50 Ultra ahead of some of the industry’s biggest handsets.
5- Best alternative flagship phone
Nothing Phone (2)
• Release date: July 2023
• Weight: 201.2g
• Dimensions: 162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6
• OS: Android 13
• Screen size: 6.7” AMOLED
• Resolution: 2412x1080
• CPU: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
• RAM: 8GB (on 128GB model) / 12GB (on 256GB and 512GB models)
• Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
• Battery: 4700mAh
• Rear camera: 50MP (main) + 50MP (ultra-wide)
• Front camera: 32MP
Reasons to buy
• Unique design
• Vivid and responsive display
• Excellent cameras
Things to consider
• Differing amounts of RAM based on storage chosen
Having only released their first phone in 2022, Nothing had a point to prove. The Nothing Phone (1) struck a chord with its unique design, but its successor – the Nothing Phone (2) – established Nothing as a brand to watch.
First and foremost, this smartphone has a style that stands out among its competitors, which isn’t easy to accomplish when an industry standard has been set. The Glyph UI design is immediately distinctive with its glowing LED curves and straight lines, almost like a futuristic hieroglyph. When you see this up close or from a distance, you know you’re looking at a Nothing phone.
These lights aren’t just for show, however. When the phone is charging or someone is calling, the glyphs will animate; a creative touch that goes a long way to establishing the Nothing Phone (2)’s unique style.
Moving onto the front of this handset, the Nothing Phone (2) is also very visually appealing. Its screen consists of a dazzling 6.7” OLED display, complete with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate depending on what you’re watching. It’s no understatement to say that this screen is beautiful, and it is exciting to see such impressive specs from a relatively young name in the smartphone space.
Other areas of the Nothing Phone (2) are just as impressive, such as the highly detailed 50MP main and ultra-wide cameras, clean NothingOS interface and lightning-fast Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor.
If you’re looking for a flagship smartphone that does things a little bit differently, the Nothing Phone (2) might be for you.
6- Best budget phone
iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
• Release date: March 2023
• Weight: 144g
• Dimensions: 67.3 x 138.4 x 7.3
• OS: iOS 15 (original version) / iOS 17 (can be updated to)
• Screen size: 4.7” Retina HD
• Resolution: 1334x750
• CPU: A15 Bionic
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB
• Battery: 2018mAh
• Rear camera: 12MP (main)
• Front camera: 7MP
Reasons to buy
• Small, pocket-friendly size
• Great 4.7” display
• Extremely light
Things to consider
• Battery size is much smaller than other models
The third generation of Apple’s smaller form factor smartphone packs in an impressive level of performance, standing out as an affordable entry point into the iPhone world. It expands on this core selling point of previous SE models by pushing the SE 3rd Gen forward in key areas, all of which combine to make this a device still worth taking note of.
Whilst the 4.7” HD display remains the same as the 2nd Gen SE, the chipset of the 3rd Gen model is the faster A15 Bionic. The results are extremely impressive, given the affordability and small size of the SE within the wider iPhone world.
Daily tasks and apps run more smoothly thanks to this improved chipset, and photos with the 12MP wide camera are detail-rich due to the addition of** Deep Fusion** processing, which takes multiple rapid shots and helps you choose the best image.
An important factor of any phone is battery life, and the SE 3rd Gen supports up to 15 hours of video playback. The fast-charging feature gets the SE back up to 50% in approximately 30 minutes, and the device can be charged with existing QI wireless accessories.
The iPhone SE 3rd Gen continues to stand its ground among very lofty competition. With the additional inclusion of 5G connectivity, this handset is an affordable gateway into the iPhone range that packs in many modern smartphone features.
There you have it: our picks for the best phones you can buy in 2025. If one of these handsets sparks your interest, there are several ways you can dispose of your old device. Take a look at our guide on how you can make use of your previous phone once you’ve decided on an upgrade.