The 5 finest smartphones of 2025 up to now

Everybody is aware of probably the most thrilling smartphones launch within the again half of the calendar. Samsung’s foldables, Google’s newest Pixels, and naturally the iPhone 17 are all tipped to return out after June, if rumors are to be believed. Having stated that, we will nonetheless have a good time the telephones which have already come out in 2025. Why not? There are not any legal guidelines in opposition to it.

Whereas it is true that this record will focus totally on non-flagship fashions, that does not imply they are not worthy of reward. To this point, 2025 has introduced us loads of fascinating smartphones at compelling costs, in addition to a few bona fide flagships which are price your consideration.

So, listed below are the very best smartphones from the primary half of 2025. To be clear, this record isn’t ranked in any specific order. These are simply 5 good telephones, of us.

Google Pixel 9a

Google’s Pixel A-series of funds telephones with flagship-like specs has all the time supplied nice worth. The 2025 variant is not any completely different.

The Pixel 9a is loads like earlier A-series Pixel telephones in that it is very just like the bottom Pixel 9, however with a number of little compromises right here and there to get the value right down to a downright agreeable $499. You get a spiffy 6.3-inch show with a 120Hz refresh charge, a big 5,100mAh battery, and Google’s newest Tensor G4 processor for that worth. Positive, you lose a little bit of RAM and storage capability by going with Pixel 9a, however these are small potatoes in comparison with the methods through which Pixel 9a is just like Pixel 9, however for much less cash.

Google additionally unveiled a brand new Pixel design with the 9a, which dropped the horizontal digicam bar that had adorned Pixel telephones for the previous a number of years. Positive, it appears a bit extra generic than earlier than, however it additionally lies flatter on a desk than earlier than, too. Between all of that and historically strong cameras courtesy of Google, the Pixel 9a may be the very best general worth on this record.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely

The S25 Extremely’s rounded corners are very good.
Credit score: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Full disclosure: I did not love the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely after I reviewed it earlier this 12 months.

That has much less to do with the telephone itself and extra to do with the rising creep of AI options into all of our units, although. The S25 Extremely isn’t very completely different from the S24 Extremely by way of {hardware}; you get the identical show, storage, and RAM specs from the earlier mannequin, for a similar beginning worth of $1,299. Some extra AI options have been meant to be the principle promoting level for S25 Extremely, which simply is not that compelling to me, personally, however YMMV.

Nonetheless, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor contained in the S25 Extremely is top-of-the-line stuff, offering the telephone with wonderful all-around efficiency. It is received an enormous, sturdy battery, a barely larger show than the S24 Extremely, and new rounded corners that make it really feel a lot better within the hand. Whereas I would not suggest upgrading to an S25 Extremely if you have already got an S24 Extremely, these with older Samsung handsets who’re searching for the very best of the very best ought to actually look into it. It is a good telephone, if not a mindblowing one.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Tiny.
Credit score: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

The opposite Samsung system on this record additionally matches beneath the “good and cool, but not mindblowing” umbrella.

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge has loads in frequent with the S25 Extremely. It makes use of the identical processor, its show has the identical decision and refresh charge (though it is 2/10 of an inch smaller), and even the RAM is similar. You get entry to the entire similar AI options and even the identical 200MP broad lens on the rear for images.

So, why are these two completely different telephones? Easy: The S25 Edge is manner thinner. Coming in at simply 5.8mm of thickness, it is the thinnest telephone Samsung sells proper now, and is considerably extra svelte than the 8.2mm S25 Extremely. Put merely, the S25 Edge appears and feels cool within the arms due to how skinny it’s. There is not an even bigger promoting level than that, truthfully. It feels futuristic in a manner nothing else on this record does.

OnePlus 13

It’s possible you’ll not have heard of it, however it’s good.
Credit score: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

The final flagship telephone on this record is the OnePlus 13, which comes from a Chinese language model that is probably not as well-known within the U.S. as Google, Samsung, and Apple. However that does not imply it ought to be that manner.

OnePlus 13 carries on the custom of earlier OnePlus telephones in that it provides flagship specs and options for lower than $1,000. At $899, it is a whole lot cheaper than an S25 Extremely, however the two telephones are literally fairly comparable. OnePlus’s handset features a comparable Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 12GB of RAM, and an enormous 6,000mAh battery that retains it alive for longer than 24 hours of regular use. Even our intensive battery testing received a clear 24 hours of display day trip of the OnePlus 13. It has loads of endurance.

A trio of 50MP cameras on the again and a few requisite AI options make the OnePlus 13 a really strong worth for many who need flagship efficiency, however do not have greater than $1,000 to burn on a telephone.

iPhone 16e

The most recent iPhone appears easy, however has loads going for it.
Credit score: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Talking of nice battery life, let’s speak concerning the iPhone 16e.

Nominally Apple’s reply to the Pixel 9a (in that it is principally an iPhone 16 with some corners reduce to deliver the value right down to $599), the iPhone 16e is an improve over Apple’s earlier iPhone SE funds line. You get the swanky new A18 Bionic from the iPhone 16, in addition to 128GB of beginning storage and full assist for Apple Intelligence options. The 6.1-inch OLED show is greater than ok for a telephone of its worth, although it’s restricted to 60Hz.

The place it actually shines, although, is in longevity. Our reviewer was in a position to get two days of strong use out of a full cost, which is unbelievable for any telephone, a lot much less a funds mannequin. These searching for a meat-and-potatoes iPhone that may get years of software program updates ought to look no additional.

Honorable Point out: Motorola Razr Extremely

That wooden end is a magnificence.
Credit score: Motorola

As one of many solely new foldable telephones launched in 2025, we won’t ignore the Motorola Razr Extremely, particularly the model with a slick wooden end. (Effectively, we might, however we selected to not.) The flagship model of Motorola’s foldable telephone sequence has its followers and critics, and it is solely been out for a pair months. We’re nonetheless within the technique of testing this telephone, and we’re not able to render a full verdict fairly but. Although, if you’d like a foldable, we suggest ready, as Samsung is anticipated to launch its new Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 telephones within the coming weeks.