The world of Android smartphones is big, rich in variety, and open to almost any budget out there. From basic, dependable smartphones, to cutting-edge foldable devices of the future, anyone looking for the best Android smartphones is spoiled for choice.
Which is the best Android smartphone available in 2025, though? Is it the obvious choice, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra? Or maybe the new Pixel 9 series devices have something to offer that's not immediately obvious? What about OnePlus and Motorola? There might be a dark horse somewhere on the Android plains, offering an amazing bang for your buck.
We made a comprehensive list to help you find the best Android phone for your specific needs. We have a very thorough testing procedure in place, and our phone rating widget takes into account various aspects of the smartphone experience, so rest assured that this list is as objective as it gets.
But fret not, under each entry, we will elaborate on the score and explain why you should consider that particular model, what its strong and weak sides are, and what the alternatives are. But first, here's how these scores are calculated.
Gorilla Armor is still excellent for its anti-reflective properties
Performance is great, even if stressing benchmarks can get it to throttle
What we don't like
New camera lenses and their "floating" style will gather gunk
Same old battery capacity, battery life, charging speeds
Speakers got a minor upgrade, but we wanted more
8
PhoneArena Rating
7.6
Price Class Average
Battery Life
8
7.8
Photo Quality
8.2
7.1
Video Quality
7.1
6.3
Charging
6.8
6.9
Performance Heavy
8.2
7.4
Performance Light
8.5
8
Display Quality
9
8.3
Design
8
8.3
Wireless Charging
6.4
7
Biometrics
8
7.7
Audio
8
7.9
Software
8
7.8
Why the score?
This device scores 5% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025), Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
The Galaxy S25 Ultra launched with a bang. While some might argue it's more of an evolution than a revolution, the refinements Samsung made to its ultra-premium flagship have resulted in a more well-rounded device.
This year's model adopts the same flat-frame design that the non-Ultra models have been using for the past couple of generations, creating a more uniform lineup. The S Pen is still present, and there are subtle tweaks to the camera housing for a new look.
Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 Ultra packs Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. The ongoing collaboration between Samsung and Qualcomm has produced another "for Galaxy" chip. This translates into a slight overclock, delivering a bit more performance—particularly during demanding tasks and in synthetic benchmarks.
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Speaking of performance, this year’s Snapdragon is a true powerhouse, giving Apple’s A18 Pro some serious run for its money. The Galaxy S25 Ultra scored an impressive 3,137 points in Geekbench’s single-core test and 9,769 in the multi-core variant of the test, outperforming the A18 Pro.
The camera system has also seen some upgrades. There's a new ultrawide sensor, complemented by updated post-processing algorithms powered by AI and the ProVision Engine. The phone doesn't oversharpen as much and colors are more natural. The S25 Ultra hence occupies the top spot in our camera benchmark rankings, producing stunning photos across the board.
The 6.9-inch display remains as great as ever, protected by second-generation Gorilla Armor 2 glass with the cool anti-glare coating we know and love from the S24 Ultra. While battery capacity and charging speeds remain unchanged, AI optimizations allow the Galaxy S25 Ultra to outperform its predecessor by approximately 40 minutes in each one of our battery tests.
It’s clear that Samsung already had a winning formula for its Galaxy Ultra series. With the past few iterations being already great, it’s no surprise that the Galaxy S25 Ultra slots in the top spot of our list. Be sure to check out our full Galaxy S25 Ultra review.
Even though the Xperia 5 series is currently on hold (and potentially discontinued), the last specie of the "compact Xperia" lineup deserves attention and get a spot on our best Android phones list.
The Xperia 5 Mark V is the pinnacle of the evolution of Sony's compact "little flagship." This phone features a 6.1-inch 21:9 OLED screen (the last one with this aspect ratio before Sony made the switch to 19.5:9), snappy processor, a pair of capable cameras on the back, and Sony's pro-grade software.
The build quality is great, there's a dual-action shutter button to give you more feel when taking pictures, and typical Sony things such as the 2TB microSD card slot and the 3.5 mm headphone jack are present as well.
The price might be a bit steep for some but now, a year later, the phone can be purchased with a decent discount.
Bright and color-accurate display that's a joy to use
Excellent performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite
Good battery life thanks to a 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery
What we don't like
Camera isn't better than last year's OnePlus 12
Battery life feels like it should and could be better
AI features are cloud-based
7.5
PhoneArena Rating
7.4
Price Class Average
Battery Life
7.5
7.4
Photo Quality
7.1
7.2
Video Quality
6.5
6.4
Charging
8.4
6.7
Performance Heavy
9
7.1
Performance Light
8.3
7.6
Display Quality
8
8
Design
7
7.6
Wireless Charging
8.1
7.1
Biometrics
8
7.8
Audio
7
7.2
Software
6
8.1
Why the score?
This device scores 1.3% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the OPPO Find X8 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S25+ and Samsung Galaxy S25
The OnePlus 13 is the latest and hottest flagship from OnePlus, a smartphone brand that disrupted the industry more than a decade ago with its first affordable flagship-killer phone. Over the years, the company has experienced highs and lows, undergoing various transformations. Today, the OnePlus 13 stands tall, ready to compete with the big players in the industry.
In typical OnePlus flagship fashion, the OnePlus 13 is packed with features. It boasts the latest Qualcomm processor, delivering impressive raw power that challenges even iPhones (and outperforms them in some benchmarks). The Hasselblad-branded camera system makes a bold statement on the back, featuring three versatile and capable lenses.
For the first time in a long while, the front display is flat, offering impressive brightness levels confirmed in our tests. Beneath the surface lies a massive 6,000 mAh battery, utilizing the latest silicon-carbon technology, where silicon crystals are infused into the graphene of the battery to enhance capacity.
Pair this enormous battery with fast charging (a charger is included in the retail box), capable of fully charging the phone in about 40 minutes, and you have a true quality-of-life improvement. Additionally, OnePlus has integrated trendy AI features into its latest flagship. OnePlus AI offers tools like AI Notes, AI photo editing, Circle Search, and more.
What’s most impressive about this flagship, however, is its price. The base model starts at $899, which is significantly more affordable compared to other top-tier flagships like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Key OnePlus 13 specs:
Screen: 6.82-inch AMOLED, 1440 x 3168 pixels, 1-120Hz refresh rate
Battery and Charging: 6000mAh, 80W wired, 50W wireless
4. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
What we like
Stylish and durable new design
Quite a few new AI features
Fun, super-wide front camera
What we don't like
More expensive than before
Some controversial AI photo editing tools
7.5
PhoneArena Rating
7.3
Price Class Average
Battery Life
7.8
7.5
Photo Quality
7.8
6.9
Video Quality
6.6
6.3
Charging
6.1
6.7
Performance Heavy
5.8
7
Performance Light
7.1
7.8
Display Quality
8
7.9
Design
8
7.8
Wireless Charging
6.9
7
Biometrics
8
7.5
Audio
8
7.3
Software
10
7.7
Why the score?
This device scores 2.7% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25+
As far as new Android phones are concerned, the recent Pixels are fresh out of the hardware oven. The Pixel 9 Pro XL introduces a fresh design, a more powerful chip, faster charging capabilities, and several new AI features. However, at first glance, it may not seem like a significant leap forward from the Pixel 8 Pro, especially given its higher price point.
However, the smartphone game these days is played on the software field, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a lot to offer. The camera system includes enhanced computational photography capabilities, leveraging AI to deliver even more stunning photos in various lighting conditions. There are new AI tricks onboard thanks to Gemini Nano, and Gemini Live, and last but not least, you're getting seven years of software updates.
When it comes to software tricks and AI, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is your best bet. If you like to be on the forefront of AI and don't mind sacrificing some raw power in exchange, this flagship will serve you well for the (seven) years to come.
Camera: 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP 5x telephoto, 42MP front
Versions: 16/128, 16/256, 16/512GB or 16/1TB.
Battery and Charging: 5060 mAh, 37W wired, 23W wireless
5. ROG Phone 9 Pro
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
What we like
Stellar performance
Fantastic battery endurance and good charging speed
Design mixes fun with classy
What we don't like
A bit heavy
Camera is OK, but not on par with $1k competitors
Speakers still a downgrade from ROG 7, not as good as iPhone 16 Pro Max
7.5
PhoneArena Rating
7.6
Price Class Average
Battery Life
8.6
7.7
Photo Quality
6.3
7.2
Video Quality
6.2
6.5
Charging
7.9
6.5
Performance Heavy
9.1
7.4
Performance Light
8.9
8.1
Display Quality
7
8
Design
8
8.2
Wireless Charging
8.5
7.1
Biometrics
7
7.7
Audio
8
7.7
Software
4
8
Why the score?
This device scores 1.3% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The ROG Phone 9 Pro is here, and it’s ready to dominate the gaming scene. While its design is quite similar to last year’s model and the camera system hasn’t seen major upgrades, those aren’t the features you buy a gaming phone for. The best feature for sure is its impressive bright AMOLED display that cranks up to 185Hz, along with a big battery with fast charging (and yes, the charger is included). Couple this with loads of RAM, and a slick LED dot design on the back that screams "gaming."
The beating heart of the ROG Phone 9 Pro is the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, making it a performance beast. In fact, it obliterated pretty much every other phone in the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, held its ground against the A18 Pro in single-core, and swept the floor with the competition in the 3DMark stress test without breaking a sweat. Even after gaming for hours the phone never throttled, delivering peak smartphone performance.
For serious gamers, features like ultrasonic shoulder triggers are the cherry on top, letting you minimize screen touches and maximize your in-game precision. All this power and innovation doesn’t come cheap, though—the ROG Phone 9 Pro carries a hefty price tag. Still, if you want the best gaming phone available today, this is it. Check out our full Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Review for a deep dive.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro key specs:
Screen: 6.78-inch, 185Hz, QHD+ OLED screen
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
Camera: 50MP main, 13MP ultrawide, 32MP 5x telephoto, 32MP front
Versions: 16/512GB or 24/1TB.
Battery and Charging: 5800 mAh, 65W wired, 15W wireless
5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
What we like
Narrower than other foldables
Very sturdy hinge
Polished software, long updates
What we don't like
Thicker and heavier than rivals
More pronounced "crease" than others
Expensive
6.9
PhoneArena Rating
7.1
Price Class Average
Battery Life
5.6
6
Photo Quality
6.6
7
Video Quality
5.9
5.9
Charging
6.2
7
Performance Heavy
7.1
7
Performance Light
7.6
7.5
Display Quality
8
8.3
Design
7
8.5
Wireless Charging
6.3
7.2
Biometrics
7
8
Audio
8
6.8
Software
8
6.8
Why the score?
This device scores 2.8% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the OPPO Find N5, Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and vivo X Fold 3 Pro
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the best foldable phone you can get right now, and one of the best Android phones as well. The Korean company took the competition very seriously and made improvements in the design of its latest flagship foldable. The Z Fold 6 is thinner and lighter, and more comfortable to use in general, compared to its predecessor.
The Fold 6's main display features an upgraded protective layer, offering improved resistance to pressure and sharp objects. Additionally, the screen's central crease is less of an eyesore, compared to the previous model. There's a powerful chipset inside, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and even though the Elite model came out, the Z Fold 6 still has peak flagship performance up its sleeve.
The camera is still solid, even though it's mostly the same as last year, but it managed to score decently in our Camera Rating, so you're getting a very capable camera phone as well. The battery life has also been improved, but the fast charging is not so fast at 25W. The other big drawback is the price, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at $1,899 for the 256GB version.
Usable external screen, feels like a "normal" phone
Thin body, satisfying hinge
Google Pixel quality camera
What we don't like
Battery life is not amazing
Tensor chip can't compare to other flagships
Quite expensive when Pixel 9 Pro will give you a better camera
6.9
PhoneArena Rating
7.1
Price Class Average
Battery Life
5.7
6
Photo Quality
7.1
7
Video Quality
5.6
5.9
Charging
5.3
7
Performance Heavy
5.9
7
Performance Light
7
7.5
Display Quality
8
8.3
Design
8
8.5
Wireless Charging
6.7
7.2
Biometrics
8
8
Audio
6
6.8
Software
10
6.8
Why the score?
This device scores 2.8% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the OPPO Find N5, vivo X Fold 3 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the second attempt at the foldable phone by Google. This year the company has decided to bring the foldable under the main series' umbrella and now the Pixel 9 Pro Fold belongs with the Pixel 9 series.
The phone comes with big upgrades compared to its predecessor, the original Pixel Fold, mainly because the timeframe was a bit longer than usual between generations. The processor onboard is the latest Tensor G4, which one, while not a powerhouse like the Snapdragon 8 Elite and the A18 Pro, brings a huge improvement over the Tensor G2 in the original Fold, and also comes with AI baked in.
The overall design is thinner and lighter than the first model, and now the Pixel 9 Pro Fold looks much more capable of competing with other foldable models on the market, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the OnePlus Open. The big drawback, as is with all modern foldables, is the the price. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold starts at $1,799 for the 256GB model, which is a tough sell.
OnePlus rolled the dice and ventured into the foldable market with the OnePlus Open last year, and boy oh boy, did the company hit a jackpot. When the OnePlus Open came out, it went to take our prestigious Best Foldable award for 2023.
Now, one year later, the OnePlus Open is still a very potent device. And even though the successor is right around the corner, this foldable offers something quite unique - a different form factor.
Even by today's standards, the OnePlus Open offers one of the fastest charging out there (especially on a foldable), with 0 - 100% charge times around 43 minutes. The camera system is very powerful and holds its ground against newer models such as the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Last but not least, the OnePlus Open launched at $1,699 and now sells with a 23% discount on the OnePlus website, dropping the price down to $1,299.99, which is frankly amazing.
This device scores 5.1% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, Honor Magic6 RSR Porsche Design and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Motorola tried bringing back the iconic Razr brand in 2019, but it had a rough start. Things started improving in 2022 when the company made some design changes, and now, the latest Razr phones are offering a functional, usable cover screen, a compact form factor, and great pricing. And here is the latest iteration of the Razr.
The Razr Ultra (2025) comes with some nice upgrades: a sleeker design, faster charging, a capable camera system, better sound system, and the best Qualcomm chip available. This time around the price reflect all the positive changes and it's well above $1000 ($1,299 to be precise), but it's more than worth it.
The battery life is also pretty good for a flip phone, and the real competition here comes from the Galaxy Z Flip 6. It's down to personal preference in the end, but Motorola has finally made a really competitive flagship flip phone.
This device scores 4.1% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 launched on July 10, building on what made its predecessors great. Samsung’s foldables used to dominate the market, but with the competition heating up, the Z Flip 6 needed to amp up its game to stay on top.
This phone packs the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, specially tuned "for Galaxy" with even faster speeds. One of the biggest upgrades is the new 50MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture. It’s a major step up, and the photos look great.
Samsung also bumped up the battery size to 4,000mAh (compared to 3,700mAh in the Z Flip 5). The hinge mechanism has been redesigned as well, and the screen’s crease is a little less noticeable this time around. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is currently the best flip phone in 2024, and one of the best Android phones as well. Last but not least, it's very competitively priced at around $1000.
Lovely design with vegan leather and vibrant colors
Hinge feels sturdier than before
External screen is now bigger (Razr Plus 2023 size)
What we don't like
Camera is hit-and-miss
Speakers are thin
Processor is on the weak end
6.3
PhoneArena Rating
6.9
Price Class Average
Battery Life
7.5
7.3
Photo Quality
5.9
6.6
Video Quality
4.9
5.6
Charging
7.5
6.8
Performance Heavy
3.8
6.8
Performance Light
5.9
7.3
Display Quality
8
7.9
Design
8
7.5
Wireless Charging
6.7
6.3
Biometrics
7
7.2
Audio
5
6.8
Software
5
7.1
Why the score?
This device scores 8.7% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the RedMagic 10S Pro, Motorola Razr (2025) and nubia Z70 Ultra
Welcome to the affordable flip phone paradise! The Motorola Razr (2024) takes the exotic and expensive flip phone of old and transforms it into a budget wonder, cheaper than many candy bar phones out there.
For just $699 you're getting a nice 6.9-inch AMOLED screen that can go up to 120Hz, a decent-sized 4,200 mAh battery with 30W fast wired charging, a 3.6-inch functional cover screen, and a sturdy hinge to finish the deal off.
The Motorola Razr (2024) is one of the best budget flip phones of the year, and also made its way into our best Android phone list.
The most important metric here is the phone rating. This composite score takes into account 12 different aspects of the smartphone experience, such as Battery Life, Photo Quality, Design, Performance, etc. The ratings are on a scale from 0 to 10, and the weight of each category in the final score is different, for example, battery life is more important than design, and so on.
There's also a metric called "Price Class Average" which takes into account the price of devices with similar specs, positioned in the same market space. This gives you a quick comparison of how a specific model compares to the average in its class, and gives more context to the score. Bear in mind that you won't find a lot of 9s and 10s on this list. We completely overhauled our rating system to be future proof and also be able to detect subtle differences and segregate phone models better.
Currently, the best Android smartphones hover around the 7.5 mark, which gives enough space for future models to evolve and get better. If you want to delve deeper into the ratings, there are sub-categories such as our Battery Score, and our Camera Score both of which go into more detail and break the score into even finer segments.
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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