It's that magical time of year when we look back at the phones that shaped the past twelve months. We've seen daring innovations, bold experiments, dozens of shiny new AI tricks, and yes, a few jaw-dropping shockers.
We've tested them all, and now it's time to roll out the red carpet and crown the winners!
Our first award goes to the phone we recommend every time someone asks for a great all-rounder that won't wreck their budget. The competition is stacked — you'll hear Pixel 9a for the camera, the iPhone 16E for reliability, or newcomers like the Nothing 3a Pro — but the Galaxy S25 FE hits the sweet spot best.
Unlike many affordable phones that stick to smaller sizes, the S25 FE offers a roomy display most people prefer. It packs a near-flagship chip, a legit three-camera system with a telephoto lens (rare at this price), a clean design, a solid 4,900mAh battery, and even 45W fast charging.
It's basically 90% of a Galaxy S25 Plus for about 60% of the price. One tip: get the 256GB version, so storage is less likely to be an issue.
OnePlus is always the odd one out when it comes to flagship phones, but this year, the new OnePlus 15 surprised us. First, it came earlier than expected, beating the Galaxy S26 series launch.
But it also has an insane 7,300 mAh battery that makes it a true two-day phone. Couple that with the OnePlus super-fast charging, and no other phone has quite the same overall battery experience.
The OnePlus 15 is also amazing for gaming. It's very efficient and cool, hitting record stability scores in benchmarks. And the kicker? It undercuts major flagships at a price of just $900.
And for the Design of the Year Award we are celebrating the phone that turns heads the moment you see it.
We considered joking about the $230 iPhone Pocket sock that caused so much outrage, but let's stay serious for this one.
The award goes to the iPhone Air. It may not top sales charts, but it's undeniably one of the most stylish phones of the year. Its impossibly slim and feather-light build triggers a genuine "wow" moment the first time you touch it. Yet it still feels solid thanks to the titanium frame, and the polished sides elevate its look.
Recommended For You
It's a bold design statement from Apple and easily the design we will remember the most this year.
Now, for the phone that just keeps getting better with age. The "Fine Wine" Award goes to the Pixel 9 Pro series. Among last year's phones, it has held up the best. Even with the Pixel 10 out, the 9 Pro remains so relevant.
Like true fine wine, it improves over time, thanks largely to Google's seven years of updates (and they aredelivered instantly with each new Android release).
The camera also shines just as bright: a triple-50MP setup with excellent detail, plus great ultra-wide and 5X telephoto shooters.
For mobile gamers, 2025 delivered something special. The Gaming Phone Award goes to the RedMagic 11 Pro, which has massive performance.
Its transparent back reveals a world-first liquid cooling system that squeezes every drop from the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. This includes a 24,000 rpm fan, a massive vapor chamber, and a ceramic nano-pump circulating the liquid.
The under-display front camera gives it a sleek, futuristic look, while the 7,500 mAh battery powers long gaming sessions. For the power users out there, a version with 24 GB RAM and 1 TB storage costs less than a base iPhone 17 Pro Max. Not a camera phone, but if gaming is your focus, this is the one.
For those who want a phone that fits great in one hand, the Compact Phone Award goes to the iPhone 17.
The Galaxy S25 is slightly smaller and lighter, and the Pixel 10 was a contender, but the iPhone 17 wins on performance, and the base 256 GB storage makes it far better value.
As always, it brings Apple's signature refinement and seamless ecosystem integration, from AirDrop and iCloud to the Apple Watch and MacBooks. For anyone seeking a smaller phone without compromise, this is our top pick.
Foldable phones are still niche in 2025, but the market is growing. The Flip Phone of the Year Award goes to the Motorola Razr Ultra.
The $1,300 launch price was steep, but now it can be found for $900, matching the Galaxy Flip 7. It was a close call, but the Razr feels more at home as a flip phone. Samsung opted for a slower processor this year, while the Razr runs faster, charges quicker, and boasts a large edge-to-edge outer screen.
Best of all, the cover screen works seamlessly, without the need for nerdy tweaks. With sleek design and polished execution, the Razr is the most complete flip phone of 2025.
For the best big foldable, the Fold Phone of the Year Award goes to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Samsung pioneered foldables, but the last few generations felt stuck. The Fold 7 fixes that. It's slim, lightweight, and stylish, with a much wider cover screen that finally feels usable. Running One UI 8, it delivers a refined foldable experience and Samsung-exclusive features like DeX.
This year, the Fold 7 is the no-compromise foldable.
And now, the moment you've been waiting for — Best Overall Phone of the Year.
This year, it's a showdown between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the edge goes to the iPhone.
It's all about the little practical upgrades: a square front camera that makes vertical-to-horizontal selfies effortless, a more useful 4X zoom, and battery life that outlasts the Galaxy in real-world use. Charging speeds have finally caught, and Apple's ecosystem is just a bit richer than Samsung's.
The Galaxy remains excellent, but the iPhone's thoughtful improvements and consistency give it the crown.
Some releases excited us, but with the smartphone industry so mature, some were inevitably… a bit boring.
Apple's iPhone 16E is a prime example. Essentially a recycled iPhone 14 with USB-C and no MagSafe, it comes only in black or white. At $600, it's the cheapest iPhone yet not exactly cheap. The screen struggles outdoors, and the single rear camera feels limiting.
No awards show is complete without calling out the real letdowns. The Bust of the Year Award goes to Apple Intelligence.
Apple had to eat its words, failing to deliver on the big promises from 2024. While other companies raced ahead with impressive AI features, Apple essentially took 2025 off. On the plus side, the company seems to be reflecting (and maybe 2026 will finally bring a Siri revamp) but for now, we are not particularly optimistic.
We've celebrated the best, the boldest, and yes… the most disappointing in the smartphone world. Now, it's your turn — what is your "best phone" list for the year?
Travel Easy with Nomad eSIM – 25% Off
25% off eSIM data-only plans & global coverage - enter code IPHONE25, sign up required
Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: