It’s possible you’ll have already got a good suggestion of which smartphone you wish to have to be your subsequent one. However there are extra cast choices to be had now than ever sooner than, making the verdict now not as cut-and-dry because it was. Whilst the verdict is a little more straightforward if you already know you wish to have an iPhone, there may be even sufficient variation between the ones new fashions that you might have to take into consideration it longer than you expected. For those who’re an Android individual, you may have much more choices to choose between — together with foldables — and extra questions to reply to sooner than you spend any cash.
At Engadget, we evaluation telephones steadily and feature examined dozens over time. Whether or not you’ve had your eye on considered one of our present peak alternatives, considered one of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 telephones, a reasonable telephone or some other instrument, we’re right here to lend a hand you make a decision which is the most productive telephone to shop for this 12 months.
Android or iOS?
If you end up in search of the most productive smartphone, it turns into transparent that each and every OS has its execs and cons. Apple’s tight-knit ecosystem makes it tremendous simple to proportion information between iPhones, iPads and Macs or seamlessly hand-off telephone calls or tune from one instrument to some other. On the similar time, you’re successfully locked in, as services and products like Apple Messages aren’t to be had on different platforms.
As for Android, there’s a much broader fluctuate of handsets from corporations like Google, Samsung, Sony and extra. Alternatively, Android telephones don’t revel in that very same period of instrument make stronger and ceaselessly have decrease trade-in values. In brief, there’s no improper solution. Alternatively, you’ll want to imagine how your telephone will have compatibility in with the remainder of your units. So until you’re truly uninterested with one OS and keen to be told some other, it most certainly doesn’t make a large number of sense to modify from an iPhone to an Android telephone (or vice versa) – particularly if everybody else to your family is the usage of the similar platform.
Cameras
Since your mobile phone ceaselessly pulls double responsibility as your number one digicam, working out what sort of photograph equipment you wish to have is essential. At the moment, nearly each and every cell phone can take an ideal image in brilliant gentle. But when you wish to have an extended optical zoom, you’ll most certainly need to improve to a dearer instrument.
Mid-range telephones ceaselessly handiest have two rear cameras (a number one wide-angle lens and a secondary ultra-wide digicam) and will once in a while combat in low-light scenarios. Every telephone maker additionally has more than a few options that may well be a greater have compatibility to your taste, with Apple providing 4 other colour presets on the newest iPhones, whilst Google’s Pixel 9 Professional comes with neat equipment like devoted lengthy publicity and Motion Pan modes.
Will you get mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7?
The excellent news is that during 2025, maximum telephones have a minimum of Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6e and make stronger for some more or less 5G connectivity. Alternatively, if you wish to have the quickest wi-fi speeds conceivable, it’s going to price you just a little further. For instance, on sure networks, mmWave 5G gives as much as gigabit obtain speeds, much less latency and higher bandwidth. However mmWave 5G additionally calls for extra refined (and pricier) modems, because of this make stronger for it’s ceaselessly lacking on more economical units.
At the brilliant aspect, mmWave 5G isn’t as extensively to be had as different variations of 5G, so relying on the place you are living and what community you’re on, you will not be lacking out on a lot at the moment if you purchase a telephone that doesn’t make stronger it. It’s a identical state of affairs for Wi-Fi 7, which is to be had on some high-end handsets just like the Galaxy S25, however tougher to search out on inexpensive units. Wi-Fi 7 additionally calls for you to have a suitable router, so until you already know you wish to have it or have a particular use case in thoughts, the loss of make stronger for mmWave 5G or Wi-Fi 7 shouldn’t be a dealbreaker when searching for a brand new telephone.
Different options to imagine
As a result of now not everybody has the same opinion on what makes the most productive telephone, you will have to take into consideration some other specifications that may well be further essential for you. Cell avid gamers will nearly unquestionably respect the 120Hz refresh charges you get on telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy S25 or the Apple iPhone 16 Professional. Then again, if lengthy battery existence is essential, you’ll most certainly need to cross with a bigger iPhone or an Android telephone with a battery that’s between 4,000 and 5,000 mAh in dimension. In the meantime, when you’re juggling a large number of units, it may be truly great to have a telephone that helps opposite wi-fi charging, which on Samsung telephones even permits you to recharge the corporate’s Galaxy Watches.
Picture via Cherlynn Low / Engadget
Learn our complete iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max evaluation
Display screen dimension: 6.3-inch | Garage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM make stronger: Twin eSim | Battery Lifestyles: About in the future
Similar to final 12 months, if you wish to have the most productive iPhone revel in, you will have to get an iPhone 16 Professional or iPhone 16 Professional Max. No longer handiest is there now not a lot of a soar between the 2 relating to digicam array or basic efficiency, however those handsets gets all the advantages of Apple Intelligence — on peak of the to hand customizations that incorporates iOS 18.
The iPhone 16 Professional and 16 Professional Max have fairly other sizes this time round: 6.3 inches and six.9 inches, respectively. Excluding that that means you’ll need to shell out cash for a brand new case for those who improve, it received’t make an excessive amount of of a distinction in common use. The most important {hardware} variations that you just’ll completely realize are the Digicam Keep an eye on button and the Fusion Digicam. The previous is a brand new aspect button that has contact and force sensors, making it more straightforward not to handiest release the Digicam app however regulate such things as publicity while you’re in fact taking pictures. As we came upon in our checking out for the iPhone 16 Professional evaluation, it’ll take a little of having used to in the beginning. However total, the Digicam Keep an eye on button is a web certain that shutterbugs will respect.
The brand new Fusion Digicam sports activities a sooner quad-pixel sensor, amongst different enhancements, and lets in for 4K video at 120 fps in Dolby Imaginative and prescient and “0 shutter lag.” The latter approach you’ll have the ability to in fact seize the instant while you press the button, quite than the instant proper after it. The Fusion Digicam additionally helps new options like Photographic Types, which can be amusing improvements which can be much more customizable than common filters.
In other places, the brand new A18 Professional chipset supplies very good efficiency for each the iPhone 16 Professional and 16 Professional Max, plus make stronger for Apple Intelligence. While in years previous, there would had been an important distinction within the Professional and Professional Max digicam arrays, this 12 months that hole isn’t as noticeable. The place you are going to see main positive factors with the Professional Max is battery existence — it’ll final two days (like its 15 predecessor), whilst the usual 16 Professional has simply full-day battery existence. Simplest you’ll come to a decision if that’s value ponying up the additional $200 for the Max, however regardless, each the Professional and Professional Max handsets be offering stellar efficiency, very good images chops, enhanced customization with iOS 18 and (quickly) the whole host of Apple Intelligence options. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
- Rapid digicam with top quality video seize
- Photographic types are efficient and beautiful
- Great customizations to be had all over
- Rather brief battery existence
- Digicam Keep an eye on is not highest
Learn our complete Google Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL evaluation
(Pixel 9 Professional) Display screen dimension: 6.3-inch | Garage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM make stronger: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery Lifestyles: 24+ hours
After all, a smaller Pixel Professional. Google’s Pixel collection has lengthy been probably the most best possible Android telephones round, with the Professional style being the awesome model. However it used to be at all times just a little too giant and too bulky for the ones people who’ve smaller fingers or need our telephones to slot in our wallet. Cue the Pixel 9 Professional, which is the littler model of the Pixel 9 Professional XL. As an alternative of a quite massive 6.8-inch display like that on its larger sibling, the usual Professional has a 6.3-inch show this is simple to move. Not more being concerned about shedding your Pixel Professional simply since you fumbled whilst attempting to succeed in the highest of the display!
Higher but, with the Pixel 9 Professional, Google hasn’t sacrificed any key characteristic to get to the smaller dimension, that means you’ll be able to in finding the similar digicam setup and function in each handsets. The one actual variations are the display dimension, battery and charging speeds, because the non-XL style recharges at a fairly slower fee. However the Pixel 9 Professional may be a lot longer-lasting than the XL, notching nearly 25 hours on our battery take a look at.
The ones distinctions apart, the Pixel 9 Professional lineup is our favourite Android telephone as a result of its top-notch digicam efficiency, intriguing AI options and a basic grown-up vibe. Whilst earlier Pixel flagships had a colourful, blocky design that felt recent, this 12 months’s units really feel cast and subtle. And, dare we are saying it, nearly like iPhones. With out the digicam bars, they’d be beautiful laborious to inform aside from Apple’s telephones.
Most likely as a result of it is grown up such a lot over time, however the Pixel telephones now value the similar as iPhones. The Pixel 9 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional each get started at $999, and despite the fact that a few of us have come to consider Google’s handsets because the extra competitively priced possibility, this 12 months’s style may well be excellent sufficient to justify a top rate value. For those who nonetheless need one thing from the Pixel 9 circle of relatives however do not need to pay $1,000, the bottom Pixel 9 remains to be a cast handset for the general public. However because it stands, the Pixel 9 Professional is the most productive Android handset cash should purchase. — Cherlynn Low, Managing Editor
- Nice digicam options and stepped forward telephoto digicam
- A 12 months of Gemini Complicated without spending a dime
- Improbable battery existence
- A gorgeous, brilliant display that’s simple to make use of outdoor
- Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor
- Slower charging speeds than the XL
- No longer the most productive telephone for gaming
Cherlynn Low for Engadget
Learn our complete iPhone 16e evaluation
Display screen dimension: 6.1-inch | Garage capability: As much as 512GB | SIM make stronger: Twin eSim | Battery Lifestyles: Greater than 24 hours
The iPhone 16e is nearer in specifications to the iPhone 16 than the iPhone SE used to be to the iPhone 13. And that makes opting for which iPhone to shop for tougher than ever. Will have to you save $200 and surrender a twin digicam, Dynamic Island, Digicam Keep an eye on and MagSafe? That relies in large part for your priorities and finances.
Whilst I believe that anybody who can have the funds for the associated fee distinction will have to go for the iPhone 16 over the iPhone 16e, I will’t deny that that is Apple’s best possible entry-level iPhone up to now. It has an Motion button, USB-C, a bigger, brighter display and an A18 chip that permits Apple Intelligence. My largest issues with it are obstacles attributable to its unmarried rear digicam setup — such things as now not with the ability to seize ultrawide photographs or Portrait mode now not operating if there isn’t a face within the scene. For those who’re coming from an iPhone 11 or more moderen, you will have to imagine whether or not the enhanced digicam sensor is value giving up an ultrawide digicam for. Whether it is, and if you’ll are living with out snapping portraits of gadgets and faceless pieces, the iPhone 16e’s digicam shall be pleasurable.
There are different components to imagine, like whether or not you steadily use MagSafe equipment or wi-fi charging. For those who do, then the iPhone 16e will frustrate you because it doesn’t paintings with the magnetic attachment machine (you’ll get a MagSafe case to treatment this) and costs at a slower pace than the iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 (however there’s no repair for this). You’ll imagine the $699 iPhone 15 for a greater digicam and wi-fi charging revel in, however you’ll be giving up Apple Intelligence and an Motion button. — C.L.
- Forged efficiency
- Lengthy battery existence
- Blank, sturdy design
- Vivid, colourful display
- Just one rear digicam, resulting in many obstacles
- Dear in comparison to earlier iPhone SE
- No MagSafe
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our complete Google Pixel 9a evaluation
Display screen dimension: 6.3-inch | Garage capability: As much as 256GB | SIM make stronger: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery Lifestyles: As much as 28 hours
The Pixel 9a is not particularly flashy and it does not have any particular options that are not already to be had on its dearer siblings. If truth be told, it in fact has slower charging and it is lacking make stronger for a few of Google’s homegrown instrument just like the Screenshots app. However for everybody who simply needs a easy telephone with a cast design, a pleasant display, very good cameras and powerful battery existence, the Pixel 9a is truly laborious to overcome. So whilst it is not tremendous fancy, the telephone has all of its maximum essential bases coated (after which some). However most significantly, beginning at simply $499, this telephone looks like an unbelievable deal that punches smartly above its value. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter
- Swish design
- Superior battery existence
- Great show
- Nice cameras
- IP68 score for mud and water resistance
- Charging might be sooner
- No Pixel Screenshot app
- Macro Center of attention mode could be a bit finicky
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Learn our complete Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 evaluation
Display screen dimension: 8-inch (major) 6.5-inch (folded) | Garage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM make stronger: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery existence: As much as 24 hours
One of the vital largest problems with foldable telephones is the added dimension and weight that ceaselessly comes with the inclusion of a versatile show. Samsung has made {that a} factor of the previous at the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which sports activities better displays — each inside and outside — whilst being 26 p.c thinner than sooner than. And as though that wasn’t sufficient, the Z Fold 7 additionally options stepped forward sturdiness, higher efficiency and a brand new 200MP major digicam, matching or exceeding what you get from conventional flagship smartphones. The primary downsides are that at $2,000, it is nonetheless a long way from reasonably priced and for long-time Samsung enthusiasts, the lack of S Pen make stronger could also be a dealbreaker. However for many who need to revel in new heights in foldable telephone design, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a masterpiece of contemporary system design. — S.R.
- Exquisitely skinny design
- Sleeker hinge
- Large 200MP major digicam
- Greater presentations
- Best-tier efficiency
- Very pricey
- No S Pen make stronger
- Mediocre charging speeds
Picture via Mat Smith / Engadget
Learn our complete Samsung Galaxy Z Turn 6 evaluation
Display screen dimension: 6.7-inch (major) 3.4-inch (entrance) | Garage capability: As much as 1TB | SIM make stronger: 1x nano SIM, 1x eSim | Battery existence: As much as 23 hours
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Turn 6 has an upgraded digicam and a bigger battery than its predecessor. The ones two specifications by myself make the newest Galaxy flip-phone a extra tempting possibility, within the face of rival flagship telephones. The soar from a 12-megapixel to 50MP digicam approach you’ll make a selection to seize extra element, or crop in for, successfully, a virtual zoom. The entrance display has a number of area for framing your selfie photographs, and a brand new Auto-Zoom characteristic approach it might even body unsupervised team photographs for you. Pictures is augmented via Samsung’s stepped forward AI photograph modifying equipment, which is way more straightforward to make use of.
The Z Turn 6 now has a formidable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, so it’s simply as robust because the S24 Extremely and Z Fold 6. Spread the primary display and also you’ll in finding person who’s brighter than ever (as much as 2,600 nits). Samsung says that is its brightest foldable show but, making it more straightforward to make use of and skim outdoor.
The design hasn’t modified a lot and a focal point on new AI instrument and methods comes at the price of restricted duvet display application, nevertheless it’s nonetheless as pocketable as ever and remains to be essentially the most mainstream foldable but. — Mat Smith, Editor, UK Bureau Leader, E-newsletter
- Higher cameras
- Longer battery existence
- A laugh generative AI methods
- Costlier than its predecessor
- Design is sort of similar to final 12 months
- Restricted front-screen application
- Gradual charging
Different smartphones we now have examined
Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely
Like its predecessor, the S25 Extremely is a shockingly flexible telephone. It’s probably the most few handsets that include an incorporated stylus and top rate options like a wonderful 6.9-inch AMOLED show, titanium body and a 5x telephoto digicam. It additionally has very good efficiency and powerful battery existence. The problem is that, apart from stepped forward AI, this 12 months’s telephone doesn’t be offering that a lot more than the former style (or the only sooner than that), and with costs beginning at $1,300, we really feel it must do extra to earn a peak pick out spot.
OnePlus 13
Whilst the OnePlus 13 options some elementary AI options like Google’s Circle to Seek and Gemini assistant, it’s truly simply an old style flagship in the entire best possible tactics. That’s as a result of as a substitute of that specialize in device studying, OnePlus stuffed the telephone with lots of top-notch {hardware}. It sports activities a 6.8-inch OLED show with an unbelievable top brightness of as much as 4,500 nits. The OP13 additionally gives very good efficiency due to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, along side 16GB of RAM and 512GB of garage. There also are 3 50-MP rear cameras together with one with a 3x telephoto zoom and an enormous 6,000 mAh battery that’s larger than what you get in nearly all of its competition.
OnePlus didn’t skimp at the telephone’s design both, because the OP13 nonetheless comes with the corporate’s signature Alert Slider. Plus, for those who go for the blue or white variants, you’ll get a sturdy and really touchable vegan leather-based again that is helping the telephone stand out amongst all its glass brick opponents. However the most productive section is that beginning at $900, it prices not up to an similar Galaxy S25+ too.
FAQs
How do I do know which smartphone is the most productive for me?
Whilst opting for the most productive smartphone will also be difficult, it most commonly comes all the way down to how you propose on the usage of the instrument. The entire best possible telephones to be had now get the fundamentals proper — you’ll have the ability to make calls, textual content and get right of entry to the web with out many hiccups. In case your smartphone is your maximum used system, you might need to imagine paying for a tool at the greater finish of the associated fee spectrum. That may get you higher total efficiency, higher-quality cameras and a telephone that can final for a few years. For those who don’t use your telephone for the entirety, you might be able to compromise on efficiency and further perks and spend much less on a still-capable handset.
How a lot is a smartphone?
Smartphones fluctuate in value from $300 to over $1,500. The most efficient finances telephones to be had now will normally compromise on total efficiency, design, digicam prowess and further options to stay prices down. At the turn aspect, the costliest telephones may have robust processors, triple-camera arrays or even turn or fold designs. Most of the people will discover a telephone that matches their wishes someplace in the midst of that huge value fluctuate — we’ve discovered that many of the best possible smartphones to be had at the moment value between $500 and $1,000.
What are you able to do on a smartphone?
Smartphones are necessarily small, transportable computer systems that mean you can do such things as test electronic mail, browse social media, apply map instructions, make contactless bills and extra. That is all on peak of the fundamentals like making telephone calls and texting, which we’ve come to be expecting in all trendy cellphones. Smartphones have additionally most commonly changed compact cameras due to their top of the range, integrated shooters, and the truth that maximum smartphones as of late as simply as transportable, if now not extra so, as compact cameras.
How lengthy do smartphones final?
Smartphones can final years and individuals are preserving directly to their telephones longer now than ever sooner than. Tool updates and battery existence are two of the largest components that may have an effect on telephone longevity. Apple guarantees 5 years value of instrument updates for its newest iPhones, and Google guarantees the similar for its Pixel telephones. Samsung telephones gets 4 years value of Android updates from the time they release. As for charging speeds and battery existence, your telephone can go to pot over the years as you employ and recharge your telephone frequently.
Fresh updates
July 2025: Up to date to incorporate the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
April 2025: Up to date to incorporate the Google Pixel 9a.
February 2025: Up to date to incorporate the iPhone 16e.
January 2025: Up to date to incorporate information about Samsung’s newest Galaxy S-series telephones.
September 2024: Up to date to incorporate the newest iPhone 16 fashions and a brand new midrange iPhone peak pick out.
