Top 5 best Android phones 2025

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We’ve tested and ranked the best Android phones in 2025

This year’s top Android phones are robust, high-performing gadgets designed for artificial intelligence and machine learning, primarily in the Google Gemini flavor. There has never been a better moment to purchase a great Android phone, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite platform’s incredible performance and genuinely excellent battery life.

When compared to Apple’s top devices, this year’s top Android smartphones are no longer second-place, fast-follower, and also-ran gadgets. Apple is instead vying for the top Android phones, such as the Galaxy S25 Plus, which has world-beating benchmark scores and outstanding performance, and the OnePlus 13, which has an amazing battery life and durability.

An amazing year is already in sight. Fan-favorite Nothing has been teasing specs for an impending Nothing Phone 3a, which may boast the most competitive cameras we’ve seen on a Nothing Phone. Samsung also hinted about an ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge at the conclusion of its Galaxy Unpacked in January.

You can read my list of the greatest phones, which includes reviews of the finest iPhones and Android smartphones. In my list of the top foldable phones, I’ve also included the top Android phones with pliable screens. See our guide to the best low-cost phones if you want to cut costs. The greatest Android phones available right now are listed below.

Table of Contents

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1. OnePlus 13

There is very little that the OnePlus 13 can’t accomplish. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite CPU puts it at the top of our performance charts. The massive 6,000 mAh battery inside makes it the greatest phone for battery life as well. Even while charging wirelessly, you can charge it more quickly than practically any other phone, which is helpful. It’s our favorite Android phone, and it’s just an incredible phone overall.

Every grievance I had about OnePlus has miraculously turned into one of the OnePlus 13’s greatest advantages, I wrote in my review. Prior to the OnePlus 13’s IP69 rating, I used to gripe that OnePlus phones weren’t water resistant. I observed OnePlus representatives using a dishwashing machine to clean the phone, including the heat cycle. This phone is quite sturdy.

OnePlus now offers 50W wireless AirVOOC charging, which addresses my complaint about the absence of wireless charging. Compared to a tethered iPhone, a OnePlus 13 can charge wirelessly more quickly. However, since the battery can easily last two days, that is irrelevant.

Everything about this phone appeals to me. Since OnePlus’s cases feature magnets that properly align my OnePlus 13 with all of my MagSafe accessories, I even enjoy their offerings. This is the phone to encourage pals who might need a push or if you’re thinking about switching from the iPhone.

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2. Google Pixel 9 Pro & Pixel 9 Pro XL

The Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Xl gave the Pixel a new look by replacing the bar with a stylish camera pill. I still enjoyed using these phones despite the makeover because of their distinctive Pixel features, which include cutting-edge AI, powerful cameras, and a bright display that outperforms the competition in terms of color and brightness.

The Super Actua screen of the Pixel 9 Pro, which Google continues to dominate in the display market, impressed me with its brightness and its adjustable 1-120Hz refresh rate. This display is perfect for outdoor photography because it looks amazing even in direct sunlight.

Although I thought the camera controls were a little erratic, the Pixel 9 Pro produces amazing images and AI-enhanced video with Video Boost. It’s likely my second favorite camera after the iPhone 16 Pro family, and it took some of the greatest pictures out of all the best phones I’ve tried. The editing capabilities of Google Photos AI are far superior to those of iPhone Photos at the moment.

You must get the Pixel 9 Pro or Pixel 9 Pro XL if you want the most cutting-edge smartphone AI because Google reserves some of its greatest capabilities for these models. Any new Android device can be used for Circle to Search, but a Pixel is required if you want an AI to filter your spam calls.

In my tests, the Pixel 9 Pro performed significantly better than rival phones, even down to functions found on most Android phones, such as the recording app that transcribes for you. The Pixel 9 Pro is my number one pick for Android phones that support AI both now and in the future.

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3. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

There isn’t a phone that can do more than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but its camera capabilities are where it truly stands out from the competition. It would be a fantastic camera phone if it only had the large 200MP sensor and perhaps one zoom lens, but the Ultra has additional features. Thus. A lot more.

The S25 Ultra has a large sensor, a 5X optical zoom, and a newly enhanced 50MP sensor for the ultra-wide camera, which should provide excellent clarity in macro photos. The Galaxy S24 Ultra can handle any task, whether you’re shooting for the moon or simply snapping pictures of your children playing sports.

Because it has such a wide variety of lenses, it can actually handle any task. There is a 3X zoom lens that utilizes its own 10MP sensor, however the 5X zoom uses a 50MP sensor. Then there’s the 50MP sensor for incredibly stable films and wide photos.

Samsung incorporates AI straight into the camera app, so it’s not letting Google take all the credit for AI editing tools. The camera will attempt to identify the scene and adjust its settings accordingly. You will notice that food photos, monuments, portraits, and many other situations seem better when taken with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It’s not just the moon that looks better.

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4. Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus

The Galaxy S25 Plus is the Galaxy S family’s innovative middle child. In every aspect, it’s a significant improvement over the Galaxy S25. Additionally, it offers all of the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s best features without any extraneous ones. It’s one of the longest-lasting phones I’ve ever tested and the best Samsung phone in terms of battery life.

Is a pen really necessary for using your phone? Although the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a ton of features, most users don’t require them. With few more features, the Ultra is a more costly, larger, and heavier phone than the Galaxy S25 Plus.

Despite having a slightly smaller screen, the Galaxy S25 Plus boasts the same crisp display resolution as the S25 Ultra. It starts with 256GB of storage, which is twice as much as the Galaxy S25, and it shares the same chipset and RAM.

The camera specifications are slightly below those of the Ultra but nearly match those of the iPhone 16 Pro. That’s okay, though, because Samsung’s camera is excellent not because of its specifications but because of its shooting modes and Galaxy AI software. No matter how you look at it, the Galaxy S25 Plus is a winner, and if you truly need more, the Ultra comes next.

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5. Google Pixel 9

I find the Google Pixel 9 to be a pleasant phone and the most straightforward Android phone to suggest to everyone, particularly to those who say, “I just want a phone that works.” Arriving with Google’s eye-catching new Pixel design, the Pixel 9 offers even more color possibilities than the Pro model (hello, Peony!). It uses the same Google Tensor G4 processor and produces images that may be confused for Pro.

The zoom camera on the Pixel 9 Pro isn’t the primary distinction between it and the Pixel 9. Because the Pixel 9 only has 12MP, it shoots excellent pictures that are even better for sharing. Videos look fantastic as well. The images I took with the Pixel 9 had very good color quality and were almost exactly the same as the ones I took with the Pixel 9 Pro.

The year of premium AI that comes with the Pixel 9 Pro is the main distinction. This initially meant that the Pixel 9 would not be able to access Gemini Live (unless you paid for it), but Google has now made its conversational AI available on all Pixel 9 devices for free, so that is no longer an issue.

As it should be, Google also made this phone one of the first to receive the new Android 15 operating system. This phone could grow even better over time because it has seven years of updates coming up, which should get it to Android 21.

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Which Android phone is the best?

For most people, the Pixel 9 is the greatest Android phone because it offers all of Google’s best new AI technologies at a reasonable price, along with the Pixel’s slick UI and software.

Because it has the longest battery life, the most sophisticated interface, and the most robust design with IP69 certification, the OnePlus 13 is the greatest high-end Android phone.

What is the most cost-effective Android phone?

The Pixel 8a, which retails for $499, £499, or AU$849, is the greatest Android phone for those on a tight budget. When Amazon offers smartphones for sale, the Pixel A-series phones are a popular bargain, so check TechRadar for the most recent offers.

The finest deals are found in Samsung’s Galaxy A devices if you wish to pay less than that. They give you quick networking, good speed for the price, a stunning display, and Samsung’s feature-rich Android software.

Which is superior, iOS or Android?

Both Android and Apple’s iOS have their aficionados, yet iOS isn’t much more capable than Android. Android has a reputation for being more complex and experimental, but it also allows for greater customization and more powerful features overall. This is because Android devices have a lot more options, features, and oddities than iOS has ever seen.

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Only phones that have undergone extensive testing by our knowledgeable review editors both in the real world and at Future Labs are on this list. I test every phone feature before we delve deeper to find all the hidden gems.

I thoroughly evaluate phones for features like camera and video recording, CPU speed and performance, and battery life and charging times. I ensure that phones live up to their claims and promises. I check the time if Samsung claims that a phone would charge in 30 minutes.

I have seen every phone available, therefore I am aware of how each model compares to the others. Regarding the phones you purchase, regardless of price, I know what I mean because I constantly use both Android and iPhone phones. For the price, I make sure the phones meet up to my expectations.

I never quit after I’m finished. As soon as the phones are upgraded, I update our reviews. Since our reviews are always updated, make sure you’re obtaining the most recent information on the greatest phones available before making a purchase.

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