Top 5 best budget phone in 2025
Only the best phones from Apple, Samsung and more
In 2025, the finest phone available will be substantially different from previous years. Samsung and Apple continue to produce feature-rich phones like the Galaxy S25 and the iPhone 16, respectively, but this year I’m also seeing the emergence of new trends, both positive and negative.
With its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite platform, which offers the highest battery life on this list, the OnePlus 13 remains my current favorite Android phone of the year. This phone is amazing; it’s fashionable, powerful, and has excellent cameras.Although I’m unhappy that there won’t be a new OnePlus Open 2 this year, it’s obvious that OnePlus is paying attention to the industry and that foldable phones are not on the agenda.
Rather, I’m witnessing some of the most amazing deals I’ve ever seen. Despite having superb cameras and about the same performance as the Pixel 9, the Google Pixel 9a is significantly less expensive. Some of the new low-cost devices I’m reviewing from manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola, and Nothing may eventually get it onto this list.
You won’t have to wait long if you have cash to spend. Samsung has already hinted about their Galaxy S25 Edge phone, and I anticipate Apple will release an incredibly thin new iPhone Air this year. Even while I don’t anticipate those phones to be as packed with technology as a Galaxy S25 Ultra, they won’t be inexpensive.
Over the past 20 years, TechRadar has examined more than 1,500 phones, and I have been reviewing phones for even longer. Every phone on this list has undergone testing by me to ensure that it fulfills its promises and is a good investment.
Table of Contents
best iPhone overall
1. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
best Android overall
2. OnePlus 13
best iPhone cameras
3. Apple iPhone 16 Pro
best Android cameras
4. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
best Android for AI
5. Google Pixel 9 Pro
1. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Design: This year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max is unquestionably an iPhone, but the antenna gap is now a Camera Control that offers many new features. It also comes in a cool desert titanium, which is probably the best color not just because that’s the one I got.
Display: The iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts the biggest, brightest display ever on an iPhone, making it enjoyable to use in any lighting conditions, including taking pictures outside in bright sunlight. Apple’s iPhone 15 represents the biggest upgrade for a base iPhone in a number of years, earning its position as the best value phone money can buy today.
Camera: This is a major year for Apple cameras thanks to Camera Control, but Apple is also offering the iPhone 16 Pro Max more fine grained modifications over the tone and style of your images, and early reports indicate the results are great. For cinematic videos, the high-speed video recording that makes for more fluid slow motion could also be revolutionary.
Performance: Because the iPhone 16 Pro Max has an Apple A18 Pro chipset, I was unable to find a technique to make it run slower. I’ll have to wait and see how it responds to Apple Intelligence, but in my tests, the iPhone 16 Pro Max performed flawlessly across the board.
2. OnePlus 13
Once a flagship-killer phone manufacturer, OnePlus now only produces flagship phones like the OnePlus 13, which is among the best available phones, even if you haven’t heard of it. It’s worthwhile to look for them even though you won’t find them at your local cell phone store.
Design: Unlike harsh glass, this elegant phone has a gorgeous vegan microfiber finish that is softer to the touch and more hospitable. Additionally, since the OnePlus case unlocks the world of MagSafe accessories, I heartily suggest it. Did I also mention that this phone is water resistant (IP69)? You can use the dishwasher to clean it.
Display: This large screen is excellent for all of your activities and is among the greatest mobile phone displays available. Additionally, it is very sensitive, even when wet.
Camera: By stopping motion completely, amazing cameras are excellent at action photos. AI greatly enhances the colors and details, and while I still somewhat prefer the iPhone 16 Pro, this is a fun camera that creates amazing images you’ll want to share.
speed: The OnePlus 13 was the fastest phone I’ve ever seen in both lab and real-world settings. It outperforms the iPhone 16 Pro in numerous crucial processing tests, such as multi-core speed.
Battery life: In our battery depletion test, it lasted almost 20 hours, making it the battery life champion. Two hours ago, the large iPhone above perished. Additionally, the OnePlus 13 charges more quickly than any other phone on this list. It charges more quickly than an iPhone, even when wireless.
Value for money: Don’t be alarmed by the OnePlus 13’s sticker price; the company regularly runs promotions that lower the cost, and you’ll still receive a trade-in bonus even if your old phone is damaged or wired. The price of this high-end flagship is equivalent to that of the base model.
3. Apple iPhone 16 Pro
The smallest and most powerful model in Apple’s most recent iPhone series is the iPhone 16 Pro. It is smaller and lighter than its Pro Max sister, yet it has all the same camera functionality. Considering how well those cameras capture photographs, I wish it had more than 128GB to begin with. Other than that, there aren’t many significant grievances regarding the iPhone this year.
Design: The iPhone 16 Pro is identical to the iPhone from the previous year. Unless you weigh the two, you won’t notice that it’s a little heavier. The new desert titanium color makes the iPhone look sleek, and be sure to pick a case that supports the side-mounted Camera Control button.
Display: The 6.1-inch OLED screen of the iPhone 16 Pro has a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and can stay on all the time. For those who are dissatisfied with the iPhone’s refresh rate, the greatest screens are found on the Pro.
Camera: The iPhone 16 Pro boasts the same 5X zoom lens as the Pro Max iPhone, but what will truly make people talk is the enhanced quality brought about by the A18 chip. The slow motion video, which appears extra smooth because of the faster recording speeds, is my favorite.
Performance: Nothing I tried could slow down this iPhone, which has the most powerful mobile platform I’ve tested—the A18 Pro chipset.
Battery life: The iPhone 16 Pro’s battery survived a full day of use every time. Because of its larger internal battery, the Pro Max lasts a lot longer, but the iPhone 16 Pro won’t disappoint you. However, just in case, get the speedier charger.
Value for money: For a powerful phone in a small chassis, the iPhone 16 Pro offers good value. Although Apple hasn’t increased the price this year, I wish it had a standard storage capacity of more than 128GB. If at all possible, upgrade.
4. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The performance of smartphones is redefined by Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. It stands out as maybe the greatest phone on the market. It has more versatile cameras than any other Android device, outperforms the iPhone in terms of battery life and performance, and has special capabilities that are uncommon on contemporary smartphones, like the Samsung DeX desktop experience.
cosmetic: The Galaxy S25 Ultra has notable, yet modest, cosmetic improvements. Although this large phone now appears exactly like the less expensive Galaxy S25, it has a more rounded shape, which makes it somewhat more appealing. Although the phone is lighter overall, the screen has somewhat increased in size from the previous year’s model.
Display: The Galaxy S25 Ultra provides an unmatched smartphone viewing experience thanks to its vibrant OLED screen. Its anti-glare coating greatly increases outside visibility, even though there may be somewhat faster or brighter alternatives. For any job, Samsung’s display offers brilliant colors and remarkable sharpness.
Camera: With its 3X and 5X zoom lenses in addition to standard wide and ultra-wide options, the Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts the most adaptable camera system of any smartphone. The zoom cameras have the most amazing results of any phone you’ll ever attempt, but because they employ much smaller sensors, the photographs are only suitable for sharing and not printing.
Performance: The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the obvious pick for consumers seeking the fastest possible speed. It outperformed the iPhone 16 Pro and showed the fastest performance of any phone tested in both benchmark testing and real-world scenarios involving work and gaming duties. This is the first time that Android phones have faced off against Apple’s proprietary chipsets.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s battery can easily last two days of normal use and can withstand a full day of intensive use. That Snapdragon appears to draw power more slowly without increasing battery capacity, which greatly enhances battery performance.
5. Google Pixel 9 Pro
Although the Google Pixel 9 Pro has a completely different design from the Pixel family, it has the latest Pixel heritage of exceptional cameras, innovative AI technologies, and the brightest and most vibrant screens available on any smartphone. Even if you only want to be cautious of what’s coming, you should check out the many things that are happening, not simply Pixel’s completely new appearance.
Design: The Pixel 9 Pro replaces the outdated camera bar with a sleek, rounded, and ultramodern elevated camera pill. With Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back for optimal scratch and break resistance, the Pixel is more robust this year.With the exception of size, the Pro and Pro XL are identical, so choose your phone based on what suits you best.
Display: With the Pixel 9 Pro’s Super Actua screen, Google continues to subtly control smartphone screens. It looks great and is the brightest screen you will find. Additionally, it refreshes between 1 and 120 Hz using LTPO technology, which allows it to function as an Always-On display without using a lot of power. There isn’t much better, particularly if you have to snap pictures in direct sunshine. It can be handled by the Pixel 9 Pro’s display.
Camera: The Pixel 9 Pro produced amazing photos, and after receiving an AI update through Video Boost, the video looked even better.Although there are still superior camera phones in terms of features and image quality, the Pixel 9 Pro offers you a great place to start. From there, you can use Google Photos to access unique AI editing tools that are only available on the Pixel phone.
Performance: In terms of raw performance, the Pixel 9 Pro trails all of the competition; regrettably, this lag manifests itself in the real world. Even though my Galaxy S24 Ultra is capable of handling everything and more, I noticed stuttering and slowdowns when I attempted to do everything at once. Although the future is uncertain, I sincerely hope that this phone will withstand seventy years of Android updates.
Which phone will be the best in 2025?
With its amazing performance, amazing cameras, new Camera Control, and upcoming AI features, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the best phone available. The OnePlus 13 is the best Android phone available. It has the longest battery life and is the fastest phone available. With additional capabilities that are compatible with other Apple devices, the iPhone outperforms the OnePlus in terms of cameras and functions.
Which phone’s cameras are the best?
The greatest phone for taking pictures will depend on your preferences, however the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has the finest camera for Android users, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the best camera among iPhone models. A OnePlus 13 might be your better option, though, if you’re looking for a more creative appearance, since its Hasselblad camera cooperation enhances the appearance of its images. The Google Pixel 9a’s cameras will please bargain hunters.
Which phones have the largest screens for me?
You will need to get a foldable phone if you want the largest screen possible. Even larger than the 6.9-inch screen found in the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Galaxy S25 Ultra, a flip phone such as the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) can have a massive 7-inch display. A tablet-style folding, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, with a 7.6-inch internal display, is necessary if you want to go any bigger. That would fit in your pocket and be nearly as large as an iPad mini.