Awards have been given out for the best smartphones of 2025.

It's that time of year again to reflect on the smartphones that have defined the last year. We've witnessed impressive innovations, ambitious experiments, numerous new AI capabilities, and some genuine surprises.

After thorough testing, we're excited to announce the winners!

2025 PhoneArena Awards Categories:

Value

Surprise

Design

"Fine Wine"

Gaming

Compact

Flip

Fold

Overall

Boring

Bust

Value

Galaxy S25 FE

Our initial award goes to the phone that consistently earns our recommendation as a well-rounded device that doesn't break the bank. The field is competitive with options like the Pixel 9a for its camera, the iPhone 16E for dependability, and newcomers like the Nothing 3a Pro. However, the Galaxy S25 FE excels in balancing features and price.

Unlike many budget-friendly phones that opt for smaller screens, the S25 FE features a large display preferred by many users. It boasts a near-flagship processor, a capable triple-lens camera setup with a telephoto lens (rare at this price), a streamlined design, a dependable 4,900mAh battery, and even 45W fast charging.

It offers roughly 90% of the features of a Galaxy S25 Plus at about 60% of the cost. We advise opting for the 256GB version to ensure ample storage.

Surprise

OnePlus 15

OnePlus often stands out among flagship phones, and this year, the OnePlus 15 delivered a surprise. It launched earlier than anticipated, ahead of the Galaxy S26 series.

It also features a massive 7,300 mAh battery, easily providing two days of use. This, paired with OnePlus's rapid charging, creates an unmatched overall battery experience.

The OnePlus 15 excels in gaming with efficiency and temperature control, achieving top stability scores in benchmarks. Moreover, it's priced at just $900, undercutting other major flagships.

Design

iPhone Air

We present the Design of the Year Award to the phone that commands attention at first glance.

While the $230 iPhone Pocket sock sparked controversy, we'll stay focused.

The iPhone Air receives the award. While it may not dominate sales, it is undeniably among the most stylish phones this year. Its incredibly thin and lightweight design creates a memorable first impression, while the titanium frame adds to its premium feel.

This is a daring design statement from Apple, and it's the design we'll likely remember most from this year.

"Fine Wine"

Pixel 9 Pro

Now, we recognize the phone that continues to improve over time. The "Fine Wine" Award is presented to the Pixel 9 Pro series. It has aged exceptionally well compared to other phones from last year and remains relevant despite the release of the Pixel 10.

Like a fine wine, it benefits from age, largely due to Google's seven years of updates that are delivered promptly with each Android version.

Its camera system remains outstanding, featuring a triple-50MP configuration that captures excellent detail, along with impressive ultra-wide and 5X telephoto capabilities.

Gaming

RedMagic 11 Pro

For mobile gamers, 2025 brought forth something exceptional. The Gaming Phone Award goes to the RedMagic 11 Pro because of its impressive performance.

Its transparent back showcases an innovative liquid cooling system that optimizes the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5's potential. This system includes a 24,000 rpm fan, a large vapor chamber, and a ceramic nano-pump for liquid circulation.

The under-display front camera gives it a sleek, futuristic appearance, while the substantial 7,500 mAh battery supports extended gaming. A version with 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage is available for less than a base iPhone 17 Pro Max. Though not a camera-focused phone, it's ideal for gaming enthusiasts.

Compact

iPhone 17

The Compact Phone Award goes to the iPhone 17, ideal for users seeking a phone that fits comfortably in one hand.

While the Galaxy S25 is slightly smaller and lighter, and the Pixel 10 was a competitor, the iPhone 17 stands out with its performance, and the standard 256 GB of storage enhances its value.

As expected, it features Apple's signature refinement and seamless integration across its ecosystem, from AirDrop and iCloud to Apple Watch and MacBooks. This is our top choice for those wanting a smaller phone without sacrificing performance.

Flip

Motorola Razr Ultra

Foldable phones are still a specialized market in 2025, but it's growing. The Flip Phone of the Year Award goes to the Motorola Razr Ultra.

Its initial price of $1,300 was high, but it can now be found for $900, similar to the Galaxy Flip 7. The decision was close, but the Razr is a more refined flip phone. While Samsung opted for a slower processor this year, the Razr offers faster speeds, quicker charging, and a larger edge-to-edge outer display.

The cover screen operates smoothly without requiring complex adjustments. With an elegant design and refined execution, the Razr stands out as the most polished flip phone of 2025.

Fold

Galaxy Z Fold 7

The Fold Phone of the Year Award, recognizing the best large foldable, is awarded to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Samsung pioneered foldable devices, but recent models felt stagnant. The Fold 7 addresses this with a slim, lightweight, and stylish design, along with a significantly wider cover screen that is finally practical. Featuring One UI 8, it provides a sophisticated foldable experience and exclusive Samsung features such as DeX.

The Fold 7 is the foldable without compromise this year.

Overall

iPhone 17 Pro Max

And now, the award you've all been anticipating: Best Overall Phone of the Year.

This year, the competition was between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, with the iPhone taking the lead.

This decision comes down to the practical enhancements: a square front camera that simplifies vertical-to-horizontal selfies, a more useful 4X zoom lens, and longer battery life in real-world use than the Galaxy. Charging speeds are now comparable, and Apple's ecosystem has a slight edge over Samsung's.

While the Galaxy remains excellent, the iPhone's careful upgrades and consistency secured its victory.

Boring

iPhone 16E

While some releases excited us, the maturity of the smartphone market inevitably leads to some… less thrilling devices.

The iPhone 16E from Apple is a primary example. It's essentially a recycled iPhone 14 with a USB-C port and no MagSafe, available only in black or white. At $600, it's the most affordable iPhone yet, though still not inexpensive. The screen struggles in outdoor conditions, and the single rear camera feels limiting.

Bust

Apple Intelligence

No awards are complete without recognizing the disappointments. The Bust of the Year Award goes to Apple Intelligence.

Apple failed to deliver on the bold promises made in 2024. While other companies advanced with impressive AI features, Apple largely sat out 2025. The company appears to be reassessing its strategy (and perhaps 2026 will bring a refreshed Siri), but for now, optimism is limited.

We've celebrated the best, the boldest, and the most disappointing in the smartphone world. Now, we want to know: what's your list of the best phones this year?