The Best and Worst Smartphones of 2025 So Far

If you’re a phone lover, especially one who appreciates a good deal and doesn’t waste money on overpriced nonsense, you’re in the right place. Here’s a roundup of the best, worst, and most intriguing phones we’ve seen in the first half of 2025 — from budget-friendly gems to expensive flagships, and a few truly baffling devices that have no reason to exist.

The Best Budget Phone of 2025 So Far

If you’re looking for an affordable phone that doesn’t suck, you’ve got some great options this year. Motorola’s G565G delivers a clean user interface, solid build quality, water resistance, long battery life, and a camera that’s surprisingly decent for its price.

Then there’s the Honor 400 Lite, a phone that gives you an iPhone-like experience at roughly a quarter of the cost — complete with a “floating” selfie camera and a dedicated camera button.

But the best of the best is undoubtedly the Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro. Its design is colorful, customizable, and more rugged than its predecessor, making it ideal for those who want to stand out. The AMOLED display pops beautifully, and the camera setup — including a basic telephoto lens — delivers crisp images for a phone at this price. Meanwhile, the phone can comfortably run intensive games, making it a fantastic all-rounder. Add in excellent battery life and the reliably clean Nothing OS experience, and you have a budget phone that punches well above its weight.

The Best Mid-Range Phone of 2025 So Far

Most people don’t need a flagship device anymore, and in 2025, that’s truer than ever. The best mid-range phones this year have been Nothing’s Phone 3A and 3A Pro — both of which deliver solid performance and great design at a price that won’t make your wallet cry.

The regular 3A is ideal for most users — great for daily tasks, gaming, long battery life, and of course, those signature Nothing glyph lights. Meanwhile, the 3A Pro shines for people who want better cameras. Its improved optical zoom lens delivers crisp long-range shots, making it ideal for mobile photographers.

Choosing between the two is tough, but both phones are worth every rupee.

Other strong contenders include the Pixel 9AE and the Moto Edge 60 Fusion, making this one of the best years for mid-range phone buyers.

The Best Camera Phone of 2025 So Far

With six months gone, one thing is certain: phone cameras are getting ridiculously good. The Honor Magic 7 Pro shines as one of the best options, and the Pixel 9A delivers beautiful shots that are a joy for mobile photographers.

Then we have the Vivo X200 Ultra, a beast of a camera phone that can even attach external accessories and turn into a sort of smartphone DSLR hybrid — making it one of the quirkiest phones you can find.

But when it came down to choosing the best camera phone, the OnePlus 13 came out on top. Its camera delivers rich contrast, natural colors, and crisp details every time, making it ideal for capturing action shots like pets, kids, or friends at parties. The Hasselblad tuning delivers a photographic experience that’s second to none.

The Best Foldable Phone of 2025 So Far

In the first half of 2025, there hasn’t been much competition in the foldable phone category. The Honor Magic V5 is an absolute beauty — sleek, slim, and packed with power. But sadly, it’s not available in Europe, making it tough for most people to get their hands on.

That leaves the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra as the best foldable phone of the year. It’s compact, surprisingly powerful, and ideal for people who want a stylish phone that fits easily into a pocket. The external display works beautifully for quick interactions, making it one of the best compact foldables available.

The Best Gaming Phone of 2025 So Far

For mobile gamers, this year has been slim pickings so far — which made choosing a winner easy. The Red Magic 10S Pro takes the crown thanks to its beastly Snapdragon 8 Elite Legend Edition chipset and advanced ISX cooling.

It can handle long gaming sessions without breaking a sweat, making it ideal for serious mobile gamers. Even casual players can dominate the online battlefield thanks to its blazing performance and responsive controls.

The Most Pointless Phone of 2025 So Far

This award goes to the phone that has absolutely no reason to exist — and sadly, it’s one we’ve come to expect every year from a certain brand. The iPhone 16E wins by a long shot.

Apple has yet again taken a phone with aging specs and slapped an outrageous price tag on it, making it one of the biggest rip-offs of the year. Its “Apple Intelligence” is laughably slow, making it feel like a relic of the past. Unless you absolutely must own an iPhone, skip this and pick up a refurbished 15 Pro instead. At least that one gives you value for money.

The Best Smartphone of 2025 So Far

With so many amazing phones launched in the first half of 2025, choosing an overall best phone wasn’t easy. The Vivo X200 Ultra shines with its camera prowess. The Poco F7 Ultra delivers incredible value for money. The Galaxy S25 Ultra brings a beautiful, glare-free display — although its design and AI features don’t justify an upgrade from the S24 Ultra. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra delivers top-notch hardware and performance but suffers from a bloated user experience.

But after much consideration, the phone that takes the crown is the OnePlus 13. Its combination of top-end performance, long battery life, a best-in-class camera, and an elegant design makes it a flagship that can stand tall against the best of the best — at a price that doesn’t make your bank account weep. Its Oxygen OS experience only gets better with every update, making this phone the best pick of the year so far.

Final Thoughts

That wraps up the best and worst phones of 2025 so far! Do you agree with these picks? Did I miss any hidden gems or fail to roast a phone that deserves it? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

For full reviews of every phone mentioned here and more, stay tuned — and don’t forget to subscribe for all the latest in mobile tech. Thanks for reading, and have a fantastic rest of the year!