Here are the standout smartphones of 2025 across categories (short picks + why). I’ve included recent reviews/announcements so you can check availability and specs quickly.

Top flagships

• Apple — iPhone 17 / iPhone 17 Air — Best iOS experience, new A19/A19 Pro silicon and design refresh (iPhone Air is Apple’s thinnest model). Great all‑round performance, video, and long-term software updates. (theverge.com, Wired.com)

• Samsung — Galaxy S25 Ultra — Top Android flagship for power, productivity (S Pen/DeX) and strong camera/AI features; Samsung’s S25 Ultra is widely recommended as a 2025 Android flagship. (tomsguide.com)

Best camera phones

• OPPO Find X8 Ultra — DxOMark’s top-scoring camera phone (excellent zoom, portrait and video scores) and a feature-rich quad-50MP camera system; note some X8 Ultra variants have limited regional availability. (DxOMark.com, theverge.com)
• (Also notable) Huawei Pura 80 Ultra — reportedly overtook some rivals in DxOMark testing later in 2025; great telephoto and low-light performance (availability varies by region). (Gizmochina.com)

Best foldables

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 — Best foldable “tablet phone” experience in 2025: refined hinge, big inner display and mature software support. (TechRadar.com, en.Wikipedia.org)
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 (and Flip 7 FE) — Best clamshell foldables: compact, improved outer cover screen options and lower-cost “FE” flip for more affordable folding. (tomsguide.com, DigitalTrends.com)

Best phones for gaming & battery life

• Nubia RedMagic 10 Pro — Designed for gaming (high refresh display, active cooling, huge battery ~7,050 mAh) and excellent value for raw performance. (TechRadar.com)
• Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro — Top-tier dedicated gaming phone with extreme refresh rates, shoulder triggers and gamer‑focused features. (gamesradar.com)

Best value / midrange

• Samsung Galaxy S25 FE — Offers many S25 features at a lower price with good battery life and longer update promises; a strong “value flagship” option in 2025. (androidcentral.com)
• Google Pixel 9a (and similar Pixel “a” models) — Frequently recommended as the best-value 5G phone under ~$500 for clean Android, camera processing and software updates. (tomsguide.com)

Other 2025 notes

• Many high‑end Chinese flagships (OPPO, Xiaomi, Huawei) lead camera and hardware innovation in 2025 but availability and US carrier support vary by model. Check regional availability before buying. (theverge.com, ChannelNews.com.au)
• If gaming or battery life is your priority, look for phones with high-capacity batteries (5,000–7,000 mAh), advanced cooling, and high refresh‑rate displays. For camera-first buyers, check DxOMark / in-depth camera reviews and whether the phone’s telephoto/periscope lenses meet your zoom needs. (DxOMark.com, TechRadar.com)

Quick buying guidance (pick one)

• Want the best iPhone experience: iPhone 17 / iPhone 17 Air. (theverge.com)
• Want the best all‑around Android flagship: Galaxy S25 Ultra. (tomsguide.com)
• Want the best phone for photography: OPPO Find X8 Ultra (or Huawei Pura 80 Ultra where available). (DxOMark.com, Gizmochina.com)
• Want maximum gaming/battery: RedMagic 10 Pro or ROG Phone 9 Pro. (TechRadar.com, gamesradar.com)
• Want the best value: Pixel 9a or Galaxy S25 FE. (tomsguide.com, androidcentral.com)

If you tell me which three things matter most to you (budget, camera, battery, size, OS, gaming), I can give a single best pick for your needs and list the nearest alternatives and deals.