Short answer — the camera leaders in 2025 (across different priorities) are:

• OPPO Find X8 Ultra — Best all‑round camera / zoom leader (DxOMark’s #1 as of mid‑2025; excellent photo, video and multi‑lens zoom performance). (DxOMark.com)

• Huawei Pura 70 / Pura 80 Ultra family — Best still‑photo hardware (very large sensors, variable aperture and outstanding zoom/portrait results in lab tests). Note: Huawei flagships often have limited/complicated availability in the U.S. (DxOMark.com, androidauthority.com)

• Apple iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max (new Sept 2025 models) — Best video, very strong stills, superb ecosystem and pro workflows (ProRes RAW, Dual Capture, improved telephoto up to 8× optical‑quality zoom on the Pro models). Strong choice if you prioritize video and editing on iOS. (theverge.com, Wired.com)

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra — Best “available in the U.S.” ultra‑capable flagship: excellent main sensor, improved ultrawide and telephoto, very natural colors and top PhoneArena / Tom’s Guide camera scores for 2025. Great all‑rounder. (PhoneArena.com, tomsguide.com)

• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL — Best computational photography / AI editing: superb stills and AI editing tools (Magic Editor / Reimagine), very good low‑light results; a top pick if you want effortless, algorithm‑driven still images. Some reviewers call out weaknesses on ultra‑wide/video vs flagships. (theverge.com, PhoneArena.com)

• Xiaomi 15 Ultra — Flagship camera hardware (1‑inch/large sensors, Leica tuning) with very strong zoom/telephoto hardware; mixed lab results (good but not always DxOMark’s topmost score). Good if you want camera hardware first. (Reuters.com, DxOMark.com)

• Vivo X200 Ultra — Video / creative features and high‑end hardware (dual large sensors, advanced video modes); aimed at creators who want a camera‑centric Android device. (gizmochina.com)

• Best value / midrange camera: Google Pixel 9a — Google’s midrange Pixel brings much of the Pixel imaging software and excellent stills at a much lower price, making it the best midrange camera option in 2025. (blog.Google, arstechnica.com)

Quick buying tips (2025):

• If you shoot video professionally or want the best editing pipeline on the phone, prioritize iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max. (theverge.com)
• If you want raw zoom detail (periscope + multiple tele lenses), OPPO Find X8 Ultra, Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Huawei Pura series are the strongest hardware choices. (DxOMark.com, DxOMark.com)
• If you prefer “point-and-shoot” results with powerful AI edits (clean skin tones, HDR, night shots), choose a Pixel (Pixel 9 Pro XL for flagship; Pixel 9a for midrange). (theverge.com, blog.Google)
• If you live in the U.S. and need easy local support/carrier availability, Samsung and Apple models are the safest choices; some Huawei/Honor models are hard or unsupported to buy in the U.S. and may lack Google services. (PhoneArena.com, androidauthority.com)

Notes on rankings and sources:

• Camera rankings and “best” picks shift during the year as new phones and software updates arrive — the lab rankings I used include DxOMark and major reviews (DxOMark for objective lab scores; The Verge, Wired, Tom’s Guide, PhoneArena, Android Authority and Reuters for hands‑on and availability context). See DxOMark for the specific camera scores and the latest ranking changes. (DxOMark.com, theverge.com, PhoneArena.com)

If you want, I can:

• narrow these to “best under $800” / “best for travel zoom” / “best for portraiture,” or
• build a short comparison table (camera specs + sample strengths) for 3–4 phones you’re choosing between.