Latest smartphone releases
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
The new wave of ‘thin’ phones is surely on the way, now that Samsung has unleashed its debut effort. The S25 Edge is a svelte 5.8mm thick and weighs just 163g – impressive figures given it has a huge 6.7in screen, and a powerful snapdragon 8 Elite chipset underneath. Samsung had to compromise somewhere, so you get two rear cameras instead of three – but the lead is a 200MP unit capable of clean and colourful snaps. The battery is the biggest weak point, struggling to last all day on a single charge. But if you value slimness, there’s little else like it.
Google Pixel 9a
The new gold standard for sub-$500/£500 Android phones, the Pixel 9a is everything we’ve come to expect from Google’s more affordable handset. The sleek redesign makes it look like a pricier phone (even if the bulbous camera bump means you won’t mistake it for a Pixel 9 Pro) and the cameras themselves are top performers for the money. Add on Gemini smarts and a long-lasting battery and you’ve got to try very hard to get more phone for less money.
Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro
Nothing kicked off its third phone generation with the ultra-affordable Phone 3a and its Pro bigger brother. The regular model is an evolution on last year’s 2a, with one more rear camera, a return to Snapdragon power and a new Essential Space that uses AI to organise your screenshots and voice notes. Very gen alpha. The Pro goes one better with a periscope telephoto lens, but if you rarely reach for your camera’s zoom button, the extra cost may not be worth it.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
The sequel to one of 2024’s best camera phones pushes the hardware envelope even further, with a 1in lead snapper and two high pixel count zoom lenses. Leica lenses and colour science make it a dream to shoot with in all lighting conditions, and the optional Photography Kit has gotten better too. Specs are equally top-tier everywhere else, with a big battery, Snapdragon 8 Elite power, and the latest version of Xiaomi’s HyperOS software.
Apple iPhone 16e
After three generations of SE, Apple has taken its most affordable phone more upmarket – and made it a little less affordable in the process. The 16e gets impressively close to the regular iPhone 16, with a 6.1in OLED screen, A18 chip and 48MP rear camera. It sticks with a notch instead of dynamic island, and doesn’t support Magsafe accessories, but you’re otherwise getting the full iOS experience, including Apple Intelligence.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung’s latest non-folding flagship isn’t a ground-up reworking of its predecessor, but does add a few nice-to-haves like a speedy Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, new 50MP ultrawide snapper with macro shooting smarts, and a flatter, curvier design more in keeping with the rest of the S25 range. The firm has focused more on software this year, integrating Galaxy AI across Android and borrowing some Gemini skills from Google. S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra owners really won’t need to think about upgrading, but for anyone with an older handset this has everything but the kitchen sink.
Samsung Galaxy S25/S25+
You’ll really have to look hard to spot the differences between this year’s mainstream Galaxy models and last year’s. A few mild design tweaks and some new colours are basically all you get on the outside, while underneath there’s a new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset and more RAM for the S25. The smaller of the two remains the de facto choice for a compact flagship, though, with great cameras, a gorgeous screen and sensible asking price.
Honor Magic 7 Pro
Slick styling, a top tier screen and wicked performance should be a given for any Honor flagship. The Magic 7 Pro also goes big on photography, of course – but its the Ai-infused super zoom abilities that set it apart from rivals. It’s one of few Android phones with secure facial recognition, and the MagicOS skin has some very clever multitasking tools. It’s a left field choice, perhaps, but one that’ll impress you just about everywhere.
OnePlus 13
An impressive refinement on what was already a capable ‘flagship killer’, even if the price continues to climb that little bit closer to premium territory. The OnePlus 13 has top-tier performance, a huge battery, modern styling and an impressive set of rear cameras. There are really no flaws to speak of, making it a true alternative to the likes of Samsung and Google.
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
The first Snapdragon 8 Elite smartphone to make its way to Western audiences, the ROG Phone 9 Pro doesn’t skimp on performance one iota. Revised cooling and oodles of RAM give it the edge in games, while the built-in air triggers keep the OLED screen free of onscreen controls. The somewhat subtle styling of the outgoing phone returns (just with fancier AniMe Vision LEDs on the rear) and it remains one of the best gaming phones for photography.
Oppo Find X8 Pro
The Find X8 Pro is a triumphant return to Western markets for Oppo. The photography-first flagship delivers fantastic stills and video, courtesy of four 50MP rear snappers – two of which are telephotos – and Hasselblad colour science. MediaTek Dimensity 9400 power gives it a real edge in games, and battery life is superb too. It’s priced keenly to compete with the best Samsung and Google to have to offer, so if you’re not a brand snob it’s a fantastic way to get some high-end hardware in your pocket.
Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
A revised rear camera bump, Action button and new Camera Control touch surface mark the iPhone 16 out as one of the bigger upgrades to Apple’s mainstream model in recent years. New, more vibrant colours are on offer, and performance has taken another step up. Apple Intelligence is now on board, too, after being MIA at launch.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max
This year’s flagship iPhones go even bigger, with 6.3in and 6.9in screens. They get the same Camera Control button as the vanilla iPhone 16, alongside the returning Action Button, and are still made from titanium. There are some decent camera upgrades, with both models now getting the 5x periscope zoom.
Honor Magic V3
Honor’s latest book-style foldable is as thin as it gets, measuring a barely-there 4.4m when unfolded. No other rival comes close, at least here in the West where folding options are still thin on the ground. It’s a flagship through-and-through, with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU, a set of high quality cameras, and a beefy enough battery to comfortably last all day.
Google Pixel 9
Google’s mainstream flagship has been updated with fresh duds, including a new take on the distinctive camera bar. It sticks with two rear cameras and a 6.3in screen, but makes the leap to Tensor G4 power and 12GB of RAM, which should help it stay speedy for the sorts of Gemini AI-accelerated tasks the firm reckons will be all the rage this year. It’s a harder sell now Google also has a compact Pro variant, though…
Google Pixel 9 Pro / Pixel 9 Pro XL
For the first time, Google is offering its non-folding flagship in two screen sizes. The Pixel 9 Pro has a 6.3in screen, matching the vanilla Pixel 9, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL gets a 6.8in panel. Both have a majorly revised design – which is admittedly Apple-esque from the sides – but stand out with chunky camera bars containing a trio of sensors. They’re packing Tensor G4 chipsets, 16GB of RAM and enough battery for ‘all day use’, along with Gemini AI smarts.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
A huge year-on-year upgrade for Google’s folding flagship, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a lot more than a simple name change. It shares its styling with the rest of the Pixel 9 generation, with a 6.3in outer screen and 8in inner panel (that finally folds completely flat). Three rear cameras, Tensor G4 silicon and ‘all day’ battery life make the cut, as do some fold-specific software additions. It’s pricey, but gives the Galaxy Z Fold6 some serious competition in territories where Chinese foldables aren’t readily available.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
Finally closes the gap between Samsung’s foldable phones and the more mainstream Galaxy S series, with a potent Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset, larger 4000mAh battery, and 50MP main camera sensor. The styling has been streamlined and the software upgraded, so while the cover screen hasn’t grown at all (and you still can’t run any app you like on it without some power tool workaround) it’s more usable than ever.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
The world’s most popular book-style foldable has slimmed down a teeny tiny bit for its sixth generation. Shorter but wider dimensions add 1mm to the outer screen and 2mm to the inner one. The frame has been flattened and given a matte finish to better mimic the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Inside there’s a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset and extra large vapor chamber to keep it cool. A similar trio of cameras and same battery capacity as last year mean this foldable is all about the software, with lots of Galaxy AI additions.
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