Everyone knows the most exciting smartphones launch in the back half of the calendar. Samsung's foldables, Google's latest Pixels, and of course the iPhone 17 are all tipped to come out after June, if rumors are to be believed. Having said that, we can still celebrate the phones that have already come out in 2025. Why not? There are no laws against it.
While it's true that this list will focus mostly on non-flagship models, that doesn't mean they aren't worthy of praise. So far, 2025 has brought us plenty of interesting smartphones at compelling prices, as well as a couple of bona fide flagships that are worth your attention.
So, here are the best smartphones from the first half of 2025. To be clear, this list is not ranked in any particular order. These are just five good phones, folks.
Google Pixel 9a
Google's Pixel A-series of budget phones with flagship-like specs has always provided great value. The 2025 variant is no different.
The Pixel 9a is a lot like previous A-series Pixel phones in that it's very similar to the base Pixel 9, but with a few little compromises here and there to get the price down to a downright agreeable $499. You get a spiffy 6.3-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a large 5,100mAh battery, and Google's latest Tensor G4 processor for that price. Sure, you lose a bit of RAM and storage capacity by going with Pixel 9a, but those are small potatoes compared to the ways in which Pixel 9a is similar to Pixel 9, but for less money.
Google also unveiled a new Pixel design with the 9a, which dropped the horizontal camera bar that had adorned Pixel phones for the past several years. Sure, it looks a bit more generic than before, but it also lies flatter on a table than before, too. Between all of that and traditionally solid cameras courtesy of Google, the Pixel 9a might be the best overall value on this list.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Full disclosure: I didn't love the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra when I reviewed it earlier this year.
That has less to do with the phone itself and more to do with the increasing creep of AI features into all of our devices, though. The S25 Ultra is not very different from the S24 Ultra in terms of hardware; you get the same display, storage, and RAM specs from the previous model, for the same starting price of $1,299. Some additional AI features were meant to be the main selling point for S25 Ultra, which just isn't that compelling to me, personally, but YMMV.
However, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor inside the S25 Ultra is top-of-the-line stuff, providing the phone with excellent all-around performance. It's got a big, sturdy battery, a slightly bigger display than the S24 Ultra, and new rounded corners that make it feel much better in the hand. While I wouldn't recommend upgrading to an S25 Ultra if you already have an S24 Ultra, those with older Samsung handsets who are looking for the best of the best should really look into it. It's a good phone, if not a mindblowing one.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
The other Samsung device on this list also fits under the "good and cool, but not mindblowing" umbrella.
Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge has a lot in common with the S25 Ultra. It uses the same processor, its display has the same resolution and refresh rate (although it's 2/10 of an inch smaller), and even the RAM is the same. You get access to all of the same AI features and even the same 200MP wide lens on the rear for photography.
So, why are these two different phones? Simple: The S25 Edge is way thinner. Coming in at just 5.8mm of thickness, it's the thinnest phone Samsung sells right now, and is substantially more svelte than the 8.2mm S25 Ultra. Put simply, the S25 Edge looks and feels cool in the hands because of how thin it is. There isn't a bigger selling point than that, honestly. It feels futuristic in a way nothing else on this list does.
OnePlus 13
The last flagship phone on this list is the OnePlus 13, which comes from a Chinese brand that may not be as well-known in the U.S. as Google, Samsung, and Apple. But that doesn't mean it should be that way.
OnePlus 13 carries on the tradition of previous OnePlus phones in that it offers flagship specs and features for less than $1,000. At $899, it's a good deal cheaper than an S25 Ultra, but the two phones are actually pretty comparable. OnePlus's handset includes a similar Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 12GB of RAM, and a massive 6,000mAh battery that keeps it alive for longer than 24 hours of normal use. Even our intensive battery testing got a clean 24 hours of screen time out of the OnePlus 13. It has plenty of endurance.
A trio of 50MP cameras on the back and some requisite AI features make the OnePlus 13 a very solid value for those who want flagship performance, but don't have more than $1,000 to burn on a phone.
iPhone 16e
Speaking of great battery life, let's talk about the iPhone 16e.
Nominally Apple's answer to the Pixel 9a (in that it's basically an iPhone 16 with some corners cut to bring the price down to $599), the iPhone 16e is an upgrade over Apple's previous iPhone SE budget line. You get the swanky new A18 Bionic from the iPhone 16, as well as 128GB of starting storage and full support for Apple Intelligence features. The 6.1-inch OLED display is more than good enough for a phone of its price, though it is limited to 60Hz.
Where it really shines, though, is in longevity. Our reviewer was able to get two days of solid use out of a full charge, which is incredible for any phone, much less a budget model. Those looking for a meat-and-potatoes iPhone that will get years of software updates should look no further.
Honorable Mention: Motorola Razr Ultra
As one of the only new foldable phones released in 2025, we can't ignore the Motorola Razr Ultra, especially the version with a slick wood finish. (Well, we could, but we chose not to.) The flagship version of Motorola's foldable phone series has its fans and critics, and it's only been out for a couple months. We're still in the process of testing this phone, and we're not ready to render a full verdict quite yet. Though, if you want a foldable, we recommend waiting, as Samsung is expected to launch its new Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 phones in the coming weeks.
