The top 10 phones our readers bought in 2025 (no. 1 caught us all off guard)

I at all times say that area of interest merchandise have area of interest audiences, and certainly not does that indicate that nobody’s shopping for them. The Blackview BV7300 is an ideal instance, as it is a price range Android cellphone with a design that might seemingly scare away 95% of customers.

However the cellphone’s cumbersome exterior, paired with a 15,000mAh battery (roughly thrice most Android telephones), makes it a useful choice for energy customers and outside vacationers. It even has a built-in tenting mild!

Overview: I went off-grid with this $200 Android phone, and the night vision superpowers came in clutch

Nothing actually struck a chord with its midrange telephones this yr, and the Cellphone 3a could also be one of the best of the bunch. It sits comfortably at a $380 worth level, however its function set would make anybody surprise why it does not price extra.

That listing features a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED show with 3,000nits of brightness, a triple digicam system, Nothing’s ever-polarizing design, and software program that is stuffed with character and customizability.

Overview: I replaced my Pixel 9 Pro with this midrange Android phone – and don’t regret it

Impressively, Samsung’s A-series of telephones constantly performs effectively on this aggressive smartphone market. Whereas the A35 5G mannequin was launched final yr, it gained important traction within the lead-up to the introduction of its successor later in 2025.

The draw? A giant display screen and battery that make all of its different caveats simpler to shoulder. That is clearly a recipe for achievement, as Samsung adopted an analogous playbook with the A36 5G mannequin, which we now advocate over the A35 5G attributable to its extra modernized specs.

Overview: This $399 Samsung Galaxy is the mid-range phone most people should buy

Did you assume each cellphone on this listing can be low cost and value-driven? It is about to get fascinating. The Motorola Razr Extremely was launched this spring, and it was met with appreciable fanfare. In spite of everything, Motorola primarily took the flip-phone kind issue and stuffed it with one of the best options and specs one can discover.

A lot in order that after reviewing its competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, I returned to the Moto for its useful outer show, uniquely textured again cowl, and helpful ultrawide digicam. Benefit from all of the reductions you will get with this gadget.

Overview: Yes, Motorola’s $1,300 Razr Ultra competes with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 (and not just in price)

Deal: The Motorola Razr Extremely is at present 23% off at Amazon.

The second Motorola to make this listing is the Moto G Energy, which includes a new textured again cowl this yr for enhanced grip. It is also longer-lasting than ever, that includes a 5,000mAh battery paired with a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, which we discovered to run pretty effectively.

Overview: I found a $300 Motorola phone that offers flagship features at a fraction of the price

Deal: The Moto G Energy is at present 17% off at Amazon.

If there’s one ultra-slim cellphone that is value celebrating in 2025, it is this one. The oldsters at RedMagic someway developed a gaming cellphone with a close to bezel-less show, a 5,860mAh battery that places Samsung and Apple to disgrace, and 512GB of inside storage.

The $699 worth can also be fairly aggressive. Simply do not look forward to finding certainly one of these at your native provider retailer anytime quickly.

Overview: I replaced my Pixel 9 Pro with this $700 Android phone for weeks – and didn’t regret it

It truly should not shock anybody that final yr’s iPhone 16 Professional was probably the most common merchandise on ZDNET in 2025, identical to the way it should not shock anybody when the iPhone 17 Professional makes it into subsequent yr’s listing.

This one’s fairly bittersweet, if you consider it. It is the final iPhone to function a singular digicam bump on the rear nook, and Apple seems to be transferring away from titanium and different laborious metals. It is also the final Professional iPhone to come back in black.

Additionally: Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: I compared both models, and there’s a big difference

What offered greater than iPhones? The Moto G 2025. It is not flashy; the cameras will not even beat the most cost effective iPhone that Apple sells, and you’ll’t really matter on Motorola to supply one of the best software program help. Nonetheless, of all of the sub-$200 telephones available on the market, this one reigns supreme.

In case you’re buying for a kid or an older member of the family, or just need a spare cellphone with entry to the identical apps as dearer handsets, think about this one.

Additionally: This $200 Motorola phone has no business being this good for the price

That is proper. The most well-liked cellphone, as decided by the tens of millions of ZDNET readers who work together with our critiques, shopping for guides, and different tales, is a $90 Nokia that is simply as scary because the Blackview BV7300 however within the reverse approach.

It is all about minimalism, residing life distraction-free, and appreciating the finer issues with the Nokia 2780 Flip, and that is a message that has clearly resonated with lots of you. Dumb telephones are carving out a path in our ever-noisy digital world, and this Nokia is on the entrance of the pack.

Additionally: Gen Z is ditching iPhones for $100 ‘feature phones,’ and the numbers don’t lie