The Best Phones for Every Budget – 2025 Update

The iPhone 16 affords a more recent and brighter show than the iPhone 16e. The notch is smaller and built-in into the “dynamic island,” which is helpful to show key info from apps working within the background.

As an total bundle, it delivers the complete iPhone expertise with a strong steadiness of well-built {hardware} and polished software program options, apart from the 60Hz display, which is at a drawback in comparison with competing Android handsets in the identical worth vary and even cheaper ones.

With the touch-sensitive Digital camera Management button, you’ll be able to lastly focus in your topic whereas taking a photograph. The primary digicam can seize 48MP pictures however defaults to 24MP for higher dynamic vary and quicker shutter velocity. The ultrawide lens affords 0.5x optical zoom and, just like the entrance digicam, captures 12MP pictures.

If you need a bigger display and battery, you may get the 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus for an additional $100.

OnePlus 13

With enhancements throughout the board, the OnePlus 13 makes it exhausting to justify shopping for dearer Android telephones, just like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor rivals the Apple A18 in single-core efficiency, and beats it in multi-core.

The OnePlus 13 has an IP68/IP69 ranking, which means it is resistant not solely to immersion but in addition to high-temperature water jets – making it protected to make use of even should you work at a automobile wash. With a 6,000mAh battery, the OnePlus 13 gives nice battery life regardless of the 1440p, 6.8-inch show. In contrast to the OnePlus 13R, it is a dual-cell battery, so it can cost quicker with the identical charger.

The primary, ultrawide and telephoto (with 3x zoom) cameras all present a 50MP decision. The selfie digicam shoots at 32MP, however its fastened focus makes it much less optimum for utilization with a selfie stick.

The OnePlus 13 begins at $899 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and for one more $100 you’ll be able to improve that to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Many telephones are cheaper, however none of them supply related {hardware} specs.

Samsung Galaxy S25

At this level, the Samsung Galaxy S has remained principally the identical on the skin for a number of years, whereas rivals from OnePlus and Google have stored bettering. So why will we suggest the Galaxy S25 for some? As a result of it is the one Android cellphone that is as highly effective because the OnePlus 13 and as compact because the Pixel 9 with a 6.2-inch show.

With the compact dimension comes a smaller 4,000mAh battery, however the smaller, 1080p show considerably makes up for that in battery life. The 50MP primary digicam (saving 12MP pictures by default) stays, and the remainder of the setup is well-rounded however primary, with 12MP entrance and ultrawide lenses, and a 10MP telephoto digicam with 3x optical zoom.

The Galaxy S25 begins at $800 (though frequent reductions convey the worth closer to $700) with 128GB of storage, and to match the OnePlus 13’s 256GB you may want so as to add $60. Samsung’s benefit over OnePlus is the promise of seven years of OS and safety updates.

For many who favor bigger screens, the Galaxy S25+ affords a 6.7-inch show (with the next 1440p decision), an even bigger battery to compensate, and 45W wired charging in comparison with the bottom mannequin’s 25W. Moreover, it options ultra-wide band (UWB) assist, supreme for pinpointing Bluetooth-linked objects resembling Galaxy SmartTags.

The Galaxy S25+ begins at $1,000 (although it is usually obtainable for ~$850), offering 256GB of base storage, so should you have been planning to get that quantity anyway, it is solely $140 dearer than the S24. Alternatively, the Galaxy S25 Ultra provides too little for an excessive amount of cash, particularly now that the S Pen not helps Bluetooth performance.

To fold, or to not fold?

Foldable telephones, just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, might sound tempting. Nevertheless, their design restricts battery and digicam configurations. With a prev-gen SoC and a noticeable crease when unfolded, the Flip 6’s $1,100 price point (usually discounted to $900) is larger the Galaxy S25+, and it is extra scratch-prone and fewer dust-resistant.

If you really want the distinctive kind issue, you must anticipate the opinions of the Motorola Razr (2025), named after the legendary Razr V3 and promising a higher-quality exterior show that may absolutely substitute the principle yet one more usually. In any other case, you must most likely look elsewhere.