The best phones in 2025 might look similar to one another, but having tested well over 1,000 devices since 2005, we can assure you that no two models are the same.

To help you make sense of today’s mobile landscape, we’ve compiled this list of the best phones available in the UK. Our current ranking features top-end models like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, as well as cheaper options like the Samsung Galaxy A56, so no matter your requirements, you’ll find a phone for you.

iPhone 17 product listing
Best for most people

Thanks to its superfast A19 chipset, pro-level display, great selfie camera, and relatively accessible price, the iPhone 17 is, for us, the best-value phone on the market right now.
Read more below

iPhone 17 Pro Max product listing
Best iPhone

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is, quite simply, the biggest and best iPhone money can buy. With its A19 Pro chipset, 6.9-inch OLED display, and suite of pro-grade cameras, Apple’s latest flagship is a truly formidable handset.
Read more below

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Best Samsung

3. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung’s latest Ultra phone boasts a gorgeous titanium design, five great cameras, and a huge 6.9-inch display. But the key selling point of the S25 Ultra is its suite of market-leading AI capabilities.
Read more below

Google Pixel 10 Pro
Best Pixel

4. Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

Boasting the best Pixel design, cameras, and accessory compatibility to date, the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is a premium powerhouse. Its chipset, however, can’t keep up with the flagship competition.
Read more below

Samsung Galaxy A56
Best budget

The Samsung Galaxy A56 epitomizes what mid-range phones should be. It’s durable, long-lasting, packed with useful software, and is powerful enough for everyday tasks.
Read more below

OnePlus 13
Best alternative flagship

With its durable design, class-leading battery life, and vibrant display, the OnePlus 13 is an excellent flagship option for those who prefer to stand out from the crowd.
Read more below

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Best foldable phone

7. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 boasts a class-leading foldable design, a supremely powerful chipset, and Galaxy S25 Ultra-rivalling cameras. If you can afford it, this is the best foldable money can buy.
Read more below

Motorola Razr 60 Ultra
Best flip phone

8. Motorola Razr 60 Ultra

While the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is perfect for Samsung fans, the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra has a more powerful chipset, more RAM, a longer-lasting battery, and arguably better cameras.
Read more below

Ranking curated byAxel MetzRanking curated by

Axel Metz

Phones Editor

I’m TechRadar’s Phones Editor, and have been reviewing and writing about the best mobile devices for several years. Based in the UK, I handle news and feature coverage for the phones section of the site, and regularly edit TechRadar’s phones-related reviews and buying guides. You’ll find my byline on over 1,500 TechRadar articles.

Find out more about how we test.

Below, you’ll find full write-ups for each of the best phones in our list, along with links to their reviews.

Apple‘s Pro-level iPhones, the iPhone 17 is the best all-round phone on the market right now.

Why? Well, despite its relatively modest £799 price tag, Apple’s latest base model still looks and feels like a flagship phone. It gets the same superfast 120Hz ProMotion display as the iPhone 17 Pro, as well as the same customizable Action button, Camera Control button, scratch-resistant Ceramic Shield 2 display cover, 48MP main camera, 18MP selfie camera, and, crucially, 256GB starting storage capacity.

Powering all of the above is the iPhone 17-exclusive A19 chipset, which facilitates a supremely slick scrolling, streaming, and gaming experience, not to mention the new and upcoming Apple Intelligence features.

In truth, the only real reason to go for the iPhone 17 Pro over the iPhone 17 is the latter’s 48MP telephoto camera, superior heat efficiency credentials, and slightly better battery life. If you’re a keen mobile gamer or video editor, those things may matter to you, but you’ll have to pay a £299 premium to get them.

As regards its Android competition, the regular Samsung Galaxy S25 is a better phone for zoom photography, while the Google Pixel 9 offers superior AI features. In fact, the iPhone 17 isn’t the best at any one thing – but as a jack of all trades, it’s hard to beat in 2025, especially considering that attractive 256GB starting storage capacity.

Read our full iPhone 17 review

iPhone 17 Pro, but here you’ll get a larger 6.9-inch screen, a slightly bigger battery, and up to 2TB of internal storage, which is quite frankly ridiculous.

Starting with the design, the iPhone 17 Pro Max boasts a stunning Super XDR OLED screen, a new aluminium chassis, a dedicated Camera Control button, and all of the usual bells and whistles that we’ve come to expect from Apple’s best iPhones.

This is the joint-biggest phone on our list, and it’s arguably the most powerful too, with Apple’s new A19 Pro chipset matching the Snapdragon 8 Elite in some benchmark tests, and surpassing it in others.

Apple has paired this new chipset with 12GB of RAM and a dedicated vapor cooling chamber, meaning the iPhone 17 Pro Max can handle 4K video editing and triple-A games with ease.

Apple’s new AI features also run seamlessly, and while the iPhone 17 Pro Max isn’t as AI-packed as the competition, Apple has upped its game with things like Visual Intelligence and Live Translation, which are genuinely useful additions to the iPhone experience.

On the cameras front, you’ll get three 48MP lenses that support a wide range of shooting styles. Our favorite of the trio is the 4x telephoto, which also offers access to an impressive 8x zoom by way of a sensor crop. At those shorter zoom lengths, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is ridiculously good, but for anything beyond 10x, you’ll get slightly better results from other phones on this list.

Apple’s latest Pro Max iPhone is also a battery champion, lasting well beyond 30 hours in our testing and offering support for Q2 wireless charging.

All told, then, this is the most technologically advanced iPhone Apple has ever made, and if you’re already embedded in the Apple ecosystem – and can afford its eye-watering price tag – this is the best flagship phone you can buy.

Read our full iPhone 17 Pro Max review

Samsung‘s latest Galaxy flagship feels like part of the wider Galaxy family. Not only does the Galaxy S25 Ultra share prominent design cues with its siblings, the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus, but it also boasts the same market-leading chipset and the same suite of Galaxy AI features.

So, why should you go Ultra this year? Well, quite simply because the Galaxy S25 Ultra remains the biggest, baddest Android phone on the block. If you’re looking for a feature-packed device that can double as a laptop, a drawing tablet, or even a traditional camera, this is the model for you.

For starters, the screen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra measures 6.9 inches, up from 6.8 inches on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and, indeed, the Galaxy S25 Plus. The display itself is a Quad HD+ panel that auto-switches from 1Hz to 120Hz on an as-needed basis, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra also benefits from a new ProScaler technology that upscales lower-resolution content using AI (ProScaler is a feature of the Galaxy S25 Plus, too, but not the standard Galaxy S25).

As mentioned, the Ultra’s design has been tweaked to feel more aligned with the rest of the Galaxy S25 lineup, but the phone still feels distinctly premium thanks to its titanium construction, boxier appearance, and, of course, the included S Pen, which is a USP you won’t find elsewhere on this list.

Under the hood, a bespoke version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset provides enough power to juggle a gazillion apps and run console-quality games, not to mention Samsung’s new-and-improved suite of Galaxy AI features, which range from the usual photo editing tools to Now Brief (a personalized daily briefing) and Audio Eraser (which does what it says on the tin).

As for its cameras, the S24 Ultra’s 200MP wide sensor returns for the S25 Ultra, but the former’s 12MP ultra-wide has been replaced by a more powerful 50MP lens. In layman’s terms, that means better low-light performance for ultra-wide shots and more detailed macro shots, while the phone’s unchanged 50MP and 10MP telephoto cameras offer 5x and 3x zoom, respectively.

Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S25 Ultra costs a small fortune – but if you want the best, you have to pay for it. This is indisputably the best Samsung phone (and potentially the best Android phone) you can buy today, and it rivals the iPhone 17 Pro Max in all the areas that matter.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review

Google‘s Pixel 10 Pro XL is the best Pixel phone yet. Not only does it boast the best hardware of any Pixel device before it, but it also utilizes AI in a way that doesn’t feel gimmicky – a rarity in the phone market as it stands today.

At the time of writing, the Pixel 10 Pro XL and its smaller sibling, the Pixel 10 Pro, are indisputably the best AI phones. Google’s multi-modal Gemini AI can answer all manner of questions with genuinely useful answers. Gemini Live will let you while away the hours talking about… whatever you want with the phone’s built-in voice assistant. And the new AI photography features can be downright magical when used correctly.

Of course, this all means that you’ll have to be willing to embrace AI if you buy the Pixel 10 Pro XL. If you couldn’t care less, you’re better off reaching for an older iPhone.

That said, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is no slouch on the hardware front, either. Google’s Tensor G5 chipset can’t keep pace with the latest chipsets from Apple and Samsung (take note, gamers), but it’s a formidable software brain that keeps all of the 10 Pro XL’s on-device processes feeling buttery smooth.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL’s 6.8-inch Super Actua display is also among the best mobile displays around. As we noted in our Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review, the phone’s screen is “a joy to use in any situation,” and we’ve only chosen the XL model over the base model as our recommended entry here because its “incredible” display is, well, bigger.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL’s cameras are supremely versatile, too, even when not used in combination with those aforementioned AI editing features. In testing, we found that the phone “took photos with very accurate colors and plenty of detail at every focal range.”

In other words, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is a gorgeous-looking, feature-packed phone with great cameras. If you’re a keen mobile gamer or want the very best battery life, you’ll want to look elsewhere, but for everything else, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is a winner.

Read our full Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review

Fortnite and Call of Duty: Mobile, you’re better off going for the Poco X7 Pro or a more expensive Android handset.

All told, then, the Galaxy A56 fulfils its brief as a feature-packed midrange smartphone that will satisfy all but the most demanding buyers. It’s durable, good-looking, long-lasting, offers a tidy UI, has helpful AI features, and produces decent photos across the board.

If you’re after an arguably cleaner Android experience, the Google Pixel 9a runs a close second to the Galaxy A56 as the best cheap phone overall, while the Nothing 3a Pro is also a great affordable option for those who like to stand out from the crowd.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy A56 review

OnePlus 13 review, we described OnePlus’ latest flagship as “more than just a pretty face”, and it earns that designation and then some. Yes, its design is visually striking as well as impressively durable, but the OnePlus 13 earns its place at the high table for its winning combination of hardware and software.

This “strikingly classy” handset boasts a super-fast Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset (you’ll find the same silicon inside many of the best Android phones), a vibrant 6.8-inch OLED display, and a class-leading 6,000mAh battery. The latter gives the OnePlus 13 some of the best battery life we’ve ever tested in a smartphone, with only the Galaxy S25 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and Honor Magic 7 Pro giving it a run for its money in the endurance department.

On the cameras front, the OnePlus 13 packs a set of Hasselblad-tuned sensors that deliver excellent selfie, portrait, and action shots – it’s among the best camera phones for action photography – but you’re better off going with the Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro Max if you’re after real photographic versatility.

It’s a similar story for AI. The OnePlus 13 does feature a host of useful AI features for photo editing and query resolution, but you won’t find Samsung’s cutting-edge agentic software here.

All that said, OnePlus doesn’t ask that you pay more for an Ultra or Pro version of the OnePlus 13 (thank you, OnePlus!), and its latest flagship is significantly cheaper than the very best from Apple and Samsung. As far as value-for-money goes, then, the OnePlus 13 is a winner.

Read our full OnePlus 13 review

thinnest and lightest book-style foldable money can buy, yet Samsung somehow managed to include a larger 8-inch cover display and an entirely new camera system in the Galaxy Z Fold 7 versus the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

At 8.9mm when folded, the Z Fold 7 is almost as thin as a standard smartphone, and it actually weighs less than the single-screen Galaxy S25 Ultra, so you needn’t worry about it feeling bulky or unwieldy, which used to be a problem with so many foldable phones.

Under the hood, Z Fold 7 packs the superfast Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, a long-lasting 4,400mAh battery, and up to 16GB of RAM, so it’s more than suited to mobile gaming and heavyweight productivity tasks, as well as casual browsing and streaming.

That aforementioned camera system comprises a 200MP wide lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, which is comparable to what you’ll find on some of the best camera phones, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Our only real gripes with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 are its astronomically high starting price and lack of support for the S Pen accessory. However, if you can afford it, and aren’t fussed about using Samsung’s stylus, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is one of the best foldable phones and best phones, period, we’ve ever seen.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is an equally strong option, but as you can read in our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs Motorola Razr 60 Ultra comparison, the Motorola is the on-paper champ.

Specifically, it boasts a more powerful chipset (the Snapdragon 8 Elite), more RAM (16GB), more megapixels in some of its cameras (a 50MP main and ultra-wide), a bigger, faster-charging battery (4,700mAh), and brighter, higher-resolution screens.

In other words, the Razr 60 Ultra doesn’t ask that you compromise on performance by choosing its foldable form factor. Instead, it’s a powerful, long-lasting device with intuitive Android software and a range of great colour options.

As for criticisms, there’s no telephoto camera to speak of on the Razr 60 Ultra, so keen zoom photographers will want to look at one of the best camera phones instead. Additionally, Motorola’s AI features aren’t anything special just yet (in that battleground, Samsung’s Galaxy AI is the clear winner), though Motorola has committed to providing the Razr with three major Android OS updates and four years of bi-monthly security updates.

Of course, at £1,099, it’s also an extremely expensive phone. But the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is only marginally cheaper in the UK (£1,049), and as mentioned, the Razr 60 Ultra bests the Samsung in a number of hardware departments.

Read our full Motorola Razr 60 Ultra review

Apple Arcade exclusive games and you’ve got a great gaming phone in a refined package.

What smartphone has the best battery life?

The OnePlus 13R offers the best phone battery life, which in our Future Labs testing delivered 18 hours and 49 minutes of power in its default mode. That translates to two days on a single charge. The 13R isn’t on this list, however, as it’s beaten by other phones overall for features at its price point.

What are the upcoming smartphones for 2026?

Next year will very likely see the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, Google Pixel 11, OnePlus 16, and other next-generation models for the ones on this list. Given the incremental upgrades these phones are likely to offer, expect them to take the place of current models. But if you want one of the best phones right now, you can’t really go wrong with any models on this list, as they’ll surely be able to handle most tasks, apps and features for several years to come.

What’s the best UK network for 5G coverage?

EE is generally considered to be the best 5G network provider in terms of coverage, offering 5G connectivity for 87% of the UK population. In some urban areas its 5G network connections can hit speeds that top 500Mbps. Three’s 5G network coverage is also extensive, and it offers some of the fastest overall connection speeds with an independent test by RootMetrics finding a best case speed of 916.8Mbps. Vodafone and O2 offer less widespread coverage and slower 5G networks speeds than EE or Three, but still offer robust coverage in urban areas.

mobile phone deals page.

You’ve reached the end of the page. Jump back up to the top ^