There are plenty of contenders for the best phone of 2025; I enjoyed using the Vivo X200 Pro, Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Find X8 Ultra, Honor Magic 7 Pro, and the Find N5. What really stands out is the gains made by budget phones; devices like the POCO X7 Pro and Nothing Phone 3a showcase just what's possible when brands pay attention to the budget category.
Similarly, mid-range phones have never been better, with the OnePlus Nord 4, OnePlus 13R, and Pixel 9a delivering standout cameras and powerful hardware. At the other end of the scale is the Galaxy A56; Samsung's latest mid-ranger has incremental upgrades, and while it looks a little different to its predecessor, it has the same foibles. In a year of strong options, the Galaxy A56 is the worst mid-range phone on sale today.
