Best and Worst Smartphones of 2025 EXPOSED – Some Should Never Have Launched!
Every year, smartphones promise the moon—faster chips, smarter cameras, and “revolutionary” features. And every year, only a handful actually live up to that talk. So here’s a no-filter, honest look at the best and worst smartphones of 2025, based on how they performed in real life, not on spec sheets or launch-day hype.
One important rule first: phones launched in November and December 2025 are not included. They simply haven’t been used long enough to judge properly and will be considered for the 2026 list instead.
Now, let’s get into what truly stood out—and what completely missed the mark.
Best Budget Smartphones of 2025 (₹10,000 – ₹20,000)
Budget phones were surprisingly strong this year. Some brands finally understood what users actually want: solid performance, long battery life, and clean software.
Winners
Oppo K13
The Oppo K13 quietly became a battery monster. With 11–12 hours of screen-on time, it easily outlasted most phones in its price range. The efficient Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chip and ColorOS 16 made everyday use smooth and stress-free. It’s the kind of phone you charge once and forget about for the rest of the day.
CMF Phone 2 Pro
If value for money had a face in 2025, this would be it. The CMF Phone 2 Pro often dropped below ₹15,000 during sales, making it a steal. Sure, it could use dual speakers and a better camera setup, but for the price, it delivers way more than expected.
Runners-Up
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Realme P4
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Infinix GT 30
Good phones, just not quite good enough to beat the top two.
Worst Budget Phone of 2025
Nothing Phone 2a Lite
This one honestly raised a simple question: why was it even launched? It offered poor value compared to its own siblings, especially the CMF Phone 2 Pro. It was so underwhelming that it wasn’t even worth unboxing. Easily one of the biggest missteps of the year.
Best Mid-Range Smartphones of 2025 (₹20,000 – ₹30,000)
This category was crowded, but software quality made all the difference.
Winner
OnePlus Nord 5
The OnePlus Nord 5 won because it just felt right. The software experience was smoother and more reliable than almost everything else in this price range. Add a large battery and a capable chipset, and you get a phone that works exactly the way you expect it to—no drama, no bugs, no compromises.
Runners-Up
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iQOO Neo 10R
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OnePlus Nord CE 5
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Nothing Phone 3a
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Poco X7 Pro
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Realme P4 Pro
All solid choices, but none matched the overall balance of the Nord 5.
A Word of Advice to Brands
The Redmi and Realme Number Series really need a reset. Over time, these lineups have lost their value edge. Better pricing and fewer compromises would go a long way.
Best Premium Smartphones of 2025 (₹30,000 – ₹50,000)
This segment separated smart buying from marketing hype.
Winner
OnePlus 13R
The OnePlus 13R was one of the most underrated phones of 2025. It delivered strong performance, excellent battery life, and a price that actually made sense. No flashy nonsense—just a dependable, powerful phone that justified every rupee.
Runner-Up
iQOO Neo 10
A performance-focused phone that came very close to the top spot.
Worst Premium Phone of 2025
Pixel 9a
The Pixel 9a simply asked for too much money. Priced around ₹45,000–₹50,000, it felt overpriced from day one. Heating problems and noticeable battery drain only made things worse. At ₹30,000–₹35,000 it could’ve been a winner—but not at this price.
Best Compact Smartphones of 2025
Small phones finally got some love again.
Winner
iPhone 17
After years of “almost there” upgrades, Apple finally delivered something genuinely meaningful. The improvements were noticeable and long overdue. Thanks to this, the iPhone 17 is expected to do extremely well during big sales events.
Runners-Up
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Vivo X200 Fan Edition
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OnePlus 13s
Notable Exclusion
Xiaomi 15 missed out due to software issues and heating problems, despite having strong hardware.
Best Flagship Smartphones of 2025 (Above ₹50,000)
This is where consistency mattered more than specs.
Smartphone of the Year 2025
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
After a full year of use, the Galaxy S25 Ultra earned the top spot for one simple reason: its software experience. One UI proved to be the most reliable, feature-rich, and comfortable Android skin for daily use. It may not win every spec comparison, but as an all-rounder, it’s hard to beat.
Runners-Up
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Vivo X200 Pro – Easily the best camera hardware of the year. With Samsung’s software, it could’ve been number one.
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OnePlus 13
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iPhone 17 Pro series
Worst Flagships of 2025
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iPhone 16e
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Google Pixel 9 Pro
Both failed to justify their premium pricing in real-world usage.
Why Foldables Didn’t Get Any Awards
Foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Vivo Fold were left out intentionally. They’re impressive, no doubt—but still niche products. For most users, they don’t yet offer enough practical value to deserve mainstream “best phone” titles.
Final Thoughts
2025 made one thing very clear: good software, strong battery life, and fair pricing matter more than fancy specs. All awards were based on launch prices, not discounted sale prices, to keep things honest.
Looking ahead, phone prices are expected to keep rising in 2026, and transparency around sponsorships will matter more than ever.
At the end of the day, the best smartphone isn’t the one with the loudest marketing—it’s the one that quietly does its job every single day.
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