It’s only April, but I already know what the best phone of 2025 should be

Over the previous 5 years, it’s been very easy to determine what phone will be remembered as the best Android phone of the yr by each us who work right here at Android Authority and our readers. Our favorites typically appear to teeter between no matter the best non-foldable telephones are from Samsung and Google. Typically, Google wins our hearts (and our inside voting; the Google Pixel 9 Professional was voted best of 2024 by Android Authority), and typically, Samsung snatches everybody away (the Galaxy S24 Extremely was voted best of 2024 by our readers), whereas different telephones not often handle to stay lengthy sufficient in our collective reminiscence to be deemed as “best of” something by the finish of the yr.

Nevertheless, I sincerely hope this modifications in 2025. I suppose the OnePlus 13 is already the best phone of 2025 and can probably proceed to carry that crown all through the relaxation of the yr.

Samsung, Apple, and, to a lesser extent, Google have been in an innovation droop over the previous yr. Samsung and Apple have been mainly re-packaging their main smartphones with a brand new processor and minimal different modifications. Google at the least up to date the designs of the Pixel 9 sequence and did a very good job making a number of modifications to different {hardware} components. But even then, it nonetheless performed issues comparatively protected.

OnePlus, nonetheless, threw out the rule e book this yr. In comparison with the OnePlus 12, the OnePlus 13 sees a number of substantial upgrades. It additionally incorporates new expertise that we haven’t seen in lots of different telephones but, drastically bettering one of the most vital ache factors of any smartphone: battery life.

Let’s begin with the {hardware} upgrades. First, and most clearly, the OnePlus 13 comes with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a beast of a chip. That is the identical base chip in the Galaxy S25 Extremely, but Samsung’s model is barely overclocked in an try to enhance efficiency. In our exams, although, the OnePlus 13 optimized issues so properly that it nonetheless beat the Galaxy S25 Extremely by constant margins, even when it did get barely hotter to attain it:

OnePlus additionally bumped up two of its rear digicam lenses. The first lens is the identical, but the telephoto will get a a lot bigger sensor for higher gentle consumption and spectacular zoom ends in our exams, and the ultrawide will get a brand new sensor with a number of extra megapixels. If you mix these upgrades with some new software program tweaks, you get one of the best digicam telephones on the market — one thing only a few OnePlus telephones have been in a position to obtain.

There are such a lot of different upgrades, together with official IP68 and IP69 scores, an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, a totally flat show, and a decrease weight whereas nonetheless preserving the identical fundamental physique dimensions of the OnePlus 12.

Nevertheless, the most notable improve is the battery. As standard, OnePlus blows away all different opponents in the US by providing blazing-fast 80W wired charging speeds (with the acceptable charger in the field!) alongside 50W wi-fi charging. Not like in the previous, although, the phone has a bigger 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, one thing we haven’t seen in another phone in the US earlier than. Silicon-carbon batteries can maintain extra vitality in much less area than typical lithium-ion batteries, which permits the OnePlus 13 to have battery life that’s higher than another flagship phone obtainable in the US as we speak.

Merely put, taking a look at it objectively, the OnePlus 13 is a large step up over the OnePlus 12, mops the flooring with most different telephones in a spec-for-spec match, and begins at simply $899. How does that not earn it a nod as the best Android Phone of 2025?

You could have observed that, in the earlier part, I stated “in the US” fairly a bit. That’s as a result of loads of Chinese language telephones provide one thing very compelling and may even usurp the OnePlus 13 as the best of 2025. Sadly, although, none of these telephones are ever coming to the United States. In some instances, they gained’t even go away China. That makes them a tricky promote for “best of the yr” standing.

Take the Xiaomi 15 Extremely, for instance (proven above). It has one of the best cameras on any phone and likewise options the identical silicon-carbon battery expertise as the OnePlus 13. It’s obtainable now in Europe and the United Kingdom, but it would by no means come to the US in an official capability. It additionally involves the EU/UK with a smaller battery (5,410mAh) and prices lots of greater than any OnePlus phone, so it misses out on really topping the OnePlus 13 in a number of respects.

The OPPO Discover X8 Extremely (OPPO and OnePlus are half of the identical household of firms) additionally tops the OnePlus 13, together with battery capability, digicam high quality, and charging speeds. That phone isn’t even coming to the EU or UK, although, as it would be trapped as a China unique for the foreseeable future.

The rumored vivo X200 Extremely may also give the OnePlus 13 a run for its cash in a number of methods (vivo can be an element of the identical household as OPPO and OnePlus), but that may be one other very restricted launch.

The purpose is that, whereas there are heaps of telephones on the market higher than the OnePlus 13, there may be nothing obtainable throughout the world — together with the US — that may go spec-for-spec in opposition to it. That should simply give it a leg up over different telephones which may be superior on paper but aren’t obtainable in the world’s third-largest smartphone market.

I know what you’re considering: It’s only April, so how can I be so assured that nothing will beat the OnePlus 13 earlier than the finish of 2025? Nicely, we’ve already seen one principal competitor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely ($1299.99 at Amazon). Whereas that phone is undoubtedly nice, I’ve already talked about the way it nonetheless can’t beat the OnePlus 13 in some crucial features — specifically battery life, charging speeds, and processing energy. In fact, it’s nonetheless a fan favourite and may win simply because it nearly at all times does, but taken objectively, the OnePlus 13 ($899.99 at OnePlus) does far more for manner much less — $400 much less, to be particular.

What about Pixels? Because of Google’s leaky ship, we already know quite a bit about the Pixel 10 sequence. We know the two non-foldable Professional telephones gained’t see a redesign or any digicam upgrades. We additionally know that Tensor G5 — whereas being a really attention-grabbing processor that we’re excited to see in motion — gained’t be in a position to maintain a candle to the uncooked energy of the Snapdragon 8 Elite. We don’t know for sure but, but we’ve heard nothing to counsel silicon-carbon batteries or sooner charging speeds both, so OnePlus will nearly definitely take the cake there, too.

What about Apple? Though some of our extra “passionate” readers don’t prefer it, any given yr’s Professional-level iPhone makes it fairly far in our reader’s selection voting rounds (it made it to the Last 4 final yr and in 2023). Nevertheless, like the Pixel 10 sequence, rumors counsel the iPhone 17 sequence gained’t see too many loopy upgrades.

Actually, all that’s left are foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (but early rumors don’t level to an enormous improve, both), the Galaxy S25 Edge (a wildcard, at best), and the rumored “Air” iPhone (I’m not anticipating an excessive amount of from this one in any respect). There’s nothing else on the horizon that I see even getting near a “best phone of 2025” standing.

Nevertheless, there may be yet another phone I have my eyes on: the OnePlus 13T. This may be just like a OnePlus 13 but trimmed down internally to suit right into a 6.3-inch physique. Whereas I don’t suppose it’ll have a shot at taking the highlight away from its larger brother, I am personally trying ahead to that phone, as it would find yourself being a compact flagship that may doubtlessly tear me away from the Pixel 9 Professional. In fact, time will inform whether or not or not it makes it to the US.

What do you suppose? Does the OnePlus 13 arise properly in opposition to the large boys from Samsung, Google, and Apple? Or are you anticipating any stunning contenders earlier than the finish of yr? Let me know in the feedback, and be positive to vote in the ballot above!