2025 has been a really great year for phone launches. We've had Apple's mega-launch of the new iPhone Air, which got me thinking about what I continue to see as the best phone of the moment – if you're not an iPhone user, anyway.
I've been using Google Pixel 10 Pro XL for many weeks already, which is a stellar Android phone, no doubt, but if I was actually phoneless and had to buy something right now?
Well, I'd venture to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – especially as the best Black Friday sales have seen Samsung's flagship fall to its lowest-ever price (as verified by CamelCamelCamel).
I still think Samsung has the Phone of the Year – as was backed up by the T3 Awards 2025 – because the Pixel's glossier screen seems a little more prone to display scratch marks. The iPhone, meanwhile, remains even more pricey, without Black Friday deals making a dent.
What are the best phones?
Now there's always a binary decision to be made in regards to whether you're on team Apple (with its iOS software) or team Android (with Google's operating system).
If you're staunchly committed to one or the other already, then switching between the two could be quite the ordeal. This isn't a "one is better than the other" feature, as you probably already know where your preference lies.
However, in the mix of iPhones and Android handsets, there's plenty of great competition – especially in 2025, which has been a year of innovation. Samsung was swift out the gate with its Galaxy S25 Edge, which is super-slim – and ahead of Apple's iPhone Air in terms of timeline.
But while the super-slim gang is impressive to look at, I'm not so sure it's as practical as a larger, longer-lasting, and more feature-packed device. The S25 Ultra, for me, just does so much more that it's the pick. That said, it's behind the incoming crowd – such as the Oppo Find X9 Pro and OnePlus 15, both of which have huge batteries.
Before I shout about any more, however, it is worth pointing out that I'm talking about flagships here. These aren't cheap by any means – those with a more modest budget should check out T3's best cheap phones feature instead.
So why is the Samsung still best?
But back to the Galaxy Ultra. One of its standout features is the integrated S Pen stylus, which many people rave about. This opens up a new set of features, with pen-like control that's great for speeding up tasks, sharing things between apps, taking notes, or even sketching.
Those who don't love a large phone, however, will need to consider the sheer scale of the S25 Ultra. It's got a 6.9-inch display, which is why the S Pen is so good with it, but that might put off those seeking a smaller handset. I think it's a perfect size, though, and with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio it's not unduly wide.
Re-reading my S25 Ultra review's verdict, it describes the handset as "showcasing the best Android has to offer". I still think that's true – and with a One UI 8 via Android 16 upgrade having just landed recently, it's always improving.
However, that's one area where Google arguably has the upper hand. Inevitably, the maker of Android gets the software rollout for Pixel sooner. Not that Google is playing the stylus game, which really separates this Samsung for its competition.
That the S25 Ultra has dropped in price as we approach the end of the year isn't perhaps a huge surprise. After all, the rumoured Galaxy S26 means a next-gen handset is likely to be revealed in January 2026. Until then, however, this November deal on the flagship Samsung is my 'would buy' right now...
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