2025 was one of the most unpredictable years the smartphone industry has seen in a long time.Bigger batteries finally became normal. Cameras crossed new boundaries. Foldables stopped feeling experimental and started feeling practical. For once, innovation went beyond routine spec upgrades.
At the same time, it was also the year where AI became both a strength and a distraction. Every launch promised “AI-powered” everything, while prices quietly crept upward. Not every promise delivered real value.
When a year moves this fast, you don’t remember every launch—you remember the phones that sparked opinions. And after using and testing over 100 smartphones in 2025, this list isn’t about benchmarks or spec sheets.
It’s about impact.
Welcome to our Smartphone Awards 2025.
🏆 Best Budget Smartphone of 2025
Winner: CMF Phone 2 Pro
Budget smartphones had a mixed year. Some exceeded expectations, others struggled with software support, and a few made things unnecessarily complicated.
The Infinix Note 5S impressed on paper with strong performance, LPDDR5X RAM, stereo speakers, and fast charging at around ₹15,000—but inconsistent updates and a cluttered lineup held it back.
The OPPO K13 was another solid contender. With UFS 3.1 storage, a massive 7,000mAh battery, 80W fast charging, and stable software, it was one of those phones that simply worked without drama.
But the standout was the CMF Phone 2 Pro.
Launching at last year’s price, adding a rare 2× telephoto camera for the segment, including both a charger and case in the box, and still delivering timely software updates is no small achievement. The UI isn’t as minimal as CMF’s first phone, but it remains among the best-optimized budget experiences available.
CMF didn’t just build a good budget phone—it made the category exciting again.
🏆 Best Value-for-Money Smartphone of 2025
Winner: OnePlus Nord CE5
The real value-for-money segment isn’t at ₹10,000—and it isn’t at ₹1.5 lakh either. It sits comfortably between ₹25,000 and ₹30,000, where most buyers actually shop.
Several phones tried to dominate this space. The Motorola Edge 60 Pro looked impressive on launch day but struggled with long-term software reliability. The iQOO Neo 10R delivered flagship-level performance but compromised on cameras and storage pricing.
Then there’s the OnePlus Nord CE5.
At roughly ₹23,000, it offers:
- A massive 7,100mAh battery
- 80W fast charging
- Smooth, feature-rich OxygenOS 16
- Consistent performance for both gaming and daily use
It doesn’t dominate one single category—but it does everything well. And sometimes, that’s exactly what most users want.
🏆 Best Smartphone Deal of 2025
Winner: iPhone 16
Sales season in India is emotional—and nowhere is that more obvious than during flagship phone discounts.
While the iPhone 16 Pro disappeared almost instantly during flash sales, the base iPhone 16 told a different story. Priced around ₹50,000 and staying in stock for hours, it sold in massive volumes.
The numbers speak for themselves.
Big Billion Days isn’t just a sale anymore—it’s effectively India’s largest iPhone buying event.
🏆 Best Compact Smartphone of 2025
Winner: Vivo X300
Compact phones made a genuine comeback this year.
The OnePlus 13S nailed performance and software but fell short in camera consistency. The Vivo X200 FE delivered excellent photography but struggled with thermal management.
Then came the Vivo X300—arguably the most improved compact phone of the year.
In a 6.3-inch form factor, Vivo managed to fit:
- A 6,000mAh battery
- A 200MP main camera
- Periscope zoom
- LTPO display
- Latest USB standard and flagship chipset
It’s essentially a “mini Pro” phone. Yes, the price went up—but when a phone delivers this level of balance, the jump feels justified.
🏆 Most Innovative Smartphone of 2025
Winner: Samsung Tri-Fold
Innovation isn’t just about numbers—it’s about ambition.
Xiaomi impressed with rear displays. Huawei pushed boundaries with the Pura X and triple-fold concepts. But limited availability and performance compromises held them back.
The phone that truly pushed the limits—and launched globally—was the Samsung Tri-Fold.
It’s thick. It’s first-generation. But it works as:
- A smartphone
- A tablet
- A portable productivity display
Seven years of Samsung’s foldable experience clearly shows. Someone had to take the risk—and Samsung did.
🏆 Best Smartphone India Missed
Winner: Nubia Red Magic 10 Pro
If gaming phones had a final boss, this would be it.
With exceptional cooling, stable 120fps gameplay, and the highest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance we’ve seen, the Red Magic 10 Pro is built purely for gamers.
Unfortunately, it never launched in India.
🏆 Best Folding Smartphone of 2025
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
While Oppo and Vivo experimented, Samsung executed.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 delivered:
- The thinnest foldable available in India
- A 200MP camera
- Mature, refined multitasking software
- Over 2 lakh pre-orders within 48 hours
Ignore the battery for a moment, and it becomes clear why Samsung continues to lead the foldable market.
🏆 Best Tablet of 2025
Winner: Xiaomi Pad 7
Affordable, powerful, and practical.
With an anti-glare display, Dolby Vision support, and strong performance, the Xiaomi Pad 7 continues Xiaomi’s reputation for value-driven tablets.
Perfect for media consumption—which, let’s be honest, is what most tablets are used for anyway.
🏆 Best Smartphone Camera of 2025
Winner: Vivo X300 Pro
2025 officially ended the belief that iPhones automatically have the best cameras.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra impressed with its massive sensors, but the Vivo X300 Pro won because of the overall experience—not just hardware.
Vivo got the fundamentals right:
- Pro-level camera controls
- External microphone support
- Minimal AI interference
- Industry-leading portraits and zoom
It trusts the user—and that trust makes all the difference.
🏆 Worst Smartphone of 2025
Winners: Alcatel V3 Ultra & iPhone 16e
Some phones are overpriced. Others are simply poorly thought out.
- Alcatel V3 Ultra: confusing branding, outdated Android version, and a paid subscription for stylus note-taking.
- iPhone 16e: a single camera, 60Hz display, and a price that made no sense in 2025.
Discounts can’t fix fundamental problems.
🏆 Best Smartphone of 2025
Winner: Vivo X300 Pro
- Not the safest choice.
Not the most predictable.
But the best smartphone money can buy.
With cutting-edge battery technology, blazing-fast charging, elite cameras, refined software, and virtually no compromises, the Vivo X300 Pro stands above the rest.
