If you’re shopping for an Android phone and want the best AI experience around, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is our current favourite pick.

As with any Pixel phone, the 9 Pro XL is mostly about two things – the Google software and the camera. The cameras remain fairly similar to what we saw on the Pixel 8 Pro, but refreshed tech, including larger zoom and ultrawide sensors and new AI smarts, improves performance on all three of the rear lenses. There are software tweaks, too, including a bunch of updated modes – including Night Sight Video – you’ll actually want to use.

Photos from the phone are great in practically any scenario. They are richer and more immersive than those from the Galaxy S25 series and often better in darker situations, too, despite the much higher megapixel count on offer from the S25 Ultra in particular. The zoom might not match up to Samsung’s Ultra efforts, but if you keep it to around the 5-10x mark, the results are great.

Powering the phone is Google’s Tensor G4 chipset, though like previous entries, it’s not the quickest around – many phones on this list post better benchmark scores – with the focus being instead on AI prowess.

Many software additions here are made better by this chip, including support for on-device Google Gemini smarts, the ability to search for Screenshots using natural language and even generate new images entirely on-device, and everything works very well. Samsung has started to claw back some of that interest with Galaxy AI on its flagship series, but there’s still more to take advantage of with the Pixel 9 Pro XL than the S25.

The 6.8-inch Super Actua screen is on par with high-end options from Apple and Samsung, although battery life is starting to lag behind the competition. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is also more expensive than the Pixel 8 Pro, with the new regular Pixel 9 Pro offering pro-level smarts in a smaller 6.3-inch package.

SQUIRREL_PLAYLIST_10187772

Given that last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra held this spot until recently, it probably shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see that its successor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, has now taken over its post.

While it’s true that the S25 Ultra doesn’t depict a monumental upgrade over last year’s flagship, and that if you do have that phone or even the S23 Ultra then you’re better off staying put for the time being, there’s no getting around how great this display looks on a daily basis.

This time around, the bezels have been shaved down even further to create the illusion at times that one half of the phone is simply all-screen. It certainly means that you now get the most out of its gigantic 6.9-inch AMOLED display when it comes to watching TV shows or indulging in a spot of gaming, the latter of which is a breeze thanks to the included Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset.

The S24 Ultra’s anti-reflective coating makes a comeback here as well, and it does a fantastic job at minimising distraction from nearby light sources. This, in turn, should have a knock-on effect on the device’s battery life as you won’t feel as pressured to up the brightness on your phone when using it outdoors.

SQUIRREL_PLAYLIST_10207165

There’s no shortage of fantastic camera phones in the Android smartphone market, but the Xiaomi 15 Ultra stands head and shoulders above the competition with some of the best performance across the board.

That’s headed up by a 50MP main camera with a whopping 1-inch sensor that’s larger than anything you’ll find from Samsung, Apple and Google, and allows for phenomenal day-to-day performance. Not only are images crisp and detailed, but the large sensor also allows for stunning performance in low-light scenarios too.

That’s backed up by a 50MP 3x floating telephoto lens that doubles up as a pretty fantastic telemacro lens, complete with a natural bokeh you’d expect from DSLRs, and the 200MP periscope lens captures plenty of detail at the 50x mark and beyond. The 50MP ultrawide is the weakest of the four lenses, but that’s only because the others are exceptional. It’d be considered a fairly capable ultrawide lens if this were any other smartphone.

The Leica tuning is present and accounted for, both in the form of Vibrant and Authentic shooting modes along with a variety of filters and Leica-style bokeh effects when taking portrait photos.

It’s not just a great camera phone either; it sports a curved 6.73-inch WQHD+ AMOLED screen with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite power and a healthy 5410mAh battery with 90W charging.

The only real chink in its armour is its software; while HyperOS 2 is much cleaner than the older EMUI, the inspiration is still clear, and it’s about as far as you can get from stock Android. It also falls short when it comes to long-term support, with Xiaomi committing to four years of OS upgrades and six years of security patches.

SQUIRREL_PLAYLIST_10207332

This was a very close competition where, at one point, the Oppo Find X8 Pro was also considered, but in the end it was the outstanding OnePlus 13 that swooped in to take the crown. Simply put, if you want the best battery life possible on an Android handset for some seriously heavy use then this is the one you’ll want to get.

The included 6000mAh cell is an absolute beast, and thanks to its use of more efficient silicon carbon material, it doesn’t add much to the phone’s overall weight either. In our testing, we found it incredibly difficult to fully drain the battery during an intensive day of use. As a testament to this, we were able to play roughly half an hour of Mario Kart Tour and only see up to a 4% drop from the overall charge.

This is the type of longevity that more casual users can probably stretch to a two-day stint, and it’s made even better thanks to 100W fast charging if you pick up a compatible adapter which, unfortunately, is sold separately. However it is worth noting that wireless charging of any kind is not available with this phone.

On top of the stellar battery life, you’ve got the wonderful OxygenOS which makes using OnePlus phones feel wonderfully intuitive, and the cameras aren’t too bad either, but they pale in comparison to what Google and Samsung have achieved.

SQUIRREL_PLAYLIST_10207250

The Honor Magic 7 Pro is in an interesting space this year. Its predecessor, the Honor Magic 6 Pro, previously held the spot on this list as having the best battery, but this phone has a smaller cell and that spot has been taken by the superior OnePlus 13. However, there is one key area where the Honor Magic 7 Pro crushed the competition and that’s in charging.

If you’re the type of person who’s always rushing from one place to the next, with only a short window of opportunity to top up their smartphone, then you’ll be glad to know that the Magic 7 Pro’s 5270mAh battery can be topped up by either 100W wired-charging or 80W wireless charging.

In the case of that wired charge, you can get a full battery in return from just 33 minutes of connectivity, which is phenomenal. Of course, you’ll need to buy a proper 100W charger to enjoy those faster speeds as unfortunately, you won’t find one included in the box.

Don’t think that the Honor Magic 7 Pro slouches elsewhere though – this phone still benefits from some of the best cameras around, including a super high resolution telephoto lens, and all of the shots you do take look incredible on the device’s 6.8-inch, 1.2K AMOLED display.

If you want an ultra-slim, lightweight flagship with a fantastic 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, you’ll find no better than Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 Edge.

At 5.6mm thick and 163g, it’s incredibly thin and light compared to most of the flagship competition, especially big-screen alternatives like the S25 Ultra, which makes for a fantastic in-hand feel. It’s super light yet durable, boasting a titanium frame and IP68 dust resistance, with no significant design compromise to achieve its ultra-slim dimensions.

However, it is very much a design-first smartphone. For example, there are only two cameras, lacking the telephoto lens present on much of the competition. It can also struggle to keep the top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite cool, especially when gaming.

The most significant compromise is undoubtedly battery life, as the 6.7-inch QHD+ screen is simply too much for the small 3900mAh cell, resulting in a struggle to last all day.

That said, if you’re willing to compromise and possibly carry around a power bank, the experience of using the S25 Edge is unlike anything else on this list.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip line might’ve popularised the modern clamshell foldable, but it’s not the best around. That award goes instead to the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra.

While this year’s release doesn’t reinvent the wheel compared to the 50 Ultra, the refinements are meaningful. A tougher titanium hinge and improved IP48 dust and water resistance make it more durable where it counts.

That core experience remains slick and satisfying, and given that this is the best flip phone we’ve tested, that’s high praise. The standout feature remains the generous 4-inch cover screen, which handles both widget and full Android apps with ease, letting you do more without flipping it open.

When you do open it, you’re treated to a vibrant 7-inch pOLED display wth Pantone Validated for spot-on colour accuracy. It’s a great panel for everyday use, and while the crease hasn’t vanished, it’s shallower and far less distracting than what rivals offer.

Under the hood, you’ll find the Snapdragon 8 Elite, paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage as standard. Battery life similarly impresses, lasting all day without a charge, and 68W fast charging tops it up in under an hour.

Yes, Motorola’s combination of three OS upgrades and four years of security patches lags behind Samsung’s seven OS upgrade promise, but overall, it’s the most capable and polished clamshell you can buy right now.

When it comes to the world of book-style foldable smartphones, look no further than Honor’s top-end Magic V3; it represents the pinnacle of foldable technology with an impressively slim yet durable design that makes other options look a little dated.

It measures 4.4mm thick when unfolded, and even at 9.2mm when fully folded, it’s thinner than some regular smartphones. It’s also light for a foldable of this kind, tipping the scales at 226g. Don’t let its svelte dimensions fool you though; this is very much a capable smartphone.

The 6.34-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED screen is every bit as premium as the inner 7.92-inch foldable canvas hidden within, though the foldable screen is where most of the focus is. Honor has done an admirable job at negating the crease, making it comparatively less noticeable than that of other foldable, making it a treat for big-screen browsing and movie watching.

It’s powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 found in much of the competition, allowing for great everyday performance when combined with a healthy 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage as standard.

Despite its slim dimensions, the Magic V3 packs in a whopping 5150mAh battery that, again, beats the competition in terms of storage capacity and this is reflected in real-world use, achieving around six or seven hours out of a charge, with a full recharge in just shy of an hour.

Oh, and did we mention that it’s cheaper than the likes of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 in the UK? Because it totally is.

The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition may not be the most rounded Android phone on this list, but it excels at its main point of interest: gaming.

There are oodles of gaming-centric features here, from the AirTriggers that allow for gamepad-esque controls to the Armoury Crate software that enables you to fiddle with the performance settings and display frame rate, temperature and GPU workload figures as you play your favourite mobile games.

The real highlight is the Snapdragon 8 Elite found within. When combined with Asus’ top-notch internal optimisations including an impressive cooling system that sustains gameplay for way longer than regular smartphones, you’ve got one of the most powerful Android phones you can buy.

That’s all well and good, but plenty of gaming phones offer similar performance-focused features. Where the ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition stands out is in the design department by, well, not looking like a gaming phone at all.

Instead, the phone looks not too dissimilar from your regular flagship smartphone with a glass and matte frosted finish on the rear, slimmed down bezels and even a 3x telephoto camera to bolster the rear camera setup. There are still a few gamer-centric design features, like the AniMe panel that can display text, graphics and more, but that disappears from view when not in active use.

The only major stumbling block for this phone is that it’s incredibly expensive, requiring a sum beyond the £1000/$1000 mark. As a result, it may be worth sacrificing a couple of features and opting for the older Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro (with a fairly similar spec) instead.

The Pixel 9a is a compact Android phone with an excellent camera, Google’s fantastic software and a price tag that won’t break the bank.

The Pixel 9a breaks tradition and sports a different look to the flagship Pixel 9, ditching the iconic camera bar for a near-flush dual camera housing. Combined with its flat edges and flat screen, it’s a joy to hold and use, though it does have that plasticy feel on the rear.

The Pixel 9a also has an impressive camera setup. Its new 48MP primary camera, like those that came before it, is capable of capturing excellent images in various lighting conditions and accurately captures skin tones. Google really does continue to dominate the mid-range camera space.

Then there are all the AI smarts; in addition to all the AI features on previous ‘a’ series devices, including Best Take, Magic Editor and Magic Eraser, you’ll benefit from the Add Me tech introduced on the Pixel 9 last year. There are other AI-infused elements throughout the OS too, allowing the phone to transcribe recordings and even take calls for you in certain regions.

Plus, with a whopping seven years of OS upgrades guaranteed, it’ll continue to get even more features and functionality over time. That’s a massive boost compared to the three or four upgrades you’ll get from competitors, if you’re lucky.

SQUIRREL_PLAYLIST_10207452