Top 10 phones readers bought in 2025 (No. 1 surprised us all)

I always say that niche products have niche audiences, and that doesn’t necessarily mean that no one is buying them. The Blackview BV7300 is a perfect example, as it is a budget Android phone whose design will probably scare off 95% of users.

But the phone’s hefty exterior, coupled with the 15,000mAh battery (about three times that of most Android phones), makes it an easy choice for power users and outdoor travelers. It even has a built-in camping light!

Review: I went off-grid with this $200 Android phone, and night vision superpowers came into play

Nothing really stood out with its midrange phones this year, and the Phone 3A might be the best of the bunch. It sits comfortably at a price of $380, but its feature set will make anyone wonder why it doesn’t cost more.

That list includes a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with 3,000 nits brightness, a triple camera system, a nothing-polarizing design, and software that’s full of character and customizability.

Review: I replaced my Pixel 9 Pro with this midrange Android phone – and I don’t regret it

What’s impressive is that Samsung’s A-series phones continue to perform well in this competitive smartphone market. While the A35 5G model was released last year, it gained significant traction due to the launch of its successor later in 2025.

draw? A large screen and battery that makes all its other warnings easy to understand. This is clearly a recipe for success, as Samsung followed a similar playbook with the A36 5G model, which we now recommend over the A35 5G due to its more modern specifications.

Review: This is the $399 Samsung Galaxy mid-range phone most people should buy

Did you think that every phone on this list would be cheap and value-driven? This is going to be interesting. The Motorola Razr Ultra was released this spring, and it was met with considerable fanfare. After all, Motorola essentially took the flip-phone form factor and packed it with the best features and specifications one can find.

So much so that after reviewing its rival, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, I returned to the Moto for its convenient external display, distinctively textured back cover, and useful ultrawide camera. Take advantage of all the discounts available on this device.

Review: Yes, Motorola’s $1,300 Razr Ultra competes with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 (and not just on price)

deal: The Motorola Razr Ultra is currently 23% off at Amazon.

The second Motorola to make the list is the Moto G Power, which has a new textured back cover this year for better grip. It’s also longer-lasting than ever, with a 5,000mAh battery paired with a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, which we found to run quite efficiently.

Review: I found a $300 Motorola phone that offers key features at a great price

deal: The Moto G Power is currently 17% off at Amazon.

If there’s any ultra-slim phone worth celebrating in 2025, it’s this one. The folks at RedMagic have somehow developed a gaming phone that has a nearly bezel-less display, a 5,860mAh battery that puts Samsung and Apple to shame, and 512GB of internal storage.

The price of $699 is also quite competitive. Just don’t expect to find one of these at your local carrier store any time soon.

Review: I replaced my Pixel 9 Pro with this $700 Android phone for a few weeks — and I don’t regret it

It shouldn’t really surprise anyone that last year’s iPhone 16 Pro was one of the most popular products on ZDNET in 2025, just as it shouldn’t surprise anyone when the iPhone 17 Pro makes it to the list next year.

It’s a little bittersweet if you think about it. This is the last iPhone to have a unique camera bump on the back corner, and Apple is moving away from titanium and other hard metals. It is also the last Pro iPhone to come in black.

Also: Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: I compared both models, and there’s a big difference

What sold more than iPhone? Moto G 2025. It’s not flashy; The cameras won’t beat even the cheapest iPhone sold by Apple, and you can’t really count on Motorola to provide the best software support. However, out of all the sub-$200 phones available in the market, this one reigns supreme.

If you’re buying for a child or older family member, or just want an extra phone that has access to the same apps as more expensive handsets, consider this.

Also: This $200 Motorola phone has no business being priced so well

This is correct. The most popular phone, as determined by the millions of ZDNET readers who interact with our reviews, buying guides, and other stories, is a $90 Nokia that’s just as scary as the Blackview BV7300 but in the opposite way.

It’s all about minimalism, living a distraction-free life and appreciating the finer things with the Nokia 2780 Flip, and that’s a message that clearly connected with many of you. Bizarre phones are making their way into our noisy digital world and this Nokia is leading the list.

Also: Gen Z is abandoning iPhones for $100 ‘feature phones’, and the statistics don’t lie