January 2025
Smartphones: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of smartphones rankings posted by key online experts, as of January 2025.
Summary
On 6 Jan 2025, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 90 smartphone endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
47 smartphones were endorsed in total, only 23 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 6 Jan 2025, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed smartphone with 8 expert endorsements. 3 experts out of 8 recommended it as the '#1 smartphone' this month.
Brand breakdown
-
Apple: 11 smartphones
(#1 is iPhone 16 Pro Max)
-
Samsung: 10 smartphones
(#1 is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra)
-
Google: 8 smartphones
(#1 is Google Pixel 9 Pro)
-
OnePlus: 5 smartphones
(#1 is OnePlus 12R)
-
Motorola: 3 smartphones
(#1 is Motorola Edge 50 Ultra)
Price breakdown
At a glance - January Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Smartphone |
Laptop Mag
|
The Verge
|
TechRadar
|
T3
|
Pocket-lint
|
Tom's Guide
|
IGN
|
Creative Bloq
|
Digital Trends
|
ZD Net
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $860 |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
|
-
|
3
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
|
2
|
- | $999 |
Google Pixel 9 Pro
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
4
|
-
|
|
3
|
- | Check price |
iPhone 16 Pro Max
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
2
|
|
4
|
- | Check price |
iPhone 16
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
|
5
|
- | Check price |
iPhone 16 Pro
|
-
|
5
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
|
6
|
- | $0 |
iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro Max impresses with its camera capabilities, battery life, and USB-C integration, but faces criticism for its high price, slow charging speeds, and some underutilized features like the Action Button.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | Check price |
OnePlus 12R
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
4
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
|
8
|
+1 | $499 |
Google Pixel 7a
The Google Pixel 7a has received positive reviews for its design, camera capabilities, display, performance, battery life, and speakers, making it a suitable choice for users who prioritize these features.
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
9
|
-1 | $1199 |
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
4
|
|
10
|
- | Check price |
OnePlus 12
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
7
|
|
11
|
- | $487 |
Google Pixel 8a
|
-
|
4
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
12
|
- | $2020 |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
|
13
|
+7 | $539 |
Nothing Phone (1)
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
|
14
|
-1 | Check price |
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a flagship smartphone that offers a unique design, advanced camera capabilities, impressive performance, reliable battery life, and excellent speaker quality, making it a top choice for those seeking a high-performance smartphone.
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
15
|
-1 | Check price |
Google Pixel 9
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
12
|
-
|
|
16
|
-1 | Check price |
OnePlus 11
The OnePlus 11 receives positive reviews for its sleek design, premium materials, unique camera placement, exceptional performance, solid battery life, and good speaker quality, making it a recommended choice for users who value aesthetics, camera capabilities, smooth performance, and a high-quality display.
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
17
|
-1 | Check price |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
|
18
|
-1 | Check price |
Nothing Phone 2
The Nothing Phone (2) is a sleek and powerful device with a great display and battery life, but falls short in low light photography and audio quality.
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
19
|
-1 | Check price |
iPhone 16 Plus
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
|
20
|
-1 | $437 |
iPhone SE
The iPhone SE (2020) is a compact and well-designed smartphone that offers excellent performance and functionality, making it a suitable choice for users who prefer a smaller device.
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
|
21
|
- | Check price |
OnePlus Open
The OnePlus Open is a versatile and reliable foldable smartphone with a sleek design, powerful camera system, vibrant display, seamless performance, impressive battery life, and immersive audio quality, making it a great choice for users who prioritize portability, durability, and multimedia capabilities.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
|
22
|
- | $1086 |
Oppo Find X5 Pro
The Oppo Find X5 Pro is a flagship smartphone praised for its sleek design, impressive camera performance, smooth display, powerful performance, and long-lasting battery life, but its audio quality may not meet the standards of some users.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
|
23
|
- | Check price |
Pixel 9 Pro Fold
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
-
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra #1 in January 2025 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 3 experts ranked Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra as #1.
TechRadar
The best Android cameras
|
Incredible performance and features
Better cameras than ever before
|
AI features can be useless at worst
Big, heavy, and more expensive
|
T3
The best flagship Android phone right now
|
Seriously powerful hardware experience
Versatile camera system, including zoom
S Pen stylus comes in a handy slot
|
S Pen stylus won't be for all
Charging could be faster
|
Pocket-lint
Best premium phone
|
Innovative AI tools
Fantastic Camera
Excellent build-quality
|
Expensive
Bulky
|
Tom's Guide
The best phone from Samsung
|
Practical AI features
7 years of software updates
Incredible processing power
|
5x zoom lens isn't as powerful as S23 Ultra's 10x lens
More expensive than before
|
IGN
Best Smartphone
|
Incredible performance
Exceptional camera system
|
Titanium makes the device big and heavy
|
Creative Bloq
The new gold standard for Android AI camera phones.
|
Excellent cameras
Seven years of updates
S Pen is a great addition
|
The price
The AI
The software
|
ZD Net
Best phone overall
|
Best display available in any smartphone
Reliable quad-camera setup
Battery life remains among best in class
AI features deliver new value
|
Costs more than some premium laptops
No Qi2 magnetic charging
Can be unwieldy for some, especially with a case
|
We ranked Google Pixel 9 Pro #2 in January 2025 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Google Pixel 9 Pro as #1.
TechRadar
The best Android overall
|
Fantastic improved Pixel design and durability
Great camera and photo editing features
|
Performance lags the competition
Some AI features may be questionable without guardrails
|
Tom's Guide
Best AI features on a phone
|
Super bright display
Vastly improved battery life
Excellent camera performance
|
Tensor G4 chip lags other top Android chipset in performance
As pricey as larger Pixel 8 Pro
|
IGN
Best Camera Phone
|
Elegant and compact design
Excellent camera system
Long-term software support
|
Gaming performance lags behind
Base storage could be bigger
|
Creative Bloq
Completely stuffed with AI features, the Pixel 9 Pro is ambitiously futuristic
|
Superb, high-quality camera setup
Next-level AI features
Premium build and handling
|
Performance lags
Susceptible to overheating
|
Digital Trends
The best Android phone runner-up
|
Beautiful hardware and display
Compact size without compromises
It's pink!
Long battery life
Great cameras
Mostly good AI tools
Seven years of updates
|
Slow charging speeds
128GB base storage
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend smartphones.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of smartphones, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for January 2025 ranking
Laptop Mag
The Verge
TechRadar
T3
Pocket-lint
Tom's Guide
IGN
Creative Bloq
Digital Trends
ZD Net
We ranked iPhone 16 Pro Max #3 in January 2025 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked iPhone 16 Pro Max as #1.
TechRadar
The best iPhone overall
|
Camera control gives instant access
Powerful Apple A18 Pro chip inside
|
More zoom would be even nicer
Apple Intelligence rollout is staggered
|
Tom's Guide
The best phone overall
|
Long lasting battery life
Useful Camera Control button
4K 120 fps video capture
Larger screen
|
Slow charging speeds
Apple Intelligence features aren't too innovative
|
Digital Trends
The best iPhone runner-up
|
Beautiful display
Powerful performance
Camera Control is a nice addition
Great battery life
Improved ultrawide camera
|
It's too darn big
Boring colors
Apple Intelligence not available yet
|
ZD Net
Best iPhone overall
|
Camera Control brings new utility
Best battery life of an iPhone to date
A18 Pro chip to power Apple Intelligence features
Useful video features like 4K120fps recording and Audio Mix
|
Still expensive at $1,199
Most Apple Intelligence features remain in beta or have yet to be released
|
We ranked iPhone 16 #4 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked iPhone 16 as #1.
Tom's Guide
The best bang/buck ratio in Apple phones
|
Vibrant color choices
Strong A18 performance
Refreshed ultrawide camera
|
Still stuck with 60Hz display
Apple Intelligence features are nothing too groundbreaking
|
Digital Trends
The best iPhone
|
Fun, refreshing new design
Stunning colors this year
Camera Control is so, so good
The Action button rules
Excellent camera system
Reliable battery life
|
60Hz display, no always-on display
Slow charging speeds
Apple Intelligence not yet available
|
We ranked iPhone 16 Pro #5 in January 2025 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
The best iPhone cameras
|
Camera control gives instant camera access
Powerful Apple A18 Pro chip for Apple Intelligence
|
Not the sharpest screen I've seen
Should have more storage
|
IGN
Best iPhone
|
Powerful performance
Elegant design
Robust camera system
|
Camera settings could use some tweaks
|
Creative Bloq
|
New A18 Pro chip is powerful
Improved camera
Native creative apps still best on the market
|
Charging still slow
Smaller model's screen feels too small
That's a lot of money for more storage, Apple
|
We ranked iPhone 15 Pro Max #6 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked iPhone 15 Pro Max as #1.
- 📸 Excellent Camera Quality
- 🔋 Impressive Battery Life
- 🔌 USB-C Port
- 🌟 Design and Build Quality
- 🚀 Performance
- 💸 High Price
- ⚡ Slow Charging Speeds
- 🔄 Action Button Underutilized
T3
The best Apple phone you can buy
|
Titanium enclosure makes it lighter
Most capable cameras
|
New action button not essential
Battery demands
|
Pocket-lint
Best overall phone / Editor's Choice
|
Beautiful, premium build
Performance is really smooth and fast
Excellent camera system with excellent 5x zoom
Action Button is very useful
|
Pricey
Camera can be a little overcomplicated
|
We ranked OnePlus 12R #7 in January 2025 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
The best Android for battery life
|
Excellent battery life
Display is outstanding
Plenty of features
|
No seven-year update promise
Not many MP on those cameras
Can't charge wirelessly
|
Pocket-lint
Best mid-range phone
|
Excellent performance for the price
Long battery life
Includes a fast-charger
|
No SD Slot
No wireless charging
|
Tom's Guide
Best value for an Android phone
|
Epic battery life
Compelling budget price in the U.S.
Strong Snapdragon performance
|
No wireless charging
Software support could be longer
|
Digital Trends
The best phone value
|
Sleek, polished design
Top-notch display
Fast performance; runs cool
Excellent battery life
80W charging!
Unbeatable price
|
Poor ultrawide and macro cameras
No wireless charging
|
We ranked Google Pixel 7a #8 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Google Pixel 7a as #1.
Laptop Mag
Best phone smartphone for most people
|
$499 price point
Bright, vivid 90Hz display
Excellent photos
Exclusive Pixel features
Solid support
|
Mediocre speakers
Performance can’t match flagships
|
Pocket-lint
Best budget phone
|
Amazing price
Capable performance
Clutter-free user experience
|
Not the brightest
Lacks adaptive refresh rate
|
We ranked Google Pixel 9 Pro XL #9 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
T3
The best phone for most people
|
Display arguably best Android has to offer right now
A great camera experience
Brilliant battery life
|
Still not very fast-charging
Samsung offers more raw power for gaming
The display's corners curve steeply
|
Digital Trends
The best big Android phone
|
Google's best Pixel hardware yet
Excellent display
16GB of RAM!
Really fantastic cameras
Helpful AI tools
Much better battery life
Seven years of updates
|
Pixel Studio is a mess
Slow charging speeds
128GB of base storage
|
ZD Net
Best camera phone
|
Quality cameras all across the board
Plenty of useful AI features
Up to 5,060mAh battery with LTPO display
Arguably the best front-facing camera on any phone
|
Stock Android can feel too minimal
Capped at 45W fast charging
Costs $100 more than last year's model
|
We ranked OnePlus 12 #10 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Tom's Guide
A great flagship value
|
Sharper 3x periscope camera
Responsive performance
Wireless charging returns
|
Few AI features compared to Galaxy S24
Low-light photos disappoint
|
Digital Trends
The best Android phone
|
Beautiful curved display
Flowy Emerald is a truly unique color
Powerful performance
Hasselblad camera system delivers great results
Two-day battery
Very fast wired and wireless charging
|
Back glass is slippery
Curved screen has some annoyances
Large size can be unwieldy
|
ZD Net
Best fast-charging phone
|
Snappy and smooth performance
80W in the US with charger in the box
Premium build quality for the price
Competitive main camera for photos
|
IP65 rating is not as water resistant as flagship phones
Curved glass/frame design can be slippery for some
Video recording is not the best
|
We ranked Google Pixel 8a #11 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
The best bargain phone
|
An affordable way get Google's AI magic
Cheap but still gets seven years of Android OS updates
|
Battery life could be better
Not the best performance, but AI-capable
|
Tom's Guide
The best phone value
|
Brighter screen than before
Much improved battery life over recent Pixels
7 years of software and security updates
|
Few camera changes from Pixel 7a
Slow charging
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 #12 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
The best Samsung phone
|
Big main screen and wider cover screen
Best foldable from Samsung yet
|
Not dust resistant
Only a minor camera upgrade
Very expensive
|
IGN
Best Foldable Phone
|
Stunning displays, inside and out
Extremely powerful
|
Aspect ratios can be weird
|
Creative Bloq
A camera phone and a tablet in one? Count us in!
|
Beautiful large display
Great camera
S Pen included
|
Very expensive
Crease still visible
|
We ranked Nothing Phone (1) #13 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Laptop Mag
The most fun affordable phone
|
Gorgeous display
Decent cameras
Value for money from £399
Unique aesthetic…
|
…but Glyph lights can be a gimmick at times
Problems for people with epilepsy
Below average battery life
Nothing OS is a bit basic right now
|
ZD Net
Best budget phone
|
Very affordable, starting at $239
Bright and large AMOLED display
Customizable backplate design
Long-lasting battery with efficient processor
|
Lack of Verizon bands makes it unusable for some
No NFC means no tap-to-pay function
Middling camera system
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra #14 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Laptop Mag
The best Android flagship phone
|
Qualcomm's 8 Gen 2 chip is a game-changer
Excellent battery life
Impressive 200MP camera
Bright, vivid display
Seamless ecosystem between smartphone and Samsung PC
|
Minimal design changes
Starts at $1,199
|
T3
The best last-gen flagship Android
|
Seriously powerful hardware experience
Versatile camera system, including zoom
S Pen stylus comes in a handy slot
|
S Pen stylus won't be for all
The newer S24 Ultra is even better!
|
We ranked Google Pixel 9 #15 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
The best small Android phone
|
Excellent design and build quality
Super camera
Tactile haptics
Fast and reliable security
Improved efficiency and battery life
Long software update commitment
|
Screen isn't always bright enough
Slow charging
More expensive than last year
|
We ranked OnePlus 11 #16 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Laptop Mag
Best affordable flagship phone
|
Improved camera performance
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
Vibrant 120Hz adaptive display
Class-leading battery life and fast charging
|
Lacks water resistance
Cameras still don't match top flagships
No wireless charging
|
T3
A great Android phone without a massive price
|
6.7-inch QHD+, 120Hz display
Powerful efficient performance
Seriously fast charging
|
Other phones have a better battery life
Weak zoom on the camera
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 #17 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
ZD Net
Best flip-style foldable phone
|
High-quality materials, fit, and finish
AI-powered Auto Zoom feature for photos
IP48 water resistance
Larger external display is game-changing
The most pocketable Galaxy phone yet
|
No telephoto camera
Expensive, but generous trade-in offers abound
|
We ranked Nothing Phone 2 #18 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
T3
The best affordable yet powerful Android phone
|
Refined & lightweight design with unique aesthetic
Strong performance & battery life
Glyph lights are fun
|
Glyph lights won't be for everyone
Cameras won't outsmart Google Pixel
|
We ranked iPhone 16 Plus #19 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
The best iPhone battery
|
Camera control gives instant camera access
Powerful Apple A18 Pro chip for Apple Intelligence
|
Not the sharpest screen I've seen
Should have more storage
|
Digital Trends
The best big iPhone
|
Fantastic hardware and colors
Big, bright screen
Fast, reliable, and feature-packed software
Fun camera and Camera Control
Long battery life
|
Only a 60Hz refresh rate
No always-on screen
|
We ranked iPhone SE #20 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Laptop Mag
Best budget iOS smartphone
|
Performance beast
Portable, compact form factor
Satisfying Touch ID
Decent price
|
Obsolete design
No Night mode
Middling battery life
|
Digital Trends
The best small iPhone
|
Compact and light
Very powerful
Touch ID works really well
Wireless charging
IP67 water resistance
|
Poor battery life
60Hz screen
64GB won't be enough
|
We ranked OnePlus Open #21 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best foldable phone overall
|
Outstanding thin and light design
Dynamic Open Canvas multitasking
Long battery life paired with fast charging
Generous 512GB storage
|
Weak low light camera performance
No wireless charging
|
ZD Net
Best tablet-style foldable phone
|
Lightest and thinnest foldable design
Intuitive multitasking and productivity features
65W fast charging will spoil you
16GB RAM and 512GB of storage is the base level
|
$1,699 is still pricey, even if it undercuts the competition
No IP68 rating and wireless charging support
|
We ranked Oppo Find X5 Pro #22 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
T3
The best Android phone design
|
Stunning QHD+ screen with 120Hz refresh
Long-lasting battery and fast-charging
Impressive camera system
|
No MicroSD card slot or headphone jack
Expensive
|
Creative Bloq
A sleek camera phone with Hasselblad filters
|
Incredible camera
Powerful battery
Great performance
|
Zoom lacks reach
Some features are buggy
|
We ranked Pixel 9 Pro Fold #23 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
The best foldable phone
|
Brilliant screen for games and video
Versatile and fun camera
Long software update commitment
Superb build and design
Thin and well-balanced
Free year of Gemini Advanced
|
Slow charging
Heavy
Expensive
|