Subj : The best phone 2025 [PPC] (2/2) To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Tue Nov 04 2025 12:45:08 but it comes with most, if not all, of the latest Google AI features. Its a solid bargain phone, if you dont mind the looks. The Pixel 9a delivers typical Pixel strengths like great photos and useful AI, backed by a seven-year update promise, but wraps it all in a surprisingly bland design that deviates significantly from the main Pixel 9 series. Design: A major departure from the stylish Pixel 9, the Pixel 9a features a flat, plain design with a simple camera bump, reminiscent of generic budget phones, though the Peony and Iris colors are nice. Despite its looks, Google claims it's the most durable A-series yet with IP67 water resistance. Display: The 6.3-inch OLED 'Actua' display is excellent for the price very bright and colorful, matching the Pixel 9. Turning off the sometimes-dim Adaptive Display mode improves the experience. It uses older Gorilla Glass 3, however. Camera: Photos surprisingly hold up well even against the Pixel 9 Pro in terms of color and balance, though resolution is capped at 12MP and fine detail is lacking due to smaller sensors than even the Pixel 8a. The standout feature is its astonishingly good macro photography capability, rivaling dedicated cameras like my own full frame Nikon. Performance: The Tensor G4 chip provides adequate performance for daily tasks and runs most AI features, but it's not as fast as competitors and it felt a bit sluggish in my testing, especially with only 8GB of RAM. Worryingly, it already lacks some AI features found on the Pixel 9, casting doubt on the seven-year update promise's scope. Battery life: Despite having a larger battery (5,100 mAh) than the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9a doesn't offer significantly better battery life, lasting a full day but not exceptionally long. Charging is slow at 23W wired, but wireless charging is included, a plus at this price. Value for money: At $499 / 499 / AU$849, the Pixel 9a offers solid value, especially considering the seven-year update commitment and strong camera performance (particularly macro). However, like previous A-series phones, expect potential discounts down the line, making it potentially an even better bargain if you wait. Read our full Google Pixel 9a review Google Pixel 9a score card Attributes Notes Rating Value A great phone at this price, with incredible longevity thanks to seven years of updates. The cameras are among the best in this price range, even if the look isnt so premium. 5 / 5 Design Its durable, and the colors are real nice. Otherwise, its ugly as sin. Seriously, Google had a winning A-series formula that it ruined when it created this phone. But the design doesnt get in the way, at least. 3 / 5 Display Excellent display that's bright and colorful, better than most phones at this price. Some trouble with Adaptive mode was easily fixed. If only the phones performance could keep up with the fast screen. 4 / 5 Software A polished version of Android that's easier to use, with plenty of features. Some useful AI tools, but also some AI imagery slop that resorts to bigotry and should be removed from this phone. 2 / 5 Camera Solid cameras take photos that look like they could have come from the Pro model, if you dont look too close. Astonishing macro capabilities rival my DSLR camera and make this phone a winner. Too bad about the low resolution and lack of detail, and some zoom would have been nice. 3 / 5 Performance Performance is adequate for Pixel fans, though it wont win any races. No problems with my favorite apps and games, but things slowed down when I engaged the AI as it sent requests to and from the cloud. 3 / 5 Battery A larger battery somehow doesnt equal more battery life, but the Pixel 9a still lasts a full day with no trouble, and has wireless charging, a rarity at this price. 3 / 5 ^ Back to the top The best phone for Teens Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd) Image 2 of 5 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd) Image 3 of 5 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd) Image 4 of 5 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd) Image 5 of 5 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd) 9. Apple iPhone 15 The best phone for Teens Weight: 174g | Dimensions: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mm | OS: iOS 15 | Screen size: 6.1-inch | Resolution: 1170 x 2532 | CPU: A15 Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB | Battery: Up to 19 hours | Rear camera: 12MP (wide) + 12MP (ultra-wide) | Front camera: 12MP Strong battery life Powerful internals Outdated design No 120Hz screen Buy it if You want an affordable iPhone : The iPhone 15 strikes a nice balance between price and cutting-edge features, so you don't feel like you're missing out. You want a camera upgrade: Between the new 48MP main camera and some excellent portrait photography capabilities, the iPhone 15 offers strong camera specs for the price. Don't buy it if: You want Apple Intelligence: If you want the upcoming Apple AI features, you'll need a Pro model or better. You want bigger zoom: The 2x optical zoom on offer here doesn't quite compare to 3x optical zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S24. The bottom line The iPhone 15 has all of Apple's best software features, and that's what makes iPhone owners happy. You get great hardware that will last years, without paying too much for extra cameras and titanium you don't need. Plus, this one comes in better colors than the Pro iPhone. Apple's iPhone 15 marks the most significant step up for a base iPhone in several years, earning its place as the best value phone money can buy today. Design: The iPhone 15 does what the iPhone 14 did not: it moves the base model forward with a refreshed chassis design, a brand-new (and eye-catching) rear glass panel, and a compatibility-improving USB-C port. Display: The iPhone 15's 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED display is bright and responsive, however, as on the iPhone 14, its refresh rate is locked to 60Hz. You do get Apple's Dynamic Island this time around, though. Camera: There are still just two lenses on the back of the iPhone 15, but one of them is vastly improved over the iPhone 14. The 12MP ultrawide is basically the same, but the main camera is now the same 48MP lens that you'll find on the excellent iPhone 14 Pro (and indeed the iPhone 15 Pro). Performance: The iPhone 15 uses the iPhone 14 Pro's superfast A16 Bionic chipset, which should provide more than enough power for most iPhone owners (for context, the latter was the most powerful handset of 2022). Battery life: The iPhone 15 is rated for 20 hours of video playback, 80 hours of audio-only, and a 50% recharge in 30 minutes with the optional 20W charger. In my testing, I was able to use the phone casually for a full day. Value for money: In recent years, Apple's standard models have felt like minor upgrades that pale in comparison to their respective Pro-level counterparts, but the iPhone 15 bucks that trend by being a genuinely great value product. Read our full iPhone 15 review ^ Back to the top FAQs What is the best phone in the world in 2025? We're currently shaking up our list to decide the best phone you can buy. A month ago I would have said the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the best iPhone and the OnePlus 13 is the best Android phone, but we've reviewed the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL since then, and we are deciding where those phones fall on this list of the best - they might end up on top! Which phone has the best cameras? The best camera phone will depend on the photos you like to take, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max is probably the best camera among iPhone devices, and the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is the best camera for Android fans. What is the best cell phone service? That will depend on where you live and your local providers, not the phone you choose. Ask your neighbors and nearby friends about their experience. Don't be afraid to try a new service for up to a month and then switch to a different carrier if it isn't working for you. What is the best Samsung phone? The best Samsung phone is the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It demonstrates all of Samsung's most advanced technology, especially its design prowess. Samsung is the best as fitting more phone into a smaller package, and the Z Fold 7 is the ultimate expression of that philosophy. What phones are waterproof? What phones can I get wet, and what is the level of water resistance on most phones? You might be surprised to learn that every phone on this list can take a dunk underwater with no trouble. If you get them dirty, you can rinse them gently in the sink (as long as there are no cracks or other damage). All of our best phone picks are rated against water up to IPx7, which means that they can survive a dunk in one meter of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Some phones, like the OnePlus 13, are even more durable, with an IP69 rating to survive jets and spraying water, and a deeper, longer dunk. Which phone carrier is best? Which wireless mobile network should I choose? That's a tough call, so the best advice I can offer is to ask around and find people in your area who are happy with their cell service - then choose the network they use. Networks vary greatly over the miles and miles of US geography, so while I might be able to say that one offers better performance nationwide, that same carrier might not be the best in your area. I've used all of the major US networks - Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile - and I have seen great performance from all of them, as well as signal loss and dropouts from each. Is phone insurance protection worth it? Should I buy the extended warranty and phone insurance that my phone maker offers? In general, I buy phone insurance with my own personal phones to protect against damage. I have butter fingers, and I have dropped phones so hard that they break even in a sturdy case. With insurance, my last iPhone drop cost more than $100 deductible to repair, but without insurance it might have been a total loss. I have had great experience with Apple's insurance plan, but I have found that companies using third-party insurance may be harder to deal with. If you don't have insurance, you should at least have a back-up plan or cheap phone if your phone breaks so that you can stay connected. Which phone has the biggest screen? Which phones give me the biggest display? If you want the absolute biggest screen on your phone, you will need to buy a foldable. A flip phone like the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) can pack a whopping 7-inch display inside, which is larger even than the 6.9-inches you get with an iPhone 16 Pro Max or Galaxy S25 Ultra. But if you want to go even larger, you need a tablet-style foldable like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, which gives you a 7.6-inch display inside. That's almost as big as an iPad mini, tucked away in your pocket. How do I choose the best phone? The first thing you need to decide when buying a new smartphone is how much you want to spend. The smartphone market varies dramatically, from very high-end handsets that cost well over four-figures, to much cheaper phones that can be found for only a few hundred. I have options on this list at both ends of the price spectrum. Once you've decided how much you want to spend, you should decide whether you want to try one of the best Android phones or go for one of the best iPhones .. Often, the platform decision has more to do with your work, your friends and family and what they use to share photos and messages, and what sort of computer or devices you already own. If you're looking for something outside the norm, I have plenty of unique options, as well. There are phones with a built-in pen for writing, and phones that fold in half to be more compact. There are large phones, small phones, and Max-sized phones. I have phones with space-level zoom, and phones that specialize in touching portraits. No matter what phone you choose, you can be sure that I've thoroughly tested and vetted every phone on this list, and I know you'll be satisfied with any of these devices in your pocket. How we test I've only included phones on this list that have been thoroughly tested in Future Labs and in the real world by our expert review editors. I test every feature on a phone, then we dive deeper to discover all of the hidden goodies. I test phones rigorously for battery life and charging times, processor speed and performance, and especially for camera and video recording capabilities. I make sure that phones deliver on the promises and claims they make. If Samsung says a phone charges in 30 minutes, I time it to make sure. I've seen every phone you can buy, so I know how each model stacks up against one another. I use both iPhone and Android phones all the time, so I know what I'm saying about the phones you buy, no matter what you pay. I make sure the phones deliver what I'd expect for the price. Once I'm done, I never stop. I update our reviews as the phones are updated. Our reviews are always fresh, so check again before you buy to make sure you're getting the latest review on the best phones you'll find. Who has the best cell phone deals? We track the best phone deals every day, so we can always tell you who has the best phone deals at the moment you are shopping for a phone. Which is the best iPhone? If you want the best iPhone for you, check out our list of the Best iPhones you can buy right now. We don't just list them from most expensive to least expensive, we can help you choose the iPhone that meets both your budget and your phone needs. What phone has the best battery life? The OnePlus 13 is our current battery life champ. In our Future Labs tests, the OnePlus 13 lasted almost 19 hours of constant use, which is more than an hour longer than the best iPhone or Galaxy phone managed. ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/the-best-phone-2025-ppc --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .