2025 has seen a lot of smartphone launches. While some were just incremental upgrades filled with software based AI features that barely make any difference, some smartphones came with real hardware changes that do make a lot of difference. This was the year of seeing Silicon Carbon tech being widely adopted by brands to provide us phones with huge battery capacities while not feeling like a brick in our hands. This year also saw proper camera upgrades by a lot of brands, which took smartphone photography to another level. There is no single definition of a “perfect flagship” in 2025, and that diversity is what makes this year stand out.
In this article, we take a closer look at some of the best flagship smartphones of 2025 that launched in India and made a statement. These devices stand out not just because of hype, but because they deliver where it matters: performance, display quality, cameras, battery life, and overall user experience. Each of these phones represents a different vision of what a modern flagship should be.
OPPO Find X9 Pro
The OPPO Find X9 Pro is one of the most compelling launches of 2025. It excels in battery life and camera performance, along with running ColorOS 16 based on Android 16, which is arguably the smoothest Android skin out there at present. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset, performance is not an issue on this device. It glides through daily tasks and can work smoothly under heavy loads as well. The phone’s USP is its triple camera system and the collaboration with Hasselblad.
The 200MP periscope telephoto lens delivers exceptional zoom and detail in all lighting conditions, and when paired with the Hasselblad Teleconverter lens, it can provide up to 10X optical zoom shots as well. With a massive 7,500mAh silicon-carbon battery that can last up to two days with casual usage, combined with 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, battery anxiety is virtually eliminated. The device also boasts a vibrant 6.78-inch, 120Hz LTPO AMOLED display with ultra-thin bezels and a high peak brightness of 3600 nits, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor viewing. OPPO has checked off all the necessary boxes with the Find X9 Pro, making it one of the best devices for 2025 and even in 2026.
Apple iPhone 17
Apple finally decided to provide all-rounded value with the base iPhone 17 this time. Without a doubt, it’s one of the best iPhone launches of all time. The 60Hz panel is now gone, and the display is now exactly the same as that of the Pro models – an adaptive 1-120Hz AMOLED display with thin bezels all around, which is topped by an anti-reflective coating. They have kept the same design as that of the iPhone 16, which is not bad by any means.
The design is clean & minimal while being elegant at the same time. Another standout feature this time was the new 18MP square selfie sensor, where Apple put into use the entire sensor to be able to take horizontal selfies without having to rotate the phone. This in itself was a leap in terms of hardware, and the photos from this sensor turn out to be pretty good as well. But the grass is not entirely green. iOS 26 has been full of bugs, and the experience hasn’t been great among users.
Apple has also put in a 3692mAh battery, which is pretty small when compared to today’s standards of 6000mAh+ SiC cells offered by the Android flagships. The battery backup isn’t bad and has been optimized pretty nicely, but optimization can never compromise for a physically smaller battery. But overall, the iPhone 17 is the iPhone to buy right now for anyone and everyone who doesn’t require a telephoto lens or is looking for a stable software experience.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Samsung literally made the foldable phone of the year with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Compared to its previous generation, it’s thinner, lighter, packs in a larger battery and has a better hinge, all while not letting go of the IP48 rating. The main camera sensor has also been upgraded to 200MP, which does take good shots in most of the scenarios, but it’s not as good as that of the S25 Ultra.
The remaining two cameras on the rear don’t properly justify the hefty price tag the phone comes with. Samsung has also improved the software game a lot with OneUI 8.5, and it is very well optimized for the use cases of the foldable. Yes, foldables are not for everyone, and the Z fold 7 has a lot of flaws, but if you are the target customer, this is the foldable for you to buy right now.
OnePlus 13
Launched in early 2025, the OnePlus 13 was the OnePlus phone of the year, prioritizing raw performance and pairing with a great set of cameras with the Hasselblad partnership and pretty solid battery life at a competitive price point. Packing in the Snapdragon 8 Elite, it will never have you complaining about performance, and an expansive vapor chamber cooling ensures that it doesn’t disappoint you even under heavy workloads.
It comes with a 6.82-inch QHD+ 120Hz ProXDR display, which is gorgeous and offers fantastic colors & brightness. Without being too thick, it was one of the first phones to pack in 6,000mAh SiC battery that supports 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. It also has the alert slider, which has now been axed by OnePlus. Still available under 60k with discounts, the OnePlus 13 is a solid deal and is even better than the newly launched OnePlus 15 in a lot of aspects.
iQOO 15
iQOO, a brand that always tends to attract gamers, launched an all-rounder flagship this time with the iQOO 15. It is equipped with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and features an industry-leading 8,000mm² single-layer vapor chamber cooling system to maintain peak performance. It packs in Samsung’s debut M14 2K LEAD OLED display with a smooth 144fps refresh rate, 1000nits of manual brightness and 2600nits in HBM, ensuring you have no visibility issues under any circumstances. It includes a substantial 7,000mAh battery with 100W fast charging, ensuring long hours of use and quick top-ups.
It also has a versatile camera setup on the rear, which does offer good photos and videos. Yes, they are not very flagship grade, but are pretty good and are a solid improvement over the previous generations. It also comes with OriginOS 6 out of the box, and the software experience is pretty good this time around.
Conclusion
What truly defines 2025 is choice. Whether you prioritize photography, gaming, endurance, software stability, or innovation in form factor, or a monstrous battery inside your phone, there is a flagship tailored for you. These phones are not just incremental upgrades. They reflect a more mature, competitive, and user-focused smartphone market. As we move forward, the gap between “good” and “great” continues to shrink, but the devices listed here stand out as the ones that genuinely pushed boundaries and shaped the smartphone market in 2025.
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