CIOInsider India Magazine

With some of the flagship smartphones from leading tech companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google competing for your attention, purchasing a new smartphone can be a daunting task. Following that comes the most important decision - deciding which operating system/platform to opt into. Companies are incorporating Artificial Intelligence that effortlessly takes care of various tasks, from translating across languages to adding backdrops to photos. Then there is a wide plethora of folding phones that have reached a sweet spot where they are more robust with larger and more effective screens. While the competition is getting heavy, too many choices make it confusing to buy the ideal smartphone that you are looking for. Here are some smartphones worth reading about before you make the purchasing decision.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The greatest phone currently available from Samsung is the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the most expensive of the three flagship S phones for 2025. The new Galaxy AI model built into the device brings about generative AI features such as real-time phone call translation, multi-app AI voice prompts, improved photo and video editing, and a new AI Select tool that provides contextual shortcuts based on what you hover over.

The S25 Ultra, like its predecessor, the S24 Ultra, has a sizable 6.9-inch AMOLED and a dependable 5,000mAh battery. For those who are holding onto smartphones that are three or four years old, the phone's improvements make it well worth the $1,299 price tag, even though it is still somewhat inaccessible. It is advantageous that the S25 Ultra has Corning's new Gorilla Armor 2 and a titanium frame that is both lightweight and strong.

When combined with the larger cooling chamber, the S25 Ultra's anti-reflection screen from the previous year makes it an excellent multimedia device for gaming and viewing movies. The S25 Ultra's internal components include 12GB of RAM and an updated Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset for better AI and graphics capabilities. The main improvement to the new camera system is a 50MP ultrawide lens that provides more vibrant and detailed images for both macro and landscape photography.

iPhone 16 Pro Max
Everything a high-end flagship smartphone should have is included in the most recent iPhone 16 Pro Max, including a stunning 6.9-inch AMOLED display for all media consumption and, of course, mobile productivity. Due to its larger screen, narrower bezels, and the addition of the Camera Control button—a physical switch that enables you to rapidly access the camera and take pictures without ever touching the screen—the 2024 model also differs from previous Pro Max models in terms of appearance and feel.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the most future-proof gadget to date, especially with the impending public release of Apple Intelligence, the company's package of AI tools and capabilities that includes picture generation, a more powerful Siri, and notification summaries. Additionally, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has two new camera features: Audio Mix, which enhances and separates particular waveforms to enhance voice clarity, and 4K recording at 120 frames per second, which lets you edit and create slow-motion footage without sacrificing much detail.

The phone's main improvements include an extended battery life, which Apple values as 33 hours of movie playback compared to 29 hours the previous year. With a compatible MagSafe adaptor, the iPhone 16 Pro Max can now wirelessly charge at 25W. Apple still charges $1,199 for their most expensive iPhone model, which has 256GB of storage at the base level, despite all the enhancements.

Pixel 9 Pro
Any of the flagship products from the three major companies (Apple, Samsung, and Google) have excellent photography performance. You might favor one brand over another based on your preferences for color temperature and feature set. But the majority of consumers are generally vote for Google's Pixel camera system, and the most recent Pixel 9 Pro (and Pro XL) continues to be a leader in real-time photography and post-processing.

With a 50MP primary lens, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 48MP 5x telephoto lens for long-range photography, the most recent model comes in two sizes and boasts a dependable triple-lens configuration. Numerous software features support them, such as 8K video upscaling, Google's Super Res Zoom (which allows for up to 30x zoom images), and a new Add Me feature that allows you to take two photos and combine them so that everyone is in the same picture. Additionally, a new 42MP selfie camera has been introduced, which is crisper and has a broader field of view than the 10.8MP sensor from the previous year. That ought to work nicely for scenic photos and group selfies.

OnePlus 13
Over the last four years, OnePlus has seen ups and downs, shifting from low-cost handsets to ultra-premium and back again. With the OnePlus 13, the business is doubling down on the high-end market in 2025 while undercutting competitors like Samsung and Apple.

With a starting price of $899, the OnePlus 13 is less expensive than its closest (current) rivals, the Google Pixel 9 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, which retail for $999. Everything you receive for the cost is as follows: the newest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a big 6.8-inch, 120Hz AMOLED, a 6,000mAh battery, a triple camera setup with a capable 50MP primary lens at the center, and more. Once more: $899, and that's before you get the $100 discount when you trade in any phone to OnePlus, regardless of condition.

Galaxy Z Flip 6
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a small clamshell phone that evokes memories of flip phones of the past while packing a lot of functionality and personality.

With its large, bright, and sharp 6.7-inch AMOLED panel, up to 512GB of storage for high-resolution photos and videos, and a robust 4,000mAh battery that powers it all, the Z Flip 6 is very similar to the standard Samsung Galaxy S-series flagship, shape-shifting displays aside. It is also an improvement over the Z Flip 5. Additionally, the phone has the first vapor cooling chamber on a Z Flip device and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which should improve performance and lessen battery drain. Additionally, the phone is lighter and thinner than earlier iterations.

An enhanced 50MP primary sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide lens give the Z Flip 6's camera system a welcome boost as well. Additionally, there's a new AI-powered Auto Zoom feature that automatically repositions images based on the number of people in a frame and any background items the user would want to keep in the picture.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the greatest foldable phone for the remainder of 2025 thanks to its user-friendly design and industry-leading camera system, even though the OnePlus Open is undoubtedly the better-equipped model. In contrast to Samsung's higher strategy, Google chose a wider and shorter panel for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's outside display, following the conventional smartphone path.

With a more powerful Google Tensor G4 chipset, Google AI tools like Pixel Screenshots, Reimagine, and Gemini Live, and a lighter design for a more comfortable user experience, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold also outperforms the previous model. With the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google made almost all the necessary adjustments to make it a sleeper hit that is currently at the top of our rating list.