The bracket is in place and the race is getting tighter. And now, following an epic elimination round with dozens of contenders, the last four smartphones have made it to the Readers’ Choice vote to decide the best phone of 2025. It’s a fan-driven face-off that values reality over spec sheets, with voting spanning multiple channels to get as many voices in the miX.
How the Readers’ Choice vote works across all platforms
This year’s Readers’ Choice employs a three-tier format aimed at surfacing consensus in a very large field. It begins with an elimination round of 38 phones vying for attention. From there, the top four advance to the semifinals, and then a final head-to-head determines the winner. In the early round, to keep the field clean, voters are confined to a single ballot; later rounds leverage expanded votes on social platforms such as YouTube, X, and Threads to capture wider sentiment and mitigate what Doremus called the “you missed the poll” effect.
All ballots, across all outlets, are aggregated and audited prior to the announcement of winners. In the past, the final reveal has shown a breakdown of how each device did at different stages — providing a rare glimpse into which phones resonate with enthusiasts versus casual fans.
What voters want in 2025: features shaping phone picks
Debates still lead to sparks, but priorities have evolved.
Device-based AIs and software lifespan matter as much as raw horsepower now. The new bar in 2024: seven-year OS and security pledges from key Android players, as buyers come to expect that at the table-stakes level in 2025. Another must-have will be smooth performance under sustained loads, and features from thermal design to efficient NPUs will become differentiators in daily use, not just test racks.
Cameras remain kingmakers. Voters are more closely eyeing computational photography, ultrawide consistency, and zoom clarity than they have before. High-end imagers generally combine high-resolution main sensors with stabilized periscope lenses and more sophisticated low-light processing and motion sensing. Real-world tests — think blind photo comparisons run by prominent reviewers — often reverse expectations, reminding voters that tuning can be more important than megapixels.
Battery life and charging are just as important. Fast wired charging above 60W is the norm in some parts of the world, but many readers prefer longer battery life and cooler charging profiles over sheer speed. Paired with LTPO displays that can idle at 1Hz and overall smarter background power management, the best phones comfortably last a day and a half without worrying.
Past winners offer clues on what might win in 2025
New results reveal a split personality in fans of the genre. Throughout last year, we applied the Editor’s Choice label to a software-forward flagship boasting class-leading AI tools and a balanced camera suite as well as a Readers’ Choice pick to an all-featured powerhouse that was differentiated by its stylus, lengthy zoom, and no-compromise build. And that dichotomy underscores a critical dynamic in the final: Some voters value clean UX and smart features; others are all about maximal hardware with pro-grade extras.
Market data backs the trend. Here, IDC and Counterpoint Research analysts point out that the premium segment continues to grow faster than the overall market as buyers are prepared to pay for longevity, cameras, and AI-driven productivity.
In other words, the final four probably all have:
- Potent imaging tools
- Long update policies
- Bright, high-refresh OLED displays
- Strong connectivity with 5G modems offering improved power efficiency and broader band support across more networks worldwide
How to pick your winner in the Best Phone 2025 vote
Judge the whole experience. But you also want to know whether it will feel fast in three years, not just on day one. You’re searching for extended OS and security commitments, demonstrated thermal performance, and storage options that won’t require you to toss apps back and forth in the cloud. While headline zoom numbers grab consumer attention, all these lenses need to have the same excellent camera quality, reliable autofocus, and lifelike skin tones.
Think about what you’ll end up having to live with on a daily basis: pocketable ergonomics, haptics, speaker quality, and network reliability wherever you are. If you shoot content, look for 10-bit HDR capture, external mic support, and strong Pro modes. If gaming is important, look for sustained frame rates and throttling behavior in stress tests, such as 3DMark Wild Life Extreme (not just peak scores).
Finally, weigh ecosystem value. Cross-device continuity with laptops, tablets, and watches can become a force multiplier. Good repairability, trade-in programs, and local warranty support aren’t things that wow on spec sheets but can have a huge impact on long-term satisfaction.
What happens next in the semifinals and final voting
Now that the elimination round is over, be sure to check out tomorrow’s semifinals and final so you can help decide which of our last four phones will be crowned Readers’ Choice for 2025. Voting is still open and voters can vote through any platform, with all submitted votes combining to determine the overall result. When the polls are closed, we’ll be shedding a little more light on how the finalists fared relative to one another, where momentum seemed to shift, and what ultimately pushed tonight’s winner over the line.
Whether you’re putting your weight behind AI acumen, camera control, or bulletproof battery life, now is the time to get vocal in favor of your horse. The best phone of 2025 isn’t going to be determined by a lab test; it’s going to be determined, very personally, by you.