It was also no surprise to see the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max ranked in the Top 5. The device introduced a major redesign, and the previous Pro design had started to feel outdated. Improvements to the telephoto and front-facing cameras gave users strong reasons to upgrade, although the scratch-prone aluminum body did make some buyers hesitate.

Samsung’s mid-range A-series continues to perform very well, and the Galaxy A56 securing second place clearly reflects its popularity. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A36 ranking sixth and the Galaxy A16 coming in ninth show that Samsung is effectively covering multiple price ranges with its lineup.

For clarity, this refers to the 4G version of the Galaxy A16. Two other 4G models also made it into the Top 20: the Redmi Note 14 4G and the Infinix Hot 50 Pro+ 4G. Having three 4G smartphones appear in the Top 20 for 2025 feels quite unexpected and was not something we initially anticipated.

All three devices share many similar features. They come with OLED displays ranging from 6.67 to 6.78 inches, carry an IP54 rating, and run on very similar chipsets, namely the Helio G99 and G100. Each model also supports microSD expansion. However, only the Redmi Note 14 4G stands out by offering a higher-resolution 108MP camera and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Another unexpected result is the appearance of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge at number 14 and the Apple iPhone Air at number 18. While neither Samsung nor Apple has released official sales figures, industry reports suggest that both models performed poorly in terms of sales. This outcome is hardly surprising, given the largely negative reaction these two phones received online.

Only one other iPhone made it into the Top 20, and it was another unexpected entry — the iPhone 16e. In most years, the standard iPhone model is among the most popular choices, as it usually offers a good balance between price and performance. This time, however, it is nowhere to be found, having been replaced by the iPhone 16e, which is not significantly cheaper and is clearly more limited in terms of features.

Based on user comments, we already knew that the Poco X7 Pro was a popular device, and seeing it rank third is a major achievement. The phone perfectly represents Poco’s strong value-for-money approach and has been consistently sold below its official retail price for most of its time on the market.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is the only compact phone to appear on this list. Notably absent are models such as the iPhone 17 or 17 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro, vivo X200 FE, and OnePlus 13s. This raises an interesting question: are smaller phones still popular, or is the Galaxy S25’s presence mainly due to its lower price within the Galaxy S lineup?

That said, ranking fourth shows that the Galaxy S25 was clearly well received. Its smaller size likely played a role in its popularity, especially considering that the slightly more expensive Galaxy S25+ does not appear on the list at all.

The OnePlus 13 could be remembered as the last truly great flagship from OnePlus. That said, it is also possible that the OnePlus 15 will overcome the doubts it faced at launch and gradually win over users in the coming year.

The Redmi Note 14 Pro and Redmi Note 14 Pro+ did not reach the same level of popularity as the Poco X7 Pro, but their 200MP cameras certainly attracted plenty of attention. Meanwhile, the more performance-focused Redmi Turbo 4 Pro drew interest with its Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset and large 7,550mAh battery.

Was the Xiaomi 15 Ultra the best camera phone of 2025? It certainly outperformed the Galaxy S25 Ultra in this area and stood out as the most popular choice among other Ultra-branded smartphones.

The Honor X9c climbed to the 11th spot thanks to its curved 6.78-inch OLED display and 108MP camera. It is the only Honor device to appear on this list, narrowly outperforming even the more premium models from the Magic series.

The Tecno Camon 40 Pro also deserves recognition. The Camon lineup is known for offering budget-friendly phones with a premium feel, which is clearly reflected in its curved 6.78-inch OLED display, featuring a smooth 144Hz refresh rate.

Finally, the iQOO 13 may sit at number 20, but it likely would have ranked higher if iQOO had launched it in more markets. It’s a Snapdragon 8 Elite device that offers solid performance without a high price tag, and it comes with a capable set of cameras. OnePlus would certainly feel the pressure if iQOO had a wider global presence.

And that’s it — all twenty phones in this year’s Top 20 have been covered. Did you notice what’s missing? Android’s favorite child, the Pixel, doesn’t appear at all, which isn’t too surprising. What is more striking, however, is that not a single foldable phone made the list. Not one.