Think phones are boring? Here are 4 reasons why 2025 was a big year for smartphones, and none of them are AI

Date:
Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:30:00 +0000

Description:
Smartphones in 2025 are far from boring, with massive Apple redesigns, big competitive moves, and Google stealing iPhone features.

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Was 2025 a boring year for smartphones? Thin phones flopped, big time. The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold elicited a collective yawn from my colleagues.

Phones are boring! I hear them say as they gaze into Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses or get sucked into Steam Decks . Phones arent as new as those
gadgets, but that doesnt make this year boring. It was a very exciting year for phones, from an experts perspective. Apple changed the iPhone design, and every iPhone got better (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

It was a huge year for Apple, and a rare moment we got to see Apple being experimental. It tried out two new phones this year - the iPhone 16e in February and the iPhone Air in September. Not the best iPhone models, but
that wasnt the point. The point was to try something new: the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, and the thinner, more durable design of the iPhone Air .

Even Apples flagship iPhone 17 launch was noteworthy. The iPhone 17 Pro got a redesign that strikes me as the biggest departure ever from Apples minimalistic look. The mix of textures, colors, and materials, along with the lack of symmetry, makes this at least the most significant redesign in
memory, if not the most contentious.

Most importantly, though, Apple brought its base model iPhone into modern times with a telephoto zoom lens and more powerful hardware all around. The screen can finally refresh at a modern 120Hz , fast enough to keep up with
iOS 26. Android phones beat iPhones in benchmark tests (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Im just gonna say it: the Snapdragon 8 Elite is a better chipset than
whatever Apple is using in your iPhone. It isnt just the benchmark results, even though its a really big deal that Qualcomm is finally beating Apple on mobile benchmarks. Of course, its only in multi-course benchmarks. And most graphics tests. But still

The real Snapdragon advantage is its efficiency. Phones with the Snapdragon 8 Elite platform saw significant battery life improvements, in addition to performance gains. This phone drinks from the battery like its a sippy cup. Were seeing phones that can last more than two full days Android phones, that is. Apples phones are lagging behind in performance and now longevity. A company nobody has heard of is making the best phones (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

It's geek mythology: theres a quiet company you probably havent heard of that makes the best Android smartphone ever (and Ive tried almost all of them). It doesnt advertise much. It doesnt sell the phone at your carriers store. You almost have to be in the know to know about them. That might be the point.

The OnePlus 15 is a perfect Android smartphone. It has incredible
performance, and its the most durable phone youd want to buy. Its battery
life is literally unbelievable, but it charges so fast that you can top it up for days while you shower and get ready to leave.

As long as it isnt sitting on Verizons shelves next to the Galaxy S25 Plus , the OnePlus 15 will remain the insiders choice. But trust me, this is a
choice you want to make. Google stole the iPhone's most unique feature (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Are magnets in smartphones a big deal? It depends on who you ask. If you ask
a longtime iPhone owner who has accumulated a collection of MagSafe accessories , then yes, its a very big deal. Ask anybody else about the feature, and theyll tell you they could take it or leave it. Thats because they dont know. Until youve gone all-in on magnets, you cant appreciate how much easier they make your smartphone life.

I use magnets everywhere, and now my Google Pixel 10 Pro fits into that magnetic lifestyle. I have bedside charging docks so my phone can be my alarm clock. I have desktop chargers at home and at work. I have magnetic battery packs that let me charge my phone on the go without a wire. But charging is just the beginning.

My wallet is a magnetic slap-on wallet from UAG that attaches to my iPhone or my Pixel (or my other phones when Im using a magnetic case). It has a
built-in stand, which Ive come to appreciate scrolling my feeds in a cafe. I also use a magnetic tripod for photos and time-lapse video. I use a magnetic camera mount to shoot videos for my job.

I have a lot of magnets, and I use them with my phone every day. Adding magnets is a big deal, trust me.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/think-phones-are-boring-here-are-4-reasons-wh y-2025-was-a-big-year-for-smartphones-and-none-of-them-are-ai


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