The best smartphones to buy in Fall 2025 - 28 models compared

Smartphones from China are getting better by the day. Almost all the top-rated phones this past summer are models that aren't officially available in Germany and have to be order straight from the PRC.

If you do go that route, you will have to live with certain restrictions in terms of software and/or network capabilities.

The Find X8 Ultra is the best, per Notebookcheck's rankings. It comes with few shortcomings, with eSIM and UWB support being the most conspicuous one. There is also no concrete update promise. In return, you get one of the best cameras you can currently find in a smartphone, with huge sensors and an extremely high level of detail.

Plenty of power and a very good OLED panel round off the package. The smartphone is available from TradingShenzhen (among other options) with a warranty that's valid in Germany.

Occupying the third spot is the only "very good" smartphone of the three summer months that is available to buy in the EU right away, no international orders involved: the Galaxy S25 Edge. Along with this one, you receive 7 years of updates and can make advantage of a proper warranty if it comes to that.

Its battery lasts a long time despite the very slim casing. Charging it takes some time, however. In addition, you will have to do without a telephoto lens (space saved!), which limits the phone's zoom talents.

Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge is occasionally available for less than 700 euros from most major e-tailers.

By splashing on Vivo's X200 Ultra, you get a great rear camera system among other things. You may need to buy this phone via one of China's e-commerce platforms.

Its high performance, bright screen and long battery life are also good arguments in favor of the smartphone.

At TradingShenzhen, the X200 Ultra can be had for less than 900 euros.

For the Editors' Choice Awards, we ask our editors which models left a warm feeling in their hearts and minds in recent months with review rating not considered the deciding factor.

Anything goes, from rugged phones with unusual features to exceptionally talented budget phones, to great mid-range offerings that our editors would like to give some spotlight to again.

The new "budget" iPhone, the Apple iPhone 16e costs around 600 euros in Germany and is a good smartphone with a bright OLED display, lightweight and compact casing with IP68 certification, and many years of updates.

You will have to do without higher-end features such as MagSafe or a UWB chip, but it does have everything required for an entry into the Apple smartphone world, and is fast enough.

If you want a folding smartphone, you have to make compromises - or so it was for quite a long time. The Razr 60 Ultra does not put a stop to that era. However, there is now a large battery that enables runtimes on a par with other flagships, and a proper high-end processor.

Its cameras, however, can't quite keep up in terms of zoom capability and quality. You will have to live with extreme heating, a (slow) USB 2.0 port and a rather mediocre update promise, all big issues considering the price.

In Germany, the folding smartphone with the iconic name costs around 1,000 euros.

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The table above shows all smartphones tested in the period under review with their overall and per-subsection Notebookcheck review ratings, as well as a selection of key specs and benchmarks. Further test results and details can be found in the linked reviews.