The year 2025 is off to a great start already when it comes to smartphones. Several innovative ones have already been announced in the first two months of the year, each standing on its own specific merits and geared towards a specific type of user. If you’re in the market for a new phone, you may want to check out the latest options, all of which were launched from January 1, 2025 and after.
The OnePlus 13 Has an IP69 Rating
OnePlus blew everyone away with the OnePlus 13, announced January 7, 2025 to coincide with the kick-off of CES. It sports an IP68 and IP69 rating, which means it can not only withstand submersion in water, but also high-pressure and high-temperature water jets. At the pre-launch event in December 2024 that I attended, the company demonstrated the extreme durability of this phone by doing things like running it through a portable dishwasher cycle, even showing videos of it being fried up in a pan on the stove! This phone is built to last, and its feature set is stunning, too. From built in AI including Google Gemini to fantastic cameras and AI photo editing features, it’s arguably one of the best Android phones you can buy right now, and certainly at the top of the list for premium phones. At $1,400 for the version with 512GB and 16GB RAM, it’s a decently priced phone.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is An AI Dream
Towards the end of January, Samsung held its annual Unpacked event and launched its usual trio of phones, set to become available at the beginning of February. This time, it’s the Galaxy S25 series, and at the top of the line is the Ultra model. If you’re into AI features, the Galaxy S25 Ultra excels in this department with one-button access to Gemini, AI-powered insights through the Now Brief, auto suggestions, multimodal search, and more. Snapping and editing photos and videos is a breeze with tons more AI editing, ideal for content creators. With powerful processing to manage all the AI goodies along with daily multitasking, gaming, and more, this top-line phone will set you back at least $1,919. It’s more of an iterative update over the previous generation series, but it’s the latest and greatest in the line, backed by seven years of OS and security updates.
The OPPO Find N5 Is The World’s Thinnest Foldable Phone
If you thought the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold was thin, the OPPO Find 5 manages to slim down even more. In fact, even when folded, it feels almost like a regular, non-foldable phone. It’s just 8.93mm thin when folded, half that unfolded. It has a large 6.62-inch cover screen and opens to reveal an 8.12-inch inner screen that reviewers say is so smooth and easy on the eyes, you don’t even notice a crease. The 3D-printed hinge, meanwhile, ensures that it’s durable and opens and closes easily. It’s powerful, too, with 16GB RAM, and has a massive 5,600mAh battery that supports 80W wired and 50W wireless charging with compatible SUPERVOOC and AIRVOOC chargers, respectively. Boasting an IPX9 water-resistance rating, the only downside to this phone is that it is only launching on February 28, 2025 in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
The Moto G Power – 2025 is Ultra Affordable
The Moto G Power – 2025 has a large 6.8-inch screen with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 30W TurboPower charging and 15W wireless charging. With 1,000 nits brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Atmos support, Bass Boost technology, and Hi-Res audio support, it’s a powerhouse of a phone without a high price tag: available starting May 2, it will sell for just US$300. Its camera system includes a 50MP main camera and 8MP ultra-wide camera with macrovision lens along with a 16MP front camera with Face Retouch. It’s rugged, too, meeting MIL-STD-810H certifications, including both IP68 and IP69 water-resistance ratings. With a vegan leather finish, it’s a sleek device that comes loaded with Android 15.
The RedMagic 10 Pro Golden Saga Edition is a Gamer’s Limited Edition Delight
Gamers will appreciate the RedMagic 10 Pro Golden Saga Edition. That is, if you can get your hands on one since it’s a limited edition device. With gold and silver integrated into its design, the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and comes with 24GB RAM and 1TB storage. With Google Gemini capabilities, it has a 6.85-inch screen with up to 2,000 nits brightness and a massive 7,050mAh dual battery that can last an impressive up to 52 hours per charge, ideal for those who want to engage in long mobile gaming sessions. It also supports 100W fast charging so you can be back up and running in no time. With dual 50MP camera, 520Hz shoulder triggers with near-zero latency, a 144Hz display, and advanced 11-layer thermal structure, it’s both fast and will remain cool while you play. It’s on pre-order for US$1,499 and comes in the Saga Gift Box that also includes a customized Cooler 5 Pro, specially designed phone case, 80W charger and cable, gold-plated SIM ejector tool, and VIP card.
The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design is The World’s First Commercial Tri-Fold Phone
Forget standard foldable phones, the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design, announced in China in September 2024 but launched globally at a mid-February 2025 event, is a tri-fold smartphone that can unfold to become a 10.2-inch tablet at just 3.6mm thing. This is thanks to the precision hinge system where the inward and outward folding hinges operate around a dual-track link so it opens and closes smoothly. Use it in single, dual, or triple screen mode, with the single screen measuring 6.4 inches and the dual screen 7.9 inches. With built-in cameras, it comes housed in ultra-thin leather in either black or red. This is only for elite users, however, as when all is said and done, it would cost about $4,000 in Canada.
The Apple iPhone 16e Is Your Newest, Cheapest Entry Into iOS
Apple iPhones are notoriously expensive, but the iPhone SE is typically the most affordable option in the line. Rather than opt for an older model to save money, Apple introduced the iPhone 16e this year, a newer-model iPhone offered for less. It boasts advanced features, including the new A18 chip, Apple Intelligence, long battery life, and a 48MP 2-in-1 camera system. It has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with OLED technology, Ceramic Shield front cover, and is even IP68 rated against both dust and water. At $899, it’s not exactly a budget phone, but compared to other more feature-rich, sleeker iPhones, it’s a more affordable price point while still being new. You can also get trade-in credits up to $220 if you hand over an old iPhone 11 or 12.
-30-
More articles on Smartphone
