Grade: B+
This has been a very sturdy 12 months for cellphone releases, with Vivo, OPPO, and Huawei shining brilliant with their units. The tri-folding Mate XT set issues off at first of the 12 months, and camera-focused units just like the Vivo X200 Extremely and Discover X8 Extremely showcased simply what’s attainable when Chinese language manufacturers dedicate sources on this space.
Vivo: A+
There isn’t any doubt that Vivo is now my favourite Android model. It has delivered the very best cameras over the past two years, and it overhauled its software program efforts in 2025, launching OriginOS globally. The Vivo X300 Professional is my go-to suggestion if you’d like the very best cameras accessible as we speak, and it’s a nice all-rounder as nicely. Vivo is doing all the best issues within the mid-range with units just like the V50 and V60, and the foldable X Fold 5 continues to carry its personal towards the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
OPPO: A
OPPO additionally had a standout 12 months, and the Discover X9 Professional is an impressive machine — it’s my each day driver, and I do not see myself switching to a different machine for an additional month at the least. The model is as soon as once more promoting telephones in Western markets, and that could be a optimistic transfer.
I like what OPPO is doing with foldables as nicely; the Discover N5 launched practically a 12 months in the past, however it continues to be nice. The one space the place the model must do higher is wearables; it makes first rate smartwatches, however they’re one way or the other nonetheless restricted to China — I might wish to see these debut in additional markets around the globe.
Huawei: A
Huawei simply is not letting the commerce ban get in the best way of delivering excellent telephones. The Mate XT is essentially the most modern cellphone I’ve used, and the tri-folding machine is unbelievable. The Pura 80 Extremely has among the best zoom lenses round, and the all-new Mate X7 takes foldable cameras to new heights. Whereas Huawei’s software program efforts are nonetheless lagging behind business requirements, it is clearly main in {hardware} design.
I additionally like how Huawei is constructing a broader ecosystem. The Watch Final 2 is my favourite smartwatch, the 12-inch MatePad Professional is the very best Android pill I’ve ever used, and the model rolled out a number of standout earbuds this 12 months. And with current units just like the Mate X7 providing the power to put in MicroG throughout preliminary setup, it is simpler than ever to get Google companies put in on Huawei’s telephones.
POCO: B
Actually, I am unable to fault what POCO did this 12 months. The F7 Extremely showcased the model’s imaging efforts, the X7 Professional proved to be an awesome funds cellphone, and the F7 held its personal towards rivals. With the F8 Extremely, the model has a official rival to what Vivo and different manufacturers supply within the $700 phase.
POCO must do higher in India, its largest abroad market. By not bringing the F8 Extremely to India, it’s ceding floor to Realme. Exterior of that, the software program wants an overhaul, however that is extra on Xiaomi than POCO.
Realme: B
I began paying extra consideration to Realme once more in 2025, and I like what the model is doing. As an F1 fanatic, it is thrilling to see the model accomplice with the Aston Martin F1 workforce, and the GT 7 Professional and GT 8 Professional Dream Version units are terrific. I am excited concerning the Ricoh collaboration as nicely; as different Chinese language manufacturers have demonstrated over time, there’s loads of profit to be gained from partnering with a digital camera large, and I am eager to see the place that takes Realme.
If something, it appears to be like like Realme is now the model that will get all of the restricted version fashions inside the BBK umbrella. This was once OnePlus’ specialty, however that is now not the case in 2025, as evidenced by the Realme 15 Professional Recreation of Thrones version.
Honor: C
Honor continues to make good telephones, however its software program efforts lag behind its rivals. I am not speaking about replace coverage — Honor is according to Samsung and Google in relation to flagship updates — however the state of the UI itself. Whereas Honor has been saying that its software program is made fully in-house, it nonetheless has vestiges of EMUI, and it is simply not cohesive.
Whereas Honor telephones have first rate cameras, the inconsistencies have gotten evident, and telephones just like the Magic 8 Professional aren’t pretty much as good because the Vivo X300 Professional or the Discover X9 Professional. Honor itself says it does not wish to be highlighted to its Chinese language brethren, as a substitute inviting comparisons to Google and Samsung. Given Honor’s struggles with its cameras and their incapability to measure as much as OPPO and Vivo, it is no shock the corporate is unwilling to pit itself towards the very best the business has to supply.
Xiaomi: C
Xiaomi wants a reset — that a lot is evident from its product positioning and technique. The Xiaomi 15 and 15 Extremely had been sturdy launches, and I appreciated utilizing the 15T and 15T Professional. Nevertheless, the Redmi Notice 14 Professional Plus was underwhelming (but once more), Xiaomi is not doing something to deal with long-standing software program points, and it does not have a coherent imaginative and prescient round what it needs to do with its ecosystem globally.
Then there’s the delay with the Xiaomi 17. Whereas its instant rivals debuted their flagships globally — the Vivo X300 Professional and Discover X9 Professional can be found in India and the U.Okay. — there isn’t any signal of the Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Professional, or the Professional Max. Xiaomi is not bringing these units outdoors China, and that lack of consistency is hurting the producer.
ASUS: D
I wish to like ASUS’s units, however the Taiwanese model simply does not make it straightforward. This 12 months’s telephones have been nice (as at all times), however an obstinate stance on software program updates — the place its telephones will solely get two platform updates — mainly killed any curiosity in its telephones. Mixed with the likes of Redmagic getting its act collectively and delivering higher software program, and I simply do not see the purpose of ASUS when its units simply do not present worth.
OnePlus: F
The place do I even begin with OnePlus? There was a time when the corporate may do no mistaken. In 2025, it felt prefer it obtained all the pieces mistaken. The OnePlus 15 turned out to be a large letdown, with the cellphone being a downgrade from the OnePlus 13, and the brand new OnePlus 15R is even worse — the cellphone does not actually have a telephoto lens, and it prices $699. Even its Nord units have been mid at greatest this 12 months.
The best way I see it, OPPO now not sees worth in OnePlus, and it is fully attainable it’s simply operating out the clock on the model. All of the fascinating bits to do with OnePlus — the Hasselblad partnership, distinctive restricted version units, and enjoyable software program — have been built-in into different manufacturers anyway.
