10 best flagship smartphones

There are so many flagship models today that you can easily get confused when choosing. Many users are confident that the best top-end smartphones are produced by Apple and Samsung. In fact, there are other manufacturers dedicated to developing premium gadgets. Consider the ranking of flagship smartphones with the best build quality and performance.

Best smartphones flagships - ranking 2025

With every new year, smartphone developers are introducing more and more new and improved parameters and capabilities into their gadgets, and today we will take a closer look at what surprised us with global brands this year.

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1.Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 12 / 256GB

Flagship smartphones from Samsung have always stood out from the competition. This is especially true for the Galaxy Note line, aimed mainly at business people. Not only the characteristics hint at this, but also the appearance, in which there is no unusual placement of the front camera (it is located in a neat cutout in the center), as well as rounded shapes in all parts of the body. The Note 10 Plus is almost angular, which makes it attractive.

If you do not need a large screen measuring as much as 6.8 inches, then take a closer look at a very interesting basic modification of the device.

The display of a smartphone from Samsung is traditionally made using AMOLED technology, and its resolution corresponds to Quad HD with an aspect ratio of 19: 9. The built-in memory in the phone can be up to 512 GB. Another 1 TB can be added with memory cards (instead of one of the SIM). The Galaxy Note 10+ battery has a capacity of 4300 mAh. It supports fast charging, and 30 minutes of plugging in is enough for a full day of smartphone use.

Advantages:

• great main camera;
• cool symmetrical design;
• color rendition and screen brightness;
• smartphone performance;
• autonomy and charging speed;
• the capabilities of a branded pen.

Disadvantages:

• shirik without autofocus;
• ergonomics are not perfect;
• there is no audio jack.

2. Apple iPhone 11 256GB

Last year, the Cupertino giant released several flagship smartphones with better cameras. The younger version received the laconic name iPhone 11. The base cost of this smartphone has decreased compared to its predecessor (XR), but all the characteristics of the device have become better. For example, the Apple A13 Bionic processor has become significantly more productive, once again raising the quality bar for the entire market.

Cameras have also improved significantly. Moreover, in the younger modification, Apple is now putting two 12 MP modules, each of which boasts optical stabilization. As can be judged from the reviews, the smartphone shoots very cool. And in our tests, the iPhone 11 performed well both during the day and in low light.

In terms of display size, the reviewed model occupied an intermediate niche in the line - 6.1 inches. The screen is made using IPS technology, which, according to rumors, will no longer be used in the upcoming novelties of the "apple" company. The resolution of the matrix is ​​1792 × 828 pixels, which provides far from a record pixel density of 324 ppi. However, when working with a smartphone, there are no complaints about the picture quality.

Advantages:

• battery life;
• productive processor;
• cute colors;
• protection against water / dust IP68;
• 256 GB of internal storage.

Disadvantages:

• weak charging included.

3. Apple iPhone 11 Pro 256GB

The fashion for meaningless names has reached Apple, so in 2025 year, the American manufacturer released two iPhone 11s with the "Pro" prefix. However, this traditionally does not indicate the professional orientation of the device, but simply serves as one of the tools in the endless marketing wars.

However, this is a secondary issue, because we are more interested in the smartphones themselves. More precisely, the regular iPhone 11 Pro. It differs from the Max version only in size, so lovers of compactness can safely choose a standard modification. In addition, it is slightly lighter, which is especially noticeable with prolonged use of the phone.

The hardware platform of the new flagship from Apple is similar to that in the basic version. The main cameras are similar, with the only exception that an ultra-wide-angle module (120 degrees) was added to the 11 Pro. The screen has also changed, and here it is made using OLED technology. True, the Always On function in the settings, alas, is not provided.

Advantages:

• camera night mode;
• system optimization;
• high charging speed;
• optimal screen size;
• performance margin;
• excellent sound.

Disadvantages:

• the cost of the 256 GB version.

4. OnePlus 7T Pro 8 / 256GB

The once popular flagship OnePlus smartphones were distinguished by the lowest cost. For relatively little money, the manufacturer offered excellent performance, thereby bribing users. Today the price of smartphones of the Chinese brand has grown, but they did not become less interesting from this. For example, take the OnePlus 7T Pro - a phone that justifies every ruble out of 42 thousand that is asked for it.

Branded charging OnePlus Warp Charge allows you to quickly charge the battery with a capacity of 4085 mAh. It will take about 20 minutes to reach 50% from scratch.

The hardware platform here is the same as in the smartphone described above, so even minimal freezes or thoughtfulness are not present either in the interface or in games. The 7T Pro screen also received a newfangled in-screen fingerprint scanner. The display itself is very good: 6.67 inches diagonal, high brightness, resolution 3120 × 1440 pixels, frequency 90 Hz. And even better in the combination of price and quality, the OnePlus smartphone received a good triple camera.

Advantages:

• cool appearance;
• impressive power;
• display resolution and frequency;
• battery capacity, charging speed;
• convenient and fast shell.

Disadvantages:

• there is no moisture protection;
• no wireless charging.

5. HUAWEI P30 Pro

The review continues with the Chinese flagship with excellent cameras. In terms of shooting quality, the P30 Pro is still practically unrivaled, and it is inferior to the device, first of all, to the current models of all that Huawei company. The smartphone bypasses competitors in terms of autonomy. And the reason is not only that it is a flagship with a powerful 4200 mAh battery, but also because of the excellent optimization. Its role was also played by the proprietary Kirin 980 processor, which, together with the Mali-G76 graphics, produces impressive results in games.

The permanent memory is 256 GB, which is quite enough for most. But if you don't have enough storage, you will have to buy branded flash drives to expand.

Add to that an excellent 6.47-inch display that boasts high brightness and good color reproduction. The latter is important when taking photos and videos, and the ability to turn the backlight to the maximum will come in handy under the bright sun, when, for example, you use the navigator on bike trips. By the way, even in this case, the P30 Pro works quietly on a single charge for a day, and with a normal use model, the average battery life for the owners of this smartphone reaches two days.

Advantages:

• battery life for a very long time;
• the camera shoots great at night;
• impressive hybrid and digital zoom;
• productive proprietary processor;
• the prohibitive speed of the system;
• the presence of an infrared port;
• cool OLED screen.

Disadvantages:

• there is no headphone jack;
• regular microSDs are not supported;
• the under-screen fingerprint scanner does not work perfectly.

6.Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro 8 / 256GB

The Xiaomi company, which began with the release of its own shell, today has grown into a real monster, often making more eminent competitors nervous. The range of phones of the Chinese brand is quite impressive, but we decided to focus on the Mi Note 10 Pro model. And all because this is a productive smartphone with the best camera and a battery of 5260 mAh in just 490–560 $.

And no, we are not exaggerating. Yes, usually the device "merges" in the night photos top-end phones from Apple, Google and Huawei, but the results are still extremely decent. During the day, the flagship Xiaomi has almost no competitors. Moreover, due to the presence of five modules at once, the user gets wide photographic possibilities. In particular, the 108 MP sensor solves, which allows you to take very detailed pictures.

Advantages:

• luxurious main camera;
• fast work of the system;
• enough power for games;
• fast charging at 30 W;
• the presence of an infrared port.

Disadvantages:

• not the best camera for macro;
• when recording video, the camera is not impressive.

7. Nokia 9 PureView

In the reviews, Nokia smartphones are evaluated ambiguously. The once legendary brand cannot achieve the same popularity, which is primarily due to the not lowest cost of its smartphones. But in the case of the 9 PureView, the manufacturer offers excellent performance for just 504–532 $... Among other things, 5 main cameras should be noted at once, which do not protrude above the body and are originally designed.

All Nokia devices are made using the Android One program. In addition to a "clean" system, this also ensures the fastest possible updates.

The smartphone received a 5.99-inch POLED-matrix with a resolution of 2960 × 1440 pixels. There are quite large projections on the top and bottom of the case, which can be considered both a plus and a minus. A fingerprint scanner is located under the screen. It is slightly higher than that of competitors, and users note that this option is more convenient. "Filling" Nokia 9 PureView is not top-end, but its power is enough for any games and applications.

Advantages:

• unmodified Android;
• cool main camera;
• bright, saturated screen;
• good performance;
• original appearance.

Disadvantages:

• extremely slippery;
• poor quality 4K video;
• average autonomy.

8. ZTE Axon 10 Pro

Another interesting smartphone flagship of 2020 is offered by ZTE. Axon 10 Pro pricing starts at 476 $and for that amount it offers fantastic opportunities. The hardware platform installed in the phone will surprise no one, and in the next 3-4 years, the owner of the device from ZTE is unlikely to have enough performance. In terms of autonomy, the phone also did not disappoint - a 4000 mAh battery decides.

Of course, Qualcomm's Quick Charge 4+ support is announced. But more importantly, the smartphone also allows you to recharge the battery wirelessly. Among other advantages, we note the presence of 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of permanent memory at once. If the latter is not enough for you, then you can install cards up to 2 TB in the microSD slot. True, in this case, you will have to abandon the second SIM card, which is not very convenient.

Advantages:

• the system works without brakes;
• Flash drives up to 2 TB are supported;
• good stereo speakers;
• overall sound quality;
• makes great photos during the day.

Disadvantages:

• the body is too slippery;
• dust and moisture protection only IP53.

9.OPPO Reno 2 8 / 256GB

One of the best smartphones in terms of design. OPPO Reno 2 received a 6.5-inch screen with an aspect ratio of 20: 9. It is made using AMOLED technology, thanks to which the manufacturer was able to place a fingerprint scanner under the display. As a rule, there are no complaints about the accuracy and speed of the fingerprint sensor.

The OPPO phone screen is covered with Gorilla Glass 6 protective glass and occupies about 93% of the front panel area. At the same time, there are no cutouts in it: the front 16-megapixel camera moves out from the top end. This module is designed as a fin.

The back panel of one of the best flagship smartphones of 2020 is also protected from shocks and scratches by Gorilla Glass. But, alas, the fingerprints on it are clearly visible.This is frustrating, because the back panel looks great, and, lo and behold, there are no protruding cameras (4 modules). There is only a small protrusion that protects the backdrop from damage.

Advantages:

• minimal framework;
• screen without cutouts;
• fast operation of the OS;
• cameras don't stick out;
• quality of photography.

Disadvantages:

• the back panel is very easily soiled;
• would not hurt a second speaker.

10.realme X2 Pro 8 / 128GB

Previously, users looking to buy a flagship phone for a reasonable price paid attention to Xiaomi products. But, apparently, the Chinese top will have to make room for their money, because the realme brand has appeared on the market. If you are afraid that this is some kind of fierce no name, then it will be useful to know that the above-mentioned OPPO company, as well as the vivo and OnePlus brands, belong to the same BBK Electronics corporation as realme.

Actually, the X2 Pro managed to reduce the cost to modest 462 $ due to the use of developments of three other brands. As a result, there is a powerful hardware platform (Snapdragon 855 Plus with Adreno 640 graphics), and support for OPPO VOOC 3.0 fast charging, and an excellent main camera with 20x hybrid zoom, and many other advantages, including an NFC module and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

Advantages:

• very fast charging;
• long battery life;
• large power reserve;
• lightning-fast in-screen scanner;
• the best price for such a "filling".

Which smartphone is better to buy

The rating contains only all the best models of smartphones of the flagships of the year, which you should pay attention to when choosing a new device. With a limited budget, you can give preference to Chinese manufacturers. The same Xiaomi is of high quality and excellent performance. If you need to purchase a branded smartphone model, you should give preference to devices from Samsung or Apple.