Summary of "My Best Phones of 2025 - A Great Year With a Bad Climax!"

Summary of “My Best Phones of 2025 - A Great Year With a Bad Climax!”

The video is a detailed review and personal ranking of the best smartphones tested by Ashad from Track and Tech English throughout 2025. He evaluated nearly 80 phones across various price segments and highlights his top picks in several categories, along with one notable dud of the year. The video focuses on technological features, performance, software experience, and value for money.

Key Categories and Phone Picks

Best Budget Phone: OPPO K13
- Large 7,000 mAh battery, 120 Hz AMOLED display
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset with reliable performance
- Clean Color OS with upcoming Color OS 16 update
- Single usable rear camera but decent photo quality
- Price increase has affected its value proposition
Best Mid-Range Phone: Nothing Phone 3A
- Snapdragon 7S Gen 3, triple camera setup including 2x telephoto
- 120 Hz OLED display with symmetrical bezels
- 5,000 mAh battery with good tuning and Nothing OS 4 (minimal, clean UI)
- Lacks charger in the box and could have better performance
- Best overall package in the 20-30K INR range according to Ashad
Best iPhone of 2025: iPhone 17
- First base iPhone with 120 Hz ProMotion display (6.3-inch)
- Improved selfie camera, larger base storage (256GB)
- Better battery life and stellar performance
- Not the most improved phone but best value-for-money iPhone to date
Best Foldable Phone: Samsung Galaxy ZFold 7
- Slimmer, lighter, and thinner than Fold 6
- Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite (power efficient)
- Excellent camera performance close to S25 Ultra
- No S Pen support but best software experience for book-style foldables
- Preferred over Vivo X45 in India
Best Performance Phone: OnePlus 15
- Strong gaming performance (120 fps in Genshin Impact, other heavy titles)
- No overheating or throttling issues despite early rumors
- Continued performance improvements via updates
- Considered underrated and unfairly criticized at launch
Best Battery Phone: OPPO Find X9 Pro
- 7,500 mAh battery with over 12 hours of consistent usage
- MediaTek Dimensity 9500+ chipset with excellent power tuning
- 80W fast charging and wireless charging support
- Best battery life on a flagship phone in 2025
Best Camera Phone: Vivo X300 Pro
- Superior videography with excellent stabilization
- Fine-tuned algorithms for impressive photos, especially at 3.5x telephoto zoom
- Strong portrait mode with good edge detection and bokeh
- Versatile camera modes and teleconverter support
Most Underrated Phone: iPhone Air
- Slim, luxurious design with precise build quality
- Excellent battery life despite a small battery
- Controls entire hardware stack including networking chip for efficiency
- Recommended to continue the series with dual cameras next year
Best Compact Phones: Vivo X300 Pro and Vivo X200 FE
- Both offer excellent battery, fast charging, and triple camera setups with zoom
- X200 FE provides a similar experience at a lower price point
- Vivo’s strategy for compact phones praised for no compromises

Dud of the Year: Nothing Phone 3

- Poor launch strategy with high initial price (80,000 INR) and USB 2.0  
- Underwhelming camera tuning at launch  
- Design did not appeal to the reviewer  
- Price cuts improved its attractiveness but initial mishandling hurt goodwill  
- Contrasted with the underrated Nothing Phone 2

Overall Favorite Phone of 2025: OPPO Find X9 Pro

- Combines best display, premium design, top-tier performance  
- Best battery life and charging speeds in flagship segment  
- Excellent triple camera system with Hasselblad tuning and accessories  
- Superior OS experience (Color OS) compared to Vivo’s Origin OS and others  
- Makes even the iPhone 17 Pro Max feel overpriced

Additional Insights

The year 2025 was “weird” for smartphones, with strong devices but a disappointing “climax” due to rising prices.
Ashad cautions that 2026 might see even worse pricing trends, making smartphones less accessible.
Emphasizes the importance of software experience (OS) alongside hardware in determining overall phone quality.
Highlights the significance of battery life, camera tuning, and performance stability as key differentiators.

Main Speaker / Source

Ashad, host of Track and Tech English, a tech review channel focused on detailed gadget reviews and analysis.

Summary

Ashad’s 2025 smartphone roundup praises devices that excel in battery life, camera capabilities, performance, and software experience, with OPPO Find X9 Pro standing out as the best overall flagship. The Nothing Phone 3 is marked as a disappointment due to pricing and launch issues. The video serves as a comprehensive guide for buyers looking for the best phones in various categories, while also providing commentary on market trends and pricing challenges.