Samsung Galaxy S25 S25 Silver Shadow 128GB

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is the best small Android phone you can buy. Great camera, blazing performance, and a light build, just don't expect class-leading battery life.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is the compact flagship to beat right now. It's small, light, and packs a genuine top-tier camera with some genuinely useful AI tricks that don't feel like gimmicks. If you want a phone that fits in one hand and doesn't sacrifice speed or photo quality, this is your pick. The only real catch? The battery life is fine, not amazing, and the charging speed is stuck in 2022.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy crushes everything you throw at it. This thing is in the 92nd percentile for performance, making it one of the fastest phones we've tested. Apps open instantly, and even demanding games run smooth. The cooling is surprisingly good for such a small chassis. The sheer speed is almost overkill, but it means the S25 will stay snappy for years. The real surprise? Despite all that power, users report solid battery life. In our numbers, it sits around the 77th percentile, which is decent but not class-leading. So you'll get through a full day, but you won't leave the charger at home on a weekend trip.

At $700-$780 unlocked, the Galaxy S25 delivers flagship guts for less than an iPhone 17. The 128GB model is a trap, though. Spring for the 256GB if you can, because 128GB with no SD card slot is a headache waiting to happen. For the price, you're getting one of the best small phones on the market, and Samsung's update promise means it'll age gracefully. It's a solid buy.

The obvious rival is the iPhone 17. Apple's phone has better video and a more polished ecosystem, but the S25 is lighter, has a better telephoto, and offers more RAM. The OnePlus 15 matches the S25 on performance and beats it on battery and charging speed, but it's bigger and heavier. If you want a compact Android with great cameras, the S25 wins. The Pixel 10a is cheaper and has cleaner software, but the S25's processor leaves it in the dust. For pure pocketability and power, this is the one.

If battery life is your top priority, skip this and get the OnePlus 15 instead. That phone has a 5000mAh battery and 80W charging that smokes the S25. Also, if you need insane zoom range, look at the S25 Ultra.

The Galaxy S25 is the small phone for people who refuse to compromise. It's fast, takes stellar photos, and has AI features that are actually useful. Battery life isn't class-leading, but for most people it'll be enough. If you're coming from an older S22 or S23, the jump is huge. This is the Android phone I'd recommend to anyone who wants a phone that doesn't require two hands.