Google Pixel 10 Professional – Apple’s rival, however with a number of intelligent tips
Cameras, after all, are the place the Pixel shines. Whereas the iPhone 17 Professional caps out at 40x zoom, the Pixel can push all the way in which to 100x. Add in Google’s AI modifying instruments — like “Assist Me Edit,” which might repair a photograph in seconds — and it turns into clear why many reviewers name it the neatest digicam cellphone on the market.
Apple nonetheless wins on uncooked processing velocity. The A19 Professional chip will outrun Google’s Tensor G5 in benchmarks. However until you spend your evenings gaming for hours, you gained’t discover a lot distinction in day-to-day use. What you’ll discover is that the Pixel runs cooler, and Google now matches Apple with seven years of updates.
For anybody who values images and long-term help, the Pixel 10 Professional is a rock-solid different.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely – The “all-in” cellphone
Its 6.9-inch display is nearly an identical to the iPhone 17 Professional Max in measurement however is a contact lighter and thinner. Inside, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip drives efficiency, and paired with a 5,000mAh battery, this cellphone simply lasts two full days on a cost.
The actual showstopper? Cameras. Samsung fitted the Extremely with a 200MP foremost sensor plus two telephoto lenses. Mix that with 100x “House Zoom” and the included S Pen stylus, and also you’ve received a tool that does excess of a cellphone usually ought to.
It’s expensive — beginning at $1,299 — however for energy customers who need each instrument in a single bundle, it’s arduous to beat.
OnePlus 13 – Flagship expertise with out the Apple worth
It additionally costs at 80W — one thing Apple nonetheless refuses to match. The cameras maintain up impressively effectively, too, contemplating the lower cost.
There are downsides. OnePlus solely ensures 4 years of main updates, in contrast with seven years from Apple, Samsung, and Google. And its AI options really feel much less polished than the competitors. Nonetheless, if you’d like flagship efficiency with out dropping over a grand, the OnePlus 13 is the plain choose.
Motorola Razr Extremely – A foldable that feels recent
Bear in mind when flip telephones had been cool? Motorola does, and the Razr Extremely brings that spirit into 2025. Folded, it’s compact. Opened, it reveals a full 7-inch AMOLED display. And because of a 4-inch cowl show, you possibly can nonetheless test messages and use apps with out opening it up in any respect.
Specs-wise, it’s no slouch: Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB of storage, and 68W charging. The place it actually stands out, although, is character. Motorola provides finishes in Alcantara, wooden, and daring Pantone colours — designs that make the iPhone’s restricted palette look tame.
At $1,299, it’s costly, however frequent reductions drop it nearer to iPhone territory. In case you’re bored with the identical outdated slab telephones, the Razr Extremely is among the few gadgets that feels genuinely totally different.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 – A cellphone and a pill in a single
It packs the identical Snapdragon 8 Elite chip as Samsung’s Extremely line, plus a 200MP foremost digicam and all the corporate’s AI instruments. For multitaskers and productiveness followers, it’s the closest factor to carrying a cellphone and a pill in your pocket.
In fact, it’s costly — virtually $2,000. However for individuals who wish to attempt one thing Apple doesn’t supply, the Fold 7 delivers a novel expertise.
Remaining ideas
The iPhone 17 Professional is a superb system, no query. However in 2025, Android telephones are doing extra, and in some circumstances doing it higher.
In case you’re open to exploring exterior Apple’s ecosystem, the Android world has by no means seemed extra thrilling. This 12 months, it’s not about catching as much as the iPhone — it’s about shifting previous it.
