The best upcoming Android phones in 2025

As we move further into 2025, we have nearly a full year of flagship Android smartphones to look forward to. MediaTek and Qualcomm’s flagship chips pack massive performance improvements and we can’t wait to see them in devices released through the year. But there’s more to future flagship phones than just speed — we’re also looking forward to the first mainstream Qi2 Android handsets, as well as wider adoption of features like satellite connectivity and on-device AI. What else does 2025 have in store for us? Here are all of the upcoming Android phones we know are coming in 2025 and why we’re excited.

The newest Android phones available today

If you don’t plan on waiting, great phones are constantly launching. It’s important to know what’s already out, so here is a short list of the latest devices to hit the market.

• Samsung Galaxy S25 series ($999.99 at Amazon): The Galaxy S series is a highlight every single year, and these amazing phones are finally out. As expected, the series includes the Samsung Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra. All come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processors, as well as 12GB of RAM.
• OnePlus 13 ($899.99 at OnePlus): As expected, OnePlus impressed the industry with a phone that can compete with the best out there, yet at a more affordable $899.99 price point. It launched in October 2024. We loved its unique design, outstanding performance, helpful AI features, and incredible camera system.
• ASUS Zenfon 12 Ultra ($1145 at Amazon): The ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra is quite the phone, and it was announced in February 2025, earlier than we expected. We enjoyed its design and color options. Performance is also quite impressive. This thing has a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12-16GB of RAM! It also has an amazing battery life, great charging speeds, and handy AI features that work offline.
• Google Pixel 9 series ($1099 at Amazon): Google’s latest round of flagship phones now includes three mainline devices in total, from the baseline Pixel 9 to the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. All three include the Tensor G4 SoC, 4GB more RAM than their predecessors to power their AI smarts, and a cleaner aesthetic.
• Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold ($1799 at Amazon): The fourth device in Google’s new lineup is its second foldable phone. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features some fundamental changes compared to its Pixel Fold predecessor, from completely different dimensions to a more phone-like outer display.
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 ($1899.99 at Samsung): Samsung’s new book foldable remains an expensive piece of kit, but it’s thinner and lighter than its predecessor, includes the beefy Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy SoC, and has that great seven-year update promise.
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 ($1099.99 at Samsung): Thanks to its larger cover display, the Z Flip 6 now makes more sense as a compact smartphone. It also includes the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset and a leaner body.
• Motorola Razr and Razr Plus (2024) ($799.99 at Amazon): Giving Samsung’s foldables a run for their money this year, the Razr and Razr Plus offer surprisingly large cover displays, gorgeous fit and finish, and zippy displays. The base Razr model is also incredibly affordable compared to its ilk.
• Motorola Edge (2024) ($499.99 at Amazon): Motorola’s mid-ranger boasts quick charging credentials, a large OLED display, and great build quality.
• Sony Xperia 1 VI ($1199 at Amazon): Sony’s best flagship phone in years, the Xperia 1 VI remains pricey but trades its 4K display for a better telephoto camera and improved battery life. Plus, it has that magical microSD card slot and 3.5mm headphone jack combo.

Upcoming Android phones in 2025

As you may already know, flagship smartphones from all of the major brands follow a yearly release cadence. This rhythm of launches from previous years means that we have a fairly good idea of which Android phones to expect within the next four to six months.

Nothing Phone 3

If there’s one brand on the list that has broken away from the strict yearly release cadence, it would be Nothing. The company launched the Nothing Phone 2 back in 2023, and we were waiting for a successor in mid-2024, but it never came along. Instead, Nothing chose to take its time in the midst of an AI boom, with CEO Carl Pei emphasizing a commitment to “getting the product right.” That said, the company did debut the mid-range Nothing Phone 2a to widespread praise in 2024.

While Nothing hasn’t confirmed an exact release date for its upcoming flagship phone, early 2025 seems increasingly likely. We might see it at Mobile World Congress 2025, which is in March. At the very least we’re hoping to see the first official teaser for the Nothing Phone 3.

Based on past Nothing phones, we know that the company will target an aggressive price point. In light of that, the upcoming flagship may pack last-gen silicon instead of the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Still, it will be plenty performant for most use cases and likely undercut the competition by hundreds of dollars. With the long gap between releases, though, we hope to see major improvements in imaging, as the series has historically struggled in that department.

By the way, we’re also starting to hear rumors of the Nothing Phone 3a already. That might be another phone to look forward to, if you want an even more affordable option.

Google Pixel 9a

With the Pixel 9 series launching months ahead of Google’s usual October timeline, the Pixel 9a may also follow suit with an earlier release. This is definitely one of the most expected upcoming Android phones, especially for those of us who prefer spending less on great phones. Reports suggest the Pixel 9a could debut as early as March 2025, arriving a full two months before Google’s traditional May launch window for its A-series lineup.

As for the changes in tow, the Pixel 9a will almost certainly use the company’s latest Tensor G4 chip (albeit a slightly less efficient version). Leaked renders suggest the device may ditch the iconic camera bar in favor of a flush camera island, giving it a more minimalist aesthetic. It may also feature flat sides, continuing the trend we’ve seen across Google’s smartphone portfolio.

The camera system is expected to receive an incremental upgrade, with the main sensor shifting to a 48MP lens. The latter might be potentially borrowed from the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, although we’ll have to wait for the phone’s official spec sheet to confirm.

Even though the Pixel 9 series saw a price bump across the board, we expect the Pixel 9a to debut at the same $499 price point as its predecessor. This puts it in direct competition against the upcoming iPhone SE (4th generation), which is expected to be released sometime in early 2025 as well.

Other upcoming Android phones in 2025

Besides the above, we expect several other Android phones to launch in 2025. Here are some of the highlights to watch out for:

• Galaxy S25 Edge: We don’t have much to go by, but the industry is expecting the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. The idea is that this will be a phone that’s very similar to the Galaxy S25 or Galaxy S25 Plus, but with a different design. It’s expected to be thinner. It’s expected to come sometime in the first half of 2025, likely around April.
• Google Pixel 10 series: It hasn’t been that long since the Pixel 9 series’ debut, but it’s not too early to start thinking about the upcoming Android phones coming from Google. Pixel 10 rumors have already started coming in, after all, pointing to a Tensor G5 chip produced by TSMC instead of Samsung Foundry. This should offer a sizable performance uplift and finally allow Google to catch up with the competition on the efficiency and battery life fronts.
• Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7: Samsung’s foldable phones have only seen a few major changes in recent generations, and that may not change with the next generation either. That said, we have heard endless rumors about more affordable versions of the Galaxy Z Fold and Flip under Samsung’s Fan Edition (FE) moniker. The company’s mainline foldables tend to debut in August, so we have plenty of time to learn more about these upcoming phones through various leaks.
• Galaxy A56: The Galaxy A-series has long been a popular choice in the mid-range segment for delivering a healthy balance of features and value. If previous launch trends are anything to go by, we should see the Galaxy A56 launch in March 2025, but release timelines can always change. Besides packing an updated chip, the A56 is rumored to be the first non-flagship Samsung phone with 45W fast charging.
• OnePlus Open 2: The OnePlus Open was quite the hit. At one point, it was an industry favorite among foldable phones. Now, we’re starting to hear more rumors of the OnePlus Open 2. We used to think it would be based off the OPPO Find N5, but a new OnePlus statement tells us the OnePlus Open 2 won’t launch in 2025. This means we’ll have to wait until at least 2026, and who knows how the phone will be.

We’re almost certain that we’ll see all of the phones listed above, but it is by no means an exhaustive list. There are likely many others in store. If we omitted any upcoming Android phones that you’re looking forward to, it’s probably only because we don’t know enough about it yet.

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