TOP TEN

PREMIUM PHONES

●TIPS & TRICKS

●Not an AI addict? Remap the ‘plus key’ to something more useful, like launching the camera app.

●Night owls should use Reduce White Point to dim the screen brightness to a mere half-nit.

●Keep your home screen clutter-free by stashing widgets in the shelf, revealed with a down-swipe.

1 OnePlus 15

from £849 / go.stuff.tv/OnePlus15

Any pretence of OnePlus being an underdog in the phone world has been thrown out of the window here: there’s not really a box the OnePlus 15 doesn’t tick. It’s a top performer, lasts ages, has competitive cameras, and looks every bit the flagship. Only the most serious of photographers will be left wanting, but they’ll have to spend a lot more to get significantly better snaps. Everyone else will struggle to find much to grumble about.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Ace performance, stamina and cameras: this is the all-rounder for most people

● Prices quoted are for handset only unless otherwise stated

● NOW ADD THIS Hole-Pattern Magnetic Case This durable cover plays nicely with most MagSafe kit, and has customisable colour accents. from £32 / oneplus.com

2 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

from £1199 /go.stuff.tv/17ProMax

With a supreme spec sheet including an amazing 8x zoom cam, there’s little that can be argued against the 17 Pro Max. Of course, it’s expensive, but you’re getting a phone that can do everything: in use, this model sits head and shoulders above anything else in Apple’s range.

Stuff says ★★★★★ With its upgraded cameras, the biggest iPhone is a powerhouse

3 Google Pixel 10

from £799 /go.stuff.tv/Pixel10

This feels like the phone Google has been trying to make for years: a standard model that gives you almost everything the Pro does for less. With its refined design, zingy screen, stronger cameras and useful AI, it’s one of the most complete Androids around… albeit a little stingy on storage.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Almost makes the Pro redundant: a true flagship at a friendlier price

4 Xiaomi 15 Ultra

★★★★★ from £1299 /go.stuff.tv/15Ultra Xiaomi’s flagship has the most capable set of cameras ever squeezed into a single handset.

5 Oppo Find X9 Pro

★★★★★ £1099 /go.stuff.tv/FindX9Pro Close to perfection: a camera-centric phone that impresses in almost every area.

6 Samsung Galaxy S25

★★★★★ from £599 /go.stuff.tv/S25 Samsung’s sub-flagship still leads the way for small Androids, and is a better bet than the Ultra model.

7 Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

★★★★★ from £1199 /go.stuff.tv/10ProXL Improved in all the right places, this is the go-to phone for anyone after Google’s best hardware.

8 Honor Magic7 Pro

★★★★★ £1100 /go.stuff.tv/Magic7Pro Combining the bizarre with the brilliant, the Magic7 Pro is a wonderfully capable camera phone.

9 Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

★★★★✩ from £799 /go.stuff.tv/S25Edge The S25 Edge will surely usher in a new breed of skinny phones, but feeble battery life lets it down.

10 Apple iPhone Air

★★★★✩ from £999 /go.stuff.tv/iPhoneAir Beautifully designed – but there’s a reason we love having several cameras on our flagships.

FOLDABLE PHONES

1 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7

from £1649 / go.stuff.tv/ZFold7

Cutting a few features has turned the Z Fold7 into the best of the current foldable breed. The lack of stylus support might sting a little for the small minority who used an S Pen on older Folds, and battery life is becoming a bit of a lead weight for Samsung phones in general. But the Z Fold7’s svelte form, expansive screens and capable rear cameras otherwise bring it up to par. Feature-packed software and swift performance then make it very easy to live with indeed.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Slim, speedy, and with superior snappers: Samsung has finally got a foldable right

2 Honor Magic V5

£1400 /go.stuff.tv/MV5

This is a genuine rival to the Z Fold7 in terms of its slinky dimensions, and Honor hasn’t skimped on specs to stay so slim: the eight-core Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is rapid and the cameras are excellent.

Stuff says ★★★★★

You’ll never want to go back to a flat phone

3 Motorola Razr 60 Ultra

£1100 /go.stuff.tv/Razr60Ultra

Motorola has really nailed the flip phone experience. You can choose which apps appear on the outer screen, and needn’t open the phone to reply to messages. No other clamshell is as easy to use while closed.

Stuff says ★★★★★

Close to absolute clamshell perfection

4 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7

★★★★★ £1049 /go.stuff.tv/ZFlip7 A much-improved cover screen keeps the Z Flip7 in the clamshell contest.

5 Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

★★★★★ from £1749 /go.stuff.tv/10ProFold This might not be a phone to set pulses racing, but it still makes a good impression.

BUDGET PHONES

1 Google Pixel 9a

from £449 / go.stuff.tv/Pixel9a

This might be Google’s affordable model, but it looks and feels very grown-up. In no way does the Pixel 9a come across like a cut-price option, and a scan of the spec sheet shows there’s not a lot of breathing room between it and the Pixel 9: same Tensor G4 chipset, same Gemini-infused Android 15, same 6.3in size for the OLED display. The cameras are excellent for the cash, as usual, while the battery and performance punch above their weight.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Improved in all the ways that matter – a classy phone experience for less cash

2 Nothing Phone 3a

from £329 /go.stuff.tv/Phone3a One of the most comprehensive affordable phones out there, with stand-out styling, unique features and slick software. Performance and battery life are consistently great… and there’s a Pro version that’s excellent too.

Stuff says ★★★★★

A superb all-round experience for the money

3 CMF Phone 2 Pro

from £219 /go.stuff.tv/CMF2Pro The old Phone 1 nailed the budget basics, but its successor really takes things up a notch. The 6.67in AMOLED screen looks wonderfully crisp, and both the main and zoom cameras deliver vibrant colours with plenty of detail.

Stuff says ★★★★★

A fantastic, personality-packed affordable choice

4 Poco X7 Pro

★★★★✩ from £309 /go.stuff.tv/X7Pro No gimmicks and no major compromises, just great value for money.

5 Motorola G86

★★★★✩ £199 /go.stuff.tv/G86 A budget phone with a flagship-level screen, rugged build and long battery life.

IN-EAR HEADPHONES

●TIPS & TRICKS

●Sony’s eartips are great, as long as you use the right size. Be sure to try all four included in the box.

●360 Reality Audio upmixing can add a sense of space to tunes, but not every track sounds better.

●Give personalised EQ a try in the app. Its A/B choices are far simpler than a multi-band equaliser.

1 Sony WF-1000XM5

£219 / go.stuff.tv/WFXM5

The WF-1000XM5 in-ears are significantly smaller than the XM4s, which were already a lot more compact than their predecessors. And yet Sony has still squeezed even larger drivers inside each earbud, along with the firm’s best noise-cancelling yet. The feature list is as extensive as ever, and they’re priced to compete with Bose’s best. Add in decent battery life and a strong app, and you won’t find anything more well-rounded for less.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Excellent noise-cancellation, a comfy fit and simply stellar audio

● NOW ADD THIS Spigen Rugged Armor Case This drop-resistant outer shield comes with a carabiner clip for keeping your buds within reach. £20 / amazon.co.uk

2 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

£300 /go.stuff.tv/QCUltra2

The ‘2nd Gen’ part might not represent a true sequel – this is more like an album re-release, with a few bonus tracks adding appeal to what was already a five-star listen – but the revamped QC Ultra Earbuds do address most of the original pair’s shortcomings. Call quality has received a welcome boost, they’re easier to keep clean, and wireless charging won’t cost you extra as it did before. Battery life could certainly be better, but the ANC and sound quality remain top-notch.