With big flagship releases from Apple, Google, Vivo, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Oppo in the last couple of months, the smartphone market has been rejuvenated with hot offerings. If you’re thinking of upgrading your daily driver, now is the perfect time to buy a premium device. To save you the hassle of looking up different catalogues and e-stores, we’ve compiled a list of the best phones that the market has to offer right now. Here are the top 10 premium smartphones in December 2025.
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In This Article
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra was the first flagship phone to launch this year. It remains one of the best smartphones around in December 2025. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, this device puts up a top-notch performance. Software duties are handled by the Android 15-based One UI 7. There’s a very special ‘Galaxy AI’ package on board, which we consider to be the best in the business.
The 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. The rear camera panel consists of a 200MP primary shooter, a 50MP ultrawide lens, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. The 5,000mAh battery pack supports 45W wired and 15W wireless charging. Read our Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review for an in-depth analysis.
Pros
- Powerful chipset
- Smooth display
- Galaxy AI
Cons
- Does not have an IP69 rating
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
The iPhone got a design overhaul this year. The Pro models got a new back panel and a wider camera island. The Pro Max variant maintained its spot as one of the best phones on the market. Powering the iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple’s in-house A19 Pro chipset. It runs iOS 26 out of the box. The Apple Intelligence suite still needs a bit more work, but it gets the essential tasks done with ease. The phone is rated IP68 for protection against dust and water. The 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The rear camera array comprises three 48MP sensors, one each for the primary shooter, ultrawide lens, and 4x telephoto lens. The 4,823mAh battery pack supports 25W wireless Qi2/MagSafe charging.
Pros
- Cool design
- Smooth display
- Powerful processor
Cons
- Apple Intelligence fails to impress
OnePlus 15
The newly launched OnePlus 15 is tough and powerful. At the heart of this device lies the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. The frame of the smartphone is hardened using Micro-Arc Oxidation (MAO), which is 1.3x tougher than titanium. The smartphone is completely waterproof, rocking IP68/IP69/IP69K ratings. The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display has a 165Hz refresh rate and can reach 1,800 nits in High Brightness Mode. The rear camera panel consists of three 50MP sensors, one each for the primary shooter, 3.5x telephoto lens, and ultrawide lens. The 7,300mAh battery pack supports 120W wired and 50W wireless charging.
Pros
- Tough exterior
- Powerful chipset
- Fast charging
Cons
- Cameras need more work
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
The top-spec model in the Google Pixel 10 series is one of the best phones we’ve seen this year. It is powered by Google’s in-house Tensor G5 chipset and runs stock Android 16 out of the box. It has been promised 7 major OS upgrades. The 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 3,300 nits. The camera bar on the back panel houses a 50MP primary shooter, a 48MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and another 48MP sensor for the ultrawide lens. The 5,200mAh Li-ion battery pack supports 45W wired and 25W wireless charging.
Pros
- Cool design
- Bright display
- Great software experience
Cons
- Warms up easily
Vivo X300 Pro
The Vivo X300 Pro is the newest release on this list. Designed for photography enthusiasts, the camera sensors on this phone are tuned by Zeiss. The giant circular camera island on the back panel houses a 50MP primary shooter, a 200MP telephoto lens with 3.7x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide lens. The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. Powering this device is the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 SoC. It runs the Android 16-based OriginOS 6 out of the box. The 6,510mAh Si/C battery pack supports 90W wired and 40W wireless charging.
Pros
- Amazing cameras
- Bright display
- Fast charging
Cons
- Contains bloatware
Oppo Find X9 Pro
The portrait-master Oppo Find X9 Pro has an amazing camera setup. The rear camera island houses a 50MP primary shooter, a 200MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide lens. The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3,600 nits. The device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset. It runs the Android 16-based ColorOS 16 out of the box. There’s IP68/IP69 protection on board. The 7,500mAh battery pack supports 80W wired and 50W wireless charging.
Pros
- Nice design
- Great cameras
- Big battery
Cons
- Only 5 major OS upgrades
iQOO 15
The iQOO 15 is one of the finest gaming smartphones out there. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and iQOO’s in-house Supercomputing Chip Q3. The 8K single-layer VC cooling system keeps the internal temperature in check. The result is an elite gameplay experience that isn’t marred by thermal throttling. The 6.85-inch LTPO AMOLED display has a 144Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 6,000 nits. There are three 50MP camera sensors on the rear camera panel – one each for the primary shooter, ultrawide lens, and 3x telephoto lens. The 7,000mAh battery pack supports 100W wired and 40W wireless charging.
Pros
- Powerful processor
- Smooth display
- Big battery
Cons
- Not the best cameras
Realme GT 8 Pro
The Realme GT 8 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and runs the Android 16-based Realme UI 7 out of the box. It is rated IP68/IP69 for dust and water resistance. Its 6.79-inch AMOLED display has a 144Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 7,000 nits. The rear camera panel comprises a 50MP primary shooter, a 200MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide lens. The 7,000mAh battery pack supports 120W wired and 50W wireless charging.
Pros
- Bright display
- Powerful processor
- Massive battery
Cons
- Only 4 major OS upgrades
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max
The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max takes design inspiration from the iPhone 17 Pro models, but goes a step further by equipping the back panel with a 2.9-inch LTPO AMOLED display. This mini screen can display widgets, notifications, essential information, and even run some special games. The main 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 3,500 nits. The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC and runs the Android 16-based HyperOS 3 out of the box. The rear camera panel houses three 50MP sensors, one each for the primary shooter, ultrawide lens, and 5x telephoto lens. The 7,500mAh battery pack supports 100W wired and 50W wireless charging.
Pros
- Small display on the back panel
- Powerful processor
- Fast charging
Cons
- Limited availability
Nothing Phone (3)
When it comes to performance, the Nothing Phone (3) is just a notch below the flagship status, but its unique design earns it a spot on this list. The transparent back panel, along with the Glyph Matrix, give this device a flair that can’t be found anywhere else. Powering the Phone (3) is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset. It runs the Android 15-based Nothing OS 4 out of the box. The triple rear camera array comprises three 50MP sensors, one each for the primary shooter, ultrawide lens, and 3x telephoto lens. The 5,500mAh battery pack supports 65W wired and 15W wireless charging. Read our review of the Nothing Phone (3) to learn more about the smartphone.
Pros
- Cool design
- Glyph Matrix
- Clean OS
Cons
- Needs a better cooling system
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Final Thoughts
These are the top 10 smartphones on the market in December 2025. Next month, Samsung will unveil its Galaxy S26 series, which will certainly make its way to this list. If you need more recommendations, let us know in the comments!
