Our Experts Written by Sareena Dayaram Written by Patrick Holland Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. What to consider iOS or Android If your family and friends are on Apple services like iMessage and FaceTime, stick with an iPhone. If youve been deep on Samsung, stay on Android. Know that switching between the two has never been easier. Size Phones are large in general with the smallest ones having a 6.1-inch screen and large models topping out at 6.8 inches. That makes visiting a store and trying a phone out before you buy it quite important. Cameras Phone cameras have gotten better over the past five years. Dont be fooled by how many cameras a phone has; more is not necessarily better. Software support Phone makers promise varying lengths of long-term software and security support ranging from just one year to as many as seven. These updates not only ensure you get many of the latest features but also keep your phone secure. Table of Contents Our Picks Best Travel Phone Apple iPhone 16 View details $830 at T-Mobile View details Best Android phone for travel Samsung Galaxy S25 View details $800 at Best Buy View details Best budget-friendly travel phone Google Pixel 8A View details $400 at Best Buy View details Best travel phone for content creation Google Pixel 9 View details Buy a Google Pixel 9, get $100 store credit $800 at T-Mobile View details Best travel flip phone Motorola Razr Plus (2024) View details $760 at Best Buy View details Best travel flip phone if you can afford it Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 View details $1,100 at Samsung View details Table of Contents Kimanzi Constable / Zooey Liao, CNETIf you have an upcoming trip and are considering upgrading your phone for your travels, we're here to help. A solid travel phone should have a long battery life, water and dust protection, support for multiple SIM cards and versatile cameras. From the iPhone 16 series to the foldable Galaxy Z Flip 6, there's no shortage of smartphone options for a perfect travel companion. To simplify the decision, we've rounded up our top picks for the best travel phone of 2025 across various categories. Each phone on this list has been thoroughly reviewed and tested, and you'll find iPhone and Android options.What's the best travel phone for most people?Apple's iPhone 16 supports multiple eSIM cards making it convenient for travelers who need to use a temporary local eSIM in addition to their regular one.On the Android side, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy S25, a fundamentally excellent phone. It has a long battery life, water- and dust resistance and four cameras. One of the cameras has a telephoto lens for zooming into faraway subjects (handy if you spot a wild animal and don't want to get up close) or simply for capturing local foods you might be enjoying. Photo Gallery 1/1