Choosing the right phone in 2025 involves more than just deciding between Android and iPhone. There are well-rounded options across various market segments, whether you are a budget-conscious buyer, a dedicated iPhone fan, or an Android enthusiast. We've structured our smartphone buying guide to reflect the most relevant categories for tech enthusiasts, with clear-cut recommendations if you're looking for top-tier performance, reliable midrange versatility, or affordable essentials. Additionally, upgrade cycles vary among consumers – some prefer to upgrade every year to keep up with the latest technology, while others may opt for longer intervals, prioritizing durability and value over cutting-edge features. Explore our top picks below to find the phone that best fits your needs. The Best Value Phones Google Pixel 9a | OnePlus 13R | iPhone 16e In numbers Price: $499 Google guarantees seven years of OS upgrades and security patches for its Pixel phones. As the brain behind Android, Google's updates are as prompt as Apple's iOS patches. The Google Pixel 9a has been hailed for being almost as good as the Pixel 9 at $300 less, but in reality the difference is often just $100. In this case, it helps to know what the other differences are. The 6.3-inch, 1080p, 120Hz display is almost identical, offering the same 20:9 aspect ratio. The Pixel 9a's battery is slightly bigger at a typical 5,100mAh versus 4,700mAh, but the Pixel 9 offers wireless charging that's twice as fast, and the ability to charge other devices wirelessly. The Pixel 9a's 48MP main camera (taking 12MP photos) sounds similar to the Pixel 9's 50MP, but the pixels are significantly smaller and capture less light. For the same reason, the Pixel 9a's 13MP front camera isn't better than the Pixel 9's 10.5MP, especially as it doesn't offer auto-focus. However, the biggest difference is the ultrawide camera, where the Pixel 9 uses a 48MP sensor to capture 12MP photos, and the Pixel 9a offers a much smaller 13MP sensor. Both phones include the Tensor G4 processor and 256GB of storage, but the Pixel 9 has 12GB of RAM rather than just 8GB, which allows for two extra AI features: Pixel Screenshots scans your screen captures for information you may need later, and Call Notes can transcribe and summarize your phone conversations. The Pixel 9 also supports Wi-Fi 7, and G5 mmWave. What makes the Pixel line stand out is the editing tools offered by the Tensor SoC. Audio Magic Eraser is useful for removing background noise from videos. Magic Editor allows to move, resize and remove people and objects in photos. 'Best Take' allows you to combine faces from different times into the same photo – a feature that was actually introduced by BlackBerry in 2013. Add Me does the same, but with people's entire body. Auto Frame can not only crop photos, but also expand them using AI, and Reimagine completely replaces the photo's background. All of this may sound unethical, but the era of photos being more reliable than drawings is over anyway. OnePlus 13R If you prefer raw horsepower and a bigger display over optimized software and AI photo features, then the OnePlus 13R is a good alternative. For $600 you get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 6.8-inch display features a non-standard width of 1264p and a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone offers a large 6,000mAh battery and exceptional 80W wired charging (55W with the standard, included charger). Four years of OS updates and six years of security updates are long enough at this price point. The main camera can save 50MP photos, but those can look under-exposed compared to the default 12.5MP. The same is true for the telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom. The selfie camera takes 16MP photos. The 8MP ultrawide lens is functional, but nothing more. Other than that, the phone's main drawbacks are mediocre water resistance and lack of mmWave support. iPhone 16e In our previous phone buying guides, we'd recommend two-year-old iPhone models over the outdated iPhone SE as the cheapest option for most Apple fans. In 2025, Apple made things simpler, discontinuing both in favor of the iPhone 16e. The 16e is $200 cheaper than the iPhone 16 with the same storage (starting at 128GB), but how does it compare? It has the same display as the iPhone 14, with a bigger notch that's attached to the top of the 6.1-inch screen. The ring/silent switch has been replaced with the programmable Action button. The iPhone 16e has the same A18 processor with 8GB of RAM and Apple Intelligence support, but with four active graphics units instead of five. The most visible difference is the lack of the ultrawide lens. Other than that, it doesn't offer mmWave, and the iPhone 16e supports Qi wireless charging rather than the faster MagSafe. Back to top ▵ Best Phones for Most People iPhone 16 | OnePlus 13 | More Alternatives In numbers Price: $799 The iPhone 16 offers a newer and brighter display than the iPhone 16e. The notch is smaller and integrated into the "dynamic island," which is useful to display key information from apps running in the background. As an overall package, it delivers the full iPhone experience with a solid balance of well-built hardware and polished software features, except for the 60Hz screen, which is at a disadvantage compared to competing Android handsets in the same price range and even cheaper ones. With the touch-sensitive Camera Control button, you can finally focus on your subject while taking a photo. The main camera can capture 48MP images but defaults to 24MP for better dynamic range and faster shutter speed. The ultrawide lens offers 0.5x optical zoom and, like the front camera, captures 12MP photos. If you want a larger screen and battery, you can get the 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus for an extra $100. OnePlus 13 With improvements across the board, the OnePlus 13 makes it hard to justify buying more expensive Android phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor rivals the Apple A18 in single-core performance, and beats it in multi-core. The OnePlus 13 has an IP68/IP69 rating, meaning it's resistant not only to immersion but also to high-temperature water jets – making it safe to use even if you work at a car wash. With a 6,000mAh battery, the OnePlus 13 provides great battery life despite the 1440p, 6.8-inch display. Unlike the OnePlus 13R, it's a dual-cell battery, so it will charge faster with the same charger. The main, ultrawide and telephoto (with 3x zoom) cameras all provide a 50MP resolution. The selfie camera shoots at 32MP, but its fixed focus makes it less optimal for usage with a selfie stick. The OnePlus 13 starts at $899 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and for another $100 you can increase that to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Many phones are cheaper, but none of them offer similar hardware specifications. Samsung Galaxy S25 At this point, the Samsung Galaxy S has remained mostly the same on the outside for several years, while competitors from OnePlus and Google have kept improving. So why do we recommend the Galaxy S25 for some? Because it's the only Android phone that's as powerful as the OnePlus 13 and as compact as the Pixel 9 with a 6.2-inch display. With the compact size comes a smaller 4,000mAh battery, but the smaller, 1080p display somewhat makes up for that in battery life. The 50MP main camera (saving 12MP photos by default) remains, and the rest of the setup is well-rounded but basic, with 12MP front and ultrawide lenses, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The Galaxy S25 starts at $800 (although frequent discounts bring the price closer to $700) with 128GB of storage, and to match the OnePlus 13's 256GB you'll need to add $60. Samsung's advantage over OnePlus is the promise of seven years of OS and security updates. For those who favor larger screens, the Galaxy S25+ offers a 6.7-inch display (with a higher 1440p resolution), a bigger battery to compensate, and 45W wired charging compared to the base model's 25W. Additionally, it features ultra-wide band (UWB) support, ideal for pinpointing Bluetooth-linked items such as Galaxy SmartTags. The Galaxy S25+ starts at $1,000 (though it's often available for ~$850), providing 256GB of base storage, so if you were planning to get that amount anyway, it's only $140 more expensive than the S24. On the other hand, the Galaxy S25 Ultra adds too little for too much money, especially now that the S Pen no longer supports Bluetooth functionality. To fold, or not to fold? Foldable phones, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, might seem tempting. However, their design restricts battery and camera configurations. With a prev-gen SoC and a noticeable crease when unfolded, the Flip 6's $1,100 price point (often discounted to $900) is higher the Galaxy S25+, and it's more scratch-prone and less dust-resistant. If you really need the unique form factor, you should wait for the reviews of the Motorola Razr (2025), named after the legendary Razr V3 and promising a higher-quality external display that can fully replace the main one more often. Otherwise, you should probably look elsewhere. Back to top ▵ Best Budget Phones Samsung Galaxy A16 and A26 In numbers Price: $176 on Amazon If you're in the market for an affordable $200 device that can handle the tasks most users demand from their phones – albeit not always as proficiently – the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is a compelling option. Six years of Android and security updates are more than you are going to get anywhere else for this price. The 6.7-inch 1080p AMOLED display offers great contrast, and it also runs at 90Hz. Additionally, the phone supports NFC for contactless payments. The Galaxy A16 features a 13MP front-facing camera, and on the rear three cameras: a 50MP primary lens, along with a 5MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP macro sensor. The phone is available with 4GB, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of storage, which can be expanded with microSD. Thanks to the 5,000mAh battery, the phone features good battery life, and it also supports 25W charging. On the other hand, the mono speaker is as basic as you can imagine. For $100 more, the Galaxy A26 features Gorilla Glass on the front and back, IP67 dust/water resistance, an always-on 120Hz display and an upgraded 8MP ultrawide camera. Motorola Moto G Power (2024 model) If you replace your phone often, you can check out the Motorola Moto G Power. Just make sure you are getting the 2024 version, as the more expensive 2025 model has a slower CPU. The older phone won't receive OS updates beyond Android 15, but it will get security updates until 2027. The LCD display runs at 120Hz. The main and ultrawide cameras are similar to the Galaxy A26's, and the 16MP front camera is equivalent with slightly smaller pixels. The differentiating features are wireless charging, stereo speakers and a headphone jack. The main problem is the amount of bloatware that Lenovo installs on the phone. Back to top ▵ Best of the Best Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max In numbers Price: $1,199 The iPhone 16 Pro Max sports a 6.9-inch OLED display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The always-on display provides users with glanceable information without waking the device. The camera system includes a 48MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide lens with autofocus for improved macro photography, and a 12MP telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom. The upgraded ultrawide sensor delivers enhanced detail and macro capabilities. Video recording is also enhanced with support for 4K at 120 frames per second, and the inclusion of four studio-quality microphones improves audio capture. The iPhone Pro line differentiates itself with the A18 Pro SoC (with six active graphical units and double the cache), and supporting USB 3.1 (or "3.2 gen 2") speeds via USB-C. On paper, Apple's top-tier smartphone may appear to offer similar features to those found in mainstream products from other companies. However, thanks to iOS and its finely-tuned apps, its performance is notably superior. The hardware is also top notch and more carefully built than most, using titanium instead of aluminum. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the only model that's not available with 128GB of storage. Starting at $1,200 with 256GB, it is steep, especially when contrasted with a $700 iPhone 16e with the same 256GB. If it plays any kind of factor in your equation, a well-preserved iPhone Pro Max can typically be traded in or sold for around $400 – $500 after two years. If you're inclined towards a more compact device, the regular iPhone 16 Pro will save you $100 though the Max is where its at for the most pixels and biggest battery. Back to top ▵ The Best ePaper Phone Bigme HiBreak Pro | Mudita Kompakt In numbers Price: $439 Until recently, if you wanted to remain available on a camping trip lasting several days, your main option was an outdated and limited feature phone. Now, you can also opt for a phone with an efficient monochrome e-paper display. These phones remain perfectly usable in direct sunlight, and utilize front light to work in the dark. Except for the 21Hz display, the Bigme HiBreak Pro is a fully modern smartphone, with Android 14 and 5G support. The 6.1-inch, 824p display may not be ideal for watching video, but for reading it's arguably better than any other. Combined with a 4,500mAh battery, it's built to last for days between charges. While it's not designed for media consumption, the HiBreak Pro can still shoot color photos and videos with its 20MP rear camera and 5MP front camera. For the price, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is solid. Unusually, it includes an infrared sensor, so it can double as a remote control. The main thing missing is an official IP rating. Mudita Kompakt If you don't want a full-featured smartphone, the Mudita Kompakt offers a de-Googled version of Android, with 13 apps optimized for its monochrome display (yes, including chess). It doesn't support 5G and lacks a front-facing camera to accompany the 8MP one on the back. The smaller 4.3-inch, 480p screen helps balance out the modest 3,300mAh battery. Due to its custom software, the Kompakt costs nearly as much as the HiBreak Pro. It only includes 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage but does offer a microSD card slot and a headphone jack. If you're buying a phone because you want just a phone, it may be your best option. Back to top ▵ Masthead credit: Amanz

Pros Long battery lifeExcellent displaysAffordable Cons Average performanceMediocre camerasUnimpressive software update commitment Motorola Razr (2025) Specs Battery Life (As Tested) 21 hours, 35 minutes Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) 50MP, 13MP; 32MP CPU MediaTek Dimensity 7400X Dimensions 3.47 by 2.91 by 0.62 inches closed, 6.74 by 2.91 by 0.29 inches open Operating System Android 15 Screen Resolution 2,640 by 1,080 pixels Screen Size 6.9 All Specs Table of ContentsDesign: Elegant and PocketableDisplay: Fun and BrightPerformance: Passable for the PriceBattery: Better Than Most Non-Flip PhonesConnectivity: A Fine 5G RadioAudio: Loud EnoughCameras: Fun to Use, But Low QualitySoftware: More Support, Please The 2025 Motorola Razr ($699.99) is an attractive and feature-rich folding phone that keeps its price in check by dialing back some of the specs available to its high-end stablemate, the $1,299.99 Razr Ultra. Its inner and outer displays are bright and useful, its compact clamshell design slides comfortably into your pocket, and its long battery life helps get you through the day. But it isn't very powerful, its cameras are so-so at best, and its AI tools aren't the smartest. It's a decent option for those who specifically want a folding phone without spending a fortune, but you can get a lot more bang for your buck with a traditional slab phone like the $799.99 Samsung Galaxy S25 or even the $499 Google Pixel 9a.Design: Elegant and PocketableAll three phones in the 2025 Razr lineup share basic design cues. They all feature an aluminum frame, rounded corners, an external display that's visible when folded, and a selection of several colors. The entry-level Razr is available in Gibraltar Sea (deep blue), Lightest Sky (flecked white), Parfait Pink, or Spring Bud (bright green). I received the Lightest Sky model for review. (Credit: Sarah Lord)The Razr measures 3.47 by 2.91 by 0.62 inches when closed and 6.74 by 2.91 by 0.29 inches when fully open. It weighs 6.63 ounces, matching the size and weight of last year’s model almost exactly. The phone fits nicely in my hand in both its open and closed positions. It’s also incredibly pocket-friendly. I loved being able to slip it into my back pocket without worrying if the top of the phone was sticking out. (Credit: Sarah Lord)The power and volume buttons reside on the right side of the phone. The buttons feel solid and make an audible clicking sound when pressed. A fingerprint reader is embedded into the power button for biometric security. You can use facial recognition via the selfie camera. Both work well, though the fingerprint sensor is more secure. The SIM card slot is on the left side of the phone, while the USB-C port and speaker grille are located on the bottom edge. A little more than half of the rear panel is covered in the white speckled plastic of the Lightest Sky color. It does a good job of keeping fingerprints at bay, but is a little slippery to hold. The color extends about a centimeter above the hinge, before giving way to the external display, which is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The display remains dark when the phone is open, giving the back a black-and-white color scheme. Two round camera cutouts and a small flash protrude from the top of the phone when it’s opened. The display wraps around the cameras, which gives the handset an elegant appearance, especially when folded.(Credit: Sarah Lord)The titanium center hinge is strong, with minimal creasing visible on the display. You can still see it when the screen is dark, but it isn't disruptive. The hinge is smooth and rated for more than 200,000 opens and folds.(Credit: Sarah Lord)Motorola has made all of its flip phones more durable. Every phone in the 2025 lineup, including the entry-level Razr, has an IP48 rating, which means it is dust-resistant and can withstand temporary submersion in water. Display: Fun and BrightThe 2025 Razr's outer display remains unchanged from the 2024 version. It's a 3.6-inch pOLED screen with a resolution of 1,056 by 1,066 pixels for a pixel density of 413 pixels per inch (ppi). The refresh rate remains at 90Hz, with a touch response rate of 120Hz. The screen reaches a peak brightness of 1,700 nits. Meanwhile, the $999.99 Razr+ and Razr Ultra share a 4.0-inch outer display with a resolution of 1,272 by 1,080 pixels, for a density of 417ppi. The screen has a refresh rate of 165Hz with a touch response rate of 120Hz. The outer display on the Razr+ reaches a peak brightness of 2,400 nits, while the Ultra hits 3,000 nits. (Credit: Sarah Lord)The Razr's 6.9-inch inner display is similar to last year’s model. It has a resolution of 2,640 by 1,080 pixels for a density of 413ppi. The foldable AMOLED panel has a refresh rate of 120Hz and a touch response rate of 220Hz. It reaches a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The company includes a built-in screen protector that the phone reminds you constantly not to remove. It's hardly visible, doesn’t bubble, and should hopefully remains in place for the lifetime of the phone. If it doesn’t, the company requires an authorized Motorola dealer to install a new one. A small, circular cutout at the top of the display signifies the selfie camera.The Razr+ has an almost identical display, with the same size, resolution, pixel density, and peak brightness levels. The only difference is that it has a slightly higher refresh rate of 165Hz. The Razr Ultra's screen is bigger, sharper, and brighter than any of the others at 7 inches, 2,992 by 1,224 pixels, 165Hz/300Hz refresh and touch response rates, and 4,500 nits of peak brightness. (Credit: Sarah Lord)I was easily able to view the Razr's display under direct sunlight. The outer display might be a smidge shorter than the Razr+ and Ultra, but it is just as useful. Performance: Passable for the PriceThe Razr is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400x system on a chip, which uses a 4nm process and comes with a Mali-G615 GPU and a sixth-generation NPU. It is available in a single configuration with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There's no microSD card slot, so if you need more storage space, you’ll have to step up to the much more expensive Razr Ultra, which is available in a 512GB model. The phone generally performs well with daily tasks, even when running multiple apps at the same time. Once in a while, I noticed short delays when switching between apps, but nothing that I considered egregious. The Razr isn’t the fastest phone on the market, but it’s completely usable. (Credit: Geekbench/GFXBench/PCMag)On Geekbench 6, which measures CPU performance, the Razr got a single-core score of 1,072 and a multi-core score of 3,035. These results show only slight improvement over last year’s model (1,054 and 3,010). In comparison, the Razr Ultra comes with the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite processor (the same as in the Galaxy S25) and scored an impressive 2,913 and 8,727. Meanwhile, Samsung’s $1,099.99 Galaxy Z Flip 6, which uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, scored 2,133 and 6,134. To test GPU performance, I ran the Razr through the GFXBench suite of tests. It handled Aztec Ruins at 23fps, which is only marginally better than last year’s model (20fps), but slower than the Z Flip 6 (42fps) and the Razr Ultra (105fps). Despite its lack of power, the Razr still manages to do most of what you want it to. I was able to play graphically intensive games, such as Genshin Impact, albeit at lower frame rates. It played well and only stuttered during moments of intense combat. Less graphically demanding games, such as Alto’s Odyssey, played without a hitch. And, unlike the Razr Ultra, the Razr never became warm to the touch. Battery: Better Than Most Non-Flip PhonesBattery life is a selling point for the Razr. The phone has a 4,500mAh battery, an improvement over last year’s 4,200mAh battery. It lasted 21 hours and 35 minutes in testing, for which I streamed an HD video over Wi-Fi with the screen brightness turned all the way up. This is a noticeable improvement over the 2024 model, which ran for 16 hours and 5 minutes. The 2025 Razr easily outlasts the Z Flip 6, which stopped running after 16 hours and 20 minutes. The Razr+ has a smaller 4,000mAh battery, while the 4,7000mAh Razr Ultra lasted 22 hours and 33 minutes in the same test. (Credit: Sarah Lord)The Razr supports 30W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging for accessories. The Razr+ charges faster via wire (45W) but at the same rate on a wireless charging pad (15W). The Z Flip 6 supports 25W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Meanwhile, the Razr Ultra takes advantage of improved charging specs, with 68W wired, 30W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging. Recommended by Our EditorsUsing a 96W adapter, the Razr took 1 hour and 16 minutes to fully charge. The phone doesn’t come with a charger inside the box, so you’ll have to provide your own.Connectivity: A Fine 5G RadioAll of the phones in the Razr lineup come with sub-6GHz 5G (including C-band), though they miss out on the faster mmWave 5G that’s available in some areas. If you want a flip phone with mmWave, you’ll have to grab the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Motorola sells the Razr unlocked, and it should work with all major US carriers.I tested the phone on T-Mobile’s network, where it recorded download speeds of 116Mbps and upload speeds of 4.20Mbps. My iPhone 14 Pro recorded download speeds of 99.2Mbps and upload speeds of 25.1Mbps from the same location.(Credit: Sarah Lord)The Razr is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E. When tested close to my Wi-Fi 6 access point, it recorded speeds of 354Mbps down and 18.9Mbps up. The iPhone 14 Pro got similar results, with 369Mbps down and 22.5Mbps up. The Razr's speeds dipped at the edge of the network to 54.1Mbps down and 22.1Mbps up. The iPhone 14 Pro did worse in this location, with download speeds of 26.1Mbps and upload speeds of 15.4Mbps.NFC is available for mobile payments, and Bluetooth is on board for connecting your wireless devices, though Motorola doesn’t specify which version of Bluetooth the phone uses. Audio: Loud EnoughCall quality is good. Callers could hear me well, and I could hear them. The earpiece is loud, at 80.3dB. The speaker is even louder with a max output of 83.5dB. When listening to our test track, The Knife's “Silent Shout," I could feel the bass vibrate the phone. That said, the beats were muddy and not well defined. The volume gets loud enough to listen to music in a small room, but you’ll want to connect speakers or headphones to get the best experience. Cameras: Fun to Use, But Low QualityThe Razr’s main camera has a 50MP sensor with an f/1.7 aperture. It features Pantone color, optical image stabilization (OIS), and phase-detection auto focus. The phone has a 13MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture that can capture macro images. These are joined by a 32MP f/2.4 selfie camera. The main and selfie cameras automatically bin the photos by a factor of four, so images come out at 12.5MP and 8MP, respectively. You can take full-resolution shots by using the camera’s Ultra-Res mode. The photos I took with the Razr are uninspiring and peppered with unnaturally bright spots. Blues are brighter and greens are greener than they appear in real life.Main camera(Credit: Sarah Lord)The leaves at the bottom of the picture above are much brighter than they should be. Further, it's difficult to distinguish individual branches of this tree, even when zoomed in.The camera has three zoom levels. It accomplishes 2x zoom with digital cropping. Here’s a progression:Ultra-wide camera, 0.5x zoom(Credit: Sarah Lord)Main camera, 1x zoom(Credit: Sarah Lord)Main camera, 2x zoom(Credit: Sarah Lord)The grass is almost neon green, and the dandelions are a particularly bright shade of yellow. Ultra-wide camera, macro(Credit: Sarah Lord)Shots taken with the macro mode are filled with noise, especially around the edges of these flowers. Selfie camera(Credit: Sarah Lord)The selfie camera works as expected but isn't particularly impressive.Video capture maxes out at 4K30. The phone is capable of filming with 4x slow motion. Videos appear similar to the photos, with the best footage coming from the main camera. When it comes to flip phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Razr+, and Razr Ultra all have better-performing cameras. Even for similarly priced slab phones, the Galaxy S25 and the Pixel 9a are much more impressive than the Razr.The Razr comes with some of Google’s AI editing capabilities, including Magic Editor, which allows you to circle, brush, or tap an object in your photo to resize it or remove it. You also have access to Google Blur, which blurs the background of a photo, and Google Unblur, which can sharpen a blurry photo. Magic Eraser lets you get rid of unwanted elements in your snaps. Software: More Support, PleaseThe Razr runs on Android 15 and will only get three years of OS updates and four years of security updates. This is the same promise as last year’s products and remains far behind the seven years of OS and security updates found on offerings from Google and Samsung. (Credit: Sarah Lord)Just like the Razr Ultra, you can access just about every app directly from the phone's outer display. By default, it features the time, date, battery life, weather, and notifications. A row of apps includes the camera, messages, photos, and Google Gemini. Swiping down from the top brings you all the Quick Settings menu, while swiping left shows you all the apps available on the external display. You can add as many apps and shortcuts as you want by pressing the pencil button in the upper right corner. Swiping left again brings you to your calendar, followed by the weather, and a communications section that houses the dial pad, contacts, and messages apps. Finally, there are a handful of casual games that you can play directly on the outer display. You don’t have to stick to casual games; I played a session of Genshin Impact directly from the external display. (Credit: Sarah Lord)The Razr comes with Motorola’s AI offerings, though without the dedicated AI button on the Ultra. The Moto AI shortcut sits prominently on the home screen. Opening it gives you access to the Image Studio, where you can use AI to create images, or the Playlist Studio to make a playlist based on your mood. You can also launch Pay Attention, which will record your meetings and provide you with a transcript, or Remember This, which turns images and text into memories that the AI can use to give you a more personalized experience. You can use Catch Me Up to view a summary of all of your texts and notifications, or just ask Moto AI to perform a Google search for you. The AI tools work as expected, but I don’t find them particularly useful. They take care of tasks that I generally don’t need help with, as I’m not overwhelmed by notifications or stuck in an endless number of meetings where I'm expected to take notes. You may find them more useful.

Cutting corners: Now that Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S25 Edge, attention has turned to Apple's upcoming ultra-thin rival handset, the iPhone 17 Air. The device is expected to debut this fall with a thickness almost half that of a normal iPhone. According to rumors, this doesn't mean every element will have compromises, but there will be areas that could disappoint, especially the battery life. Samsung has made a lot of headlines with the release of the Galaxy S25 Edge, which measures just 5.8mm thick, not counting the camera bump. But Apple's iPhone 17 Air – expected to launch this fall – is said to be even thinner at 5.5mm. That level of thinness means the Air won't be able to match the model it's replacing, the iPhone 16 Plus, in every area. However, it will have a 6.6-inch OLED display with LTPO, making it the first non-Pro iPhone to do so. There will also be features such as 120Hz ProMotion and always-on functionality. Elsewhere, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to pack the same A19 chip as the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup. It will also come with 8GB of RAM and MagSafe wireless charging. Finally, the price of the iPhone 17 Air is believed to be under $1,000, possibly around $899. But it was recently reported that Apple is going to increase the prices of its next generation of iPhones, though it will avoid blaming Trump's tariffs for the hikes, so this rumor may prove wrong. That's the good news. The bad news is that the iPhone 17 Air will have a single rear camera: a 48MP sensor with 2x optical zoom. Something else the iPhone Air will only have one of is a speaker. There will be a single, enhanced earpiece speaker as the phone is too thin for a second speaker to be placed at the bottom. // Related Stories Another potential disappointment is the iPhone 17 Air's lack of support for mmWave 5G. The handset will be one of the first iPhones to use Apple's in-house 5G modem, the C1. The iPhone 16 Plus uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 5G modem, which supports mmWave 5G. Then there's what could be the biggest drawback of them all: the battery life. Reports state that between 60% and 70% of users will be able to use the handset for a full day on a single charge, whereas that figure is between 80% and 90% for other iPhones. Apple may use Apple Intelligence to improve the Air's battery life, and Cupertino plans to introduce a new battery case accessory specifically for the iPhone 17 Air.