Best smartphones of 2025 - buyer’s guide

Last updated 23 February 2025


Sort by:

  • t
  • tom
  • ntk
  • 28 Nov 2019

Anonymous, 28 Nov 2019Man you can get it done at any phone repair shop. Usually ... moreYou're still not hearing me. I don't need to pay 15 bucks more. I flashed it myself and had issues. You're claiming that flashing the WW Rom makes it exactly as the global version but it doesn't. You don't have OTA updates, there are issues with the connectivity and certain apps, you still have missing LTE bands. I had the phone, used it for a month and sold it. I'm basing my opinion off my experience with the phone. I'm telling you that if you put a oneplus 7t and rog 2 tencent on a table next to each other and tell 1000 random people to try them out and also explain to them that the rog might potentially have issues with apps like youtube, gmaps etc. and required paying someone to flash or reading through online forums and them having to search for the new updates and flashing them manually every time (or do you suggest people paying 10-15 bucks to someone every time there's a new update?), 990 of the people will go for the oneplus, of course also for being much lighter and more comfortable to use with one hand.

I miss the air triggers and the 120hz display as 90hz is more of a gimmick and the difference becomes a lot more noticeable above 100hz, but can't deal with no OTA and other issues. I did that for more than a year with my Leeco Le Pro 3 which was the flagship killer to have 3 years ago, but I can't be bothered anymore and most people wouldn't euither.

And I'm in Europe not the US, so I don't even miss the lte bands. I got my 8/256 oneplus 7t for the equivalent of 35k rupees ($490) and I'm perfectly happy as it is with an actual global ROM and OTA updates and no difference at all with the 8/128 "global" version selling for 650 euro ($715) in my local stores.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • KSu
    • 28 Nov 2019

    tom, 28 Nov 2019You're not hearing me. Most people buying a new phone won't... moreMan you can get it done at any phone repair shop.
    Usually they also have someone (software guy) who exists in the shop to flash firmware, rooting, etc. They charge you 10-15$ for this stuff.

    So even complete noobs can get it done for 15$. No need to pay 400$ extra. Plenty of people from North America and Europe have done the same. It's the consumers choice, either spend 15$ extra or pay 400$ extra.

    Plus, in my country (India) it is available for 38k which is same as OnePlus 7t, and it Destroys every other phone in its price segment. And yeah it is running global ROM out of the box. None of the issues you mentioned. USA isn't the entire world brah. Just because ROG 2 is expensive in US doesn't mean it doesn't destroy competition in other parts of the globe.

      pt020, 25 Nov 2019Lucky me my phone is not in this list. Me too bro LMAO!
      But at least X2 pro is on the list, which is the sister model of my oppo reno ace

        Adlula, 28 Nov 2019Asus only launch 2 phones, with their own strong and unique... moreI love Asus ideas. But their phones are all not balance with super standout features and obvious shortage.
        But if they start to make the balance phone, they are not Asus anymore.
        Contradictory. Looking forward to ROG 3

          • t
          • tom
          • ntk
          • 28 Nov 2019

          Anonymous, 28 Nov 2019You can flash global version firmware on tencent version. ... moreYou're not hearing me. Most people buying a new phone won't go to xda and read all the treads discussing the CN and WW Roms and fingerprints. And after going through all of that, having to download and flash on their own every new update. Not to mention the underlying issues like not having good LTE coverage and speed, stuff like some google apps and Youtube working only on wi-fi. It's not just me - other people are also complaining on xda.

          The ROG 2 Tencent Edition is a phone for enthusiasts, not for the average consumer. An all-rounder phone is a phone that is good at many things and while not being the best at all of them, it doesn't have any glaring issues and shortcomings. The ROG 2 Tencent Edition is not that with its limited LTE band support, no OTA updates unless you use a stock Chinese ROM and the phone was never flashed, issues with popular apps like Youtube, etc. They should have done what Oneplus does and have the same phone for all markets and consumers being able to flash any localised version of the firmware and still having OTA updates.

            • k
            • keep trying
            • XS5
            • 28 Nov 2019

            WAPC1, 23 Nov 2019My preferred phone don't exist 1. Expandable storage dedic... moreAnd it never will exist.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • KSu
              • 28 Nov 2019

              tom, 27 Nov 2019Well, no brand recognition and awful aftersales support is ... moreYou can flash global version firmware on tencent version.
              No need to spend the extra 400$.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • KSu
                • 28 Nov 2019

                Saadhin, 27 Nov 2019Huawei Mate 30 Pro: Am I Joke to you? - Best camera in a M... moreBest Ultrawide on the market.

                  • A
                  • Adlula
                  • yMa
                  • 28 Nov 2019

                  Asus only launch 2 phones, with their own strong and unique characteristics. And this is the proof. They just need to improve their camera performance

                    Sonu4678, 27 Nov 2019"Or you are just being fanboying on Sony?", where did that ... moreIt is because people are becoming more aware of new innovations rather than being ordinary, that is.

                    Also, introduce your fanboyism here.

                      • t
                      • tom
                      • ntk
                      • 27 Nov 2019

                      Aakash7T, 27 Nov 2019No brand recognition, no software support, poor resale valu... moreWell, no brand recognition and awful aftersales support is a bit over the top given that Asus is one of the top 5 biggest pc/laptop brands and top 3 if we talk gaming gear. I did sell my ROG 2 due to the software drawbacks of the Tencent Edition, but one thing is sure - if you put iphone 11 pro, pixel and note 10 next to it, the rog 2 makes them look slow and unresponsive. I also makes all 90hz phones look bad. The issue with the rog 2 phone is that only the tencent version is cheap but if you're willing to spend 900 euro for the global version, then it does teach the other companies a lesten of what performance is

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • KSu
                        • 27 Nov 2019

                        Aakash7T, 27 Nov 2019No brand recognition, no software support, poor resale valu... moreEnjoying my ROG 2, having no issues at all.
                        It's clear you are a OnePlus fanboy.
                        I have a few in my office who got triggered Coz they bought the 7T and realized later that Asus had dropped a bomb at 38k. Now they are regretting their purchase.

                          Anonymous, 25 Nov 2019Good phone but we all know that Rog 2 has destroyed the One... moreNo brand recognition, no software support, poor resale value and awful after sales support is what you get bundled with ROG phone 2. Don't go by specs kid, they aren't everything. iPhones never had bleeding edge tech yet they perform smoothly for a long period of time.
                          P.D. Asus ROG phone 1 is still running Android Oreo

                            • e
                            • egal
                            • M@p
                            • 27 Nov 2019

                            What about Nokia? You get an excellent phone with Android One for 99$ or €. Show me any other phone who has those specs with such a price and Android One! 3 years update guaranteed, sometimes even an EXCHANGABLE battery (Nokia 2.2). THAT is a killer!

                              • &
                              • şayaomi
                              • JiH
                              • 27 Nov 2019

                              xiaomi 9 lite - A3 best f/p

                                Anonymous, 27 Nov 2019Why would anybody do that? You would just waste it producin... moreLol, why do you think nobody would want it? Did I describe a bad smartphone? :)

                                  • t
                                  • tom
                                  • ntk
                                  • 27 Nov 2019

                                  Strazzi, 27 Nov 2019We all know that Huawei doesnt excell in any department. Th... moreYeah, right and that's why the kirin 990 5G destroys SD855+ in every department. The other manufacturers have to wait for SD865 to get similar performance. And that's every year - the Mate models come out with the new Kirin and the rest play the catch-up game. It will be the same next year - the new Mate with 5nm Kirin will come out in the fall and Samsung and the others will follow with 5nm snapdragon 6 months later in the spring

                                    • t
                                    • tom
                                    • ntk
                                    • 27 Nov 2019

                                    [deleted post]lol I see we have another phone expert who bases his expert opinion on random youtube videos and never used the phones he's talking about. If you did you would know that if anything both the p30 pro and mate 30 pro slightly undersaturate the photos and go for a colder look. A far cry from being oversaturated let alone cartoonish.

                                      Rroszhan, 26 Nov 2019LMAO Samsung note 10+ for best flagship phone And mi note ... moreIphone is a joke of a "Best flagship". Missing alot of feachures and half of thoes that has bearly keach up to others...

                                        Anonymous, 26 Nov 2019not even 1 huawei device..We all know that Huawei doesnt excell in any department. They are good but not best in any department.

                                          33 of 38