# Smartphone Awards 2025! Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfyL4BswUeE Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/sfyL4BswUeE Generated: 2025-12-08T22:34:58.35+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 wins the Best Foldable award for 2025 due to its significant design refinement, particularly in minimizing the crease, and its highly usable cover screen, while the Apple iPhone 17 wins Best Camera for its consistently great photo/video performance and the OnePlus 15 wins Best Battery for its massive 7,500mAh Silicon Carbon battery. **Key Points:** - The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 wins Best Foldable for 2025 due to its thin form factor when closed and excellent cover screen usability. - The Apple iPhone 17 wins Best Camera due to its consistent performance across photo and video, including a 200MP telephoto sensor and advanced stabilization. - The OnePlus 15 wins Best Battery with a massive 7,500mAh Silicon Carbon battery, offering 10+ hours of screen-on time and 122W wired/55W wireless charging. - The Apple iPhone 17, despite being the cheapest iPhone, is noted for having a great camera system but is not recommended for spec chasers due to its single 12MP camera and 60Hz display. - The Nothing Phone (2) receives an honorable mention for Best Value due to its modular, repairable design and excellent daily performance for its price point ($399-$499). - The Google Pixel 10 Pro is mentioned as a strong contender in the Best Camera category, but its camera bump design was considered awkward by the presenter. - The CMF Phone 2 Pro wins Best Value for its aggressive pricing ($279) and features like a 6.8-inch 120Hz display, though its design was considered less refined than competitors. ![Screenshot at 00:10: The host introduces the 'Smartphone Awards 2025,' gesturing toward the large selection of phones laid out on the table for review.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/sfyL4BswUeE/00-00-10.png) **Context:** The video presents the host's personal 'Smartphone Awards 2025,' evaluating the best mobile devices released throughout the year across several specific categories, including Best Big Phone, Best Small Phone, Best Camera, Best Value, Best Foldable, Most Improved, and the overall MVP. The host reviews a large selection of smartphones laid out on a table, comparing their key features, performance, and design philosophies. ## Detailed Analysis The host begins the 2025 Smartphone Awards by announcing the winners in various categories. For Best Big Phone, the winner is the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, praised for its large 6.9-inch 120Hz display, 7,500mAh Silicon Carbon battery, and excellent camera system featuring a 200MP telephoto sensor and advanced stabilization, despite having a notable camera bump. The runner-up for Best Big Phone was the iPhone 17 Pro. For Best Small Phone, the winner is the OnePlus 15, noted for its simple, strong, and slick design, excellent battery life, and solid specs, despite its 6.1-inch screen being considered small by current standards. The runner-up in this category was the iPhone 17. The Best Camera award goes to the Oppo Find X9 Pro, lauded for its consistently great photos and videos across various scenarios, including its 50MP main, 50MP ultrawide, and 200MP telephoto cameras, along with a unique rear viewfinder screen. The iPhone 17 is noted as an honorable mention for Best Camera due to its reliability, although its single 12MP camera and 60Hz screen are seen as compromises. The Best Value award goes to the CMF Phone 2 Pro, which features a 6.8-inch 120Hz display and a 5,100mAh battery for an aggressive price of $279. The host also gives an honorable mention to the Nothing Phone (2) for its modular design and excellent software experience for its price point. For Best Foldable, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 wins for its significant reduction in crease visibility and its highly functional cover screen, allowing full use when closed, surpassing competitors like the Pixel Fold 2. The Most Improved award goes to the Apple iPhone 17, which finally incorporated a high refresh rate display and a much larger 5,100mAh battery, making it a much better overall package than its predecessor, despite still lagging behind competitors in some areas. Finally, the MVP (Phone of the Year) award goes to the OnePlus 15, recognized for its huge 6,000mAh Silicon Carbon battery, 122W wired/55W wireless charging, and overall balanced feature set that excels without the compromises seen in other top contenders. ### Best Big Phone - Xiaomi 17 Pro Max wins due to its large 6.9-inch 120Hz display, 7,500mAh Silicon Carbon battery, and excellent quad-camera system with 200MP telephoto - Runner-up: iPhone 17 Pro ### Best Small Phone - OnePlus 15 wins for its great design, solid specs, and 6.1-inch display - Runner-up: iPhone 17 (noted for good battery/software but lacking flagship features) ### Best Camera - Oppo Find X9 Pro wins for its 200MP telephoto, 50MP main/ultrawide, true color sensor, and functional rear viewfinder screen - Honorable Mention: iPhone 17 for its solid performance across photo/video ### Best Value - CMF Phone 2 Pro wins at $279 for its 6.8-inch 120Hz display and 5,100mAh battery, despite a less refined design - Honorable Mention: Nothing Phone (2) for modularity and excellent software ### Best Foldable - Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 wins for its thin, durable form factor and highly usable cover screen when folded, surpassing competitors. ### Most Improved - Apple iPhone 17 wins for finally adding a 120Hz display and a larger 5,100mAh battery, making it a much better entry-level option. ### Phone of the Year (MVP) - OnePlus 15 wins for its overall package, including the 6,000mAh Silicon Carbon battery and 122W charging, without making major compromises. ![Screenshot at 00:09: The host gestures to the array of phones being considered for the 2025 awards.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/sfyL4BswUeE/00-00-09.png) ![Screenshot at 00:27: Close-up of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max back, highlighting its large camera module and Leica branding.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/sfyL4BswUeE/00-00-27.png) ![Screenshot at 01:29: Title screen announcing the award for 'Best Big Phone 2025'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/sfyL4BswUeE/00-01-29.png) ![Screenshot at 03:35: Title screen announcing the award for 'Best Small Phone 2025'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/sfyL4BswUeE/00-03-35.png) ![Screenshot at 08:38: The host holding up the iPhone 17, which is noted for its compromises despite its low starting price.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/sfyL4BswUeE/00-08-38.png)