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So, you’re ready to splurge a little. Maybe you’ve had your current phone for a few years now or you just want the latest and greatest tech in your pocket.

This list is for those who don’t mind spending more, because they know what they want: top-tier cameras, stunning displays, and flagship-level performance that actually delivers.

These are the smartphones we’ve personally used and loved.

HONOR Magic7 Pro

The HONOR Magic7 Pro is a well-rounded flagship smartphone. It takes the best parts of its predecessors and learns from the other smartphones in HONOR’s lineup that came before it. What you get is a finely tuned companion that finally delivers on its AI promise while making remarkable improvements in mobile photography.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra feels like a perfect match finally arriving at the right time. It’s lighter, more refined, and easier to love. With reliable long-distance shooting, powerful AI tools like Gemini, and a design that just works, it’s the kind of phone that quietly becomes your favorite without needing to shout for attention.

vivo X200 Pro

The all-around flexibility the vivo X200 Pro offers offers with its powerful trio of cameras doesn’t limit any future user from using the phone past its limits of “just” great at taking concert photos.

The phone is power-packed with its ultra-rich 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display, more than sufficient 6000mAh Si/C battery, speedy 90W charging, and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 SoC based on a very efficient 3nm process. What more can you ever ask for?

OnePlus 13

While the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has better cameras, better sound, and an S-Pen, the OnePlus 13 has the same powerful processor, an even brighter display, and super-fast wired and wireless charging. It even has an ecosystem of accessories from power banks, to magnetic chargers.

At the end of the day, you’d be hard pressed to find a better deal than what the OnePlus 13 is offering.

OPPO Find N5

Foldable phone users all struggle with battery life problems. But the OPPO Find N5 has finally got it solved. The technology is so good that even in a slim and light form factor.

We have OPPO to thank for really innovating in this space. For pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

ROG Phone 9 Pro

The ROG Phone 9 Pro is one of the best gaming phones you can get today. From an amazing camera to a top-tier processor, there’s nothing that ROG’s latest flagship can’t do.

Plus, it has a bunch of quirky frills — like the AniMe Vision — that make it all the punchier. It’s not just your typical gaming phone with over-the-top specs; it actually has a personality.

vivo X200

Even without the “Pro” branding, the vivo X200 is still Pro-grade in most aspects. It deserves a spotlight of its own and shouldn’t just be hiding in the shadow of its bigger brother. It’s a beast that needs to be unleashed in the wild.

Xiaomi 15

Small but mighty, the Xiaomi 15 delivers flagship-level performance in a more compact body. It’s proof that great power doesn’t always need a big frame, though that also means the overall experience depends a lot on how the size feels in your hand.

If you prefer lighter, smaller phones, this one’s a pint-sized powerhouse. But don’t take our word for it: we always recommend trying it in-store first, especially if you’re coming from a larger device. For many, this might just be the perfect fit.

POCO F7 Ultra

With flagship power at a fraction of the price, the POCO F7 Ultra is one of the best-value phones you can buy. It’s fast, lightweight, and loaded with top-tier specs.

iPhone 16e

In the past, the iPhone SE did feel like a phone with plenty of compromises. However, the iPhone 16e definitely feels like a phone that delivers on all THE essentials.

It hits the sweet spot, everywhere it matters. And like they say in their launch video, “it brings the iPhone 16 experience to even more people.”

Honorable mentions

Huawei Mate XT

The tri-fold smartphone segment is still in its infancy, so we can’t really give a true recommendation yet. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t give the Huawei Mate XT its flowers for starting off the segment with a bang.

The Huawei Mate XT offers the most screen real estate in a smartphone today. It offers so many configurations for so many different uses.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra

With a massive 1-inch sensor, Leica-engineered optics, and a camera system built to impress, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has every right to wear the “Ultra” name.

It’s a true photography-first flagship that held its own–even against serious challengers like the vivo X200 Pro–especially in portraits, selfies, and low-light zoom.

While its overall tuning leans toward the cooler, more dramatic side, the hardware is undeniably top-tier. If mobile photography is your priority, the 15 Ultra is one of the best tools you can carry.

OPPO Find X8 Ultra (China-only)

The OPPO Find X8 Ultra got the best of everything you could want in a smartphone — including some of the best phone cameras ever made.

It stands as a testament to what companies outside of our western bubble have to offer. A showcase of how amazing a phone company OPPO is. And what it’s capable of.

It’s just a shame that most people, apart from real tech fans, won’t even know that it has one big caveat: it’s China-exclusive availability.

vivo X200 Ultra (China-only)

Built for serious mobile photography, the vivo X200 Ultra pairs ZEISS optics with dual imaging chips and pro-level features. It’s a powerhouse designed to replace your bulky camera gear.

Editor’s Note: Only smartphones we’ve reviewed and tested ourselves are included in this list to ensure accurate and experience-based recommendations.

Midrange phones have been leveling up, and it’s honestly harder than ever to tell them apart from flagships, until you see the price tag.

If you want excellent performance, premium design, and a camera that won’t let you down (without shelling out), this is the sweet spot.

We picked these phones not just for what they promise, but for how they felt when we used them.

Infinix NOTE 50 Pro+ 5G

The top variant under Infinix’s latest NOTE series feels like an embarrassment of riches. It’s mainly still a gaming phone but you get a lot of extra gravy as well. Everything feels premium about it, for a lot less.

There’s a complete suite of AI features, a capable camera system that lets you capture detail at up to 6X zoom, and everything else in between.

TECNO CAMON 40 Premier

With a competitive price of around US$ 395 (PhP 21,999 SRP in the Philippines), the TECNO CAMON 40 Premier is a true blue midranger. It’s hard to resist this marvelous midranger for all the compelling package it offers.

At this point, “flagship killer” is an overstatement. Other phone brands should fear that such a “midrange destroyer” exists.

Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro

There’s plenty to love about Nothing as a company — and a lot of it has to do with its brand ethos. Rooted in thoughtfulness and how it values good design, the Nothing Phone 3a Series is just that. 

A well-rounded midranger that punches above its price point. Both in terms of looks and the overall experience.

realme 14 Pro+ 5G

The realme 14 Pro+ 5G is among the best mid-rangers you can get right now. It comes with impressive cameras with improved features, AI integration, and even triple IP ratings for dust and water resistance.

The phone has also been upgraded in other aspects like battery life, display, grip, and overall performance to make it a device you’d expect for 2025.

POCO X7 Pro

Though we reviewed the Iron Man Edition, the regular POCO X7 Pro is just as recommendable without the Marvel stylings. It’s a true midrange phone. It won’t wow you with impressive processing power, but its camera quality and hardy battery are stellar when compared to others in its price range.

Plus, if you shell out PhP 3,000 more (in markets where it’s available), you can get a fancier Iron Man Edition that helps you really stand out in a crowd.

Google Pixel 9a

In the US where the incredible Chinese midrangers are not available, the Google Pixel 9a is a run for its money.

In terms of the core experience, you’re actually getting a surprisingly similar phone. That’s compared to all the pricier US midrangers such as the iPhone 16e, OnePlus 13R, and Samsung Galaxy S24 FE.

vivo V50

vivo bringing the ZEISS treatment to the midrange class isn’t something we should brush off lightly. It’s a bold move to bring all the imaging mastery in such a midranger — which barely felt mid at all.

Pair that with its one of a kind Aura Light feature, it’s a smartphone you just cannot ignore. For all the special feats the vivo V50 possesses, it’s simply a unique phone.

HONOR 400

With emotional portrait AI, sleek design, and reliable all-day power, the HONOR 400 is a thoughtful midrange companion, making it perfect for everyday storytellers who shoot from the heart.

CMF Phone 2 Pro

Nothing’s sub-brand, CMF, proves that fashion isn’t exclusive to the flagship segment. It’s not the most powerful device (and it’s only a small step up from its predecessor), but it’s a worthy midrange device if you’re coming from older devices.

The phone offers decent camera work and an extra durable battery that can last for more than a day.

POCO F7

Fast, efficient, and priced just right, the POCO F7 delivers snappy performance that punches above its class. While the cameras are basic, everything else makes this an easy Swipe Right.

Editor’s Note: Only smartphones we’ve reviewed and tested ourselves are included in this list to ensure accurate and experience-based recommendations.