It’s time for another batch of Stuff‘s 2025 Gadget Awards winners to break cover. Of course, if you’d snagged a copy of the magazine’s most recent issue (for now), you’d know what’s about to appear below. Not everyone looks at slices of dead trees — or digital approximations of them — for fun, though, so we’ve got the best smartphones of 2025 in a more modern, internet format for you.
Just a few words on Stuff‘s winners from the previous cycle. As with many categories of tech, there may well be better products out there. But they’ve got one serious failing — they’re not sold in South Africa. No speciality importers, no local presence, no easy availability from Amazon.com? No award, we’re afraid. And, if something is only available by importing it yourself, it had better outrank the best locally-available kit by a bit before we’ll give it a win.
We could say we don’t make the rules, we just enforce them. That’s not true, though. For the Stuff Gadget Awards, we do make the rules. And enforce them. Only the fact that we can’t summarily execute the guilty keeps us from being just like Judge Dredd. Pity, that. We do like the motorcycle. Anyway, here are the smartphone winners for 2025.
PHONE OF THE YEAR
APPLE iPHONE 17 PRO MAX
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the best powerhouse phone of 2025, and a better buy than any other offering in the latest Apple lineup.
Due to a new aluminium frame opening up brighter colour finishes, it’s been given a glow-up – quite literally. But more importantly than that, performance sees a major leap, with the all-new ‘vapour chamber’ heatsink successfully keeping the beefy A19 Pro chip cool. This results in higher performance for longer periods during demanding tasks like 4K video capture and gaming, and nicely complements the upgraded graphics capabilities.
The display is exceptionally impressive, capable of reaching 3000 nits for clear visibility in direct sunlight. While the aluminium frame might raise durability concerns, the screen is protected by Ceramic Shield technology, now offering around triple the scratch-resistance of older models. Yes, it’s frightfully expensive, but given its upgraded camera and supreme spec sheet, the 17 Pro Max is truly a phone that can do it all.
from R30 500 / incredible.co.za
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra ● Huawei Pura 80 Pro
SHORTLISTED
Apple iPhone 17 ● Honor Magic7 Pro ● Apple iPhone Air
MID-RANGE PHONE OF THE YEAR
HONOR 400 PRO
The Honor 400 Pro is the phone that made us question whether we still need flagship devices. Honor has created something truly special here: a mid-ranger that skimps on almost nothing while delivering nearly everything that makes the brand’s top models so appealing.
The 400 Pro’s 6 000mAh battery beats most others on the market currently, but that’s just the start. That 6.7in OLED display hits 5000 nits of peak brightness, making outdoor viewing effortless, while the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate keeps everything smooth. Camera performance is exceptional: the optically stabilised 200MP main sensor produces sharp, well-balanced shots that hold their own against pricier rivals, while the camera setup excels after dark. This is a flagship phone in all but price.
from R18 000 / honor.com
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Apple iPhone 16e ● Realme 12+ 5G
SHORTLISTED
Honor 90 ● Apple iPhone 16e
AFFORDABLE PHONE OF THE YEAR
OPPO A5 PRO
Oppo has nailed it with the A5 Pro, delivering a budget handset that packs in premium features out of keeping with its price tag. It’s another example showing you don’t need to spend big to get a premium experience. Solid waterproofing, hitting IP68/IP69 before you take it out of the box and make it do things out in the wild.
The 6.67in IPS LCD is a great addition too, with its 120Hz refresh rate and 1000-nit peak brightness. Camera performance? The 50MP main shooter and backup lens (don’t ask, just check the cash total on your receipt) delivered detailed shots that hold their own. Performance from the Dimensity 6300 feels effortless, while the 5800mAh battery confidently lasts multiple days. An absolute gem for those looking for longevity on a budget.
from R7 000 / incredible.co.za
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Samsung Galaxy A56 ● Poco X7 Pro
SHORTLISTED
Honor 400 ● Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+
CAMERA PHONE OF THE YEAR
HUAWEI PURA 80 ULTRA
The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra secures our phone photography award by taking a sheer ‘brute force’ approach. Its masterful combination of heroic hardware with nuanced, characterful processing means we couldn’t really pick anything else.
At its core is its 1in Ultra Lighting lead sensor, which captures outstanding shots in all situations and delivers bokeh blur that other flagships can’t match. This is paired with two high-pixel-count zoom lenses to give a near-lossless range of 13mm to 213mm. The company’s former Leica partnership provides the backing for advanced colour science, low-light performance is superb, and the video capabilities are top-tier. For serious photographers, any drawbacks Huawei’s tech division may suffer are easily worth ignoring for snaps of this quality.
from R38 000 / consumer.huawei.com
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Huawei Pura 80 Pro ● Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
SHORTLISTED
Xiaomi 15 Ultra ● Samsung Galaxy Z Fold ● Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
FOLDABLE PHONE OF THE YEAR
SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD7
Samsung has finally given foldable fans almost everything they asked for. The Z Fold7 represents a monumental generational upgrade, shedding the bulk that held back previous Folds at the same time as adding the photographic prowess they were crying out for.
This is a genuinely slim device – it feels like a conventional smartphone in your pocket. Those expansive screens feature narrower bezels and more sensible proportions, making the outer display finally comfortable for typing. The crease, meanwhile, is almost invisible.
And the camera upgrade is transformative. By borrowing the S25 Ultra’s 200MP main sensor, Samsung has propelled the Z Fold7 to the very summit of the foldable photography leaderboard.
from R49 700 / samsung.com/za
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Honor Magic V5 ● Motorola Razr 60
SHORTLISTED
Oppo Find N5 ● Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7
