Sure, you all love your iPhones and Galaxies, however this is why you should not sleep on the competitors

Regardless of being one of many largest smartphone makers globally, Xiaomi landed on the very backside of the ballot. I did not see that coming. Perhaps individuals nonetheless see Xiaomi as a finances model or consider it as extra of a tech life-style firm due to all the opposite merchandise it makes – however belief me, this model is far more than that.Xiaomi constructed its identify on excessive specs for low costs and it nonetheless sticks to that. Whether or not you’re looking at finances Redmi telephones or mid-range Poco fashions, you’re at all times getting killer worth. They continuously pack in far more {hardware} than opponents at comparable worth factors.

The corporate simply celebrated its fifteenth anniversary, and naturally, it launched some new stuff to mark the event – together with the Xiaomi 15S Professional and the Xiaomi Pad 7 Extremely. What makes them particular? They’re powered by Xiaomi’s personal chip, the Xring O1. The corporate is absolutely stepping up its recreation currently and providing one thing for everybody – flagships, mid-rangers and finances gadgets.

Yeah, in our ballot, it took the crown for “least greatest model,” however I nonetheless assume Xiaomi shines in just a few key areas, particularly in relation to cameras and charging – two issues that severely matter for each day use.

Take the Xiaomi 15 Extremely, for instance. It’s tied for the primary spot in our digicam rankings proper alongside the Galaxy S25 Extremely. That’s no small feat. Loads of that digicam magic comes from Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica – and for those who’ve ever been into images, you undoubtedly know that identify.

Xiaomi’s digicam app can also be loaded with options. It may be as easy or as superior as you need. The professional mode offers you full management over each photographs and movies, which is sensible given the telephone’s camera-focused design.

And let’s not overlook: Xiaomi is among the quickest manufacturers on the market in relation to charging. In case you are at all times in a rush (and who is not?), this issues. Telephones just like the Xiaomi 14T Professional, the Redmi Observe 14 Professional+ 5G and even the Redmi Observe 12 Professional+ are crushing it in our charging checks. That alone makes them price contemplating.

Now, this one additionally caught me off guard. Motorola barely received any votes and I actually do not assume that is honest. Yeah, the corporate’s software program replace coverage may use some enchancment, however that may’t be the one motive individuals are passing it over. The model has been round endlessly and nonetheless manages to crank out some actually distinctive and classy telephones.

Motorola gadgets take a look – even the finances ones. Take the brand new Edge 60 Fusion, for instance. It stands out. And in case you are into foldables, Motorola’s Razr sequence is among the best-looking on the market. The Razr Extremely (2025) blends retro vibes with cutting-edge show tech and it seems to be slick whereas doing it.

One other factor I like? Motorola would not mess an excessive amount of with Android. Its telephones run a near-stock model of the OS, which lots of people say they like. Our ballot truly confirmed that clear Android remains to be a giant deal for customers, so it’s stunning that Motorola is not getting extra consideration for providing precisely that.The model is not flashy about it, however it’s quietly doing lots proper. I actually assume Motorola deserves extra credit score than it’s getting proper now.

Vivo is a big identify in Asia, nevertheless it nonetheless hasn’t damaged by way of in a giant method elsewhere – and that confirmed within the ballot. However Vivo is not any slouch. It is among the most progressive manufacturers within the images house and it’s performing some actually cool stuff with telephone design, too.

Because of its partnership with Zeiss – yeah, the identical legendary German optics firm – Vivo’s telephones are full of pro-level digicam tech. If taking nice photographs is your factor, the vivo X200 Professional must be in your radar.

However Vivo is not nearly cameras. Its telephones additionally look wonderful. The V and X sequence fashions particularly are slim, fashionable and use premium supplies. The corporate experiments with textures, colours and finishes that make its telephones really feel a little bit extra particular than the common glass slab. 

Huawei (4.19%) – nonetheless pushing boundaries regardless of the chances

Huawei’s struggles in Western markets are well-known, particularly after shedding entry to Google Cellular Providers. That hit onerous. However this is the factor – Huawei by no means stopped innovating. The truth is, it is perhaps one of many boldest manufacturers on the market proper now.

Living proof: the brand new Mate XT Final. It is the world’s first triple foldable telephone. Not simply one other foldable – a tri-fold. Which means it might unfold into an enormous display screen for work or watching content material, then fold again all the way down to pocket dimension. Huawei additionally simply launched a foldable laptop computer. That is next-level stuff.

Regardless of all of the challenges, Huawei retains displaying us what is feasible. It’s straightforward to miss them due to political and ecosystem limitations, however from a pure tech perspective, they’re nonetheless killing it.So yeah, there is a ton of innovation occurring simply exterior the highlight. So possibly subsequent time, do not simply go for the plain selections (that’s in case you are not locked in a sure ecosystem, in fact). You may discover your good telephone in a spot you were not even trying.