The year 2025 gave us a lot of interesting smartphones with so many new features. Some felt gimmicky, but some really took the experience to another level. So much so, that they ended up being adopted by almost every smartphone out there and if not so, at least brands try to incorporate that with one of their phones. As competition intensified and replacement cycles slowed, brands focused on features that directly solved user pain points. Here are 4 trends stood out across price segments and markets, defining what users increasingly expect from a modern smartphone.
AI smartphones
Artificial Intelligence has become the go to feature for smartphones in 2025. The trend was started by Samsung with its Galaxy S24 series in 2024 -- commonly known as Galaxy AI and it slowly and gradually became the mainstream feature for every single smartphone irrespective of the price bracket. Not only, Samsung updated the Galaxy AI features with deeper integration in 2025, but also made it more or necessity for users. Galaxy AI brings intelligent assistance across Samsung devices, enabling smarter search, creative editing, real-time translation, personalised daily briefings, and secure on-device processing, helping users stay productive, expressive, and connected while keeping personal data protected within the Galaxy ecosystem worldwide today.
While not all the AI implementations were borrowed by other brands, but common ones like AI translate, Live translate for calls, AI photo editing, AI erase, among others can be found within every single smartphone running on the latest version of the operating system. In fact, Apple also introduced its Apple Intelligence and while the AI features are still in development, it is also expected that we get to see more such AI features in smartphones in coming year.
IP69-rated durability moves mainstream
Water and dust resistance is no longer a premium-only feature. In 2025, several smartphones adopted IP69 certification, going beyond the familiar IP68 standard. Unlike earlier ratings that focused on submersion, IP69 adds protection against high-pressure and high-temperature water jets. This shift reflects how phones are now used in harsher real-world conditions, from industrial environments to unpredictable weather. Manufacturers also improved internal sealing without compromising repairability, making durability a selling point rather than a footnote buried in spec sheets. The feature became a go to across different price segments and you can find one from Oppo, Vivo, Poco, iQOO, Realme and other brands.
Big batteries without bulky designs
Battery capacity increased significantly in 2025, with many phones crossing the 5,500mAh and even 6,000mAh mark. What changed was how little these upgrades affected ergonomics. Advances in battery chemistry and internal stacking allowed brands to boost capacity without adding noticeable thickness or weight. Silicon Carbon tech also helped with this. In fact, 2025 gave us phones with batteries as big as 7500mAh which is insane. Not only this, the batteries were combined with smarter power management, users experienced longer screen-on time without constantly adjusting usage habits. Fast charging remained important, but endurance became the stronger differentiator, especially for users relying on phones for work, navigation, and entertainment throughout the day.
Thinner phones make a comeback
After years of thicker designs driven by cameras and batteries, 2025 saw a renewed focus on slim profiles. Once again, the trend was started by Samsung with Galaxy S25 Edge -- soon followed by the Galaxy Z Fold7 which is the slimmest foldable smartphone you can buy today. Then came the Vivo X Flold 5, Techno Pova Slim and even Apple made the iPhone Air. Manufacturers refined internal layouts, used lighter materials, and optimised camera modules to reduce bulk. Thin phones were no longer fragile compromises; they paired slim frames with structural reinforcement and improved thermal management. This trend also aligned with growing interest in foldables and compact form factors, where thickness plays a critical role in comfort and portability.
A shift toward practical innovation
Together, these four trends highlight a broader change in smartphone priorities. Instead of chasing headline-grabbing specs, brands focused on features that improve long-term ownership and daily reliability. Durability, intelligence, battery life, and design balance defined the smartphone experience in 2025, setting expectations for what future devices will need to deliver.
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