The world is all going gaga over AI and the excitement is palpable within the tech industry as well. AI is not a new phenomenon but OpenAI, with ChatGPT showed the world that the technology has yet to fully show its true colours. So much so that now you have AI running on smartphones that can handle the computing tasks without breaking much sweat.
The Pixel 10 Pro has shown Google’s matured take on flagships and the new Pro models (even the Pro XL) have improved on multiple aspects. The battery life is not a big concern, the cameras are good, and do the job well, and the overall design feels a lot more polished. Yes, the Tensor is still lagging behind the actual flagships but its AI prowess is worth counting on.
OnePlus 15 is the new-gen flagship from the brand with the same focus on performance, some improvements with the camera. But its AI strategy now includes the Plus key which activates the Mind space that can link with Gemini and really go in-depth within the Google ecosystem. It’s no longer a pricey option (during launch many thought it was) which makes it worth considering.
Samsung’s Ultra in the Galaxy S25 series is also one of our flagship picks, even though the company has made some unwanted changes. The S Pen loses Bluetooth support which makes it less dynamic than before. The Galaxy AI suite has been strengthened further, courtesy Google’s Gemini and the One UI 8.5 update promises a new-look Bixby powered by Perplexity. Still a very strong option for buyers that will keep them going for years.
Apple’s AI is still heavily relying on other AI models but even then knowing that the iPhone 17 (or even the 16) will run Apple AI features and tools means you can easily think of getting the 2025 model rather than waiting for the iPhone 18 series to launch later this year. More importantly, the base iPhone 17 version has become extremely popular thanks to the subtle yet big upgrades from the company.
The X300 is not as powerful as other flagships but mighty close to the levels. It has the ideal ingredients for a flagship device with a flat display and frame for better grip in the hand. The battery life also sees a big jump and the use of OriginOS for the first time outside of China gives it the right software polish. The AI side of the X300 series is not as loaded as the other flagships but Vivo is gradually bringing tools, at least for the camera work that can merit its name on this list.
