My best phone purchase of 2025 isn’t an Android after all

I am a staunch believer that the iPhone vs Android debate has gone on far too long. The two ecosystems have matured enough that the difference between them isn’t about features anymore, but about personality. Neither is better or worse than the other (conditions apply, depending on who you’re asking). I am personally at a point where I wouldn’t side-eye anyone for picking one over the other for whatever reason.

The year 2025 has been fantastic for the Android world — there have been so many great phones launched this year that you could go over each one of them, drooling. The newly launched OnePlus 15 comes with such a massive battery (with super-fast charging!) that you could run it for two days straight without topping up in the middle. The Pixels double down on their AI game, and there seems no looking back at this point.

I got to play with a bunch of phones this year, and I even bought myself a couple, including the Pixel 10. However, I have no reservations in saying that I like the other phone better — and it’s got a fruit logo on its back.

All through the year, we’d been hearing about the redesigned iPhone 17 Pro with its abnormally large camera plateau, along with the super-thin iPhone Air. But there was little chatter about the base iPhone 17. For me — and I suspect for a lot of people — it is by far the best iPhone deal, and I’d go out and say with utmost responsibility that it’s even the best iPhone to get this year.

And people don’t need me to proclaim that. The demand for the phone is so high that I had to get my name in line, follow up with multiple stores in my city just to get a unit for myself. That’s when I said I’d pick up whatever color was available; it almost felt like it was being smuggled from behind closed storefronts.

I already knew how much of an upgrade it was over the iPhone 16 on paper, but it’s only after laying my hands on the phone that I realised how good a handset it is overall. I’m only growing fonder of the iPhone 17 by the day. And the reason for that isn’t some flashy feature that has kept me hooked — it’s the basics that feel so sorted now that I’m recommending it to people left, right, and center.

Apple hasn’t got any showy AI features that make people’s heads turn — and no, I’m not going to consider Apple Intelligence as something comparable to what Pixels have with Gemini. Not even remotely close.

But the first thing that makes the iPhone 17 feel that much better is its high refresh rate screen, especially if you’re coming from an older iPhone. I know it’s long overdue, and it could very well be expectation anchoring at play, but even accounting for that, the phone feels a lot smoother if you’re upgrading from an older base iPhone. For me, though, the other things matter a teeny bit more.

The razor-thin bezels surrounding the display may not draw a lot of attention to themselves, but once you switch to something else, it feels like you’ve severely downgraded. That’s exactly how I feel with the Pixel 10. It isn’t bad by any means, but it still has relatively thicker bezels than its Pro siblings, which makes it feel like a lesser phone, even though it isn’t in many ways. Perception makes or breaks the experience, and Apple absolutely nailed it on this front.

While there are several other upgrades, what particularly caught my eye is the Center Stage camera. That front camera makes it so much easier to take landscape shots without requiring weird hand gymnastics. It’s an absolute game-changer. And while taking video calls, the phone automatically reframes me as I move around, without distortion or any noticeable drop in quality. It’s one feature I immediately started looking for on my other phones and MacBook. I want it on every single device I own.

All these Pro features make the iPhone 17 feel so Pro that the actual Pro doesn’t feel Pro enough or worth the Pro tax anymore. That’s my Pro tip as this year comes to an end.

That’s not to say I’m throwing away my Pixels for good. They’re staying with me — my Androids don’t need to feel insecure next to the iPhone’s polish; they’ve got their own strengths to flaunt.

Interface-wise as well, Google has many more tricks up its sleeve, and they’re far more practical. Actual multitasking exists on Android phones, while the iPhone still doesn’t let you open two apps side by side in 2025 — and likely won’t for the better part of 2026 either. And how can I forget notifications? It’s the most frustrating thing to deal with when I’m on the Apple side. It irks me so much during the first few days that I have to actively fight the urge to jump back to Android mid-testing.

I’m fortunate enough to experience the best of both sides for work and know exactly what works better where. I’ve consciously kept myself from indulging in all the ecosystem advantages (read: traps) that would convert me for good. And to help me with that, I can’t thank Google enough for making interoperability possible, especially with recent AirDrop-like parity. If Google and Apple could work out a way to improve the cross-platform experience further, it would let people choose what works best for them instead of being forced to stick with a single brand.

I know that’s not a great business decision, but I’m here to advocate for users, not brands. I still have my complaints with the Pixel 10 this year, and I genuinely find the iPhone 17 to be the most complete, well-rounded phone for those on the other side of the fence. That’s the reality we’re now living in right now. It may change next year with their respective follow-ups — but my verdict for 2025 is out.