By Joe Longman | Posted December 19, 2025
There’s been a lot of updates in the world of mobile phones this year. Don’t get left behind. Let’s have a look at what the biggest players in the game have been doing more recently…
You may have some preferences on which handset you’re interested in but it’s well worth digging deeper into each release. The reason for that is because it’s easy to switch between handset brands nowadays. With most data being kept on the cloud, the most usual way of signing in and gaining access to your files and calendars is through a Gmail account. Outlook and Teams also save their contents on the cloud so you’re fine there too.
Let’s dig in and get into the updates from 2025.
Apple announced some major changes in not only their line-up but their software. The new iPhone 17 became their new flagship and iOS 26 now runs the show.
New handsets
– iPhone 17
– iPhone 17 Pro
– iPhone 17 Pro Max
– iPhone Air (eSIM only)
Review recaps
There have been some interesting user reviews since the release of the iPhone 17. In some cases, the base model iPhone 17 has been marked as the ‘winner’ of the line up. The internal tech, such as the A19 chip, along with the impressive camera, does the job for most with only photography enthusiasts choosing the Pro over other options. Techradar’s review is titled ‘After a week with the iPhone 17, I’m convinced it’s the best-value iPhone ever’. It’s titled that for a reason. Check it out for yourself.
The iPhone Air – the first Apple phone to include eSIM only worldwide
Apple have decided to go eSIM only for the iPhone Air worldwide. This means that in every market around the world, you can only get it with eSIM capability. Where eSIM was offered previously, there was always a physical SIM option which is no longer the case in the UK.
The reason for doing so is to encourage the development of eSIM capabilities from networks around the world. Forcing their hands if you will. ESIMs also make switching SIMs easier, especially if you travel often and need country specific data for longer periods.
iOS 26 highlights
IOS26 includes many changes visually compared to the previous version of Apple’s operating system as well as some operational changes. These range from the newly anticipated ‘Liquid Glass’ to the live text translation through FaceTime.
Styling
– Liquid Glass: A new translucent, ‘reflective’ material.
– Lockscreen customisation: Reposition widgets, adjust clock size and create ‘3D’ depth images.
– Home screen: Tint apps with custom colours or use the new ‘Liquid Glass’ styling.
Operation
– Live translation: translate text in Messages and live captions through FaceTime.
– Spam management: Silence unwanted calls and filter messages from new senders.
– Apple intelligence: AI integration in features such as text generation and message assistance.
– Battery settings: A new charging section shows an estimated time to 80% and 100% and the ‘Adaptive power’ option can help extend battery life.
In 2025, Samsung have focused on their line-up, improving their offering to Android users, with the release of the new S25.
New handsets
– Samsung S25
– Samsung S25+
– Samsung S25 Ultra
– Samsung S25 Edge
– Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold
The Samsung S25 Edge released in the middle of 2025 featuring a sleek 200MP camera, modern OLED display and flagship-grade performance with a lightweight design.
Review recaps
Samsung have a strong history of making some impressive smartphones. The S25 Ultra being the newest on the block. The performance of their smartphones and the quality and speed of the screens are the main talking points for most. There’s a reason why The Guardian have stated – ‘Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: still the superphone to beat’. A 5* review with a shed load of information surrounding its impressive features says everything you need to know.
All this talk on the S25 Ultra, it begs the question – what’s the base model S25 like? The Guardian has gone into detail for this model too, saying it’s ‘the smallest top-tier Android flagship left’. Not everyone needs the best of the best for everyday use after all. It’s best to figure out what you’ll use it for and identify how much power you’re looking for. We do recommend looking at user reviews ahead of any purchase, no matter whether you’re heading for a base model or a flagship.
The same as the other commanding players in the mobile phone market – Google have expanded their offerings with the release of some new Pixels!
New handsets
– Google Pixel 9a
– Google Pixel 10
– Google Pixel 10 Pro
– Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold
The goal for Google is releasing an offering which can cater for a number of audiences – those needing flagship and others preferring a base model. They’ve even delved into the idea of a folding phone which seems to be happening more across the globe. They’re yet to take the main stage but still impressive when thinking of the engineering behind the folding capabilities.
Review recaps
The Pixel 9a is there for those looking for the best ‘bang-for-your-buck’ and good battery life. It features decent performance and a ‘surprisingly’ good camera for the cost, showing that those who are reviewing the model, such as The Guardian, rate it highly.
The Pixel 10 & 10 Pro are there for the enthusiast. High performance and top quality features such as the impressive camera and AI capabilities can lure the brainiacs of the mobile phone world. They’re built to rival the iPhone 17 Pros and S25 Ultras. In case you’re interested – Zexton’s tech store delves deep into the Google range for 2025.
Both Apple and Samsung tend to release new mobiles each year, so whichever is your preference, keep an eye out for their newly released mobiles.
A bit of guidance, in case you don’t know, Apple aim for the end of September for their tech releases and before that, they have a showcase featuring everything they’re releasing.
Samsung tend to aim for different points within the year for their releases depending on the series. The S series is usually around February, the Z series is between July and August and any other mobiles under the Samsung umbrella (such as the A series) is around March or April.
AI is evolving
More mobile phone companies (and large tech companies) are putting a lot more resources into their artificial intelligence research and development. How much you use and rely on it is up to you, but they like to offer you the best they’ve got to offer.
Keep checking back and when we have more updates on new tech within the business mobile market, we’ll publish some updates.
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