We've been in the era of the iPhone 16 series, and while it has plenty of upgrades over past generations, the year-to-year changes haven't felt terribly exciting. With that relative stagnation, it’s natural to be curious about what other options are out there, and let me tell you, there are plenty. I’ve been testing smartphones for almost a decade, and I’ve seen my fair share of handsets that can compete with Apple’s iPhones, and quite a few bring new capabilities to the table well before Apple does – just look at folding phones. I’ve also tested iPhones, so I know and respect the qualities that have kept them at the forefront of the market for so long. That knowledge just makes it that much easier to see where an alternative feels right.
For a lot of people, going for an iPhone isn’t going to be the most sensible thing. Even the lowest-cost option in each new iPhone lineup tends to be on the more expensive side of the market – take the iPhone 16e, for example, which is meant to be the budget option and still starts at $599. The rest of the 16s are significantly more expensive, starting at $799. Thankfully, many of the best qualities of iPhones, short of iOS and the powerful Apple chipsets, are available elsewhere. There is no shortage of quality iPhone alternatives on the Android side of the market.
TL;DR – These Are the Best iPhone Alternatives in 2025:
By widening your scope, you can find next-level camera systems, designs that go toe-to-toe with Apple’s best, unique form factors that Apple has so far shied away from, more budget-friendly options, and niche models with an emphasis on gaming. Rather than just deciding which tier of iPhone is right for you, you can decide which blend of features, build quality, performance, and price fit your needs. Whether you’re looking for the best phone around that’s just not an iPhone or want a device that can match the photographic prowess Apple is known for, you’ll find a good alternative here.
Best All-Around iPhone Alternative
Best Cameras in an iPhone Alternative
Best Budget iPhone Alternative
Best Foldable iPhone Alternative
Best iPhone Alternative for Gaming
Google’s Pixel 9 Pro may be an excellent iPhone alternative, but soon there’s almost guaranteed to be a better one. Google has planned the announcement of the Pixel 10 lineup for August 20. While plenty of leaks about the hardware are already floating around the internet, we won’t have to wait very long to find out what the reality about these new phones is.
While the iPhone is the most popular smartphone brand, more than half of the phones on the planet are Android devices. People seem to like Android’s open platform instead of Apple’s rigid walled garden. Android gives its users the opportunity to customize their experience with various themes, wallpapers, launchers, and apps.
Heck, there are more apps available to download through the Google Play Store than the Apple App Store. In fact, you’re not even limited to the Google Play Store for apps. You can use the Amazon Appstore, Samsung Galaxy Store, Aptoide, and others for different types of app utilities and experiences.
With more and more people flocking to Android, it may seem tough to pick a great iPhone alternative, but here's what to consider.
Phone Size and Design
One of the best things about iPhone alternatives is they come in various shapes and sizes. Apple is pretty set with making phones that are about 6 inches in size. However, you can find Android phones that are bigger at 7 inches or smaller at 4 inches. It’s really up to you on which size fits your hands better, or how much screen real estate you want.
In fact, there are a number of smartphones that are foldable like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip line. You can choose to have a small design in your pocket or bag, but then flip them open for a full-sized screen. Now that’s something you definitely can’t do with an iPhone.
Storage Capacity
For the most part, Android smartphones start out with 128GB of on-board storage, which is the same as the iPhone 16. However, there are many Android phones that are built-in with a microSD card expansion slot for even more storage up to an additional 1TB.
A general rule of thumb when it comes to Android is you can get more for less. This means you can get more storage options, memory, power, screen sizes, features, megapixels, and cameras than your average iPhone for less money.
Price
Speaking of money, Android smartphones are often less expensive than iPhones, with prices starting as low as $50 for bottom-of-the-barrel picks like the BLU C5L. There’s no shortage of cheap Android phones out there. However, you can get a good quality and wallet-friendly smartphone like the Poco X5 5G starting at $220. Compare this to Apple’s cheapest phone, now the iPhone 16e, which starts at $599.
On the high end, you can get a base Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 with 256GB of on-board storage for a whopping $1,999, and adding more storage can push that price even further. Additionally, if you consider that you can get more features with an Android phone than an iPhone, then you’re actually getting a better deal.
Overall, if you’re looking for an iPhone alternative, there are plenty of great Android smartphones out there for different types of people and use cases. For most people, however, the OnePlus 13 or Google Pixel 9 Pro are the best picks. Samsung has the premium design for speed and style, while Google has the better camera for sharper and more natural photos.
How Often Should You Upgrade Your Phone?
There are new Android phones coming out every year, but you don't need to be upgrading to a new phone every year. Now that smartphones have become a lot smarter, you really only need to upgrade ever two or three years to avoid falling behind in terms of processing power and battery life. All-in-all, if your current phone still works fine for everything you need it to do, there's no need to upgrade.
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