The best Chinese smartphones of 2025
By ForGeeks
Chinese smartphone makers in 2025 aren’t just catching up with the competition – they’re setting the tone for the entire industry. While Apple and Samsung are perfecting familiar concepts, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, Huawei, and Red Magic are releasing devices that are becoming true experiments in camera, cooling, and display technology.
Whether you’re into photography, chasing performance or just want the best screen for your money, this year’s Chinese flagships have a model to suit your needs.
Whether you’re a photography enthusiast, a performance freak or just want the best screen for your money, there’s one to suit your needs.
OnePlus 13
OnePlus is no longer content with “budget flagship” status. The OnePlus 13 features a 6.82-inch BOE X2 AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. The device is the first to receive DisplayMate’s highest A++ rating for this type of panel.
Inside runs a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor paired with 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. The 9925 mm² cooling system is complemented by a 6000 mAh battery based on silicon-carbon technology. A full charge takes 36 minutes with 100W of wired power or 50W of wireless power.
The camera system retains Hasselblad’s customizations, but gets an updated 50MP triple configuration, including a LYT-600 periscopic telephoto lens with a multi-prism design for faster focusing. The famous Alert Slider has moved to the left side and gets integrated antenna enhancements for gamers. Pricing starts at 69,999 rupees or $899.99.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has been created for photography enthusiasts. The device resembles a Leica DSLR in a phone form factor. The camera system includes a one-inch 50-megapixel main camera sensor, an ultra-wide-angle lens, a floating telephoto lens, and a 200-megapixel periscopic zoom.
The smartphone shoots 4K video at 120fps and supports full 10-bit Log on all four sensors – features usually only available in movie gear. Xiaomi’s partnership with ACES provides professional color calibration right in the phone.
Performance is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 16GB of RAM and advanced IceLoop cooling. The 5,410 mAh battery supports 90W charging wirelessly and 80W wirelessly. A Photography Kit Edition is available with physical shutter controls, a filter adapter and an additional 2000 mAh battery. The starting price is Rs. 109,999 or €1,500.
Vivo X200 Ultra
Vivo X200 Ultra isn’t just chasing camera quality – it’s rethinking the way smartphone cameras work. Developed in partnership with Zeiss, the device features a dual 50MP main camera system based on Sony’s latest LYT-818 sensor and a 200MP Zeiss APO telephoto lens with a three-group periscopic design.
The device is equipped with a dual 50MP main camera system based on Sony’s latest LYT-818 sensor and a 200MP Zeiss APO telephoto lens with a three-group periscopic design.
The model’s uniqueness lies in its dual-chip image processing system (VS1 and V3+). These chips share image processing tasks for faster and higher quality shots, working much like the DSLR pipeline. 4K 120fps, 4K time-lapse and 10-bit Log video are supported.
Vivo offers additional accessories: a Zeiss 2.35x telephoto lens and a photography kit with a battery grip, shutter button, and 67mm filter mount. A 6,000mAh battery with 90W charging and a curved 2K AMOLED screen round out the configuration. The starting price in China is 6,499 yuan, and the device is available internationally through third-party sellers starting at $999.
Oppo Find X8 Ultra
Oppo Find X8 Ultra makes bold claims and backs them up with action. A five-camera system with two periscopic telephoto lenses and a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-900 inch sensor delivers cinematic-level detail and dynamic range.
Oppo’s Lumo imaging system uses pixel-by-pixel color analysis via a spectral color sensor, promising unmatched skin tones and color reproduction. It supports Dolby Vision video at all focal lengths, up to 4K 120fps and zoom up to 120X.
Visually, the device impresses with a 6.82-inch 1-120Hz QHD+ AMOLED panel with ultra-thin bezels, powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with up to 1TB of storage. A massive 6,100mAh battery supports 100W charging wirelessly and 50W wirelessly. A new shortcut button has been added for AI-accelerated memory and customizable features. The starting price in China is 6,499 yuan, available from $959 in the international market.
Huawei Pura 80 Ultra
The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra was one of the most impressive phones of the year, at least on paper. The device uses a one-inch variable aperture sensor, dual telephoto lenses with OIS and sensor shift, and a 40-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens. Optical zoom up to 9.4x and digital zoom up to 100x are supported.
The 6.8-inch LTPO OLED panel supports high refresh rate, Kunlun Glass protection and high-frequency dimming. Inside, there’s Huawei’s own Kirin 9020 chip without 5G support due to sanctions, running Android-based EMUI 15 software.
Autonomy is provided by a 5,170 mAh battery with 100W charging by wire and 80W wirelessly. At €1,499 on the global market, the device is expensive and lacks Google services. Nevertheless, for users who are willing to install apps manually and want top-end hardware, this is one of Huawei’s best designs.
Red Magic 10S Pro
Not every flagship has to focus on cameras. The Red Magic 10S Pro is frankly built for gaming, and it shows. With 24GB of LPDDR5T RAM, UFS 4.1 Pro storage, and a 4.47GHz Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Edition processor, the device’s performance is outstanding.
With 24GB of LPDDR5T RAM, UFS 4.1 Pro storage, and a 4.47GHz Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Edition processor, the performance is outstanding.
The 6.85-inch 1.5K OLED display supports 144Hz refresh rate and PWM up to 2592Hz. An under-screen 16-megapixel camera, shoulder triggers, and an integrated 23,000 RPM turbo fan with liquid-metal cooling round out the gaming configuration.
The cameras are basic: a 50MP main camera plus an ultra-wide-angle and 2-megapixel macro. But a massive 7050 mAh battery with 80W charging provides marathon gaming sessions. At a starting price of $699, it’s an absolute godsend for mobile gamers.
