The analysis of top-ranking smartphones of 2025 by user experiences cautions the smartphone makers about ‘aesthetic’ specs-sheet recalibration to strike an equilibrium between costs and the user experiences.
This week’s InsightsPro presents to you the top-ranking smartphone models of leading brands across different price segments and user cohorts. The ranking is based on the customer ratings and reviews measured through proprietary RaRe Quadrant Rankings.
The customers have ranked the below enumerated smartphone models as the top-ranking smartphones of respective brands as per their experience across key functions and features. While the ranking of smartphones as per specifications continues to be different, the users are more concerned about the experiences these smartphones deliver. The rankings signify the most loved smartphone models of 2025 by each brand covered in this report.
The common themes across these smartphone models which have made a special place in the hearts of users, are led by the experiences delivered in battery performance, camera quality, and processor performance. These smartphones stand out from other models from the respective brands in terms of delighting customers. These leaders reflect what truly excites Indian users across price segments.
Key Takeaways
- Value Dominance in Entry Segment: Brands like Ai+, Infinix, and Lava lead under ₹11,000 with strong performance, battery life, and affordability to budget users.
- Performance Focus in Premium Segments: Mid-range and flagship models from Poco, iQOO, Samsung, and Google excel in gaming, cameras, and displays, prioritising user delight over price.
- The top three key aspects across brands were Battery Life, Camera, and Gaming & Performance.
1.0 The Value Leaders (Entry & Base Segment)
Ai+: The Pulse 4G stands out as the premier choice in the entry-level segment. Retailing at just ₹4,999, it has captured the market with users specifically praising its low cost and good performance.
Infinix: The Smart 10 5G (priced at ₹6,799) is highly regarded for its smooth performance and reliable battery life, proving that 5G connectivity can be accessible.
Acer: The Super ZX 5G is a customer favorite for Customer Delight. At a price point of ₹8,999, it is hailed as the ultimate value-for-money device that consistently exceeds user expectations.
iTel: The A95 takes the top spot for this brand. As an Indian-market favorite, it offers robust overall performance for under ₹11,000, striking a balance between utility and affordability.
Lava: The Blaze Pro 5G earns top marks for delivering a premium experience at ₹11,000. Users frequently cite their pride in the “Loved Bharat Brand,” noting its excellent performance for the price.
2.0 The Mid-Range & Performance Contenders
Poco: The X7 Pro is the leader in the under ₹15,000 category. Reviews highlight its exceptional gaming performance and high-quality camera.
Realme: The P4 is celebrated in the ₹18,000 range. Users are particularly impressed by its slim and lightweight design paired with long-lasting battery life.
Tecno: The Pova 7 Pro 5G wins on aesthetics and utility in the ₹18,000 range, with users praising both its advanced camera system and striking design.
Motorola: The Edge 60 is being called the best all-rounder available for under ₹20,000, with a specific focus on its superior camera capabilities.
CMF: The Phone 2 Pro is the winner in the mid-range segment, where users appreciate the seamless blend of unique design and solid performance.
Redmi: The Note 14 Pro continues to lead the brand’s lineup, earning accolades for its stunning display quality and reliable battery backup.
Oppo: The K13 Turbo Pro has carved out a niche in the mid-segment for enthusiasts, earning top position for gaming optimization and battery longevity.
3.0 Premium & High-End Innovations
Vivo: The T4 Ultra is the favorite for those seeking a premium experience under ₹36,000, specifically noted for its awesome camera and long battery life.
Alcatel: The Alcatel V3 Classic 5G remains a top contender in user feedback due to its consistent connectivity and dependable battery performance.
Nothing: The 3a has secured its position largely due to its “brilliant camera” performance, maintaining the brand’s reputation for innovation.
Iqoo: The Neo 10R is the top choice for performance-heavy users, specifically cited for its top-tier gaming capabilities and camera quality.
OnePlus: The 13s earns its status by providing a flawless performance. Users frequently mention the smooth experience that has become a hallmark of the brand.
Honor: The X9C 5G sits at the top of the Honor charts, with customers highlighting the excellent camera and battery as its standout features.
4.0 The Flagship Titans
Apple: The iPhone 17 Pro is the undisputed winner of the Apple lineup. Feedback consistently points to its great performance as the reason for its top ranking.
Samsung: The Galaxy S25 continues to lead the flagship conversation, with users calling out the awesome camera and great performance as its defining traits.
Xiaomi: The Xiaomi 15 earns its place at the top through a combination of a professional-grade camera and high-end overall performance.
Google: The Pixel 10 Pro has reached a new peak for Google. Users have awarded it the top position for its camera and overall Performance, with some reviewers even labeling it better than Apple and Samsung.
5.0 BCP – The Mantra for 2026!
The smartphone brands need to focus on the success mantra of BCP (battery-camera-processor) in 2026 for their models to rank high on the customer delight charts and scores.
The smartphones with batteries that last, cameras that captivate, and the processors that power will deliver delight without compromise.
The smartphone OEMs will have to address this holistically integrating the performance of various elements and specifications that define the key features. To drive leadership, the OEMs will have to elevate the experiences across all the components / attributes that define a feature. This can only be achieved when for battery performance all the elements of battery type, battery capacity, charger type, charging speed, OS optimisation for power efficiency as well as the processor efficiency is achieved. Similarly, for camera performances the OEMs will have to go beyond lens megapixels and sensor types. They will have to integrate and calibrate other elements also influencing the camera performance. For the processor performance, it is not only about the clock speed, number of cores, or the distribution of load among big and small cores. Again, the OEMs will have to factor several many elements including the type of connectivity, the type of sensors, the type of storage, memory and other attributes that define the performance with processor at the core.
With the ongoing supply chain disruptions of some key components like memory, it is expected that the smartphone OEMs will resort to tried and tested ‘design-board’ recalibration where they will throttle some functions to contain the BOM (bill of materials) and generously over-supply to ‘atheistically’ make the specs-sheet attractive. But the customer of 2026 is expecting an overall experience and any compromise, even in a single attribute or element will negatively impact the delight quotient.
