5 Upcoming Smartphones of 2025: The smartphone market of 2025 is going to be a blast, especially for those who prefer their phone not just for calling or gaming but also for a professional-grade DSLR-like camera. Some of the big brands this year are going to take camera technology to the next level with their upcoming models. Giants like Apple, Google, Xiaomi and Vivo are in a competition where hardware upgrades, AI features and zoom technology will change the photography experience. If you are a photography lover or a content creator, then waiting for the launch of these new phones will be worth it for you. Let’s understand in a friendly and little detail which phones are going to give you the pleasure of a DSLR-like camera.
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max: Apple’s Next Big Camera Jump
Apple takes its iPhone Pro series to the next level every year, and the iPhone 17 Pro lineup is going to see the biggest upgrade in camera technology. The biggest thing is that for the first time, the iPhone will come with not one, but three 48MP lenses – wide, ultra-wide and telephoto. Rumours are saying that the telephoto lens will now have 8x optical zoom, which will be a big leap from the 5x zoom of the previous iPhone 16 Pro. The front camera will also come with double the megapixel count – now there will be a 24MP selfie shooter, which will make selfies and video calls more professional. Apple has also put a lot of thought into video recording, such as 8K video and dual recording feature where you will be able to use the front and rear camera together. When the iPhone 17 is launched in September 2025, it can become a dream device for both photographers and filmmakers.
Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL: Boss of AI Photography
Google Pixel phones have always been the kings of computational photography, and now the Pixel 10 series is making AI photography next-gen with the new Tensor G5 chip. This time a triple camera setup will come in which a 50MP main sensor, 48MP ultrawide and 48MP telephoto lens will be available which will support 5x optical zoom. But the real magic will be in Google’s AI features – like “Camera Coach” which will teach you better framing in real-time, “Auto Best Take” which will choose the best expressions in group photos, and “Zoom Enhance” which will make even low quality zoomed photos crisp. For video lovers, there will also be 8K video recording and 4K 60fps HDR support. These phones are going to be officially launched in August 2025 and will give the next level of AI experience along with photography.
Xiaomi 16 Pro: High-Resolution King
Xiaomi has always been aggressive in the flagship competition, and in 2025 Xiaomi 16 Pro is going to bring a different experience for photography lovers. This phone will have a triple 50MP camera setup, in which the main sensor will be a large 1/1.3-inch, along with an ultrawide and a periscope telephoto lens. The selfie camera will also be an upgrade to 50MP, which will have autofocus and 4K 60fps video recording support, which will make selfies cinematic as well. Apart from this, there will also be a Time-of-Flight sensor which will make depth mapping more accurate, meaning portraits will start looking like DSLR. Xiaomi 16 Pro is said to be launched by the end of September 2025 with Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset, and this phone will undoubtedly be a solid option for camera lovers.
Vivo X300 Pro: 200MP Revolution
Vivo has always taken camera technology to the next level with its X-series, and now the X300 Pro is bringing something that probably hasn’t been seen in any phone till now. This phone will come with a 200MP periscope telephoto camera – yes, you heard it right, a DSLR-like zoom and clarity in a smartphone. It will also have a 50MP main and a 50MP ultrawide lens. The camera will be designed in collaboration with Zeiss, meaning the quality and optics both will be world-class. Vivo has also used a new coating technology to reduce lens flare. This phone is expected in October 2025 and can become a true game-changer in the field of photography.