We've seen some amazing phones in 2025, from the iPhone 17 Pro and its vibrant orange color to the Pixel 10 Pro's reliance on AI. Then there's the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Oppo Find X9 Pro and Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which all want to be the only camera you carry around.
Most of these phones have a lot in common, from their powerful processors to features like water resistance. But this year, we saw phone-makers really up the ante by adding a whole host of new tricks and accessories to help them stand out from the competition. And a few of these additions have really caught our eye.
Here are our favorite phone features that slipped into the mainstream in 2025. Will they continue into 2026?
The OnePlus 15 is a big Android phone with an even bigger 7,300-mAh battery. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Massive silicon-carbon batteries
Batteries might seem like they're the same as they've always been, but in fact, battery technology is constantly evolving, just like any other part of your phone. The most recent shift is toward silicon-carbon batteries that promise more energy-dense cells, giving longer battery life without you having to carry a phone the size of a house brick.
The Oppo Find X9 Pro and the OnePlus 15 both pack batteries with a capacity over 7,000 mAh, while the Vivo X300 Pro's 6,300-mAh cell is nearly as massive. For reference, the S25 Ultra -- despite its gargantuan 6.8-inch screen -- has only a 5,000-mAh battery. The iPhone 17 Pro Max's battery is similar at 5,088 mAh.
But don't get overexcited just yet about almost doubling your phone's battery life. While Oppo and OnePlus's latest handsets did perform extremely well on our battery tests, the iPhone 17 Pro Max remained one of the best battery performers we've ever had, and that comes down to the efficiency Apple is able to achieve through producing all the parts of the phone. Still, silicon-carbon battery technology is undoubtedly a step forward that will hopefully mean you're less likely to find yourself out of power halfway through your day.
The Oppo Find X9 Pro is available with a huge telephoto zoom lens. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Detachable telephoto lenses
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