Telephones have been trendy once more in 2025

A 12 months or two in the past, when a telephone confirmed up at my door for evaluation, I may just about rely on it being black, grey, or possibly (as a deal with) white. However in 2025, that hasn’t been the case. Telephones I reviewed this 12 months featured all the pieces from actual wooden grain again panels to deep blue finishes, with color-coordinated crossbody straps and magnetic equipment to match. For an business that has been content material to churn out plenty of black rectangular devices, 2025 marked a welcome return to daring colours and fashion-forward equipment from telephone producers.

Telephones haven’t at all times been boring, utilitarian objects. Bear in mind the unique vibrant pink Motorola Razr? Iconic. Or extra just lately, Nokia’s neon yellow Lumia telephones — you couldn’t miss them. Even the ever-conservative iPhone appeared in vibrant orange, yellow, and blue choices in 2018’s XR; my husband refused to half together with his till completely obligatory as a result of he didn’t wish to surrender his yellow telephone. However someplace alongside the best way previously 5 years, telephone makers determined that these gadgets ought to be extra critical, and the enjoyable choices fell by the wayside.

If any single firm deserves recognition for bringing model again, it’s Motorola. The Razr Extremely foldable in MountainTrail is well the best-looking telephone I used this 12 months, however possibly I’m simply a fan of the Moto X vibes the wood again evokes. The bronze-colored aspect rails, the satisfying sound because the flip telephone snaps shut — it’s all so good. But it surely’s not simply foldables — Motorola has been approach forward of the curve with vibrant colours and distinctive finishes for the previous 12 months or so. I want Moto’s software program appeared as pristine — currently it’s been stuffed to the gills with advertisements and bloatware — however the firm has undoubtedly nailed handsome {hardware}.

Even product traces which might be historically conservative with coloration bought some splashier choices this 12 months. 2025 gave us the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Professional, for the really daring amongst us. The usual iPhone 17 additionally is available in some fetching colours, which hasn’t been a given in recent times — no repeat of the iPhone 15’s washed-out coloration choices, fortunately. Even Google supplied its folding telephone in one thing aside from black or white for the primary time: a gray-ish Moonstone and a refined greenish-yellow Jade.

But it surely hasn’t been simply the telephones themselves. This 12 months, producers appeared to do not forget that telephone equipment may be trendy, too. Apple launched this 12 months’s iPhones with a brand new crossbody strap accent, out there in a spread of colours to coordinate with its circumstances. And later within the 12 months, we bought the crossbody sock, er, iPhone Pocket, created with designer Issey Miyake. Beginning at $229 for the lengthy model, it’s a luxurious that gained’t attraction to most individuals, however it makes a robust assertion.

Google additionally launched a line of magnetic equipment known as Pixelsnap to go along with its Pixel 10 collection, which features a ring of MagSafe-esque magnets within the rear panel. I used the Pixel 10 Professional Fold nearly solely with the useful ring grip, which, along with relieving a few of the fatigue from holding the telephone for a very long time, doubles as a nice-looking object adorning the again of the telephone. For somebody like me who hates utilizing circumstances, it’s a welcome approach so as to add utility and a touch of favor.

Not everybody desires a flashy coloration or statement-making accent for his or her telephone, and that’s advantageous. However I believe it’s additionally advantageous to care about how your telephone seems to be and to need one thing rather less utilitarian and a bit of extra trendy than a black rectangle. In any case, we take a look at our telephones a million instances a day! It solely is sensible that we should always like what we see. No matter was within the water this 12 months encouraging producers to fancy up their telephones, I hope it sticks round in 2026.