Father’s Day 2025: The best smartphones to gift, tested for performance, photography and productivity

Father’s Day is a great time to upgrade your dad’s daily companion his smartphone. Whether he’s capturing memories, managing work on the go, or simply enjoying some well-deserved entertainment, the right phone can make a big difference. We’ve personally tested each of the devices on this list, and our recommendations are made with photography, performance, and productivity in mind. From power-packed flagships to reliable all-rounders, here are the best smartphones to consider gifting this Father’s Day 2025.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is Apple’s most powerful and photography-focused iPhone to date an ideal choice if your dad loves capturing memories with precision. This year’s model introduces a revamped camera system featuring a 48MP main sensor that delivers exceptional detail, a 48MP ultrawide lens for expansive landscapes, and a 12MP telephoto lens with an impressive 5x optical zoom.Apple also brings AI to the forefront with the new “Clean Up” tool similar to Google’s Magic Eraser which lets you remove unwanted objects from photos in seconds. Coupled with Apple’s industry-leading computational photography, every shot is crisp, vibrant, and beautifully processed.A 6.9-inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED display ensures stunning visuals and ultra-smooth navigation, whether he’s watching videos or scrolling through albums. Under the hood, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is powered by the A17 Pro Bionic chip and runs on iOS 18, offering fluid multitasking and long-term software support. The starting price in India is ₹144,900, and if your dad is an iOS loyalist or a photo enthusiast, this is the ultimate gift

Vivo X200 Pro

For dads who are serious about mobile photography, the Vivo X200 Pro delivers a professional-grade experience right in their pocket. Co-engineered with Zeiss, the phone features a powerful triple-camera setup: a 50MP main sensor, a massive 200MP 85mm periscope telephoto lens for sharp zoom shots, and a 50MP ultrawide lens for those sweeping landscape captures. Whether he’s snapping family gatherings or scenic vacations, the X200 Pro ensures every frame looks stunning.

AI is baked deep into the experience, offering tools like generative photo enhancements and Google’s Magic Eraser-style object removal, making edits effortless and intuitive. The device sports a 6.78-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED display with rich colors and smooth refresh rates, perfect for photo editing or content consumption.Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 processor and backed by a massive 6,000mAh battery, the Vivo X200 Pro handles demanding tasks with ease and keeps going all day. Priced at ₹94,999, it’s a great pick for dads who appreciate cutting-edge camera tech and reliable all-round performance.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge brings back the iconic “Edge” branding with a focus on sleek design and flagship performance. Measuring just 5.8mm thick and weighing 163g, it features a titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, and is available in Titanium Silver, Jetblack, and Icyblue.At its core is a 200MP main camera with a 40% brightness boost for better low-light shots, a 12MP ultrawide with autofocus, and AI tools like Audio Eraser and Drawing Assist. Powered by the Snapdragon 8® Elite chipset, it handles tasks effortlessly while staying cool with a redesigned vapor chamber. The display benefits from ProScaler and Samsung’s mDNIe engine for enhanced visuals.

With deep Galaxy AI integration, features like Brief, Now Bar, and Gemini Live make productivity seamless while keeping your data safe with Knox Vault. Priced at ₹1,09,999

OnePlus 13

The OnePlus 13 packs flagship power, polished design, and smart features making it a stylish and dependable gift for your dad this Father’s Day. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, it delivers ultra-smooth performance whether he’s on video calls, capturing family moments, or multitasking through a busy day. Its advanced triple-camera system, co-developed with Hasselblad, ensures stunning photos in any lighting scenario. The vibrant AMOLED ProXDR display and fast-charging 5500mAh battery promise immersive viewing and all-day power without interruptions. Starting at ₹66,990, the OnePlus 13 is a solid choice for dads who want speed, style, and practicality—all in one refined device.

iQOO Neo 10

The iQOO Neo 10 is India’s first smartphone to launch with the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, paired with the Q1 Supercomputing Chip for exceptional performance. Backed by a massive 7000mAh Silicon BlueVolt battery—the biggest ever in the Neo series—it delivers up to 24 hours of usage, with 120W FlashCharge powering it to 50% in just 19 minutes. Despite all that power, the phone remains slim at just 8.09mm.

It features a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 5500 nits peak brightness for an immersive viewing experience. A 7000mm² vapor chamber keeps things cool during heavy tasks or gaming.

The camera setup includes a 50MP Sony OIS main sensor, 8MP ultra-wide, and a 32MP front camera capable of 4K recording. Running on Funtouch OS 15 with AI optimizations and 4 years of security updates, the iQOO Neo 10 starts at ₹33,999—making it a value-packed gift this Father’s Day.