If you’re in the market for a new smartphone in 2025, you can — and should — be very picky. Especially if you have specific needs for your phone.
For instance, LED and OLED screens can be painful for some people to stare at even for short periods, while others struggle with overconsumption issues, unable to stop endlessly scrolling. There are phones out there that address these issues.
A good starting point for any phone shopper is right here at CNET, which boasts a staff of experts offering in-depth reviews of individual phones, comparison guides across numerous categories, how-to posts for features and tasks and coverage of the latest news from phone makers. The goal is to guide you through an important buying decision by digging into the details and also putting things in a broader context.
However, I was curious to see what kind of information I could get from AI that might help in certain specific use cases — bearing in mind the limitations of AI tools, especially their challenges at providing the most up-to-date information. They might not be aware of the latest models or software updates, especially if you’re using the free versions.
My focus was on a few different types of people: those with visual impairments, those looking for some smartphone detox, the power users among us and filmmakers and content creators.
I leaned on AI search tools ChatGPT and Claude to do the heavy lifting when reviewing specs and use cases. I only used the free versions — which could be why these tools recommended older phones for me.
Those versions didn’t seem to know, for instance, that in the categories I was focused on, there are newer versions of each phone from Apple and Samsung (the iPhone 16 and Galaxy Z Fold 6, respectively) that are readily available.
Read on to see what smartphone recommendations AI had to offer. And as you do your own shopping research, be sure to check out CNET’s smartphone buying advice, direct from CNET’s human phone experts.
Phones for visual impairments
Not everyone can enjoy the pleasures of a high-def screen, and in fact for some it’s a real pain. A small contingent of smartphone users have experienced eye strain significant enough for them to want to leave LED and OLED screens behind entirely. ChatGPT and Claude suggested E-ink smartphones for such people.
If you want to avoid color screens altogether, the Light Phone 3 — which launched Thursday — is available for order and preorder in two models: the Light Phone II priced at $299 and the Light Phone III priced at $599.
The New York-based team who created the Light Phone aimed the design and functions of this E Ink device at people who value features like calling, text and GPS but who don’t want or need glossy, full-color LED/OLED screens.
The creators of the Light Phone say they’re interested in providing a gentler, more mindful experience with their low-key E Ink smartphone, but the AI tools recommended the Light Phone specifically for users who want the benefits of mobile smartphone features, like cameras and the ability to listen to and store music and podcasts, without the danger of eye strain.
A phone for mental health help
Screen junkies looking to kick the habit of constantly staring into the social media abyss are recommended smartphones with mental wellness features and some with minimalist user interfaces and features. The idea is you’d use these types of phones to help protect your peace when the digital world proves too intense.
While iPhones offer options aimed at enhancing your mental and physical health journey through body metric tracking such as sleep scheduling and screen time monitoring, ChatGPT and Claude suggested the Google Pixel (with Digital Wellbeing features), which provides a host of options designed to protect your precious sanity from the perils of the modern age.
The Android operating system allows you to create multiple profiles — one for work and one for personal use, for example — making it easy to hide all your professional apps when you’re not on the clock. You can also schedule your work profile to turn on and off at particular times, making disconnecting from work demands automatic. iPhone/iOS also have this, called Focus modes.
Phones for power users
For those looking to do all their professional or school work on their smartphones, the two AI tools recommended a list of the usual suspects, including the latest iPhone and Samsung models. There were also some suggestions for people who heavily use Microsoft products such as Teams.
These phones tout some intelligent hardware and software integrations to make working on documents, presentations and group projects easier from anywhere, so those of you who want to live the dream of working poolside or at your favorite public park, take note.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro / iPhone 15 Pro Max: The AI tools recommended Apple’s iPhones largely for users who are looking to maximize their mobile device use, citing rich features and an ever-growing App Store as useful benefits for people looking to do everything from play to work.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: This foldable touchscreen smartphone was highly recommended by the AI search tools for its wide real estate and ease of use with productivity and professional apps and software.
Another advantage is Samsung’s operating system, which allows multiple apps to be open on the folding screen at the same time and even supports a floating window. The Fold also supports Samsung’s S Pen for when you’d like to write out notes or sketch ideas on the Fold.
Phones for filmmakers and content creators
Big screens and generously sized imaging chips play a critical part in AI’s recommendations for smartphones ideal for content creators and filmmakers. The iPhone is listed above, but the AI tools also suggested some lesser-known options like devices from Xiaomi, OnePlus and Sony.
Xiaomi 13 Pro: Featuring a fancy camera lens and larger-than-average imaging chip, AI search tools all recommended this model for creative types looking to make cinema-worthy masterpieces on the go. Although the AI tools again recommended the older model, there is a Xiaomi 15 Ultra now.
OnePlus 12: Thinner and lighter touchscreens are a hallmark of these smartphones and AI search tools cited a fast operating system, Dolby-branded vision and sound, high-quality zoom and a fancy-pants lens from high-end camera manufacturer, Hasselblad, as being more than capable of making your high-quality content creation dreams come true. The AI tools again recommended the older model, but there is a fresh OnePlus 13 out now.
Sony Xperia 1 VI (no longer sold in the US): Key selling points outlined with AI search tools for this device include a creator mode display that features professional video controls as well as the claim that the camera can shoot crystal clear images and footage of close-up and far away subjects.
Is AI helpful in choosing phones?
As a final note of caution, as always, make sure you double-check anything AI tells you about its smartphone recommendations, in case it’s hallucinating or drawing incorrect info from some weird place online. During research for this piece, for instance, ChatGPT wrongly assumed some E Ink reading tablets are capable of native smartphone functions such as calling, texting and running social media apps.
AI training data may also be outdated, like how both tools recommended older models of phones rather than the current versions.
So make sure you do a quick search on anything an AI tool suggests to you, and cross-reference them with CNET’s best phones lists.
