Android Smartphone Ranking: 4 Flagship Models Tested! The Best Buy Product Offers Ultra-Level Camera, Display, and AI Features!! (Kaden Hihyo March 2026 Issue)

Evaluation Criteria (150 points total)

• Benchmark: 30 points

• Camera Performance: 20 points

• Gaming Performance: 13 points

• Display: 15 points

• Speaker: 5 points

• Usability: 22 points

• AI Performance: 10 points

• Heat Generation: 5 points

• Battery: 20 points

• Cost-effectiveness: 10 points

Top 4 Android Flagship Models

1st Place: Samsung “Galaxy S25 Ultra” (124.8 points)

Estimated Price: From 199,800 JPY

The Samsung “Galaxy S25 Ultra” secured the top position in the flagship category, demonstrating outstanding overall performance. Its display is highly suitable for movie watching, while its camera excels in capturing everything from portraits to nightscapes. Furthermore, its AI capabilities, useful for tasks like transcribing meeting minutes, received high praise. In a field often dominated by specialized devices, this model achieved high scores across nearly all categories, making it a versatile choice for both personal and business use.

2nd Place: Sony “Xperia 1 VII” (118.7 points)

Estimated Price: From 189,200 JPY

Sony’s “Xperia 1 VII,” lauded for its exceptional visual and camera performance, ranked second. Both video and camera professionals commended its color reproduction, with comments such as “the display tuning is truly impressive” and “it renders photos with appropriate color temperatures.” A notable feature among high-end devices is the inclusion of an earphone jack and a microSD card slot. This model is ideal for maximizing entertainment, offering excellent camera, visual, and audio quality.

3rd Place: RedMagic “REDMAGIC 11 Pro” (116.4 points)

Estimated Price: From 157,800 JPY

RedMagic’s “REDMAGIC 11 Pro” showcased the unique strengths of a gaming smartphone. It is the first smartphone to incorporate a water-cooling system, achieving the highest benchmark processing performance among the 11 tested products. Its shoulder triggers, which function like physical buttons, enhance operability. While its display and camera performance were moderate, for users primarily interested in gaming, this device is an unparalleled choice.

4th Place: Xiaomi “Xiaomi 15 Ultra” (112.8 points)

Estimated Price: 179,800 JPY

Xiaomi’s model, with its distinctive two-tone design, emphasizes its presence as a camera. Its camera, co-developed with Leica, excels in accurate color reproduction and high-magnification telephoto capabilities. The AI function demonstrated impressive accuracy in voice transcription, capable of picking up almost every word, suggesting potential for business applications.

The “Kaden Hihyo” Authentication Mark

The authentication mark is awarded to products that the editorial department genuinely recommends after stringent, consumer-oriented testing. This mark, which cannot be acquired through monetary means, is utilized by recipient companies for product promotion.

For more detailed comparison test results and reasons for selecting the Best Buy products, please refer to the ‘Kaden Hihyo’ March 2026 issue. Shinyusha’s press releases will continue to announce “BEST BUY” award-winning items on the release date of each ‘Kaden Hihyo’ issue.

About ‘Kaden Hihyo’ Magazine

‘Kaden Hihyo’ is Japan’s only specialized home appliance testing magazine, celebrating its 15th anniversary. Uniquely among commercial publications, it contains no advertising pages, allowing it to provide honest reviews that other media, influenced by manufacturers’ intentions, cannot. Experts and the editorial team thoroughly evaluate products from a consumer perspective, delivering “frank assessments” solely for the benefit of readers.

The March issue, released on February 3rd, is priced at 880 JPY (tax included).

Media Overview:

• Media Name: ‘Kaden Hihyo’ (Home Appliance Review), a professional home appliance purchase guide

• Publication Date: The 3rd of every month

• Publisher: Shinyusha Co., Ltd. (1-12 Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

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