2025: The Year Phones Became Fashionable Again
▼ Summary
– In 2025, phone manufacturers shifted from producing primarily black, gray, or white devices to offering bold colors, unique finishes like wood grain, and fashion-forward accessories.
– This marks a return to more vibrant and stylish phone designs, contrasting with a recent five-year trend where phones became more serious and utilitarian.
– Motorola is highlighted as a leader in this style revival, particularly with its Razr Ultra foldable and its consistent use of vibrant colors and unique finishes.
– Even traditionally conservative brands like Apple and Google introduced splashier color options, such as the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro and new hues for Google’s folding phone.
– Manufacturers also emphasized fashionable accessories in 2025, including Apple’s color-coordinated crossbody straps and Google’s magnetic Pixelsnap accessories that add utility and style.
Opening a new smartphone for review used to be a predictable affair. For years, the unboxing ritual reliably revealed a device in black, gray, or, on a rare exciting day, white. The landscape of mobile design in 2025, however, has undergone a vibrant transformation. This year, the phones arriving at my desk have featured genuine wood grain backs, rich blue hues, and a whole ecosystem of color-matched straps and magnetic add-ons. After a long stretch of conservative, monochromatic rectangles, the industry has rediscovered a passion for bold aesthetics and fashion-conscious accessories.
Smartphones weren’t always these serious, utilitarian objects. Think back to the iconic bright pink Motorola Razr or the unmissable neon yellow of Nokia’s Lumia series. Even Apple, typically reserved, offered the iPhone XR in vibrant orange, yellow, and blue. My own husband clung to his yellow model for years, reluctant to trade it for something more mundane. Sometime in the last half-decade, though, a shift occurred. Phone makers seemed to decide that devices should be more sober, and playful color options largely disappeared from view.
If one company deserves credit for reigniting this stylistic spark, it’s Motorola. Their Razr Ultra foldable in the MountainTrail finish, with its real wood back panel, stands out as the most visually striking phone I’ve handled all year. It charmingly recalls the customizable spirit of the old Moto X. The bronze side rails and the satisfying snap of the hinge contribute to an experience that feels thoughtfully designed. Motorola’s lead isn’t confined to foldables; for over a year, they’ve consistently offered vibrant colors and unique textures that others are only now catching up to. It’s a shame their software experience is often cluttered with ads, because their hardware design is currently exceptional.
Even traditionally cautious product lines embraced more daring palettes. 2025 introduced the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro, a genuinely bold choice for Apple’s premium tier. The standard iPhone 17 also arrived in several attractive colors, a welcome change from the muted tones of recent years. Google joined the movement, too, offering its folding phone for the first time in options beyond black and white, presenting subtle shades like Moonstone and Jade.
The revival of style extends beyond the devices themselves. Manufacturers have remembered that accessories can be fashionable statements. Apple launched its latest iPhones alongside a new line of crossbody straps, available in colors that coordinate with their cases. Later in the year, they collaborated with designer Issey Miyake on the iPhone Pocket, a crossbody sleeve that, while a luxury item starting at $229, makes a definitive fashion argument.
Google answered with its Pixelsnap line of magnetic accessories for the Pixel 10 series, which features a built-in ring of magnets. Using the Pixel 10 Pro Fold with the accompanying ring grip was a revelation. It not only made the large foldable easier to hold for long periods but also served as a sleek decorative element on the phone’s back. For someone who avoids bulky cases, it was a perfect blend of utility and understated style.
Of course, a flashy color or a statement accessory isn’t for everyone, and that’s perfectly fine. But it’s equally valid to care about how your phone looks and to desire something that expresses a bit more personality than a standard black slab. We interact with these devices countless times daily. It seems only logical that we should enjoy looking at them. Whatever inspired this delightful shift toward more expressive phone design in 2025, let’s hope the trend has staying power for the year ahead.
(Source: The Verge)