My favorite part of a phone is not just what it can do, but the services that power it. This year, we used plenty of services, and we all agree the winners are truly deserving of their awards!
From music streaming and video streaming services, to the best Android app and best Android game, here are our winners! Congratulations to all, you made our phones so much more fun to use, and we are very grateful.
Best music streaming service: Spotify
We’ve seen some notable updates from music streaming services this year, but Spotify continues to lead in quality and sheer feature set. This year finally saw the launch of the app’s long-awaited Lossless audio feature, which significantly improves the quality of your music when you’re listening through wired headphones or via Wi-Fi with Spotify Connect. The best part is that it comes at no extra cost to Premium subscribers, despite rumors that it would be its own tier or cost extra.
Of course, Spotify also continues to update and add features, such as its AI DJ, Jam, and a new Prompted Playlist that lets users generate a playlist by describing the kind of music they want. Users can also bring DJ vibes to their playlists with Automix, which creates natural transitions between songs to keep the party going without pauses. Finally, the most significant update for free users came this year when Spotify finally gave them the ability to play and search for individual songs, bringing it a step closer to the premium tier and making it easier to enjoy and share tunes.
Best video streaming service: Netflix
2025 was a weird year for streaming services. The standoff between YouTube TV and Disney finally boiled over, everyone and their mother tried to buy Warner Bros, and yes, most of the apps got more expensive. None of this drama benefited the consumer, of course, but that didn’t stop Netflix from having one of its strongest years yet.
Even amid price hikes and password crackdowns, Netflix continues to dominate the video streaming space, striking that delicate balance between crowd-pleasers and Oscar-worthy feature films. We’re sure to see more battles between the big companies in 2026, but once the dust settles, don’t be surprised if Netflix is the last service standing.
Best Android app: Gemini
Artificial intelligence might be a very divisive and polarizing topic, but one thing’s for sure: it’s here to stay. When used ethically and efficiently, it can be an outstanding productivity tool and intellectual aid. Gemini is one of Google’s best Android apps right now, and it is integrated with everything else. This cross-platform integration makes Google’s suite of apps even more powerful, useful, and extremely convenient.
If you have a Google Pixel device, your Google Assistant must already be replaced by Gemini, and you must have noticed how much more intuitive and functional the experience is with it. From deep research and generating images to data analysis and quick stats, there are a hundred good reasons why Gemini is the best Android app of the year.
Best Android game: Pokémon TCG Pocket
Did you think that the post-pandemic Pokémon craze was over? Think again. Not only did Nintendo release a new Switch game in the form of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, but before that, it surprised many of us by releasing Pokémon TCG Pocket for both Android and iOS at the tail end of last year, and the game has received a steady stream of updates throughout 2025 to keep players vying for the latest cards and packs!
The premise is simple and familiar: Open packs of cards, collect your Pokémon, build decks, and battle! Not only that, but you can even trade cards from your collection with friends, while also competing in ranked matches to put your skills to the test. Best of all, it’s absolutely free to do all of this, without you needing to spend a dime.
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