6 Most Expensive Phones in the World

Some phones are built for power. Others for prestige. These do both. Today, we’re looking at the most expensive phones in the world: from flagship models packed with next-gen tech to ultra-luxury designs that exist purely to stand out. We picked 6 that show exactly what the high-end phone market looks like right now. 

Each one pushes the limit in its own way… and the prices prove it. Let’s take a look.

1. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

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We’ll start with something more modest (at least compared to the diamond-studded monsters coming up). Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max is as high-end as it gets in the mainstream smartphone world: sleek, fast, and built like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

• Price: Starts at $1,199 for 256 GB… tops out at $1,599 if you go all-in with the 1 TB version.
• Display: 6.9″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 2868×1320, 120 Hz
• Chip: Apple A18 Pro
• RAM/Storage: 8 GB / up to 1 TB
• Cameras: 48 MP main + ultrawide + telephoto + LiDAR
• Battery: 4685 mAh, 25W fast charging
• Video: 4K ProRes at 120 fps

What really makes it shine is the build: aerospace‑grade titanium, matte glass. This thing feels like tech armor. The camera setup? You get a 48 MP main sensor with advanced stabilization, an ultrawide lens, a telephoto for zoom shots, and a LiDAR scanner for depth accuracy. It can shoot 4K ProRes video at 120 fps, which makes it a legit tool for photographers, videographers, or anyone who wants more than casual snaps.

But keep in mind: even with up to 1 TB of storage, shooting high-res videos and photos will eat up space fast. If you want to keep this beast running clean, you might want to grab one of the better iPhone cleaner apps just to stay ahead of the clutter.

The Pro Max is still the go-to for anyone who wants the most expensive iPhone that actually gets used. Unlike the luxury pieces on this list, this one’s not a flex. It’s a daily driver for people who want the best.

2. Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond

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This one’s a completely different beast from the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Forget performance. Forget specs. The Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond is about one thing: excess. This is the most expensive iPhone ever made. This isn’t a device you use, it’s a statement.

• Price: ~$48.5 million
• Base Model: iPhone 6 (2014 hardware)
• Specs: 4.7″ Retina HD display, Apple A8 chip, 1 GB RAM, up to 128 GB storage, 8 MP rear camera
• Luxury Factor: 24K rose gold casing with an enormous pink diamond embedded in the back
• Availability: Custom-built by Falcon Luxury (Dubai-based), limited to a tiny number of ultra-exclusive clients

While the tech inside is ancient by today’s standards, the real cost is in the materials. The rear is literally encrusted with a multi-million-dollar pink diamond, and every unit is handcrafted. It’s less smartphone, more jewelry vault in your pocket.

People interested in this one aren’t buying it to check emails. It’s a status symbol, plain and simple. And if anyone actually plans to use it as a phone, they need to understand what they’re working with. Sure, for the price, you could buy a shipping container full of brand-new iPhones, but you’d still be stuck with the iPhone 6’s dated hardware: a slower chip, cramped storage, and outdated features. So if you do plan on actually using this thing, make sure you know the best ways to free iPhone storage, because every megabyte counts on this thing.

3. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

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Next on our list of the most expensive smartphones in the world is... something that brings us back to reality. Unlike the diamond-encrusted Falcon, the Galaxy Z Fold5 earns its price tag through cutting-edge tech, not gemstones.

• Price: Starts around $1,799, goes up to $2,099 for the 1 TB model
• Main Display: 7.6″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2176×1812), 120 Hz
• Cover Display: 6.2″ AMOLED (2316×904), also 120 Hz
• Chip: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
• RAM/Storage: 12 GB RAM, up to 1 TB storage
• Cameras: Triple rear setup – 50 MP wide, 12 MP ultrawide, 10 MP telephoto + under-display and cover selfie cams
• Battery: 4400 mAh, 25W fast charging (wired), 15W wireless

This is Samsung's most advanced foldable: essentially a phone and tablet in one. It’s got flagship specs, water resistance, and support for the S Pen (though not built-in). The under-display camera is slick, but it’s the multitasking that really sells it: drag and drop between apps, split-screen everything, and real productivity on the go.

Where the Falcon is all about status, the Z Fold5 is about pushing the boundaries of what a phone can do. Expensive? Definitely. But this one's worth it for power users and tech lovers who actually want features for the money. 

And while Android phones are usually seen as more budget-friendly compared to iPhones, high-end foldables like the Fold5 are the exception. The average price gap between Android and iOS phones has widened for years, as shown in Statista’s chart, but premium devices like this prove Android can go just as premium (and pricey).

4. Caviar Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra “Year of the Dragon”

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Not only iPhones get the royal treatment, Samsung’s flagship joins the luxury game too, and it does not hold back. The Caviar Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra “Year of the Dragon” is where top-tier performance meets handcrafted opulence.

• Price: ~$15,070
• Base Specs: 6.8″ Quad-HD Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (up to 2600 nits), Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 200 MP main camera, up to 1 TB storage
• Luxury Details: 24K gold bas-relief dragon motif across the back, real jade accents, titanium body, and even a built-in analog watch

What sets it apart isn’t the insane materials: it’s the fusion of culture, symbolism, and meticulous craftsmanship. The 24K gold dragon is a symbol of power and prosperity, carved into titanium and accented with real jade. The analog watch embedded into the back? Just icing on the ultra-luxury cake.

This isn’t really a phone, it’s a collector’s piece. It may run the same software as the standard Galaxy S24 Ultra, but make no mistake: this version turns heads long before you even unlock the screen. If you’re looking to own the most expensive Android phone ever made, this is it. But heads up: it’s limited to just 24 units worldwide and only available through custom order.

5. Xiaomi 15 Ultra

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It’s not all Samsung and iPhones. A lot of people are seriously considering Xiaomi as a better alternative to both, just scroll through Reddit and you’ll see posts like: “iPhone or Xiaomi?”, “Which should I get next?” So, next on our list is Xiaomi’s heavyweight: the 15 Ultra.

This one skips the gold and diamonds and goes straight for performance. It’s built for people who take mobile photography seriously, and honestly, it might have the best camera system on this list.

• Price: ~$1,880 (1 TB version)
• Display: 6.73″ AMOLED, 3200×1440 resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate
  Chip: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite
  RAM/Storage: Up to 16 GB RAM, 1 TB storage
• Cameras: Quad 50 MP setup – 1″ main sensor, ultrawide, 2× telephoto, and 5× periscope zoom (all Leica-tuned)
• Battery: 5410 mAh with 90W wired + 80W wireless charging

Unlike most flagships that stick to one or two standout lenses, this thing packs four pro-grade shooters. The 1-inch main sensor is the real star, it delivers DSLR-level quality, especially in low light. And thanks to Xiaomi’s Leica partnership, the image processing actually feels cinematic.

It’s fast, powerful, and charges insanely quick. The 15 Ultra isn’t just another premium Android phone, it’s a legit contender for the best phone camera period. If Apple and Samsung dominate the U.S., this is the phone reminding the rest of the world that China’s still pushing the envelope.

Only catch? It’s not officially sold in the U.S., but that hasn’t stopped enthusiasts from importing it anyway.

6. Caviar iPhone 15 Pro Max “Maze 18K”

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The last on our list is the Caviar iPhone 15 Pro Max. If the regular iPhone 15 Pro Max is Apple at its finest, this version is Apple dipped in a vault. The Maze 18K edition takes everything great about the Pro Max and wraps it in handcrafted excess: solid gold, diamonds, and artisan engraving.

• Price: ~$50,360
• Base Specs: 6.7″ LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120 Hz ProMotion, Apple A17 Pro chip, 8 GB RAM, up to 1 TB storage
• Camera System: Triple 48 MP setup (main, ultrawide, telephoto) with LiDAR and 4K ProRes recording
• Battery: 4441 mAh with fast charging
• Luxury Details: Solid 18K gold body, 39 VVS-grade diamonds, baroque-style engravings, limited to just 7 units

This thing is absurd in the best way. Caviar didn’t just slap a gold case on and call it a day, they literally reworked the iPhone’s exterior from top to bottom using real gold and gem-setting craftsmanship. The result is a device that blurs the line between tech and jewelry.

It's the kind of phone that makes the Falcon iPhone 6 look dated (well, more dated than it already is in the tech department). You’ll still get Apple’s latest and greatest under the hood, but it’s the 18K chassis and diamond grid that makes this one of the most expensive iPhones ever made. And yes, unlike some art pieces on this list, this one’s a fully functional modern phone (assuming you’re brave enough to carry it outside).

Final Words

So there you have it: the most over-the-top, feature-packed, gold-plated phones money can buy. From foldables pushing the edge of what tech can do to diamond-covered collector’s items that barely get powered on.

In our research, we came across all kinds of luxury phones. Some wild, some straight-up ridiculous. But for this list, we stuck to the ones that actually make sense in 2025. Not many people are out there looking to drop six figures on a gold-plated button phone from 2002, right?

So we focused on true flagships from the biggest brands, along with a few that blur the line between tech and art. Some are built for performance, others for attention, but they all represent the upper edge of what’s possible (or just what’s... available).

If you’re reading this with the actual intent of buying the most expensive smartphone in the world, just know this: price alone doesn’t make a phone great. But hey, if you’ve got the budget, at least now you know what your options are, whether you want the fastest chip, the best camera, or just something covered in diamonds.