I started driving for Uber in London back in 2016 with an iPhone 6. Yes, it was fine-ish in the beginning, but Waze was sluggish, and the iPhone location function wasn’t always on top of the game, especially in the tiny little streets in central London. You know all these small one-way streets in Soho and around Tower Hill tube station – they can be very tricky, especially for a new and inexperienced driver. It is very easy to get lost, and without proper navigation, it might be impossible to get out in time for the next pickup.
A lot of taxi drivers will say to spend some time and learn the roads but if you are like me – drive only part-time and focus your attention elsewhere – it is information that you might never need and it can be time-consuming learning all the roads in central London, especially if you are not planning to make a living off taxi driving. An accurate GPS location is crucial for Uber and my iPhone just wasn’t there.
Today is 2026 and this guide has a long due update! Let’s dive into what we think it’s the best mobile to use for Uber today:
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Best Android Phone
Android Flagship
The Best Iphone
Midrange Phones
Budget Phones
The Best Android Phone For Uber – Poco F8 Pro
The Poco F8 Pro is an exceptional value proposition for Uber drivers in the UK, delivering flagship performance at just £400-£450 – roughly a third of the Samsung S25 Ultra’s price. Its massive 6,210mAh battery outperforms the S25 Ultra, providing extended endurance for long driving shifts without compromising on power. The standout feature is the blazing-fast 100W wired charging that fully charges the phone in under 40 minutes, more than double the S25 Ultra’s 45W speed, plus it includes 22.5W reverse charging to power other devices – perfect for charging wireless earbuds or a smartwatch during breaks.
The 6.59-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and impressive 3,500-nit peak brightness rivals the S25 Ultra’s outdoor visibility, making navigation crystal-clear even in bright London sunlight. At 199g, it’s noticeably lighter than the S25 Ultra’s 218g, reducing hand fatigue during extended shifts. Most impressively, the Poco F8 Pro features the same flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite processor as the S25 Ultra, paired with 12GB RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, delivering identical multitasking performance for running navigation, streaming, and the Uber Driver app simultaneously.
Compared to the S25 Ultra, the Poco F8 Pro offers a larger battery (6,210mAh vs 5,000mAh), significantly faster 100W charging (vs 45W), the same Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12GB RAM, similar display brightness, and lighter weight – all at roughly one-third the price. The S25 Ultra’s advantages are its larger 6.9-inch display with higher 1440p resolution (vs 1156p), premium titanium construction and superior quad-camera system. For Uber drivers who prioritise battery longevity, ultra-fast charging, and flagship performance without the premium price tag, the Poco F8 Pro is arguably the smartest choice – you’re getting 95% of the S25 Ultra’s driving-relevant capabilities at one-third the cost.
- Battery: 6,210mAh
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.1)
- Display: 6.59-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Charging: 100W wired fast charging (~40 mins full charge), 22.5W reverse charging
- Durability: IP68 water and dust resistance, Gorilla Glass 7i
- Weight: 199 grams
- Operating System: Android 16 – 6 years of security updates guaranteed
Runner Up / Luxury – Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is an exceptional choice for Uber drivers operating in London and across the UK, delivering the reliability and performance needed for long shifts on the road. With its 5,000mAh battery, the device provides outstanding endurance – lasting around 12-15 hours of continuous use under optimal conditions. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a great pick for Uber drivers in London, offering the kind of performance and reliability you need for long hours on the road. Its large 5,000mAh battery delivers excellent endurance, lasting over 17 hours with continuous use and up to 31 hours of video playback in ideal conditions. Ubering around is not optimial conditions so you will have to keep it plugged in if you want it to last a full shift, of course.
The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, with a 1 to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, makes navigation routes and passenger details easy to read at a glance. Thanks to the anti-glare Gorilla Armor 2 coating, visibility stays clear even in bright London daylight. Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor paired with 12GB of RAM keeps everything running smoothly, allowing you to switch between navigation, music, and driver apps without lag. This responsiveness really matters when you’re accepting trips quickly, navigating busy streets, and juggling multiple apps at once.
When it’s time to recharge between shifts or during short breaks, the 45W fast charging gets you from 0% to 50% in around 25 minutes, with a full charge taking about an hour. Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging add extra convenience – you can buy a car stand with wireless charging so you can charge the phone wirelessly while driving. Built with a durable titanium frame and IP68 water and dust resistance, the S25 Ultra is well suited to UK’s unpredictable weather and the demands of daily driving. With storage options up to 1TB, there’s also plenty of space for offline maps, playlists, and essential driver app data.
Notable Specs:
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- RAM: 12GB LPDDR5X
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
- Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED Screen
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Charging: 45W wired fast charging (0-50% in 25 mins, full charge in ~60 mins), 15W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging
- Durability: IP68 water and dust resistance, Corning Gorilla Armor 2, titanium frame
- Weight: 218 grams
The Best iPhone For Uber – iPhone 17 Pro
The iPhone 17 Pro is a highly capable device for London Uber drivers, offering Apple’s signature reliability and ecosystem integration that many drivers prefer. Its 4,252mAh battery delivers solid all-day performance with up to 26 hours of video playback, though this falls short of the S25 Ultra’s 5,000mAh capacity and 31-hour endurance. For drivers working extended 10-12 hour shifts, you may need a mid-day top-up, but the improved 25W wired charging (50% in 20 minutes) and 25W MagSafe wireless charging make quick charges during breaks highly convenient.
The 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion 120Hz adaptive refresh rate provides exceptional clarity for navigation, though it’s notably smaller than the S25 Ultra’s expansive 6.9-inch screen. The anti-reflective coating and 3,000-nit peak brightness ensure excellent outdoor visibility in London’s varying light conditions. Powered by Apple’s A19 Pro chip with 12GB RAM – matching the S25 Ultra’s memory – the iPhone 17 Pro handles multitasking between Uber Driver, Apple Maps, Spotify, and messaging apps seamlessly.
A significant advantage for iPhone users is the tight integration with Apple’s ecosystem: seamless CarPlay connectivity, iMessage for passenger communication, and AirDrop for sharing documents. The IP68 water resistance and Ceramic Shield 2 protection provide durability against London weather and daily wear. Storage options up to 1TB match the S25 Ultra’s capacity for offline maps and media.
Compared to the S25 Ultra, the iPhone 17 Pro offers superior wireless charging speeds (25W vs 15W) but slower wired charging (25W vs 45W). The smaller battery capacity and display size make it more pocket-friendly at 206g versus 218g, but the S25 Ultra provides better stamina for marathon driving sessions. Both devices offer 12GB RAM and flagship performance, though Samsung’s larger screen may be preferable for constant navigation viewing.
Specs
- Battery: 4,252mAh
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
- Display: 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Processor: Apple A19 Pro (6-core CPU)
- Charging: 25W wired fast charging (0-50% in 20 mins), 25W MagSafe/Qi2 wireless charging (0-50% in 30 mins), 4.5W reverse wired
- Durability: IP68 water and dust resistance, Ceramic Shield 2, aluminum alloy frame
- Weight: 206 grams
Midrange Phones
These are the types of phones that will will do the job just as well as the top of the range phones, but might not have the best camera or some gimmick flagships might have.
Samsung – A56
The Samsung Galaxy A56 is an excellent budget-friendly option for Uber drivers who want reliable performance without the flagship price tag. With its substantial 5,000mAh battery matching the S25 Ultra’s capacity, the A56 delivers impressive endurance – up to 29 hours of video playback and nearly 20 hours of continuous video watching in real-world tests. This means you can comfortably work full 10-12 hour shifts running navigation, the Uber Driver app, and music streaming without worrying about running out of power, making it just as capable as the much pricier flagship models for battery longevity.
The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate provides smooth, vibrant visuals for navigation and app management, with 1,200-nit brightness ensuring excellent visibility in bright London daylight. While the screen size nearly matches the S25 Ultra (6.9 inches), the A56 is lighter at 198g compared to the flagship’s 218g, making it more comfortable for extended handling. The Exynos 1580 octa-core processor paired with up to 12GB RAM delivers solid multitasking performance for simultaneously running Google Maps, Spotify, WhatsApp, and the Uber app, though it won’t quite match the raw power of the S25 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Elite or iPhone 17 Pro’s A19 Pro chip.
Fast charging is a strong point: the A56’s 45W wired charging matches the S25 Ultra, reaching 65% in just 30 minutes and fully charging in about 73 minutes. However, unlike both premium alternatives, there’s no wireless charging capability. The IP67 water resistance (vs IP68 on flagships) and Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection provide good durability for daily driving work.
At roughly £350-400, the A56 costs around a third of the S25 Ultra’s price while delivering 95% of the functionality an Uber driver actually needs. You sacrifice premium materials (aluminum vs titanium), wireless charging, and cutting-edge camera systems, but gain identical battery capacity, comparable screen size, and fast charging speeds. For drivers prioritising value and practicality over prestige, the A56 is the smartest choice.
Google Pixel 9a
The Google Pixel 9a is an outstanding budget option for London Uber drivers, offering flagship-tier features at just £317-462. Its impressive 5,100mAh battery – larger than both the A56 and S25 Ultra – delivers over 30 hours of typical use and a 52-hour endurance rating, easily handling full 12-hour shifts with navigation, music streaming, and the Uber Driver app running continuously.
The 6.3-inch P-OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and exceptional 2,700-nit peak brightness significantly outperforms the A56’s 1,200 nits, ensuring superior visibility in bright London sunlight. At just 186g versus the A56’s 198g, it’s lighter and more comfortable for extended handling. The Google Tensor G4 processor with 8GB RAM benchmarks 38% faster than the A56’s Exynos 1580, handling simultaneous navigation, messaging, and media apps smoothly.
Charging is the main compromise: 23W wired charging is roughly half the A56’s 45W speed, though the Pixel includes 7.5W wireless charging (which the A56 lacks). The IP68 water resistance surpasses the A56’s IP67 rating, while Google’s seven-year software update commitment ensures longevity.
Compared to the A56, the Pixel 9a offers superior brightness, larger battery, better performance, wireless charging, and stronger water resistance at a similar or lower price. The A56’s advantages are its larger 6.7-inch screen, faster 45W charging, and RAM options up to 12GB.
Key Specifications for Uber Drivers
Battery: 5,100mAh (30+ hours typical use, 52-hour endurance rating)
Specs
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR5X
- Storage: 128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
- Display: 6.3-inch P-OLED, 120Hz, 2,700 nits peak brightness
- Processor: Google Tensor G4 (octa-core, up to 3.1GHz)
- Charging: 23W wired, 7.5W wireless
- Durability: IP68, Gorilla Glass 3, aluminum frame
- Weight: 186 grams
- OS: Android 15 (7 years updates)
Poco X7 Pro
The Poco X7 Pro is a 5G-capable Android smartphone featuring a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8400-Ultra chipset built on a modern 4 nm process, which delivers very strong performance for daily tasks, navigation, music streaming, and ride-sharing apps without lag. It runs Android 15 with HyperOS and typically comes with 8 GB or 12 GB of RAM paired with 256 GB or 512 GB of fast UFS 4.0 storage.
The 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate is bright and fluid, making map reading and app navigation easy even in sunlight. For imaging, it has a 50 MP main camera with OIS and an 8 MP ultra-wide plus a 20 MP front camera – good enough for capturing road scenes or quick snaps, though not a priority for Uber driving.
Battery life is a major strength: the 6,000 mAh battery easily lasts all day of heavy use (maps + music + calls), and 90 W fast charging lets you top up quickly between rides. The phone also includes IP68 dust/water resistance, which adds durability for day-to-day use in varying weather.
Specs
- RAM: 8 GB / 12 GB LPDDR5X
- Storage: 256 GB / 512 GB (UFS 4.0)
- Display: 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED, 120 Hz, up to ~3200 nits peak brightness
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 8400-Ultra (octa-core, up to ~3.25 GHz)
- Charging: 90 W wired fast charging
- Durability: IP68 water/dust resistance; Gorilla Glass (front)
- Weight: ~195 g
- OS: Android 15 with HyperOS
XIAOMI Redmi Note 15 5G
The Redmi Note 15 5G runs Android 15 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS on top, giving a fresh, modern software experience with update support typical of new Redmi devices. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 5G chipset, built on a 4 nm process for efficient daily performance and smooth multitasking in this segment. Typical memory configurations include 6 GB to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage, with microSD expansion available in many regions.
The phone sports a 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and up to 3200 nits peak brightness, making it bright and fluid for media and gaming. The curved display adds a premium feel at this price.
For cameras, the Note 15 5G includes a 108 MP main sensor paired with an 8 MP ultra-wide unit and a 20 MP front camera for selfies – offering versatile shooting across lighting conditions. Battery life is strong thanks to a 5,520 mAh battery with 45 W fast charging, keeping you going through a full day with ease.
Other notable features include stereo speakers, NFC (region-dependent), USB-C, and a slim, lightweight design with an IP65/66 dust and water resistance rating – rare at this tier. Overall, the Redmi Note 15 5G delivers a compelling mix of performance, display quality, camera versatility, and long battery life for a competitive mid-range 5G smartphone.
Specs
- RAM: 6 GB / 8 GB / 12 GB (varies by model)
- Storage: 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB (UFS 2.2), expandable via microSD up to ~1 TB
- Display: 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED, 120 Hz, up to ~3200 nits peak brightness
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (octa-core, Adreno GPU, 4 nm)
- Charging: 45 W wired fast charging
- Durability: IP65/IP66 water & dust resistance; curved glass build (exact Gorilla Glass spec varies by region)
- Weight: ~178 g
- OS: Android 15 with HyperOS
Budget Phones
Still usable, but don’t expect the best camera or the fastest processor. If you are absolutely on the budget, but ready to get on the Uber wagon, these will do the job and won’t let you or your riders down:
Xiaomi Redmi 15
The Xiaomi Redmi 15 is an ultra-budget champion for London Uber drivers who prioritise battery life above all else, priced at just £155-180. Its absolutely massive 7,000mAh battery is the largest in this entire comparison lineup, delivering an extraordinary 67-hour endurance rating – meaning you can easily work multiple full shifts without recharging. This exceptional battery capacity makes it ideal for drivers who work long hours or consecutive shifts without easy access to charging, providing unmatched reliability for running navigation, the Uber Driver app, and music streaming continuously throughout extended workdays.
The expansive 6.9-inch IPS LCD display with 144Hz refresh rate provides smooth scrolling through routes and apps, though its 850-nit peak brightness is adequate but won’t match OLED flagships in bright sunlight. At 217g, it’s one of the heavier options due to the enormous battery, but the trade-off is exceptional endurance. The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 processor with up to 8GB RAM handles everyday multitasking adequately for navigation, messaging, and media streaming, though it won’t deliver the flagship-level speed of the S25 Ultra or Poco F8 Pro.
The 33W fast charging is respectable given the enormous battery capacity, fully charging in approximately 1.5 hours – slower than premium options but understandable considering you’re charging 7,000mAh. The IP64 rating provides basic splash resistance rather than full waterproofing, so extra care is needed in heavy London rain compared to IP67/IP68 devices. Storage options up to 256GB with microSD expansion provide ample space for offline maps and media, while the IR blaster and 3.5mm headphone jack absence are minor considerations.
For Uber drivers on a tight budget who need a phone that simply won’t die during long shifts, the Redmi 15 offers unbeatable battery endurance at an incredibly accessible price point – you’re essentially getting two days of heavy use for less than the cost of a tank of fuel.
Specs
- Battery: 7,000mAh (67-hour endurance rating – longest available)
- RAM: 4GB / 6GB / 8GB
- Storage: 128GB / 256GB (UFS 2.2, microSD expandable)
- Display: 6.9-inch IPS LCD, 144Hz refresh rate, 1080 x 2340 resolution, 850 nits peak brightness
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 (octa-core, up to 2.3GHz)
- Charging: 33W wired fast charging (~1.5 hours full charge), 18W reverse wired
- Durability: IP64 splash resistance, Gorilla Glass 3
- Weight: 217 grams
- Operating System: Android 15 with HyperOS 2.2
Poco C85
The POCO C85 is a budget-friendly Android smartphone from POCO that brings some surprisingly strong features for its price, focusing on a large display, long battery life, and everyday performance. It’s designed to appeal to first-time smartphone buyers and users who want a reliable daily device without a premium price tag.
At the heart of the C85 is a 6.9-inch IPS LCD display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling and animations feel smoother than on many budget rivals – a nice touch for social media, browsing, and media playback. While the resolution is HD+ rather than Full HD, it still delivers a bright and comfortable viewing experience for most everyday tasks.
Under the hood you’ll find a MediaTek Helio G81-Ultra octa-core processor paired with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of expandable storage. This configuration handles basic tasks – messaging, email, navigation, streaming, and social apps – smoothly, though it’s not built for heavy gaming or intensive multitasking.
One of the C85’s biggest strengths is its 6000 mAh battery, which easily lasts a full day (and often two) of typical use and supports 33 W wired fast charging so you can top up quickly when needed. The device also includes IP64 splash/dust resistance and a lightweight, comfortable curved body that’s easy to hold.
For cameras, the phone sports a 50 MP main sensor with imaging suited to daylight shots and an 8 MP front camera for selfies – a decent for casual photography on a budget. And it runs Android 15 with HyperOS, giving you a modern interface and basic OS support expected from newer phones.
In summary: the POCO C85 delivers a very large display, excellent battery life, and solid everyday performance at a very accessible price – making it a compelling choice in the entry-level segment.
Specs
- AM: 6 GB / 8 GB LPDDR4X
- Storage: 128 GB / 256 GB (eMMC 5.1), expandable via microSD (up to ~1 TB)
- Display: 6.9-inch IPS LCD, 120 Hz, HD+ (720 × 1600) with ~810 nits peak brightness
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G81-Ultra (octa-core, up to ~2.0 GHz)
- Charging: 33 W wired fast charging (USB-C)
- Durability: IP64 splash/dust resistance (varies by market)
- Weight: ~205–211 g
- OS: Android 15 with HyperOS 2.0