In a world where smartphones keep getting bigger and heavier, Samsung is taking a bold step in the opposite direction with the Galaxy S25 Edge. Unveiled on May 12, 2025, at a virtual Galaxy Unpacked event, this ultra-slim flagship is a marvel of engineering, measuring just 5.8mm thick and weighing a mere 163 grams. It’s one of the thinnest and lightest phones on the market (about 8 credit cards stacked together thick), but as we’ll explore, its svelte design comes with some notable trade-offs. Let’s dive into what makes the Galaxy S25 Edge stand out—and where it falls short.
A Feat of Design: Thin, Light, and Premium
The Galaxy S25 Edge is a phone that demands to be felt to be believed. At 5.8mm thick (not counting the camera bump), it’s slimmer than any traditional Samsung slab phone in recent memory, though it’s slightly thicker than the company’s foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (5.6mm when unfolded). Weighing just 163 grams, it’s only a gram heavier than the base Galaxy S25, despite packing a larger 6.7-inch AMOLED QHD+ 120Hz display—matching the screen size of the Galaxy S25 Plus. This combination of a big screen in a featherlight, ultra-thin body is the Edge’s biggest selling point.
Samsung hasn’t skimped on premium materials either. The phone boasts a titanium frame for durability and lightness, paired with Corning’s new Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the display for enhanced resilience. Available in Titanium IcyBlue, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Jetblack, the S25 Edge exudes a sleek, futuristic vibe. As The Verge’s Dominic Preston notes, the phone’s weight is its most impressive feature: “It solves at least half the problem people have with big phones, and is far more noticeable than a slightly slimmer body.” But while the Edge feels sturdy and luxurious, its thinness does introduce quirks—like an off-center SIM tray, USB-C port, and speaker, which might irk perfectionists.
Power and Performance: No Compromises Here
Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 Edge is every bit a flagship. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, the same processor found across the S25 lineup, ensuring top-tier performance for gaming, multitasking, and AI-driven tasks. With 12GB of RAM and storage options of 256GB ($1,099.99) or 512GB ($1,219.99), it’s well-equipped for power users. Samsung’s One UI 7, layered with Galaxy AI features, enhances productivity and creativity, from real-time translations to advanced photo editing.
The 6.7-inch display is another highlight, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for buttery-smooth scrolling. Despite its thin profile, Samsung managed to fit a vapor chamber cooling system, using new materials to dissipate heat effectively. Early hands-on impressions suggest the phone remains cool under pressure, even during intensive tasks.
The Camera: High Resolution, Limited Versatility
Samsung’s camera system on the S25 Edge is a mixed bag. Running Samsung’s One UI 7 version of Android, the star of the show is the 200MP main camera, borrowed from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, capable of stunningly detailed photos and 2x optical-quality zoom. Paired with a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 12MP front-facing camera, it supports 8K video recording and leverages Galaxy AI for features like background object removal and audio cleanup in videos. However, the absence of a telephoto lens—a staple on other S25 models—is a glaring omission. For a phone priced between the S25 Plus ($999) and S25 Ultra ($1,299), this feels like a significant sacrifice, limiting its versatility for zoom-heavy photography.
Samsung’s new ALoP (All Lenses on Prism) camera tech, debuted at CES 2025, helps keep the camera module slim while improving brightness and reducing noise. But without a telephoto lens, users relying on digital zoom beyond 2x may notice a drop in quality, especially in low light. For casual photographers, the 200MP sensor and AI enhancements will likely suffice, but enthusiasts might feel shortchanged.
Battery Life: The Biggest Trade-Off
The Galaxy S25 Edge’s most concerning compromise is its battery. At 3,900mAh, it’s the smallest in the S25 lineup, trailing the 4,000mAh cell in the base S25 and the 4,900mAh battery in the S25 Plus. Powering a large 6.7-inch display with such a modest capacity raises red flags about endurance. Samsung claims the phone can deliver 24 hours of video playback—five hours less than the S25 Plus—and insists optimizations in the Snapdragon 8 Elite and display efficiency make it a “full-day phone.” It should be noted that “Batteries don’t last forever, and I don’t trust that the Edge will be a full-day phone forever.”
Charging speeds are another letdown. The S25 Edge supports 25W wired and 15W wireless charging, lagging behind the 45W wired charging of the S25 Plus and Ultra. Samsung quotes up to 55% charge in 30 minutes with a 25W charger, but faster charging could have offset the small battery’s limitations. For power users or those who can’t recharge midday, the Edge’s battery life could be a dealbreaker.
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy S25 Edge isn’t cheap. Starting at $1,099.99 for 256GB, it’s $100 more than the S25 Plus and $200 less than the S25 Ultra. Preorders are open now, with a free storage upgrade to 512GB if you buy directly from Samsung, and the phone hits stores on May 30, 2025. While the price reflects its premium build and flagship specs, the compromises in battery and camera versatility make it a tougher sell for value-conscious buyers.
The S25 Edge arrives amid a growing obsession with thin smartphones. Apple’s rumored iPhone 17 Air, expected in September 2025, and devices like Oppo’s Find N5 foldable (4.21mm when open) signal a shift toward sleeker designs. For Samsung, the S25 Edge is also a strategic move to boost its mobile division amid slumping sales and looming US tariff uncertainties. By launching a premium, eye-catching device, Samsung aims to recapture consumer excitement and sustain flagship sales. Whether it succeeds will depend on how buyers weigh its stunning design against its practical limitations.
My Verdict: Style Over Substance?
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is a triumph of design, delivering a shockingly thin and light phone without sacrificing flagship performance or build quality. Its 200MP camera, vibrant display, and powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset make it a compelling choice for those who value portability and style. However, the lack of a telephoto lens and a worryingly small 3,900mAh battery are compromises that can’t be ignored, especially at its $1,099 price point.
If you’re someone who’s tired of bulky phones and wants a big screen in a pocket-friendly package, the S25 Edge might be your dream device. But if battery life and camera versatility are non-negotiable, the S25 Plus or Ultra may offer better value. As Samsung kicks off a new era of slim smartphones, the Galaxy S25 Edge is a bold statement, just one that asks you to make a few sacrifices for its sleek silhouette.
