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Samsung's ultra-thin Galaxy phone is a greatly misunderstood device - and I shamelessly love it
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is here, ahead of the rumored iPhone 17 Air (or Slim) to mark a new era of ultra-thin phones. At just 5.8mm thick, this is the slimmest Galaxy S model to date. While Samsung is boasting about packing flagship specifications in a thin design, the best part about the Galaxy S25 Edge isn't its thickness. Let me explain.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge weighs 163 grams, which is just one gram more than the smaller Galaxy S25. It might not seem surprisingly light on paper, but when you look at it from a bigger picture, you realize there is no mainstream phone that features a 6.7-inch screen, a flagship chipset, and a lightweight design.
Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge hands-on: This ultra-thin phone made my iPhone feel outdated
The closest rival, the iPhone 16 Plus, weighs 199 grams, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL measures 221 grams. Moreover, smaller phones like the Google Pixel 9 and iPhone 16 weigh 198g and 170g, respectively. The Galaxy S25 Edge, by contrast, is a big phone without the big phone weight.
It is not without its limitations, but the fact that I can get a good-quality 6.7-inch screen in a 163g body is a major win, and I almost can't turn back.
Redefining a compact phone in 2025
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge's always-on display
According to Counterpoint, the biggest iPhone (Pro Max) has been the best-selling model for the last two years in two consecutive quarters (Q4 and into Q1), while the Galaxy S25 Ultra has been the best-selling S25 series phone in Q1 2025.
Also: I've tested every Samsung Galaxy S25 model - and my favorite isn't the Ultra
That data suggests an appetite for big-screen phones among consumers, and it could be one of the reasons (apart from the middling battery life) Apple's iPhone Mini lineup was short-lived. The Galaxy S25 Edge fixes at least one of those concerns with its 6.7-inch AMOLED display at a QHD+ resolution. It has a big and sharp screen without the added heft.
That means you can stream content, scroll through feeds of information, and consume without the burden of wrist or arm strain. At a time when we're so interconnected with our devices, a compact phone doesn't necessarily need to be small. It can be 'compact' by shaving off millimeters in thickness and thus weight.
Understanding its limitations
To make a thin phone, Samsung had to compromise on the battery capacity and camera versatility of the Galaxy S25 Edge. Namely, the phone packs a mere 3,900mAh battery, which is the smallest on any Samsung flagship available right now. Of course, processing efficiency and thermal management also play a role in endurance.
Also: I changed 7 Samsung phone settings to significantly improve the battery life
But with a thinner form factor, I'm also concerned about that latter point on the Galaxy S25 Edge. The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is efficient and remains cool for the most part, but the S25 Edge doesn't have much room for similar vapor cooling as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. After only a few hours of usage, I've already noticed moments of heat build-up on the top half of the back cover. How this all fares over time remains to be tested.
The cameras also have one fewer sensor than the rest of the Galaxy S25 series. However, Samsung managed to borrow the main camera sensor from the Galaxy S25 Ultra and pack it into the S25 Edge's slim body, so you get a 200MP main camera alongside an ultrawide-angle sensor. When shooting in 200MP mode, you can expect more details and then crop it in the post instead of relying on digital zoom.
Why thin phones are here to stay
The Galaxy S25 Edge isn't perfect, but I love the idea of it. Unlike the iPhone Mini era, we have solutions for the Edge's shortcomings. For example, a silicon-carbon anode battery would be perfect for thin phones because it packs high-density power in a slimmer profile.
Samsung can also go a similar route as Oppo's Find X8 Ultra to add optical zoom. It sports a tri-prism telephoto camera, helping to slim down its camera module while retaining optical zoom capabilities.
Samsung is reportedly already looking to replace one of the next-gen S-series phones with the Edge. According to The Elec, the company wants to replace the Galaxy S26 Plus with the Galaxy S26 Edge. But Samsung might "change Edge back to Plus if the Galaxy S25 Edge doesn't perform well."
I'm hoping the Edge model gets more interest and doesn't meet the same fate as the iPhone Mini series, especially because the tech to fix its shortcomings exists, and Samsung can adopt it to make it a more convincing product.
Also: I changed 10 Samsung phone settings to significantly improve the software experience
When I first learned about the Galaxy S25 Edge, I questioned its existence. But after using it for a couple of days, I can see the benefits of having a big display in a lightweight design. After all, who wouldn't want a big, bright, and vivid display in a 163g form factor?
I'm looking forward to using the Galaxy S25 Edge as my daily driver. The addition of Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 is promising for durability, while One UI 7 stays slick as ever. I just hope the battery holds up for at least a whole work day, because I love the in-hand feel of this phone and don't want to put it down.
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