Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Hands-On: This Thin Phone Left a Deep Impression

I’ve used loads of totally different telephones in a number of kind elements: massive ones, small ones, telephones that fold in ways in which appear too fragile to work. However as I maintain Samsung’s super-thin and lightweight — but surprisingly sturdy — Galaxy S25 Edge, the first word that comes to mind is “ethereal.” My subsequent thought is: If I have been the S25 Plus, I might be apprehensive. 

In my early hands-on with the S25 Edge at a preview occasion in New York, I used to be struck by how a lot the brand new cellphone carries over from its S25 counterparts. It maintains the 200-megapixel large digital camera from the S25 Ultra, the 6.7-inch show from the S25 Plus and the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor you will discover throughout the opposite three S25 gadgets. But it surely does so inside a glossy, 5.8mm titanium body, clocking in at 163 grams. It looks like one thing I can throw in my bag or pocket and hardly discover.

In actual fact, the S25 Edge strikes me as precisely what a middle-of-the-line flagship cellphone ought to be: a recent, elevated tackle the baseline mannequin, which pulls in premium options to justify its $1,100 value. The thrilling design, Extremely-level large digital camera and spacious show really make this an attractive choice for anybody who desires one thing just a little out of the atypical.

However that is to not say there are no compromises in retailer, probably the most notable being the battery; extra on that later. 

Preorders for the Galaxy S25 Edge are open now, and the cellphone will arrive on Might 30. It is available in three colours: silver, jet black and icy blue. 

Watch this: Galaxy S25 Edge Fingers-On: Samsung’s Tremendous-Skinny Telephone Is Spectacular

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What makes the S25 Edge stand out

The most important query main as much as the discharge of the S25 Edge has been: Why would someone want a thinner phone anyway? After spending just a little time with the system, I started to see the enchantment. 

Whereas the S25 Edge’s thickness will not be visually hanging at first look, getting your palms on the cellphone is a special story. Evaluating how the S25 Edge’s 5.8mm, 163g body feels to the S25 and S25 Plus, I registered simply how a lot thinner and lighter it truly is. For reference, the baseline S25 is 7.2mm thick and weighs 162g, however has a smaller 6.2-inch display screen. The S25 Plus has the identical 6.7-inch show because the Edge, however is 7.3mm thick and weighs 190g. It is a noticeable distinction. 

The second of fact was making use of some pressure to the cellphone to see if it gave in any respect. Impressively, it felt fairly sturdy. (If not, I might in all probability have gotten myself into some bother with Samsung.) It touts a Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 show, together with a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 backing. My preliminary impression is that you simply should not have to fret about by chance turning the S25 Edge right into a foldable by holding it in your again pocket, however that is actually one thing I will have to check in my evaluation. The S25 Edge additionally maintains the identical IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance you will discover on the opposite S25 sequence telephones. 

The most important trade-off, no less than on paper, seems to be battery capability. The Galaxy S25 Edge’s 3,900 mAh battery pales compared to what you will get on the baseline S25 (4,000 mAh) and the S25 Plus (4,900 mAh). Samsung is not sharing what number of hours you will get out of the S25 Edge’s battery, aside from stating it will final you all day. That is one thing else I stay up for testing. The S25 Edge helps 25-watt wired charging and 15-watt wi-fi charging. 

With thinner telephones, digital camera {hardware} can be scaled again. However the S25 Edge boasts three cameras: a 200-megapixel large, a 12-megapixel ultrawide and a 12-megapixel selfie digital camera. Megapixels aren’t every little thing, so I am desirous to see how that each one interprets into real-world pictures. Samsung factors to Galaxy AI for serving to to spice up digital camera high quality and for powering photograph modifying options like Generative Edit. 

Just like the S25 Plus, the S25 Edge has 12GB of RAM and 256GB and 512GB storage choices. It’s going to price just a little greater than the S25 Plus, although: $1,100 for 256GB and $1,220 for 512GB. But it surely’s nonetheless priced decrease than the top-of-the-line $1,300 S25 Extremely. 

You may discover the identical Galaxy AI options Samsung has been touting on the remainder of its S25 telephones, like Sketch to Picture and Audio Eraser. Gemini options are additionally onboard, like Gemini Live and Circle to Search. 

On the sting of a brand new development

The launch of the Galaxy S25 Edge comes amid a thin-phone phenomenon. Earlier this 12 months, Oppo launched its super-thin Find N5 foldable, which it calls the “world’s thinnest book-style foldable,” measuring simply 8.93mm thick when closed and 4.21mm thick when opened. Apple can be rumored to be creating a thinner “Air” model of the iPhone 17. And at MWC 2025, cellphone maker Tecno confirmed off its Spark Slim cellphone idea, which measures 5.75mm thick and weighs simply 146 grams, in line with the corporate.

Relying on how shoppers reply, the S25 Edge might be the cellphone to assist kickstart the skinny cellphone craze. If folks do not must compromise an excessive amount of in terms of digital camera, storage and battery — three of the biggest considerations when shopping for a cellphone, in line with a CNET survey — they might be inclined to pay up for a recent kind issue. In any case, telephones have turn into relatively boring and predictable, other than a handful of foldable choices. The S25 Edge might be a breath of recent air. 

I stay up for seeing how the S25 Edge holds up in the actual world and whether or not it really can preserve its edge (I needed to do it).