Samsung Unveils Galaxy S25 Edge: The Ultra-Thin Phone Arrives

The race for the slimmest smartphone has a new frontrunner. Samsung, not wanting to be outdone by the anticipated "iPhone 17 Air," which is rumored to be revealed by Apple this fall, has officially presented its contender: the Galaxy S25 Edge. The device, teased earlier this year during the broader Galaxy S25 series announcement in January, has been a subject of much speculation and anticipation, largely due to its extraordinarily slim profile.

At a mere 5.8mm thick, excluding the camera bump (a design element that manufacturers rarely include in their thickness measurements), the Galaxy S25 Edge is Samsung’s thinnest Android phone to date. This achievement surpasses even the Galaxy A8 from 2018, which measured in at a relatively hefty 5.9mm. The new phone’s thinness is so remarkable that the article jokes that it’s "nearly as thin as the USB-C port," highlighting the incredible engineering feat required to achieve such a slender design.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is slated to hit the market on May 30th, with pre-orders commencing on May 12th. However, this cutting-edge technology comes at a premium. The base model, equipped with 256GB of storage, will retail for $1,099, while the 512GB version will cost $1,219. For that price, you are getting a phone that weighs only 163g.

Those who have been closely following tech rumors will find little surprise in the phone’s specifications, as most of the information has already been leaked and verified. The S25 Edge features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, providing a smooth and visually appealing experience. The camera system includes a dual-lens setup, featuring a high-resolution 200-megapixel main lens and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens. A 12-megapixel selfie camera is also included for high-quality self-portraits.

Durability is another key feature of the S25 Edge, boasting an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, making it as resilient as other top-tier smartphones. The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy, ensuring top-notch performance. The phone comes in two configurations: 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage, and 12GB of RAM with 512GB of storage.

One of the key considerations with such a slim phone is battery life. The S25 Edge includes a 3,900mAh battery. While this may seem adequate, it’s smaller compared to the other models in the S25 lineup, which feature 4,000mAh (S25), 4,900mAh (S25+), and 5,000mAh (S25 Ultra) batteries. The Apple iPhone 17 Air is also rumored to have shorter battery life than the other models. However, the S25 Edge does support fast wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, a feature that some feared might be sacrificed to achieve the phone’s slim design.

The Galaxy S25 Edge also incorporates Galaxy AI, Samsung’s suite of generative AI features, integrated into its One UI version of Android. Among these features are "Now Brief," which generates notifications and reminders based on user schedules and app usage, and "Now Bar," which displays live updates and other relevant information on the lock screen. "Now Bar" is similar to the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, but is at the bottom of the screen. The AI also features "Drawing Assist," which enhances rough sketches into detailed illustrations, and "Audio Eraser," which eliminates unwanted background noises from videos.

The article humorously considers the phone’s thinness, suggesting that it might be thin enough to cut through cake. It also raises the question of its structural integrity, questioning whether the S25 Edge might be prone to bending.

The writer ultimately poses the key question to potential buyers: are the tradeoffs of the S25 Edge, such as a smaller battery and fewer cameras compared to other flagship phones, worth the benefits of its ultra-thin design? The author also expresses relief that the S25 Edge has two rear cameras, unlike the rumored single-lens setup of the iPhone 17 Air.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge represents a bold step in smartphone design, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in terms of slimness. It remains to be seen whether consumers will embrace this ultra-thin design, accepting the potential compromises in battery life and other features.