The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge’s reason to exist is its thinness, so it really needs to be something special as otherwise, what’s the point in it being made at all? The great news is, it really is something special and it looks unlike any other smartphone available at the moment.
I fell for its lithe frame during my short initial time with the phone, but is the thinness enough to make it worth considering over another Galaxy S25 model? Here’s my early impressions.
All about the thinness
I handled the Galaxy S25 Edge for around an hour and when it was time for me to leave my hands-on session, I didn’t want to put it down. This is the essential reaction to the phone, as without it, you may as well buy a regular Galaxy S25 series phone because internally, there isn’t any benefit to owning the S25 Edge.
It’s the comfort level that impresses so much. It doesn’t seem Samsung has simply shaved a few millimeters off a Galaxy S25+ and hoped for the best. The point where the titanium frame meets the glass is minutely chamfered, banishing the awful sharpness introduced with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Because it’s so much thinner and lighter, it’s totally different to holding the Galaxy S25+ too. The numbers — 5.8mm and 163 grams — may not sound all that groundbreaking, but believe me, when you hold the Galaxy S25 Edge it feels like no other modern smartphone. For the hour I handled and photographed it, it never once felt fatiguing, I didn’t find an unpleasant angle, and I never felt like it was about to break free from my hand. It’s light but never flighty, and when I put it in my pocket, it didn’t weigh me down.
What about the durability?
I know what you’re thinking. If it’s so thin and light, is it still going to be durable, or will it bend in anything more than a stiff breeze? The frame is made from titanium, and it’s actually part of the subframe, meaning it’s for more than just looks. The front glass is Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, and it’s the first time it’s being used on a smartphone, while Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers the back.
It certainly doesn’t feel insubstantial, and there’s no immediately obvious flex when you try and twist the phone. I’m sure that if you go out of your way to break the Galaxy S25 Edge you will succeed, and I don’t think I’d want to sit down with it in my back pocket very often. But I feel this is true for any phone. I’d also be shocked if Samsung hadn’t stress-tested the S25 Edge into oblivion, as it won’t want the awful press if it suddenly turns into Bendgate 2.
You could put it in a case if you’re worried, but this would ruin the joy of the thin chassis, or you could just be mindful of the S25 Edge just like you would a piece of expensive jewelry or a pair of sunglasses. The Galaxy S25 Edge exists at the intersection between the functional design of the S25 Ultra and the mass appeal of the standard S25. It’s design-led, and should really appeal to the fashion-conscious. I doubt it will appeal to people who want a workhorse phone. It’s slightly upsetting Samsung hasn’t been more adventurous with the colors for this reason. Of the three — Jet Black, Titanium Silver, and Icy Blue — it’s only the Icy Blue which gives the S25 Edge some pizazz.
Isn’t it just a thin S25?
The Galaxy S25 Edge’s specification is typical of the S25 range. It has a 6.7-inch screen with a Quad HD resolution and a 2,600 nit peak brightness, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of internal storage, and One UI 7 software over Android 15. It has all the Galaxy AI features including Now Brief from other S25 phones, and the software will be supported for seven years with major OS and security updates.
What about the camera? The 200-megapixel main camera is the same as the one on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but the module has been reduced in size by 18% to fit into the new chassis. The S25 Ultra’s 200MP camera hasn’t impressed all that much, so this may not be the selling point Samsung hopes it will be. It’s joined only by a 12MP wide-angle camera, but there’s no telephoto camera at all. If you want one of those, you have to buy the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, or Galaxy S25 Ultra. It’s a serious downside, as even mid-range phones have telephoto cameras today, and the S25 Edge is relying on its thinness to drag buyers away from them.
Then there’s the battery life. It’s a 3,900mAh cell inside the phone, which Samsung says it has optimized to deliver 24 hours of video playback from a single charge. In the real world, as the cell has a smaller capacity than the regular Galaxy S25, expect a full day from it if you don’t play many games. It’s also unfortunate Samsung has only given the S25 Edge 25W wired charging, not 45W. When we spend more time with the phone we’ll understand more about camera performance and battery life, but there’s not much here to fill us with confidence.
How much will it cost?
The 256GB Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will cost $1,099 or 1,099 British pounds, and the top 512GB version will be $1,199 or 1,199 pounds. It will be released on May 30. Samsung will introduce the Galaxy Club to the U.K. and other regions, giving you the chance to pay for your phone with 0% interest with the option to upgrade after 12 months, and get at least 50% of the device’s value back. The Galaxy Club also includes two years of Samsung Care+ accident and damage protection. The Galaxy Club is already available in the U.S..
The S25 Edge will be a trendsetter
The Galaxy S25 Edge’s thinness is highly likely to encourage other brands to push forward with their own thinner-than-usual smartphones, and because it’s the first big-name brand to get one on sale, it will be considered a trendsetter. The phone feels fantastic in your hand, it looks great, and is genuinely different. It’s going to turn heads.
However, it’s only the thinness that makes it different. It has the same size screen, the same processor, and the same software as the Galaxy S25+, but a less technically impressive camera and a smaller capacity battery. It couldn’t replace the Galaxy S25+ in the range because of this, and the only reasons Samsung is offering to tempt you into buying it over the S25+ is its size, weight, and accompanying design.
This is the Galaxy S25 Edge’s selling point. Not everyone will get it, but those that do are going to love it.
