Summary:
Samsung has officially launched its sleekest smartphone yet—the Galaxy S25 Edge. With a 5.8mm thickness and premium features like a titanium frame and AI integration, the new model positions itself as a lightweight powerhouse, months before Apple’s next iPhone release.


A New Era of Slim Smartphones

Samsung Electronics has introduced the Galaxy S25 Edge, a slim and lightweight addition to its flagship smartphone lineup. Measuring just 5.8mm in thickness and weighing 163 grams, the device marks a shift back to ultra-thin phone designs, a trend not seen since the early smartphone era.

Available in the U.S. starting May 30 for $1,099, the Galaxy S25 Edge is about 30% thinner and 25% lighter than the high-end S25 Ultra model. Despite the trimmed-down profile, Samsung has packed in high-end features, including a titanium frame, a 200MP rear camera, and advanced artificial intelligence capabilities.


Lightweight Design, Premium Features

Blake Gaiser, Samsung’s head of smartphone product management for the Americas, highlighted that customer feedback played a pivotal role in shaping the S25 Edge. “Weight and feel in the hand have become crucial. Users are looking for something that’s easy to carry without sacrificing performance,” he noted.

The Galaxy S25 Edge includes a 6.7-inch display, 12GB of RAM, and storage options of 256GB and 512GB. It’s $100 more than the S25 Plus but $200 less than the Ultra. However, the slim profile comes with a few trade-offs: the Edge lacks telephoto cameras, S Pen support, and a 1TB storage option.


Battery Life: A Balancing Act

One of the challenges of a thinner phone is battery capacity. The S25 Edge houses a 3,900mAh battery, slightly less than the 4,000mAh in the base S25 and far behind the 5,000mAh in the S25 Ultra. Samsung has attempted to mitigate this with AI-powered software optimizations, promising all-day battery life under typical usage conditions.


Manufacturing Strategy and Market Timing

Samsung stated that tariffs did not influence the pricing of the S25 Edge, noting that production for U.S. models takes place in South Korea, Vietnam, and India, rather than China. This strategic manufacturing shift contrasts with Apple, which continues to rely heavily on Chinese facilities.

The S25 Edge was initially slated for an April launch but faced delays following the sudden passing of Co-CEO Han Jong-hee in March. Despite the delay, the release comes ahead of Apple’s iPhone 17, which is also expected to feature a slimmer design.


A Return to the Thin Phone Wars?

In the early days of the smartphone market, thinness was a major selling point. Over time, priorities shifted to battery life, camera quality, and processing power. Now, with devices like the Galaxy S25 Edge, Samsung and Apple appear to be reviving the pursuit of ultra-slim handsets—potentially as luxury or design-forward alternatives within their broader offerings.

Samsung is also experimenting with in-store experience innovations. The S25 Edge will not be tethered with security wires; instead, a lightweight adhesive will allow shoppers to feel how the phone fits in their hand or pocket—just as if they owned it.


Source: South China Morning Post

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