Do You Actually Want An Ultra-Thin Smartphone?

The going trend for smartphones in 2025 seems to be cutting down on thickness. But, the more I think about it, the more I’m curious – who actually wants this?

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Smartphones have evolved greatly over the past several years, to the point where the form factor is “mature” at this point. That’s to say, outside of aesthetic choices, most smartphones are essentially the same nowadays. You might get a different materials or finish on one device, or some fun textures and colors on another, but at their core, most smartphones are delivering the same basic experience in 2025.

So, what’s next?

Apparently, razor-thin devices.

For foldables, this felt inevitable. The number one complaint of most foldables over the past several years has been how unwieldy they can be when folded up. The first few Galaxy Fold devices were beastly in hindsight, but manufacturers have really been focusing on fixing this issue lately. Honor was the first to really push the envelope with its Magic V2 and V3, and now Oppo has set a new record with the ultra-thin 8.93mm thickness of the Find N5.

I get why we want foldables to be thinner. It makes for a better experience because you’re not lugging around a device that feels like two phones taped together. But I also think we’ve finally hit the law of diminishing returns. I’ve been using the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Oppo Find N5 side-by-side over the past couple of weeks and, I’ve got to say, they don’t feel that different. The Find N5 is thinner to an impressive degree, don’t get me wrong, but when I’m using one and then the other, the difference is negligible.

But again, I get it. Foldables need to be as thin as possible to feel “normal,” and I think Oppo has definitely nailed it at this point. Foldables are now as thin as they realistically need to be, and that’s great.

What’s confusing to me, is why so much effort is going into building thinner “normal” smartphones.

The average smartphone in 2025 is somewhere between 7mm and 8mm thick. It’s been that way for a while now, but some brands are trying to break new ground with devices that are under 6mm. My question is… why? Sure, a thin smartphone is impressive, but it also comes with real downsides.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is a perfect example here. Rumor has it that Samsung’s ultra-thin smartphone will be 5.84mm thick, a considerably thinner device than anything else in the Galaxy S25 series, and somewhat hilariously just a hair thicker than an unfolded Galaxy Z Fold 6. But that thin design comes at the expensive of battery life, as rumors have pinned the device with a mere 3,900 mAh battery, over 30% less than Samsung’s other big-screen smartphones. Tecno seems to be getting around this with newer battery tech in the “Spark Slim,” but that’s just a concept for now. I’d have to imagine there are also countless durability challenges with such a thin device as well.

So, why are we doing this?

The obvious answer is because Apple is doing it. The “iPhone 17 Air” is rumored to launch later this year with a profile as thin as 5.5mm at its thinnest point, but I really don’t get the appeal there either. Apple’s devices are already thin, and while such a slim device would be impressive, is it worth the downsides?

That’s the question I’ll pose to you readers. Do you actually want an ultra-thin smartphone? Am I crazy for not getting it? What about the concept is appealing to you? Let’s talk in the comments!

This Week’s Top Stories

Latest Android Auto updates

There are some updates headed to Android Auto this week. Firstly, that includes the rollout of v13.8, as well as new Waze functionality on certain vehicles with heads-up displays. There’s also been a fix discovered for the “reboot” issue that made for some headlines last week, though that was all a bit misleading as the problem was caused by some obscure developer settings.

• Android Auto 13.8 update now rolling out
• Android Auto’s reboot issue was seemingly caused by obscure developer settings
• Waze 5.4 update rolling out, brings maps to heads-up display on some vehicles

There’s a new Gemini Live update

Google is also rolling out a new update for Gemini Live. The experience is now powered by the “latest model,” though you won’t see any visual changes. We’ve got a guide on how to check if you’ve got the latest update.

• New Gemini Live starts rolling out: How to check if you have it

More Top Stories

• Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: Are these really the best smartphones on offer? [Video]
• Report: Samsung’s take on a ‘tri-fold’ foldable to have two separate displays
• Google ‘voluntary exits’ continue with PeopleOps team amid efficiency push
• The OnePlus 12R gets a permanent price drop, down to $399
• Lenovo Legion Tab is surprisingly still in stock as demand seemingly stabilizes
• Yes, Google Messages made the text field bigger
• Latest Pixel 9a hands-on leak shows a very cheap looking handset
• Samsung shows off new Galaxy Buds 3 features for One UI 7, ignores rollout delay
• 7 of the most underrated Google Pixel features you need to use more [Video]

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