Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge Is Here, But Is It The Pocket-Friendly Phone You’ve Been Waiting For?

Samsung’s usual Galaxy S-series launch went off without a hitch this year. Three phones, like usual, all launching in the first couple of months of the new year, like usual. Even the Galaxy S25 series was, like usual, perfectly fine. However, if you stayed tuned in to the final moments of Unpacked in January, you saw a tease for what was coming next from the company: the Galaxy S25 Edge. Now, after months of anticipation and — allegedly — a delayed launch, Samsung is finally ready to unveil its ultra-thin smartphone in full, and you can pre-order it right now.

At its core, the Galaxy S25 Edge is virtually identical to the rest of the S25 series. A Snapdragon 8 Elite processor? Check. A big, bright AMOLED display? Check. One UI 7 with Samsung’s usual Galaxy AI software features? Of course. Largely speaking, if you’re wondering about some of the more general specs for the Edge — its base storage or RAM configurations, its update policy, and so on — you’re better off either assuming it matches the rest of the Galaxy S25 trio, or skimming the specs list I’ve included below.

Instead, I think it’s worth tackling what’s new here, and that really comes down to three core things: the design, the camera, and the battery.

A familiar phone, with a few new tricks up its sleeve

But are these changes actually for the best?

First, the design. Obviously the Galaxy S25 Edge is significantly thinner and lighter than its large-screen peers. Despite the 6.7-inch display — just a fraction of an inch smaller than the screen on the Galaxy S25+ — the Edge weighs just 163 grams, which is more in line with the 6.2-inch Galaxy S25 (162 grams) or 6.1-inch iPhone 16 (170 grams). That’s a pretty impressive number in my book, as is the 5.8mm chassis that manages to shave nearly a millimeter and a half off the S25+. It’s one of the thinnest phones announced this decade.

That said, I’m not convinced it’s worth getting excited about. Yes, 5.8mm sounds thin on paper, but let’s not act like this hasn’t been done before. Credit to Michael Fisher (Mr. Mobile on YouTube) for the observation, but you know what phone was even thinner? The original Moto Z, dating back to 2015. That phone — while obviously flawed — measured in at just 5.2mm, while also bundling support for Moto’s semi-successful Mods lineup. It’s a little funny to watch Samsung act like the S25 Edge is achieving some unbelievable new metric, when really, this isn’t unprecedented ground for smartphones by any means.

Next up, the camera. Samsung’s packed this phone with just two lenses, delivering an experience more familiar to the midrange and budget space than flagships. The main 200MP sensor could be promising — Samsung says it sports the same ProVisual Engine as the rest of the S25 series, for better or for worse — but considering the slimmer chassis, I wouldn’t be surprised if this camera performs more in line with the Galaxy Z-series than what we usually expect from the company’s flagship sensors. Only time (and real-world testing) will tell.

Otherwise, you’re stuck with an ultra-wide lens and not much else. I actually think Samsung made the right choice here; a 2x telephoto would’ve been a waste of time, just as it was on last year’s Moto Razr+. But with a cap of just 10x digital zoom, capturing far-away subjects on the Edge could prove to be, well, effectively impossible. It’s a sacrifice you’re making to obtain that slimmer chassis, but considering the Galaxy S25+ isn’t that much bulkier, it’s quite the cost.

And speaking of sacrifices, let’s talk about the big one: the battery. At 3,900mAh, I have to say, I’m finding myself doubting Samsung’s promises of lasting “all day” on a single charge. Put simply, that’s a small battery for a phone of this size, and compared to modern devices with similar cells — like clamshell foldables, for example — there’s no secondary, low-power external screen to help carry some of that load. Much like the camera, we’ll only know how this device holds up in real-world usage once we have a review unit of our own. Stay tuned.

If none of these concerns have muted your interest, the Galaxy S25 Edge is up for pre-order right now through Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung’s own storefront, along with the usual carrier offerings. The Edge starts at $1,100 for the base 256GB model, while the 512GB model runs you $1,219. It comes in silver, black, and the S25’s signature “Icyblue” — sorry, fans of flashy colors, but no luck here. The device hits shelves on May 30th, and Samsung Store pre-orders can save up to $630 in total with eligible trade-ins, alongside an additional $50 in savings and a free storage upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Samsung’s latest smartphone combines the best elements of the mainline Galaxy S25 trio with an all new slim chassis. But will the smaller battery and reduced sensor count be enough to win over enthusiasts?

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