Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge is right here, however is it the pocket-friendly telephone you’ve got been ready for?

Samsung’s traditional Galaxy S-series launch went off with no hitch this yr. Three telephones, like traditional, all launching within the first couple of months of the brand new yr, like traditional. Even the Galaxy S25 collection was, like traditional, completely high-quality. Nonetheless, if you happen to stayed tuned in to the ultimate moments of Unpacked in January, you noticed a tease for what was coming subsequent from the corporate: the Galaxy S25 Edge. Now, after months of anticipation and — allegedly — a delayed launch, Samsung is lastly able to unveil its ultra-thin smartphone in full, and you’ll pre-order it proper now.

At its core, the Galaxy S25 Edge is just about an identical to the remainder of the S25 collection. A Snapdragon 8 Elite processor? Test. An enormous, brilliant AMOLED show? Test. One UI 7 with Samsung’s traditional Galaxy AI software program options? In fact. Largely talking, if you happen to’re questioning about among the extra common specs for the Edge — its base storage or RAM configurations, its replace coverage, and so forth — you are higher off both assuming it matches the remainder of the Galaxy S25 trio, or skimming the specs record I’ve included beneath.

As an alternative, I feel it is price tackling what’s new right here, and that basically comes down to 3 core issues: the design, the digicam, and the battery.

A well-known telephone, with a couple of new methods up its sleeve

However are these adjustments really for one of the best?

First, the design. Clearly the Galaxy S25 Edge is considerably thinner and lighter than its large-screen friends. Regardless of the 6.7-inch show — only a fraction of an inch smaller than the display on the Galaxy S25+ — the Edge weighs simply 163 grams, which is extra in keeping with the 6.2-inch Galaxy S25 (162 grams) or 6.1-inch iPhone 16 (170 grams). That is a fairly spectacular quantity in my guide, as is the 5.8mm chassis that manages to shave practically a millimeter and a half off the S25+. It is one of many thinnest telephones introduced this decade.

That stated, I am not satisfied it is price getting enthusiastic about. Sure, 5.8mm sounds skinny on paper, however let’s not act like this hasn’t been completed earlier than. Credit score to Michael Fisher (Mr. Cellular on YouTube) for the commentary, however you already know what telephone was even thinner? The unique Moto Z, relationship again to 2015. That telephone — whereas clearly flawed — measured in at simply 5.2mm, whereas additionally bundling help for Moto’s semi-successful Mods lineup. It is just a little humorous to observe Samsung act just like the S25 Edge is attaining some unbelievable new metric, when actually, this is not unprecedented floor for smartphones by any means.

Subsequent up, the digicam. Samsung’s packed this telephone with simply two lenses, delivering an expertise extra acquainted to the midrange and price range area than flagships. The primary 200MP sensor might be promising — Samsung says it sports activities the identical ProVisual Engine as the remainder of the S25 collection, for higher or for worse — however contemplating the slimmer chassis, I would not be stunned if this digicam performs extra in keeping with the Galaxy Z-series than what we often anticipate from the corporate’s flagship sensors. Solely time (and real-world testing) will inform.

In any other case, you are caught with an ultra-wide lens and never a lot else. I really suppose Samsung made the precise selection right here; a 2x telephoto would’ve been a waste of time, simply because it was on final yr’s Moto Razr+. However with a cap of simply 10x digital zoom, capturing far-away topics on the Edge may show to be, properly, successfully unimaginable. It is a sacrifice you make to acquire that slimmer chassis, however contemplating the Galaxy S25+ is not that a lot bulkier, it is fairly the fee.

And talking of sacrifices, let’s speak concerning the huge one: the battery. At 3,900mAh, I’ve to say, I am discovering myself doubting Samsung’s guarantees of lasting “all day” on a single cost. Put merely, that is a small battery for a telephone of this dimension, and in comparison with trendy gadgets with comparable cells — like clamshell foldables, for instance — there is not any secondary, low-power exterior display to assist carry a few of that load. Very like the digicam, we’ll solely understand how this machine holds up in real-world utilization as soon as we’ve got a evaluation unit of our personal. Keep tuned.

If none of those issues have muted your curiosity, the Galaxy S25 Edge is up for pre-order proper now via Amazon, Greatest Purchase, and Samsung’s personal storefront, together with the standard provider choices. The Edge begins at $1,100 for the bottom 256GB mannequin, whereas the 512GB mannequin runs you $1,219. It is available in silver, black, and the S25’s signature “Icyblue” — sorry, followers of flashy colours, however no luck right here. The machine hits cabinets on Could thirtieth, and Samsung Retailer pre-orders can save as much as $630 in whole with eligible trade-ins, alongside a further $50 in financial savings and a free storage improve.