Improved Performance Over Estimates: A Surprise with the Galaxy S25 Edge After Four Weeks
Slender Kings of the Smartphone World: A Clash of Giants
For the past two years, a select group of phone manufacturers have been battling it out, each vying to claim the title of the world's slimmest smartphone. Oppo and Honor have been contenders for the world's thinnest foldable, but when it comes to traditional, non-folding phones, it's Samsung and Apple that have shown the most interest in the throne.
Currently, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge sits at the top, sporting a svelte 5.8mm thickness at its thinnest point. While this figure is bested by some folding phones when they're unfurled, the Galaxy S25 Edge remains the thinnest smartphone around, bar none. Apple's anticipated entry, the iPhone 17 Air, is rumored to enter the fray in September, while Samsung previewed the Galaxy S25 Edge at Unpacked in January.
The Galaxy S25 Edge attempts to address multiple problems simultaneously, all while navigating the laws of physics and the space constraints for core components. This results in a handset that seamlessly blends different Galaxy S25 experiences into a slim, lightweight device that's a delight to handle. I've spent a month with the Galaxy S25 Edge, and, quite frankly, it's surprised me.
A True Flagship Experience
Like any streamlined smartphone, the Galaxy S25 Edge faces the challenge of cramming as much of the flagship experience as possible without suffering in any area. After a month of use, the Galaxy S25 Edge succeeds in this task in most respects, surpassing my initial expectations.
Comparing the specs list to its Galaxy S25 counterparts, the S25 Edge offers many of the same features. This includes the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, the same RAM and storage options as the Galaxy S25 Plus, and all the trademark hallmarks of a Samsung flagship device, with a few key caveats.
However, after a month with the device, I've found that these compromises were less important than I initially thought.
The Elephant in the Room: The Battery Life
The biggest hurdle for phone manufacturers striving for slenderness is the integration of a larger battery. Oppo and Honor got around this by adopting Silicon Carbon battery technology, which allows for a significant increase in density, permitting the fitting of around 18% more battery capacity in the same space. If Tecno's upcoming Spark Slim concept phone becomes a commercial reality, it's projected to follow suit.
Regrettably, the Galaxy S25 Edge opts to stick with the venerable Lithium-Ion technology. As a result, it sports a 3,900 mAh battery, 100 mAh less than the base Galaxy S25, and comes equipped with the same charging speeds (25W and 15W) as its sibling devices.
Should the battery life be a concern in everyday use? While your experience may vary based on your usage, I've found that the Galaxy S25 Edge can handle a full day's usage with moderate to heavy use. During my testing, the battery lasted up to 28 hours on a single charge, with around seven hours of screen-on-time. This record is achievable, but on days with particularly heavy camera usage or gaming, this can drop by up to 40%.
The Other Key Question: The Dual Camera Setup
The Galaxy S25 Edge claims to offer the same 200MP primary camera as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but Samsung's engineers reduced its size by 18% to fit the S25 Edge. This is partnered with the 12MP ultrawide camera found on the Galaxy S25 Plus, but there's no telephoto lens present.
In our Galaxy S25 Edge review, Andy Boxall observed that the S25 Edge is an excellent everyday camera phone except for the lack of a telephoto lens. After a month with the device, this assessment holds true—the overall camera system is excellent, but the absence of a telephoto lens might disappoint those accustomed to zooming past 3x.
If you rarely zoom past 2x, the 2x optical zoom—achieved through in-sensor cropping—can handle your needs. However, it suffers in terms of detail and quality when you zoom beyond 4x, and it troublingly loses sharpness, much like the Galaxy S25 Ultra's camera.
In all, I've found the Galaxy S25 Edge to be a delightful smartphone after a month of use. It's thinner than the Galaxy S25 Plus, yet just as good on paper. If you appreciate a slender build and don't require the added heft of the rest of the Galaxy S25 series, the S25 Edge is the device for you.
[1] https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s22-ultra-vs-galaxy-s21-ultra[2] https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s22-ultra-vs-galaxy-note-20-ultra[3] https://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-S21-Ultra-Review_id12134[5] https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/iphone-13-vs-galaxy-s21/[6] https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s22_ultra-11628.php
- In the midst of the smartphone battle, the Galaxy S25 Edge showcases its position as a flagship gadget, boasting a sleek design and impressive flagship features, all while maintaining a slender profile.
- Despite the ongoing technological advancements, the competition amongst smartphone manufacturers to introduce the latest gadgets often involves compromises, such as the battery life in the case of the slim and lightweight Galaxy S25 Edge.
