Is the Galaxy S25 Edge actually value $1,100? I went hands-on and listed below are my ideas

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge
feels extremely skinny, but it surely additionally would not — let me clarify.

Measuring an astounding 0.23-inches (5.85mm), the Galaxy S25 Edge feels and appears like a technical marvel at first. I spent my first 10 minutes with the telephone operating my fingers throughout it and flipping it round, admiring its thinness. Then, I held it in my different hand. Positive, the Galaxy S25 Edge is 0.09-inches (2.24mm) thinner than the 0.32-inch (8.25mm)

iPhone 16 Pro
, however the latter machine is much much less spectacular when each smartphones are side-by-side (particularly whenever you’re holding them).

This received me considering — is the compromise of fewer cameras and diminished battery efficiency value it when the design improve is not really big, particularly when you’ll be able to typically get the 512GB

Galaxy S25 Ultra
on sale for a really related value? In spite of everything, the Galaxy S25 Extremely itself is already 0.32-inches (8.20mm) thick.

Whereas I nonetheless must spend extra time with Samsung’s flashy Galaxy S25 Edge, at this level, I might most likely go for the Galaxy S25 Extremely as an alternative.

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It is a thinner Galaxy S25 Extremely with fewer cameras

Different specs are equivalent to the remainder of the Galaxy S25 lineup

If you happen to’ve seen a

Galaxy S25 series
machine earlier than, you will know what to anticipate from a design perspective. The telephone contains a smudge-resistant matte rear, squared-off sides, and a digital camera bump with two lenses. As an alternative of sitting flush with the Galaxy S25 Edge, the pair of shooters and the flash are mounted on an iPhone 16-like oval. I do not thoughts this have a look at all, but it surely’s value noting that it is strikingly just like the

iPhone 16’s
digital camera bump.

From a specs perspective, the Galaxy S25 Edge is similar to the

Galaxy S25 Ultra
. It options an f/2.2 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens coupled with a 200-megapixel f/1.7 huge sensor, but it surely lacks the f/3.4 50-megapixel periscope lens and the f/2.4 10-megapixel telephoto shooter. As somebody who finds getting shut to pictures extra helpful than a wider field-of-view, that is disappointing. That mentioned, I respect the macro pictures the ultra-wide digital camera affords.

I solely spent a quick interval making an attempt the Galaxy S25 Edge’s cameras, however they appear to carry out simply as solidly because the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s, which is smart since they’re equivalent, proper right down to the sensor measurement. This implies they provide crisp pictures with that signature Samsung look that emphasizes general brightness and highlights, alongside unlucky points with capturing speedy motion clearly (like with the Galaxy S25 Extremely, it nonetheless appears like there is a little bit of shutter lag in comparison with the

Pixel 9
collection). I am trying ahead to testing the digital camera extra once I get my fingers on a evaluate machine quickly.

Sticking with the above theme, the Galaxy S25 Edge options the identical

Snapdragon 8 Elite
(3nm) chip as the remainder of the lineup, together with 12GB of RAM, assist for 25W quick wi-fi charging, and reverse-wireless charging. Its show is available in at 6.7-inches with a 3,120 x 1440 QHD+ pixel decision, making it the identical measurement because the Galaxy S25+’s 6.7-inch display screen and just below the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s 6.9-inch show.

The telephone felt nice in my hand and really blade-like in some methods, not less than partly as a result of it is so skinny and options stark edges (this made it very easy to slip into my pocket, too). On the identical time, the Galaxy S25 Edge would not really feel like it’s going to simply snap. I would not go as far as to place it into my again pocket and sit down, however in case you’re apprehensive about it bending with common use, it would not seem to be that will likely be a difficulty (I will always remember the iPhone 6 series’ “Bendgate”).

Curiously, it isn’t the lightest machine within the Galaxy S25 lineup at 5.7oz (163g). That honor goes to the Galaxy S25, which weighs 5.7oz (162g) — it nonetheless feels feather-like subsequent to the Galaxy S25 Extremely, although. There’s an on-screen ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that feels very responsive, identical to the remainder of the Galaxy S25 collection.

Different specs embody a 3,900 mAh battery, which, as anticipated, is the smallest cell within the Galaxy S25 collection. This falls significantly in need of the Galaxy S25’s 4,000 mAh, the Galaxy S25 Plus’ 4,900 mAh, and the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s 5,000 mAh. Samsung says that it has optimized the machine’s efficiency for long-lasting battery life, however any method you have a look at it, the Galaxy S25 Edge will doubtless characteristic the bottom battery life within the Galaxy S25 lineup. Will it make it via a full day, the last word check so far as I am involved? My guess is it most likely will, however it could want a fast top-up to push into the night hours. I will not know for certain till I’ve examined the battery life completely myself.

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Do we actually want super-thin telephones?

The decision remains to be out

In some methods, the Galaxy S25 Edge is a tricky promote. It begins at $1,100 for the 256GB model, coming in simply $200 beneath the extra feature-rich $1,300 256GB Galaxy S25 Extremely (the 512GB Galaxy S25 Extremely is commonly on sale for a similar value). I am a sucker for a flashy design, and in principle, I like the concept of thinner smartphones changing into a factor. In actuality, although, we’re solely speaking about just a few millimeters, and side-by-side with most fashionable telephones, the common particular person may not even discover the distinction. The anticipated battery life and the digital camera trade-offs do not feel value it with this first-generation Galaxy S25 Edge, until you are actually bought on the concept of a barely thinner smartphone.

One of many major questions on my thoughts now’s whether or not Apple will push skinny smartphone design additional with its

rumored iPhone 17 Air
in just a few months. If you happen to may get the telephone right down to 4mm or so, the specs downgrade can be far simpler to just accept in case you’re like me and respect cool smartphone design shifts.

The Galaxy S25 Extremely is obtainable beginning at $1,100 for the 256GB model and $1,220 for the 512GB in titanium silver, titanium jet black, and titanium icyblue. Pre-orders can be found now and the telephone releases on Could 30, 2025. Samsung is providing a $50 pre-order credit score alongside a free improve to the 512GB model of the smartphone. I will have extra on the Galaxy S25 Edge within the coming weeks, together with a evaluate of the smartphone.

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