As I hold Samsung’s super-thin and light Galaxy S25 Edge, the first word that comes to mind is “airy.” My next thought is: If I were the S25 Plus, I’d be worried.
In my early hands-on with the S25 Edge at a preview event in New York, I was struck by how much the new phone carries over from its S25 counterparts. It maintains the 200-megapixel wide camera from the S25 Ultra, the 6.7-inch display from the S25 Plus and the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor you’ll find across the other three S25 devices. But it does so within a sleek, 5.8mm titanium frame, clocking in at 163 grams. It feels like something I can throw in my bag or pocket and hardly notice.
This story is part of Samsung Event, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Samsung’s most popular products.
The Galaxy S25 Edge comes in black, silver and blue.
In fact, the S25 Edge strikes me as exactly what a middle-of-the-line flagship phone should be: a fresh, elevated take on the baseline model, which pulls in premium features to justify its $1,100 price. The exciting design, Ultra-level wide camera and spacious display actually make this an enticing option for anyone who wants something a little out of the ordinary.
But that’s not to say there aren’t any compromises in store, the most notable being the battery; more on that later.
Preorders for the Galaxy S25 Edge are open now, and the phone will arrive on May 30. It comes in three colors: silver, jet black and icy blue.
Watch this: Galaxy S25 Edge Hands-On: Samsung’s Super-Thin Phone Is Impressive
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What makes the S25 Edge stand out
The biggest question leading up to the release of the S25 Edge has been: Why would someone want a thinner phone anyway? After spending a little time with the device, I began to see the appeal.
While the S25 Edge’s thickness may not be visually striking at first glance, getting your hands on the phone is a different story. Comparing how the S25 Edge’s 5.8mm, 163g frame feels to the S25 and S25 Plus, I registered just how much thinner and lighter it really is. For reference, the baseline S25 is 7.2mm thick and weighs 162g, but has a smaller 6.2-inch screen. The S25 Plus has the same 6.7-inch display as the Edge, but is 7.3mm thick and weighs 190g. It’s a noticeable difference.
The moment of truth was applying some force to the phone to see if it gave at all. Impressively, it felt quite sturdy. (If not, I’d probably have gotten myself into some trouble with Samsung.) It touts a Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 display, along with a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 backing. My initial impression is that you shouldn’t have to worry about accidentally turning the S25 Edge into a foldable by keeping it in your back pocket, but that’s certainly something I’ll have to test in my review. The S25 Edge also maintains the same IP68 rating for dust and water resistance you’ll find on the other S25 series phones.
The Galaxy S25 Edge (left) is noticeably thinner than the S25 Plus.
The biggest trade-off, at least on paper, appears to be battery capacity. The Galaxy S25 Edge’s 3,900 mAh battery pales in comparison to what you’ll get on the baseline S25 (4,000 mAh) and the S25 Plus (4,900 mAh). Samsung isn’t sharing how many hours you’ll get out of the S25 Edge’s battery, other than stating it’ll last you all day. That’s something else I look forward to testing. The S25 Edge supports 25-watt wired charging and 15-watt wireless charging.
With thinner phones, camera hardware can also be scaled back. But the S25 Edge boasts three cameras: a 200-megapixel wide, a 12-megapixel ultrawide and a 12-megapixel selfie camera. Megapixels aren’t everything, so I’m eager to see how that all translates into real-world photography. Samsung points to Galaxy AI for helping to boost camera quality and for powering photo editing features like Generative Edit.
Like the S25 Plus, the S25 Edge has 12GB of RAM and 256GB and 512GB storage options. It’ll cost a little more than the S25 Plus, though: $1,100 for 256GB and $1,220 for 512GB. But it’s still priced lower than the top-of-the-line $1,300 S25 Ultra.
You’ll find the same Galaxy AI features Samsung has been touting on the rest of its S25 phones, like Sketch to Image and Audio Eraser. Gemini features are also onboard, like Gemini Live and Circle to Search.
Other companies could soon follow suit and release their own super-thin phones.
On the edge of a new trend
The launch of the Galaxy S25 Edge comes amid a thin-phone phenomenon. Earlier this year, Oppo released its super-thin Find N5 foldable, which it calls the “world’s thinnest book-style foldable,” measuring just 8.93mm thick when closed and 4.21mm thick when opened. Apple is also rumored to be developing a thinner “Air” version of the iPhone 17. And at MWC 2025, phone maker Tecno showed off its Spark Slim phone concept, which measures 5.75mm thick and weighs just 146 grams, according to the company.
Depending on how consumers respond, the S25 Edge could be the phone to help kickstart the thin phone craze. If people don’t have to compromise too much when it comes to camera, storage and battery — three of the biggest considerations when buying a phone, according to a CNET survey — they could be inclined to pay up for a fresh form factor. After all, phones have become rather boring and predictable, apart from a handful of foldable options. The S25 Edge could be a breath of fresh air.
I look forward to seeing how the S25 Edge holds up in the real world and whether it truly can maintain its edge (I had to do it).
Galaxy S25 Edge vs. Galaxy S25 vs. Galaxy S25 Plus vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S25 EdgeSamsung Galaxy S25Samsung Galaxy S25 PlusSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate 6.7-inch AMOLED; 3,200×1,800 pixels; 120Hz refresh rate 6.2-inch AMOLED; 2,340×1,080 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate6.7-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh ratePixel density 548 ppi416 ppi509 ppi501 ppiDimensions (inches) 2.98 x 6.23 x 0.23 inches5.78 x 2.78 x 0.28 in.6.24 x 2.98 x 0.29 in.6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 in.Dimensions (millimeters) 75.6 X 158.2 X 5.8mm146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mmWeight (grams, ounces) 163g (5.75 oz)162g (5.71 oz)190g (6.70 oz)218g (7.69 oz)Mobile software Android 15Android 15Android 15Android 15Camera 200-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto)50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto)200-megapixel (wide), 50-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto)Front-facing camera 12-megapixel12-megapixel 12-megapixel 12-megapixel Video capture 8K8K8K8KProcessor Snapdragon 8 EliteQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for GalaxyQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for GalaxyQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for GalaxyRAM + storage 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TBExpandable storage NoNoneNoneNoneBattery 3,900 mAh4,000 mAh4,900 mAh5,000 mAhFingerprint sensor Under displayUnder displayUnder displayUnder displayConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneNoneNoneSpecial features IP88 rating, 5G, One UI 7, 25-watt wired charging, 15-watt wireless charging, Galaxy AI, Gemini, Circle to Search, Wi-Fi 7.2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and dust resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; 25W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 72,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and dust resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; 25W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; ultrawidebandTitanium frame, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and dust resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; UWB for finding other devices; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cover glass; ultrawidebandUS price starts at $1,100$800 (128GB)$1,000 (256GB)$1,300 (256GB)UK price starts at TBA£799 (128GB)£999 (256GB)£1,249 (256GB)Australia price starts at TBAAU$1,399 (256GB)AU$1,699 (256GB)AU$2,149 (256GB)
