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, however it additionally does 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 system is much much less spectacular when each smartphones are side-by-side (particularly while you’re holding them).

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

Galaxy S25 Ultra
on sale for a really comparable worth? In any case, 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 in all probability go for the Galaxy S25 Extremely as a substitute.

See our course of

How we test and review products at Pocket-lint

We do not do arm-chair analysis. We purchase and check our personal merchandise, and we solely publish purchaser’s guides with merchandise we have truly reviewed.

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
system earlier than, you may know what to anticipate from a design perspective. The telephone includes a smudge-resistant matte rear, squared-off sides, and a digicam 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 take a look at all, however it’s value noting that it is strikingly just like the

iPhone 16’s
digicam 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, however it 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 stated, I admire the macro pictures the ultra-wide digicam provides.

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 sensible since they’re equivalent, proper all the way down to the sensor measurement. This implies they provide crisp pictures with that signature Samsung look that emphasizes total 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 digicam extra once I get my fingers on a evaluate system 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, help 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 and slightly 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 similar time, the Galaxy S25 Edge does not really feel like it’ll 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 does not appear to be that shall be a problem (I am going to always remember the iPhone 6 series’ “Bendgate”).

Apparently, it isn’t the lightest system 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 system’s efficiency for long-lasting battery life, however any approach you take a look at it, the Galaxy S25 Edge will probably characteristic the bottom battery life within the Galaxy S25 lineup. Will it make it by a full day, the last word check so far as I am involved? My guess is it in all probability will, however it could want a fast top-up to push into the night hours. I will not know for positive till I’ve examined the battery life totally myself.

Associated

This Galaxy S25 Edge deal gets you $50 and a free storage upgrade

This pre-order provide for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is simply too good to overlook.

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 below the extra feature-rich $1,300 256GB Galaxy S25 Extremely (the 512GB Galaxy S25 Extremely is usually on sale for a similar worth). I am a sucker for a flashy design, and in concept, I like the concept of thinner smartphones changing into a factor. In actuality, although, we’re solely speaking about a couple of millimeters, and side-by-side with most fashionable telephones, the common individual won’t even discover the distinction. The anticipated battery life and the digicam trade-offs do not feel value it with this first-generation Galaxy S25 Edge, except you are actually bought on the concept of a barely thinner smartphone.

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

rumored iPhone 17 Air
in a couple of months. If you happen to may get the telephone all the way down to 4mm or so, the specs downgrade could be far simpler to simply accept in case you’re like me and admire cool smartphone design shifts.

The Galaxy S25 Extremely is offered 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 am going to have extra on the Galaxy S25 Edge within the coming weeks, together with a evaluate of the smartphone.

Associated

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a stellar but extremely boring smartphone

The Galaxy S25 Extremely is an all-around top-tier smartphone, however it’s additionally very unexciting.