Galaxy Unpacked has been and gone, however we’re nonetheless basking within the glow of the Samsung Galaxy S25 lineup – try our hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 overview, hands-on Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus overview, and full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra overview for our first impressions of all three new units.
There was, in fact, a brand new addition to the three-phone lineup we’ve come to anticipate from Samsung – the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, which revives a moniker the corporate beforehand used for units with edge-to-edge shows. Now, the ‘Edge’ designation is seemingly a reference to this new cellphone’s thinness.
And a skinny cellphone it’s. Though Samsung has but to disclose any official specs in regards to the Galaxy S25 Edge, the machine is of such a svelte building that its twin cameras need to relaxation on a raised protrusion – after which stick out additional nonetheless – to be able to match onto the polished rear panel. The Galaxy S25 Edge is visibly slimmer than the already spectacular S25 Plus, its closest sibling within the pre-existing lineup.
TechRadar’s Senior News Editor Mark Wilson is not satisfied in regards to the new cellphone’s design, writing in a current characteristic that the Galaxy S25 Edge represents “the laziest interpretation of cellphone innovation.” I, nevertheless, suppose the S25 Edge deserves an opportunity to show itself – although I share a few of my esteemed colleague’s hesitation.
The S25 Edge would require some compromises. We merely can not anticipate Samsung to suit the uncooked {hardware} energy of its bulkier flagships right into a cellphone that’s rumored to be simply 6.4mm thick. All I’m actually hoping for is that Samsung makes the proper decisions; that it focuses on effectivity in order that the essentially smaller battery isn’t too closely taxed, ensures the sturdiness holds up, and – this one’s a attain – opts for a telephoto digital camera for the second of the 2 rear-mounted snappers.
However, I’d be completely satisfied to see the S25 Edge make it to manufacturing with any mixture of specs. The motive I’m already being so forgiving is that this new Galaxy cellphone jogs my memory of the very first Samsung Galaxy Fold in 2019, which launched the folding cellphone business regardless of being visibly unpolished. I’m optimistically excited that Samsung is perhaps about to launch one other area of interest phase of the cellphone market with the S25 Edge.
Flashback, or full-on revival?
It may appear onerous to imagine in immediately’s world of cumbersome, heavy, highly effective flagships just like the S25 Ultra, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and OnePlus 13, however it wasn’t way back that thinness was a serious precedence for cellphone makers. The first smartphones had been positively rotund by immediately’s requirements, and within the first ten years of the business’s lifespan, you’d discover keynote audio system speaking at size in regards to the millimeters shaved with every subsequent launch.
This wasn’t with out its downsides, although – Apple famously overstepped with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which shipped with flimsy designs that bent simply, a phenomenon termed “bendgate” by the frenzied media. These skinny telephones couldn’t maintain very massive batteries, both, and had restricted choices for cooling.
I believe we’re taking a look at a full-on revival of skinny, ergonomically-led smartphones that exist in their very own lane.
It’s no shock that we noticed a reversal of the development within the following years, which accelerated into the 2020s as cellphone {hardware} started taking some actual leaps within the energy, longevity, and multitasking departments. The present design language of flagship telephones helps this – boxy shapes with loads of room for cutting-edge internals.
The S25 Edge could possibly be a one-off callback to those earlier instances, however as I discussed in my current have a look at the hinted Samsung multi-fold cellphone, Samsung is a huge tech model that doesn’t are likely to introduce single-generation merchandise. Unless the S25 Edge bombs onerous, we’re prone to see an S26 Edge and S27 Edge within the years to return.
And if the sage sources of the rumor mill are to be believed, Apple can be engaged on a slimmed-down model of the iPhone 17, tentatively titled the iPhone 17 Air. I believe we’re taking a look at a full-on revival of skinny, ergonomically-led smartphones that exist in their very own lane, in an offshoot of the mainstream cellphone market much like folding telephones.
Thin telephones are good, truly
At this level, it’s possible you’ll be questioning why it is a good factor – I believe it comes down to 2 major components. Firstly, fashionable telephones are, on the whole, massive and considerably heavy units, so it’s no dangerous factor to have a cellphone getting into the market that has a big show, presumably fashionable internals, and can be targeted on a thin-and-light design. Though massive handsets just like the iPhone 16 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra are lighter in comparison with their predecessors, they’re nonetheless noticeably hefty – the S25 Edge might supply some reduction.
We might quickly see a cut up between ergonomics and efficiency, with main positive aspects made in each classes in consequence.
Of course, among the weight of contemporary flagships is in service of higher efficiency, which results in my second level. By spinning off ergonomics-focused telephones into their very own class, cellphone makers will probably be freer to specialize their flagships for energy and slim telephones for portability. We noticed an identical factor occur with folding telephones and multitasking – most slab units don’t deal with the power to run a number of apps regardless of having loads of display area, as that is dealt with higher by booklet-style foldables. We might quickly see a cut up between ergonomics and efficiency, with main positive aspects made in each classes in consequence.
The causes I’ve defined above would possibly imply extra to the consumer expertise, however I additionally commend Samsung for merely doing one thing totally different. From a private perspective, I identical to it when cellphone makers get bizarre. We’re in a time of design hegemony; every cellphone is a rounded rectangle with an important show, cameras, battery – the works. The S25 Edge harkens again to the times of the unique Oppo Find X, with its pop-out digital camera, the swivel-screened LG Wing, and even the colourful iPhone 5c, by simply being a bit uncommon.
So, there we now have it. The S25 Edge is perhaps a bit tough across the, effectively, edges when it launches, however with sufficient client assist, I believe it might springboard new improvements for the smartphone market. I’m not giving Samsung carte blanche to place out a lackluster cellphone – I’d reasonably see the Edge achieve a spot on our checklist of the perfect Samsung telephones – however I’m prepared to forgive a misstep or two if it means witnessing the beginning of one thing genuinely new.
