Is the Galaxy S25 Edge actually value $1,100? I went hands-on and listed here 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 working my fingers throughout it and flipping it round, admiring its thinness. Then, I held it in my different hand. Certain, the Galaxy S25 Edge is 0.09-inches (2.24mm) thinner than the 0.32-inch (8.25mm)

iPhone 16 Pro
, however the latter gadget is much much less spectacular when each smartphones are side-by-side (particularly while 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 large, particularly when you may usually get the 512GB

Galaxy S25 Ultra
on sale for a really related worth? In any case, the Galaxy S25 Extremely itself is already 0.32-inches (8.20mm) thick.

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

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 really reviewed.

It is a thinner Galaxy S25 Extremely with fewer cameras

Different specs are an identical to the remainder of the Galaxy S25 lineup

In the event you’ve seen a

Galaxy S25 series
gadget earlier than, you will know what to anticipate from a design perspective. The telephone incorporates 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 have a look at all, however it’s value noting that it is strikingly much 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 extensive 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 recognize the macro photographs the ultra-wide digicam affords.

I solely spent a short interval attempting 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 an identical, proper all the way down to the sensor measurement. This implies they provide crisp photographs with that signature Samsung look that emphasizes total brightness and highlights, alongside unlucky points with capturing fast motion clearly (like with the Galaxy S25 Extremely, it nonetheless seems like there is a little bit of shutter lag in comparison with the

Pixel 9
collection). I am wanting ahead to testing the digicam extra once I get my fingers on a overview gadget 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 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 does not really feel like it would simply snap. I would not go as far as to place it into my again pocket and sit down, however in the event you’re frightened about it bending with common use, it does not seem to be that will likely be a difficulty (I will always remember the iPhone 6 series’ “Bendgate”).

Curiously, it is not the lightest gadget 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, similar to the remainder of the Galaxy S25 collection.

Different specs embrace 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 gadget’s efficiency for long-lasting battery life, however any approach you have a look at it, the Galaxy S25 Edge will possible function 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 might want a fast top-up to push into the night hours. I will not know for positive till I’ve examined the battery life completely 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 just 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 troublesome promote. It begins at $1,100 for the 256GB model, coming in simply $200 underneath 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 principle, I like the thought of thinner smartphones turning into a factor. In actuality, although, we’re solely speaking about a number 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 offered on the thought of a barely thinner smartphone.

One of many most important questions on my thoughts now could be whether or not Apple will push skinny smartphone design additional with its

rumored iPhone 17 Air
in a number of months. In the event you may get the telephone all the way down to 4mm or so, the specs downgrade could be far simpler to just accept in the event you’re like me and recognize cool smartphone design shifts.

The Galaxy S25 Extremely is out there 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 Might 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 overview 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.