Review · Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Review: Slim Android Flagship Done Right
Runner-up Best Design at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. Samsung's response to the iPhone Air — and a credible one. At 5.8mm it's the slimmest Android flagship ever made, with full Galaxy AI, a 7-year update commitment, and a more practical camera system than the Air. The question: is it worth $1,099 over the iPhone 17 (Phone of the Year) at $799?
By SmartphoneAwards Editorial · Published · Updated
Pros
- Runner-up Best Design at MKBHD's 2025 awards
- Slimmest Android flagship ever made (5.8mm)
- Seven years of major Android updates
- Galaxy AI fully supported
Cons
- $1,099 is a design premium over the regular Galaxy S25
- Smaller battery than non-slim Galaxy flagships
- Single rear camera plus ultrawide (no telephoto)
- iPhone Air (won Best Design) is thinner and cheaper at $899
The design statement
5.8mm thick — slimmer than any Galaxy flagship before it, and only 0.3mm thicker than the iPhone Air (which won Best Design). Samsung's industrial design has stepped up meaningfully. Holding the S25 Edge after using the regular S25 Ultra is genuinely a different experience.
Display & build
6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120Hz. Roughly equivalent to the standard S25 in brightness and color. Build is titanium frame with the same anti-reflective coating Samsung introduced on the S25 Ultra.
Performance
Snapdragon 8 Elite (Samsung-tuned) + 12GB RAM. Functionally identical to the S25 Ultra in everyday use. Galaxy AI features all run natively.
Camera
Dual camera system: 200MP main + 12MP ultrawide. No telephoto. The 200MP main is the same sensor as the S25 Ultra, which makes the digital crop competitive with rivals' optical zoom. Better than iPhone Air's single 48MP main.
Battery
3,900 mAh battery. Smaller than the regular S25 (4,000 mAh) but similar real-world endurance — roughly 6 hours of screen-on time. 25W wired and 15W Qi2 wireless charging.
Verdict · 4.0 / 5
Buy the Galaxy S25 Edge if you want a slim Android flagship and you're committed to the form factor. iPhone Air (MKBHD's 2025 Best Design winner) is thinner and cheaper but locks you into iOS. For most Android buyers, the regular Galaxy S25 or Galaxy S25 Ultra is the more practical buy.
🛒 Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge on AmazonAlternatives to consider
Frequently Asked Questions
Galaxy S25 Edge or iPhone Air — which is the better slim phone?
iPhone Air won Best Design at MKBHD's 2025 awards (Edge was runner-up). iPhone Air is thinner (5.5mm vs 5.8mm) and $200 cheaper. Edge has a better camera (200MP main + ultrawide vs single 48MP) and 7-year update commitment.
Is the Galaxy S25 Edge worth it over the regular S25?
Only if design matters to you — same 7-year update commitment, similar performance, and similar camera capability. The regular S25 has a slightly larger battery; the Edge is much slimmer.
Does the Galaxy S25 Edge have a telephoto camera?
No — dual camera (200MP main + 12MP ultrawide). The 200MP main supports digital crop that approximates optical zoom on most subjects but isn't true telephoto.
How we rate
Our editorial score is anchored to outcomes from MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025), then refined for everyday usability. Phone of the Year winners earn 5/5; category winners 4.5/5; runners-up 4/5; otherwise we score on merit. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.