When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 Edge last month, it wasn’t just introducing another annual upgrade—it was making a statement. At just 5.8mm thick, this is Samsung’s boldest design departure in years, bringing back the curved “Edge” display that many thought was gone for good, but reimagined for 2025.
The S25 Edge packs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor (Exynos 2500 in some regions), a 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, and a new 200MP main camera—all starting at $999 for the 128GB model and £1,099 for 256GB. Available worldwide from May 15th, this device represents Samsung’s vision for the future: ultra-slim, premium, and AI-powered.
But has Samsung sacrificed too much in pursuit of thinness? Or is this the flagship refresh we’ve been waiting for? Let’s dive in.
Design & Build Quality
The moment you pick up the S25 Edge, it’s incredible thinness is startling—even with cases on, it feels significantly slimmer than competitors. At 5.8mm, it’s 24% thinner than last year’s S24 and even makes the iPhone 16 Pro (7.7mm) look bulky by comparison.
Samsung has employed grade 2 titanium for the frame—the same grade Apple uses—which provides impressive structural rigidity despite the slim profile. The front and back feature Corning’s new Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, which Samsung claims offers 25% better drop protection than previous generations. Despite these claims, the extreme thinness still makes the device feel somewhat delicate.
The return of the curved Edge display is polarizing. Unlike the subtle curves on previous Galaxy phones, this is a more dramatic 38° curve that wraps significantly around the right side. It creates a striking visual profile but comes with the familiar drawbacks: occasional accidental touches and a somewhat distorted view of content near the edge.
Colour options include Phantom Black, Glacier White, Forest Green, and a striking new Titanium Gold that shifts beautifully in different lighting conditions. The camera island is more subtle than in previous generations, with a sleek pill-shaped module that houses just two lenses—a notable departure from the three or four found on most flagships.
Display Experience
The 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is, unsurprisingly, spectacular. With 2340 x 1080 resolution, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and peak brightness of 2,600 nits, it’s among the best displays on any smartphone. Colours are vibrant without being oversaturated, and HDR content looks particularly impressive.
The curve on the right edge isn’t just for aesthetics—Samsung has revived and reinvented the Edge Panel with new AI-powered features. Swiping in from the curved edge brings up context-aware shortcuts, tools, and app pairs based on your usage patterns. For example, if you regularly check weather then open Spotify for your morning routine, the phone will suggest this as a paired shortcut.
However, the curve does create some usability issues. Text that wraps around the edge can be harder to read, and despite improved palm rejection, I still experienced occasional accidental touches when holding the phone naturally. The curve also makes applying screen protectors more challenging—something to consider if you prioritize protection.
Outdoor visibility is excellent thanks to the high brightness, and the new Eye Comfort Shield 2.0 does an impressive job reducing eye strain during extended use, especially at night.
Camera Performance
With just two rear cameras, the S25 Edge represents a different approach from Samsung’s usual “more is better” philosophy:
Main Camera (200MP):
This sensor represents Samsung’s highest resolution yet in a non-Ultra model. It uses pixel binning to combine 16 pixels into one for standard 12.5MP shots with excellent light gathering. In good lighting, photos are sharp, detailed, and well-balanced. Low-light performance is impressive, though not quite matching the Pixel 9 Pro’s night photography capabilities.
Ultrawide (12MP):
The 120° field-of-view ultrawide performs adequately but shows noticeable quality drop compared to the main sensor. Colour science between the two lenses is reasonably consistent, but dynamic range and detail preservation are average at best.
The elephant in the room is the missing telephoto lens. Samsung has attempted to compensate with improved digital zoom using AI upscaling, but the results are mixed. Shots at 2x zoom look reasonable, but anything beyond 5x quickly deteriorates in quality. For a £999+ flagship in 2025, the lack of optical zoom feels like a significant omission.
The front-facing 12MP camera delivers solid selfies with improved portrait mode edge detection thanks to the new Galaxy AI features. Video recording caps at 8K/24fps or 4K/60fps, with excellent stabilization in both modes.
Samsung’s AI camera features are truly the standout here. Object-aware enhancement automatically identifies what you’re photographing—food, pets, landscapes—and applies appropriate optimizations. The new “Perfect Shot” feature captures multiple frames and composites them together, particularly useful for group photos where someone might be blinking.
Despite these innovations, camera enthusiasts will likely miss the versatility of a dedicated telephoto lens, making the S25 Ultra still the better choice for photography enthusiasts.
Performance & Software
Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (or Samsung’s Exynos 2500 in Europe and some Asian markets), the S25 Edge delivers flagship-level performance. With 12GB RAM standard across all configurations, multitasking is smooth and responsive, with apps staying in memory longer than in previous generations.
Benchmark results put it roughly on par with the iPhone 16 Pro, though sustained performance testing reveals some thermal throttling—an inevitable consequence of the ultra-slim design. During extended gaming sessions with demanding titles like Genshin Impact, the phone gets noticeably warm, and performance dips by about 20% after 20-30 minutes.
One UI 7.0 based on Android 15 brings refinements to Samsung’s already mature interface. The most notable additions come from Galaxy AI, which is deeply integrated throughout the system. Voice typing has reached new levels of accuracy, nearly eliminating the need to correct transcriptions. Live translation during calls works impressively well for supported languages, and the ability to summarize lengthy documents or emails with a single tap is genuinely useful.
Samsung promises 5 years of OS updates and 7 years of security patches, matching Google’s current support policy and exceeding Apple’s typical 5-6 years of iOS support.
Battery Life & Charging
The ultra-thin design necessitated compromises, and battery capacity is the most obvious one. The 3,900mAh battery represents a 2.5% reduction from the S24’s 4,000mAh capacity. Despite efficiency improvements in the processor and display, real-world battery life suffers as a result.
In daily use, the S25 Edge typically delivers about 5-6 hours of screen-on time with mixed usage—enough to get through a workday but likely requiring a charge before bedtime for heavy users. This falls short of both its predecessor and competitors like the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9, which routinely deliver 7-8 hours of screen time.
The 25W fast charging partially compensates for the smaller battery, charging from 0-55-60% in about 30 minutes and reaching full charge in just under an hour. Wireless charging tops out at 15W with compatible chargers, and reverse wireless charging is still available for accessories.
For many users, the battery compromise may be the deal-breaker that pushes them toward the thicker but longer-lasting standard S25 or S25 Ultra.
Price & Availability
The Galaxy S25 Edge is available globally starting May 15th, with the following pricing structure:
- 128GB/12GB: $999/€1,099/£949
- 256GB/12GB: $1,099/€1,199/£1,049
- 512GB/12GB: $1,199/€1,299/£1,149
Pre-order bonuses include a free storage upgrade (256GB for the price of 128GB), Galaxy Buds Pro 3 at 50% off, and enhanced trade-in values for older devices. Samsung Care+ is being offered at a discounted rate of £99 for two years when purchased with the phone.
For most users, the 256GB model represents the sweet spot, especially if you can take advantage of the pre-order storage upgrade promotion.
Pros & Cons Summary
Pros:
- Ultra-slim, head-turning design
- Premium titanium and glass construction
- Gorgeous display with useful edge features
- Excellent main camera performance
- Cutting-edge processor performance
- Comprehensive Galaxy AI features
- Fast charging capabilities
Cons:
- Smaller battery with mediocre endurance
- No telephoto lens
- Curved screen may cause usability issues
- Potential heat issues under sustained load
Premium pricing despite some compromises
Who Is This Phone For?
The Galaxy S25 Edge is clearly targeted at specific types of users:
- Design enthusiasts who prioritize aesthetics and want the thinnest, most stylish flagship available
- Samsung ecosystem users who want the latest AI features and One UI experience
- Casual photographers who primarily use wide and ultrawide perspectives
- Tech early adopters who appreciate cutting-edge design
It’s less ideal for:
- Power users who need all-day battery life
- Photography enthusiasts who rely on telephoto capabilities
- Gamers concerned about thermal throttling during extended sessions
- Budget-conscious consumers who want maximum features per dollar
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is both impressive and frustrating. It showcases extraordinary engineering achievements in creating an ultra-thin premium device without completely sacrificing performance or features. The display is best-in-class, the design is distinctive, and the main camera delivers excellent results in most conditions.
However, Samsung’s pursuit of thinness has resulted in compromises that are hard to ignore at this price point. Battery life takes a notable hit, the camera system lacks versatility without a telephoto lens, and thermal management under load raises concerns about long-term sustained performance.
For most users, the standard Galaxy S25 or S25 Ultra likely represent better value propositions with fewer compromises. But if you prioritize design above all else and are willing to keep a charger handy, the S25 Edge delivers a unique experience that no other flagship currently offers.
Will Evans
FAQ's
Is the Galaxy S25 Edge waterproof?
Yes, it features an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, allowing for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. However, Samsung cautions that the ultra-thin design may be more susceptible to damage from drops despite the water resistance.
Does it support Samsung DeX?
Yes, the S25 Edge fully supports Samsung DeX, allowing you to connect to external displays for a desktop-like experience. Performance in DeX mode is excellent thanks to the powerful processor and 12GB of RAM standard across all models.
Can it replace the S25 Ultra?
For most users, the S25 Edge cannot fully replace the Ultra model. The S25 Ultra offers superior camera capabilities (particularly zoom), significantly better battery life, S Pen support, and better thermal management. The Edge is best viewed as a design-focused alternative rather than a direct competitor to the Ultra.
