Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review

Competition

In a way, the Galaxy S25 Edge is a unique device. But the pricing is steep. The handset starts at €1,250/$1,100/INR 110,000, slotting right between the MSRPs of the Galaxy S25+ and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. But in reality, third-party resellers will sell you both the S25+ and the S25 Ultra for less than the Edge.

Naturally, some of you are probably torn between the three Galaxy S25s. From a practical standpoint, the Galaxy S25+ is a sound choice. Aside from the camera, where the Edge's 200MP main shooter is considerably better than the Plus', it outperforms the S25 Edge in almost every aspect, while being cheaper. The Ultra, on the other hand, is the better phone altogether. All in all, the only reason to get the S25 Edge is the unique form factor.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra • Samsung Galaxy S25+

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is around the same price as the S25 Edge, but the number of people switching between iOS and Android isn't big. Still, if you are willing to transition, the 16 Pro Max is the better phone if you can handle the huge footprint. Or wait a few months and see if the rumored iPhone 17 Air is any better.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max • Xiaomi 15 Ultra • vivo X200 Pro • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Looking for an Android alternative that's not Samsung? Well, you have plenty of options. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the vivo X200 Pro are similarly priced phones (the vivo is sensibly cheaper), but they are the literal antipodes of the S25 Edge. Both are huge phones with all the bells and whistles. We are talking far superior camera experience, longer battery life, faster charging, better speakers, etc. Once again, the S25 Edge's only advantage is the design. It's about as thin as the camera bumps on those Chinese phones.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is another Android flagship worth considering that seems to offer similar battery life and comparable charging speed and doesn't shine with performance. Still, the camera hardware is more versatile, and the phone is about 30% cheaper than the Edge.

Verdict

It's no surprise that Samsung had to settle for plenty of trade-offs for the sake of design. The S25 Edge doesn't want to be better than the S25+ or the S25 Ultra. It's not intended to go head-to-head with the Chinese camera behemoths, either. Instead, Samsung wants an alternative for anyone tired of the huge camera bumps and heavy hardware. In that sense, this uber-slim phone is a breath of fresh air.

However, for most users, it may not be a sensible choice. After all, there are quite a few drawbacks. There's no telephoto camera, battery life is barely competitive, charging speed is nothing to write home about, and the speakers aren't amazing. And when you add the price to the equation, it's a hard sell.

Still, Samsung might be onto something here. This could very well be the beginning of a new flagship segment with fashionable devices for people who may not need all the hardware features but would appreciate premium design even if it comes at a premium price. Only time will tell.

Pros

• Unrivaled portability in this class (5.8mm thickness, 163g weight).
• Premium build with titanium frame.
• Raw performance is on par with the competition despite its size.
• Very pleasing and fluid One UI experience, DeX, seven major OS updates.
• The main camera takes nice pictures.

Cons

• 'Basic' IP68 rating - other Androids get IP69, iPhones can be submerged even deeper.
• Small capacity battery, not the latest battery chemistry, comparatively slow charging.
• Speakers sound flat.
• Sustained performance isn't great due to thermal throttling.
• Lacks a telephoto camera and low-light photography is suboptimal.
• Steep pricing at launch.

Pricing

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