Hands-on: Is the pencil-thin Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge cutting too close to the Ultra?

Note: This feature was first published on 13 May 2025.

Samsung launches Galaxy S25 Edge in Singapore

Samsung woke its fans up early today to introduce a new variant to its Galaxy S25 series lineup: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. Originally teased at its H1 Unpacked keynote, the phone is now available for pre-order, with Singapore being one of the first markets to retail it by 30 May 2025.

Read our Galaxy S25 Edge launch news, pricing, and pre-order article here.

The phone also uses a 2025 premium flagship processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy) while being the slimmest Galaxy S25 series device thus far.

Samsung wants you to believe this special model bridges the self-created gap between Galaxy S25+ and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. With the Galaxy S25 Edge starting at S$1,628 (256GB) and going up to S$1,808 (512GB), the Singapore imports are noticeably more expensive than the official U.S. pricing (US$1,099 for 256GB, approx. ~S$1,433.30).

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A little edgy, a little different

Here are some quick comparisons to help you understand what the Edge offers, and where it truly stands among Samsung’s already fleshed out Galaxy S series lineup. 

The biggest difference is the pencil-thin body on the Galaxy S25 Edge, which measures just 5.8mm. That’s much slimmer than the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 8.2mm. Also, the Galaxy S25 Edge is lighter (163g) than the latter (218g), too. 

Samsung didn’t just stop there. The Galaxy S25 Edge is thinner than the base Galaxy S25 (7.2mm) and Galaxy S25+ (7.3mm), but it’s only 1g heavier than the Galaxy S25. That makes it worth saying again that the Edge has the same 8-core chipset as its S25 series brethren.

With its heightened physical properties in the front and center, the new Edge variant has the edge over its Galaxy S-friends if you prioritise build and appearances. It is, undoubtedly, the thinnest and nearly the lightest Galaxy S25 series variant. 

The phone completes its premium package by retaining the same display size, resolution, and quality as the Galaxy S25+ (6.7-inch AMOLED at 3,120 x 1,440 pixels resolution, with a 1-120Hz refresh rate). It also has IP68-rated water and dust resistance, paired with a newer and tougher Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, which alleviates any concerns about its durability.

Samsung also said that the Galaxy S25 Edge is virtually identical to its siblings in terms of software. You’re getting protection via the full suite of Samsung Knox, Galaxy AI in the form of Google Gemini and photo-editing, and the most updated version of One UI 7 with actionable Now Brief pop-ups.

So, where exactly are the trade-offs?

Firstly, the Galaxy S25 Edge has only two rear cameras (200MP main and 12MP ultrawide with macro support). It’s missing the 10MP telephoto found on the Galaxy S25/S25+ and the additional 50MP telephoto that the Galaxy S25 Ultra has. You will be relying a lot on the Galaxy S25 Edge’s primary camera to fulfill your photography needs. It isn’t a problem if you don’t need anything beyond its 2x zoom (optical) or 10x zoom (digital).

The bigger difference lies in its battery capacities. Being thin means that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge only has 3,900mAh, a far cry from the Galaxy S25+ (4,900mAh) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra (5,000mAh). Also, the Galaxy S25 Edge offers 25W wired charging, while the other two offer a faster 45W wired charging. While those two other variants performed admirably when we reviewed their respective battery life, we think the small battery capacity will still repel some Samsung fans who are drawn to the phone’s slim build.

Who is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge really for?

Samsung thinks the Galaxy S25 Edge is the phone bridging between the Galaxy S25+ and S25 Ultra. That’s made salient by showing how it trades away both battery life and telephoto shooting to accommodate its appearance.

However, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is for people looking for a telephoto-less Galaxy S25 with nearly the same battery capacity in a slimmer build. In a way, it’s like a base S25 being pushed to its limits, with extra attention paid to its build quality at the cost of a zoom camera.

It also has a higher display resolution than a base S25 and a main camera with higher megapixel count, so you’re still guaranteed Samsung’s premium experience with this ultra-thin phone.

Where we struggle to think like Samsung lies in its pricing. Despite asking for S$1,628 (256GB) and S$1,808 (512GB), it’s (on paper) closer to the S$1,288 Galaxy S25 than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. 

Our guess is that Samsung rushed the Galaxy S25 Edge to compete with the stirring rumours of the Apple iPhone 17 Air (1, 2, 3). It’s as if Samsung wants people to know that Apple is so behind in its innovation that it can act on rumours faster than Apple can dream of them. This also means it won’t be the last time we’ll see an Edge variant. Hopefully, the pricing will be more palatable when it gets there.

However, those perceptions are from our first looks and hands-on impressions. We’ll only have an informed opinion after we publish the review and compare it to all the other premium flagship options available.

Until then, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge can be pre-ordered from the following locations:

• Samsung Online Store
• Samsung Shop App
• Samsung Experience Stores
• Samsung Official Store in Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok

The phone officially retails on 30 May 2025 in Singapore in Titanium Silver, Titanium JetBlack, and Titanium Icyblue. Check out our full pricing article here for all the ways you can maximise your edgy purchase.

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