Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: a vision of the future

It's not every time a new phone is revealed that it blows people's minds, as iterative updates are now more commonplace. But back at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event in January, that's exactly what happened with the S25 Edge reveal – causing near bedlam as that 'one more thing' mic-drop moment.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is Samsung's slimmest-ever S series handset, at a mere 5.8mm, and a vision of the future that the best Android phones may have in store for us. I've been using the slimmed-down handset as my own for a fortnight for this review, taking the time to get to know whether it's a true revelation or instead in need of a rethink.

Clearly, a slimmer design brings with it a shift in focus, with battery life questions at the forefront of many people's minds. There's also a less comprehensive camera setup compared to the top-tier Galaxy S25 Ultra model. So does the Galaxy S25 Edge represent knock-out new beginnings for Samsung?

Price & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge goes on sale from 30 May, with the 256GB model priced at £1,099 in the UK, $1,099 in the USA, and AU$1,849 in Australia.

If you pre-order ahead of that on-sale date then you can net the 512GB model as a free upgrade, otherwise that expanded storage model becomes a £1,199 / $1,219 / AU$2,049 purchase.

If the Edge went on sale in tandem with the rest of the S25 range earlier in the year, that would have positioned its price below the Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, as it's arrived some months later, the Ultra's price has decreased to the point where the Edge is effectively the most costly option in the range.

What's New?

• Samsung's slimmest-ever S series, at 5.8mm
• All-new design for S25 series

I've often said that the Galaxy S series has an iconic look, with its typical trio of cameras arranged in a vertical line being a symbol of Samsung's top-tier handsets. Not so with the Edge, however, which has reset the design slate and gone with a new, different look.

It's not so different that it's shocking, mind, but the rear camera duo, sat in their own raised island design, immediately differentiates this model from the rest. I'm not convinced it looks as flagship based on the rear's visual insignia as a result, though.

But it's certainly a well-made product, with Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the rear and, for the first time in any handset, Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the front for added screen protection. You'll want that robustness, as there's no case in the box, and adding one is going to offset the very point of the design – its thinness!

Design & Display

• 6.7-inch AMOLED display
  • 120Hz variable refresh
  • 2600 nits peak brightness
  • 1440 x 3210 resolution (QHD+)
  • Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2
• Dimensions: 158.2 x 75.6 x 5.8mm / Weight: 163g / IP68 rated
• Colours: Titanium Icy Blue, Titanium Silver, Titanium Jet Black

The first time I picked up the Galaxy S25 Edge it was a "wow" moment. I've seen and tested hundreds of the best phones over the many years of doing this job – and this particular Samsung's low weight and bold screen, with minimal bezel, is a real eye-catcher from the off.

People have been commenting on it more than other handsets I've had in recent times, too, noting its slimness as the main point of attraction – and wanting to know more about the phone as a result. That's a rarity, so the Edge has successfully delivered upon its design difference, without needing to pull out any outlandish bells and whistles.

The display is a 6.68-inch panel, at a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, which is the approximate norm for many flagships these days. It's a little smaller than the Galaxy S25 Ultra as a result.

For me, however, I can more envision the Edge as a should-be replacement for the Plus model, rather than a fourth addition in the S series – but who knows if there'll be sensible family alignment shifts within this family in the future.

That display is very prominent, thanks to a 91.2% screen-to-body ratio, meaning that its edge bezel is as trim as you'll find in other S25 handsets. It also features all the latest mod cons, from a 120Hz refresh rate to HDR10+ high dynamic range support. It's bright, too, at up to 2600 nits of peak brightness.

As mentioned, the S25 Edge is the first device to feature Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2. This is the toughest resistive glass you'll find on any phone right now, designed to avoid cracks upon drop impact (I've had one accidental drop and it survived without defects). Ceramic 2 was co-developed with Samsung, making it another important part of the Edge's story. It's not impervious, though, so it'll scratch if you give it reason enough to do so.

As you can see from my review photos, the Titanium finish of the Edge has a metallic sheen. That's the theme with this handset, as the 'Icy Blue' also looks more silver-like in finish to me, with Jet Black option being a more muted visual. A lick of colour would have been nice – and I'm surprised there aren't any more prominent online exclusives from Samsung.

Performance & Battery

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
  • 8 core: 2x 4.75GHz, 6x 3.53GHz
  • Adreno 830 graphics
• 12GB RAM as standard
• 3900mAh battery
• 25W charging

With such a slim design, has Samsung cut any hardware back for the Edge? It was believed for some time that Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite processor in its pared-down cores variant would be the choice, but having used the CPU-Z Android app to deep-dive, I can confirm that's not the case.

That means the Galaxy S25 Edge is theoretically as powerful as any other S25 model touting 12GB of RAM. It's not compromised or watered-down as result of its thinness, which I found a surprise. A pleasant one in many ways, as the fluid experience translates well for gaming, multi-tasking and anything you care to throw at this phone.

That choice does bring an obvious challenge though: some features will cause thermal increases that can really hinder the battery life. And as the battery capacity, at 3,900mAh, is already far lower than other equivalent screen-sized Galaxy devices, that can prove to be a problem.

When I first started using the Edge, I was actually surprised by how good the battery life was. It got me through a day, no dramas. But then, when I started to travel for work more and was activating the Wi-Fi hotspot, it was clear that the handset heated up a lot and drained the battery more speedily than Samsung's other S25 models.

As such, the battery in the Edge doesn't quite cut it. I feel as though there could have been a solution here: silicon-carbon now exists, which offers increased density and, therefore, could provide greater capacity within the constraints of a slimmer design.

But that wasn't to be, as Samsung is clearly now (and rightfly so) extra vigilant in its battery and charging development processes – even if that simply means 'behind the competition' for end-users. Not everyone knows the history.

There are other battery-saving measures deployed on the device too. By default, the maximum resolution isn't in use, nor is the maximum refresh rate. It's probably more effective to only crank these up when specific games require them, really, so I haven't found this balanced approach to be any bother.

The rest of the software is a familiar joy, though, with Samsung's One UI over Android 15 proving slick, uncluttered and effective. It's got lots of baked-in AI features, too, even if you're unlikely to use them all that much. Integrated Gemini is a step beyond Bixby, though, with an increasing user base that makes it the more logical option.

The other AI features, such as Now Brief and Now Bar, provide round-ups of your day and previews of open apps on the lock screen, but aren't exactly world-changing. Circle to Search, however, is very effective, as are many of the photographic features – object removal using Generative Edit, for example, being right up there.

Cameras

• Dual rear camera:
  • 200MP main, f/1.7 aperture, 1/1.56in sensor, autofocus (AF), optical stabilisation (OIS)
  • 12MP wide, f/2.2, AF
  • 12MP front, f/2.2

The Edge opts for the same 200-megapixel main camera as the S25 Ultra and, as a result, you can expect much the same great quality. But it's not precisely the same, because the Edge is only calling upon its duo of cameras for results, not a wider array.

That highlights one obvious absence in the Edge: there's no optical zoom. Furthermore, the wide-angle isn't as high-resolution as its S25 cousin, which stretches the wide-angle's shooting limitations somewhat. Compared to other phones at this price, the Edge doesn't have the, erm, edge as a result.

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But I can't deny how impressive Samsung's main camera offering is. Some of that comes down to the interface and its ease of use, some the base hardware delivering as needed. The S25 Edge isn't complex in its offering compared to some flagships, but the main component here is in check.

And some of the appeal comes from the wider array of software and AI-enhanced features to elevate the experience. From the macro close-up feature, to expert raw and virtual aperture for post-shoot adjustment and blurred backgrounds respectively, and beyond, the series of tools on offer is quality.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Verdict

In many ways, the Galaxy S25 Edge is a knock-out product. It's thinner and lighter than anything you've ever likely seen. It's well-built and every bit the flagship, with power to take on the best of them.

But in other ways, the Edge knocks itself out on account of limited battery life, a power level that arguably hinders its form, and a camera arrangement that – in addition to its lack of zoom – doesn't touch upon the S25 Ultra or some best-of-best competitors.

Overall, I see the Galaxy S25 Edge as a glimpse of the future. It's not the thinnest phone ever made, but it is Samsung's thinnest. And in a market where that's a big deal right now, this sign of change – of seeking out the new – is a forward motion that moves away from subtle iterative updates, and brings with it excitement.

Also consider

If you're flagship shopping then the larger and longer-lasting Galaxy S25 Ultra is the more logical choice for most people. Sure, it's thicker, but it's just more everyday usable.

Ignoring that not-so-slim model, few others are as trim. Sure, Tecno announced an even slimmer handset earlier in the year (at MWC 2025), but the chances of getting that in the UK or elsewhere are slim to none.