The Galaxy S25 Edge: Samsung’s Thinnest Phone Yet—But Is It Worth the Hype?

Samsung’s latest release, the Galaxy S25 Edge, has been making waves as the thinnest phone the company has ever made. The name “Edge” might sound familiar—Samsung used it nine years ago for the Galaxy S7 Edge, a curved-screen phone. While the name feels like a throwback, the design of the S25 Edge brings something new to the table. But is it really as impressive as the early hype suggests? Let’s dive in.

First Impressions: Thin, But Not Mind-Blowing

After getting my hands on the S25 Edge, I was struck by how light it felt—but honestly, I wasn’t blown away. Sure, it’s thin. At just 5.8 mm, the titanium edge design looks sleek, but it’s not unprecedented. For instance, Apple’s M4 iPad, released a year ago, is even thinner at 5.1 mm. So while Samsung has achieved a remarkably slim design, it’s not the first to do so.

To put the thinness into perspective, the S25 Edge is about the thickness of seven razor blades stacked together or roughly two house keys. It’s even thinner than a pencil and about a third the thickness of an ice cream lid (minus any melted ice cream, of course). These fun comparisons aside, the thinness isn’t something you’ll immediately notice unless you’re really looking for it.

Build and Durability: Titanium Strength

One of the key features of the S25 Edge is its titanium frame. Titanium is nearly twice as rigid as aluminum, which could be what gives the Edge its surprising durability despite its slim design. The ultrasonic fingerprint scanner also helps save space, fitting flush under the screen without adding extra thickness.

However, the camera design sticks out—literally. The camera bump is significant, featuring a 12MP ultrawide camera on top, a 200MP main camera below, and a single-tone LED flash. Unlike some phones with flush back panels, Samsung’s Edge has a double-stacked camera hump, so you’ll probably want a case just to even it out.

The Display: Good, But Missing Some Premium Features

The S25 Edge has a beautiful screen with the same resolution and refresh rate as the Ultra series, but it lacks some of the premium features like the anti-glare coatings found on the Ultra. That means if you’re under bright lights, you might notice more reflections. And unlike the Ultra, the Edge doesn’t come with an S Pen, larger battery, or extra cameras.

The front-facing 12MP camera is tucked into a small hole punch, and the Ceramic 2 Gorilla Glass from Corning adds durability. As expected, the glass scratches at level 6 on the Mohs scale, with deeper grooves at level 7.

Design Trade-Offs: Lightweight But Wobbly

At just 2 ounces lighter than the Ultra, the S25 Edge feels incredibly light. But there’s a trade-off—wobble. The protruding camera bump causes the phone to rock when placed on a flat surface.

There are also some quirks in the design. For example, Samsung’s button design allows the buttons to pop out of the frame relatively easily, so be careful when handling them. The top of the phone features noise-canceling microphones and a 5G antenna, while the bottom houses a single SIM tray, 25W USB-C port, and a very thin lower speaker slit. The SIM tray has a rubber gasket for water resistance, but it’s unclear how the IP68 rating is achieved without visible waterproofing mesh.

Durability Test: Surprisingly Strong

Despite its thinness, the S25 Edge holds up impressively in a bend test. Applying pressure to the back shows only a minor flex. Pushing on the screen reveals a slight separation between the back panel and the camera area, which could impact water resistance, but there’s no catastrophic failure. Even after some aggressive testing, the S25 Edge refuses to snap. It seems Samsung has worked some engineering magic here.

Final Thoughts: Who Is the S25 Edge For?

The Galaxy S25 Edge is an impressive piece of hardware, but it’s not for everyone. If you value a super-thin and lightweight design above all else, the Edge is a great choice. However, you’ll have to accept some compromises: a smaller battery, fewer cameras, no S Pen, and a bit of camera wobble.

Personally, I’d prefer keeping the extra 2 ounces of weight and enjoying the features of the Ultra. But that’s just me—if you love slim and sleek devices, the Edge delivers. Just don’t expect it to be the revolutionary experience some early reviews hyped it up to be.