With the Galaxy S25 Edge, Samsung took a swing on a high-end Android Super-Slim Android phone before the start of the iPhone Air.
Unfortunately, the experience seems to have failed, the S25 edge not having aroused the interest of consumers. Only 5.8 mm thick, the edge certainly resembles the room, but being thin is not enough.
Like other super thin Android phones before, the device compromises in the areas that matter the most. And the iPhone Air is distinguished exactly in these areas, proving that a slim phone does not have to come with so many compromises.
Samsung did not go far enough with the Galaxy S25 Edge
The failed chances of standing out
Android smartphones manufacturers continue to collect advanced equipment in their devices. This approach works for traditional flagship products but falls into super-thin phones.
To get the most out of the limited space while packing powerful equipment, Android manufacturers must rethink their approach.
Thin phones are a question of efficiency: how you can use the limited internal space for maximum, compression in the largest battery possible and efficient heat management.
These optimizations cannot stop in material adjustments to the surface or simply fall into a larger sic battery. They need to go further, also stretching in the software setting.
Samsung has made several optimizations and modifications under the hood to make the Galaxy S25 Edge – his thinnest phone to date. But that didn’t go far enough.
Despite the elegant profile of the phone, the company has equipped it with an Elite Snapdragon 8 chip, ensuring that performance is not compromised due to slimming.
However, he should have used the 7 core variant of the chip to better manage heat. This would also have made it possible to better perform sustained performance.
Instead, Samsung used the “For Galaxy” variant of the Snapdragon 8 elite – the same chip supplying other S25 models – listening with higher clock speeds. And the results speak for themselves.
GsmarenaMadeal tests of the Galaxy S25 Edge personals, the GPU reaching a stability score of less than 50% in the 3D brand stress test.
Worse, the phone has reached a hot top temperature of 54.7 ° C under a heavy load.
In comparison, iPhone air delivered 61% stability of the GPU, and its processor was only 76% under a sustained load. It is much better than the S25 Edge, and it is a difference that you will notice when you use the two phones in daily life.
The Galaxy S25 Edge will probably be running after a few minutes of heavy camera and that Google Maps uses while you are on the go, while iPhone air should be much better in such scenarios.
The slim iPhone has reached a top temperature of 54.6 ° C GsmarenaThe tests, almost the same as the S25 edge, which is impressive since the device is thinner 0.2 mm than its Android competitor.
Smarter under the hood
Optimizations must go very deeply
Apple focused on optimizing all aspects of iPhone air to ensure that slimming does not affect conviviality.
Most importantly, it equips the phone with its internal C1X modem and its N1 chip to manage 5G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
This makes a big difference, as combined with software optimizations such as the new adaptive power mode in iOS 26, iPhone air can last a day of moderate use. This despite the phone housing a battery considerably smaller than the S25 edge.
Apple says that Modem C1X is an improved C1 variant, its first iPhone base band the first and most efficient to date.
This plays a big role in the guarantee that iPhone air offers a respectable battery life, the company even affirming that the air is “the most economical iPhone in power ever made”.
Yes, there is no MMWAVE 5G support, but the majority of iPhone Air users will not notice their absence. In addition, the battery boost is worth the compromise in this case.
Samsung is not going so far with the Galaxy S25 edge. It uses almost the same components on the Galaxy S25 Edge as other S25 family members.
He could have used a more recent and more efficient display in power to increase the battery life.
Likewise, he should have optimized a 7 -telephone user interface for a longer battery life. But no. And again, the results speak for themselves.
The Galaxy S25 EDGE contains a 3,900 mAh battery, much larger than the 3,149mAH cell of the iPhone Air. However, the latter lasts longer in most tests and should offer a better lifespan of the daily battery.
The missing accessory
iPhone Air has the advantage Magsafe
Apple knows that the lifespan of the iPhone Air battery may not be sufficient for most users.
And that’s why he specifically launched a slim Magsafe battery pack for the phone. It goes well with the elegant design of the phone and increases its overall execution time by 65%.
Samsung does not offer a dedicated accessory like this for the Galaxy S25 Edge. Of course, you can always connect an ordinary food bank to recharge the battery, but it is hardly also transparent.
A slim and magnetic attached food bank would make the load on the move much more practical in everyday life.
Worse, the S25 Edge even lacks a complete native NI2 support. It is only Qi2 ready, which means that you cannot fix any magnetic accessory on its back without compatible cases.
Android manufacturers need a new manual for their thin phones
The launch of the iPhone Air will undoubtedly lead that more manufacturers of Android smartphones are jumping on the thin phone train.
However, they must first rethink their strategy. A thin phone with the same interns as their flagship phone will not work.
Like Apple, they must return to the drawing board and optimize all aspects of the device – hardware and software – to find the perfect balance between performance, friendliness and battery life.
