Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge test: nobody asked for thinner phone but is it unwelcome
It is not to be confused with previous Edge-branded phones that came with curved screens, and for context this year's ultra-premium flagship, Galaxy S25 Ultra, was 8.2mm thick.
Foldable smartphone fans will doubtless have hoped this superslim device pointed the way towards a less blocky and bulky next generation of Z Fold handsets.
READ MORE: Microsoft Surface Laptop 13in review: the best everyday ultra-portable notebook I've tested in 2025
READ MORE: Ugreen Nexode Retractable Chargers review: ideal power bank for festivals such as All Together Now Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge everyday use The rear of Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (Image: Mark Kavanagh)
I've enjoyed using the lightweight 162.5g S25 Edge. I was pleasantly surprised by the impressive battery life for such a slim device and for its robust build quality. It's a delight to hold and use. The IP68-certified device has a tough-as-nails titanium frame and the latest Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 protection for its dazzling 6.7in 120Hz LTPO OLED display.
That display, as with all the firm's handsets, is one of its strongest features. It is excellent for outdoor use and is visible even in direct sunlight with decent wide viewing angles.
The phone is powered by the highest-end Android chip, Snapdragon 8 Elite and is one of the fastest I've tested in 2025 in terms of benchmark scores and real world use. S25 Edge breezes through everything you care to throw at it and runs Android 15 and One UI 7 out of the box.
S2 Edge comes packed with plenty of Google and Samsung's most advanced AI tools such as Gemini. I love the useful Now bar and the live notifications which show ongoing activities (such as music playing on the lock screen) in the task bar and on the home screen. The dual rear camera system on Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (Image: Mark Kavanagh)
The key compromises with S25 Edge concern the dual rear camera system. The device is capable of the image and video quality as the other Galaxy S25 devices, but space limitations mean it lacks a telephoto lens so it may only be suitable for users who don't often use the zoom.
However, do note that the primary lens is a superb 200MP shooter that is similar to the S25 Ultra camera. It captures consistently pleasing photos and videos in a range of lighting conditions. And it can deliver sharp 2x in-sensor zoom shots. The camera app and overall shooting experience is up there with the likes of Pixel 9 Pro, iPhone 16 and of course the S25 Ultra. Galaxy S25 Edge other features Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (Image: Mark Kavanagh)
The maximum recharging speed is just 25W, so to refuel the 3,900mAh power pack takes an hour and a half. On the upside, I was surprised to regularly get a full day of use out of such a relatively small battery. However, battery stamina depends very much on how you use the phone and ardent gamers might be better off looking elsewhere.
S25 Edge comes with the promise of seven years of operating system upgrades and security updates.
The phone comes with 5G, USB-C data transfer speeds of 480Mbps, NFC, the latest Bluetooth 5.4 and Wifi 7, an ultra-wideband chip for precision location tracking and GNSS.
And you get a fast and reliable fingerprint sensor. Galaxy S25 Edge verdict The superslim S25 Edge and its protruding camera module (Image: Mark Kavanagh)
If you want all the latest and greatest tech on a phone, the S25 Ultra is still the device to go for. But if you want a slim and stylish alternative and are not fussed by the lack of zoom and the slow charging then the S25 Edge makes sense.
It feels so much lighter in my hand, pocket and bag yet it still has the large high quality screen that I crave in a smartphone. Galaxy S25 Edge pricing and availability
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge costs €1269 from Harvey Norman and Samsung.
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