Galaxy S25 Edge has this Galaxy S25 Ultra twist, Samsung confirms ahead of May 13 launch in India
Samsung has finally announced the launch date for the highly anticipated Galaxy S25 Edge. The newest edition to the Galaxy S25 series – S25 Edge – is launching globally, including India on May 13, albeit at different times. The global release is pegged for 5:30 AM (IST) while a Samsung India teaser confirms 1:00 PM time to check out 'the slimmest Galaxy S Series ever.' Regardless, everything will be revealed next week.advertisementThe Galaxy S25 Edge has been a bit of an odd duck in that Samsung has shown it off in its entirety, but we still don't know its specs. Today's launch announcement is the first time Samsung has shared some exciting news about it that goes beyond highlighting it is 'beyond slim.' So, what is up with this new phone from Samsung?The Galaxy S25 Edge has two cameras on the back, something that the phone's first look made public long back in January. The main camera on the Galaxy S25 Edge is now confirmed to come rocking a 200-megapixel sensor. This is paired to a wide lens, though its technical details are still under the wraps. What this means is the Edge has a primary camera sensor with the same resolution as the setup inside the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra. It isn't immediately clear if it is the same exact sensor or if Samsung is using something different.advertisement
The camera specs reveal, plus everything we know about the S25 Edge based on what it looks like and what leaks are saying drops a major hint about the phone's potential positioning in Samsung's Galaxy S25 lineup. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Galaxy S25 Edge will stack in between the Galaxy S25 Plus and the Galaxy S25 Ultra – even in terms of pricing. In other words, it won't be surprising if Samsung prices it upwards of 1 lakh in India. We'll see. As for the other specs, the S25 Edge is rumoured to get Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chip – like the rest of the Galaxy S25 series phones – and a 3,900mAh battery, which seems to be a subject of big debate online given that it is smaller than even the S25's. But since no part of this is confirmed, we advise you to take this information with a pinch of salt.Samsung is playing up the slimness card, claiming the S25 Edge is 'more than a slim smartphone', with 'every curve, contour, and component" reflecting 'a breakthrough in precise engineering to create a premium experience worthy of the S series name.' AI of course is a big draw and so, expect a lot of spotlight on Galaxy AI, Samsung's suit of generative AI features that includes a bunch of conveniences from quick summaries to edition tools for text and photos. Watch this space for more details on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.
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The flat frame could have felt sharp, but the slightly rounded edges do their job in averting discomfort. This is a device designed to stay out of the way, which makes it stand out in a sea of bulky flagships. The aluminium alloy frame makes the phone feel sturdy, and the Velvet Glass finish, particularly on the Green Silk model that I received for review, adds a subtle texture that is uncommon on slim phones. What's more, the IP65 rating means it can withstand dust and splashes, which is always reassuring. In addition, my colleague Aishwarya Panda noticed something interesting on the back: when you scratch it with your nail and then rub it gently with your finger, the scratch mark automatically disappears without leaving a trace. One detail worth noting is the camera module. It's tucked into the top-left corner and carved from a single piece of aluminium, which keeps it from interfering when holding the phone in landscape mode. In terms of physical ports and buttons, however, OnePlus has shaken things up by replacing its signature alert slider with a new 'Plus Key'. This button keeps the quick access to sound profiles but adds customisation options, letting users assign functions like launching the camera or turning on the flashlight. The idea clearly takes a page from the iPhone 16 series' 'Action Button', but OnePlus's execution avoids feeling like a copy-paste job. And the integration with OnePlus's AI assistant adds genuine utility, making the Plus Key more than just a gimmick. Also read: iPhone 16e quick review: Compact but powerful contender The rest of the controls feel well placed and easy to reach. The only design hiccup I found was the fingerprint sensor's location. Positioned quite low on the screen, it asks for a bit more thumb stretch than I'd like. It's not a dealbreaker, but something that may take some getting used to. In short, the OnePlus 13s doesn't break new ground in design but shows a mature, thoughtful approach. It's a phone that feels good in the hand, stays practical, and brings subtle refinements that work well day to day. The OnePlus 13s features a 6.32-inch AMOLED display with a sharp Full HD+ resolution of 2640 x 1216 pixels. The panel may not sound large on paper, but the slim bezels make the screen feel more spacious than expected, and it gets the basics right without trying too hard. On the other hand, the screen performs well in various lighting conditions, reaching up to 800 nits typically and peaking at 1600 nits in High Brightness Mode. Although it doesn't have a dedicated anti-reflective coating, glare stays manageable, even under direct light, and viewing angles remain consistent. Furthermore, the 120Hz refresh rate makes navigation feel fluid, and OxygenOS 15 adds a layer of customisation by allowing app-specific refresh rates, even pushing some apps beyond their default. In addition, colour output leans toward vivid tones with deep blacks, which contributes to an overall immersive experience. Features like Image Sharpener and Video Colour Boost also help enhance image quality on supported apps, especially for lower-quality content on YouTube. To test the display, I binge-watched a couple of shows and movies on the OnePlus 13s, including "Criminal Justice: A Family Matter" and "Captain America: Brave New World and others." Despite their varied colour settings and scenes, I experienced absolutely no hiccups or disturbances. The OnePlus 13s truly delivered an excellent viewing experience, perfectly justified by its size and overall offerings. Also read: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: Almost the perfect Android flagship OnePlus 13s features a 50MP primary sensor and a 50MP 2x telephoto lens. Here, OnePlus has taken a different route by choosing quality over quantity. The primary sensor is a 1/1.56-inch Sony LYT-700 with a wide f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilisation (OIS). It handles daylight scenes well and offers detailed and vibrant shots. However, the colour processing on the OnePlus 13s tends to favour punchiness over strict accuracy, but users can disable it in the settings if they prefer a more natural look. A post shared by HT Tech (@hindustantimestech) The secondary 50MP telephoto lens provides 2x optical zoom at an equivalent focal length of 49mm and offers a maximum digital zoom of 4x. During testing, daylight photos maintained solid quality, but low-light performance deteriorated with noticeable detail loss. A useful feature is the built-in macro mode, which uses the telephoto lens to capture close-up shots without needing you to get close to the subject. On the other hand, the portrait mode relies on the telephoto camera and does not allow switching between focal lengths, which may limit framing options. Edge detection generally performs well, and the background blur effect appears natural, though autofocus can occasionally miss the mark and require manual adjustments. The telephoto lens produces sharp portraits and mid-range shots but lacks zoom beyond 2x optical, which might be a drawback for users wanting more reach, as you can feel it in the image sample below. Moreover, one key omission is an ultrawide camera, which many expect on flagship models at this price point. For video, the OnePlus 13s supports 4K recording at 60fps with OIS and Dolby Vision, resulting in smooth and cinematic footage. On the front, the 32MP selfie camera captures sharp images and records 4K video at 30fps. On the front, OnePlus 13s has a 32MP selfie camera that takes sharp photos and supports 4K@30fps video, which holds up well in most scenarios. In short, the OnePlus 13s offers a competent camera experience with some room for improvement in versatility. The OnePlus 13s steps into the ring with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite, the most advanced chip in their lineup to date. This SoC powers the device with a CPU clocked at 4.32GHz and pairs with the Adreno 730 GPU. In addition, the device is equipped with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The OnePlus 13s handles multitasking without noticeable slowdowns or app reloads. The combination of hardware ensures the device keeps pace with intensive workloads, offering reliable responsiveness throughout daily use. Out of the box, the OnePlus 13s runs on Android 15 with OxygenOS 15 layered on top, which delivers a simple and efficient user interface. To test how the OnePlus 13s delivers on its promises. I get it through multiple everyday tasks like web browsing, switching between apps, scrolling reels on Instagram, and media consumption, among others. I noticed app reloads were infrequent, which helped maintain a seamless experience during longer sessions of mixed activities. Also read: Oppo Reno 13 Pro 5G review: Well-balanced smartphone with AI smarts, but not without trade-offs During my gaming sessions, the OnePlus 13s shows its strength clearly. Titles like Genshin Impact and BGMI run on the highest graphics settings with stable frame rates and no noticeable lag. The device maintains consistent gameplay even during longer sessions, which is impressive given its compact design. OnePlus also adds useful features tailored for gamers, like bypass charging to maintain battery health during play, and a floating Game Control Centre. This hub lets users fine-tune GPU settings, including MSAA samples and anisotropic filtering, giving you fine control over graphics performance. These additions make the OnePlus 13s a serious contender for those seeking a compact yet powerful gaming phone. On benchmarks, the OnePlus 13s performs well with an AnTuTu score of 18,243,68 and GeekBench 6 single-core and multi-core scores of 2,700 and 8,131, respectively. During the Wild Life Extreme Stress Test on 3DMark, the phone achieved a best loop score of 4,360 with 93.6% stability. AI features on smartphones often feel like gimmicks, but with the OnePlus 13s, that narrative shifts. I started using the device without expecting much from its AI features. But within a few hours, one particular tool - 'AI Plus Mind' had changed that assumption. Here's how it works: you take a screenshot, and AI Plus Mind jumps in, pulling out useful data like phone numbers, dates, and addresses. You can tap to save a contact, add an event to your calendar, or locate a place on the map, all without switching apps or copying and pasting. You can access it using the new Plus Key or a three-finger swipe. It's essentially a screenshot assistant that does more than just capture the screen, it interprets it. Other AI tools follow the same principle: keep things simple but functional. AI VoiceScribe can transcribe, summarise, and even translate voice conversations from platforms like Zoom, WhatsApp, or Google Meet. AI Call Assistant adds live translations and summarises calls using the OnePlus Dialer - a feature tuned specifically for India. Then there's AI Search, which helps dig up content buried on your device, and AI Reframe, which refines photo compositions automatically. Also read: Tecno Phantom V Fold 2 review: Promising foldable but far from benchmark On the other hand, one feature to watch is AI Best Face 2.0, designed to fix closed eyes or awkward expressions in group photos. The built-in AI Translation app can translate not just text, but also overlay live translations over any app, including audio and on-screen content. Beyond AI, the OnePlus 13s offers strong connectivity options. It supports 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX HD and LHDC 5, NFC, and includes an infrared port. The G1 Wi-Fi chip helps maintain stable connections in crowded networks. A 360-degree antenna array with 11 modules works to reduce interference and strengthen the signal, which benefits activities like gaming and streaming. Battery life is often the quiet backbone of a smartphone experience, and the OnePlus 13s holds up well in this area. With a 5,850mAh unit inside a compact frame, it managed to get through a full day of work, entertainment, and calls without any trouble. Even with screen time spread across social media, video streaming, and occasional gaming, there is still enough battery power left for the evening without needing an urgent recharge. The phone supports 80W wired charging using the included SUPERVOOC adapter. The device charges from near-zero to full in just over 40 minutes, with a noticeable amount of fuel being added within the first half-hour. This makes it ideal for those who need a quick charge before going out. However, the absence of wireless charging could be a downside for those who expect it in this segment. Also read: Apple iPad mini 7 review: Tiny tablet, mighty potential If you're tired of handling oversized phones that don't fit your pocket or palm, the OnePlus 13s offers a much-needed break. Priced at Rs. 54,000, it targets users who prioritise ease of handling and reliable speed in a manageable size. Its 6.32-inch display delivers solid visuals and smooth navigation, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset powers multitasking and gaming smoothly. The device also stands out with useful AI tools that add genuine value beyond standard features. The inclusion of features like the customisable Plus Key and stable connectivity options further enhances everyday convenience. However, the phone does have compromises worth noting. The lack of an ultrawide camera limits photographic versatility, especially compared to similarly priced flagships. The fingerprint sensor's lower placement may feel awkward at first. Wireless charging is absent, which could be a dealbreaker for some in this segment. Moreover, if you seek the latest innovations or a wider screen for media consumption, there are alternatives with bigger displays and features you may be looking for. Ultimately, the OnePlus 13s is a strong contender for users who value a compact device that covers essentials without extra bulk or gimmicks. It appeals to those who want flagship-level performance and solid core features in a smaller footprint, but those who want more camera flexibility or premium extras may find better choices elsewhere.
