Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, lauded for its slim design, has faced questions regarding its battery life and feature set, potentially impacting its future in the company’s flagship lineup. Released in May 2025, the phone distinguishes itself with a 5.8mm thickness, significantly thinner than both the iPhone 16 Plus and Samsung’s own Galaxy S25+, but this has come at a cost.
The S25 Edge, priced at $1,100, boasts a titanium frame, stronger front glass, and 4K 120 frames per second video recording, features shared with the higher-conclude Galaxy S25 Ultra. All cameras across the S25 series include autofocus. Yet, reviewers at WIRED magazine gave the device a 6/10 rating, citing a “lackluster battery life” and the absence of a telephoto camera as significant drawbacks. The phone’s battery capacity is 3,900 mAh.
The slim profile, achieved through design compromises, has likewise presented handling issues, with some users reporting the phone feels unstable on flat surfaces and the thin edges are difficult to grip. Despite these concerns, the S25 Edge offers a stunning display and rich software experience, with a commitment to seven years of software updates.
Alongside the S25 Edge, Samsung released the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra in January 2025, followed by the more affordable S25 FE in September 2025. The S25 series, excluding the FE model, runs on Android 15 with Samsung’s One UI 7, while the S25 FE utilizes Android 16 and One UI 8. All models, except the S25 FE, are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite For Galaxy processor.
Samsung’s broader smartphone portfolio includes the Galaxy A17 5G ($200) and Galaxy A36 5G ($395), positioned as more budget-friendly options. The A17 5G, despite offering six years of software support and an AMOLED screen, suffers from limited performance due to its 4 GB of RAM. The A36 5G, while offering a decent camera and day-long battery life, is hampered by choppy performance.
The company also continues to innovate in the foldable market with the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6. While the 2024 models, the Z Fold6 and Z Flip7, offer compelling features, including large, vibrant screens and improved software, battery life remains a concern. Samsung also offers a range of accessories, including the Galaxy Watch8 smartwatch, Galaxy Buds3 Pro earbuds, Galaxy Ring fitness ring, Galaxy Tab S11, and Galaxy laptops, creating a connected ecosystem.
A key feature across the Galaxy S25 series is “Galaxy AI,” powered by Google’s Gemini large language models. This includes real-time translation during calls, transcriptions, text summarization, and tone adjustment. With the S25 series, Galaxy AI expanded to include Gemini as the default voice assistant and the introduction of Drawing Assist, an AI-powered image generation tool. Samsung’s DeX feature, allowing users to connect their phone to an external monitor for a desktop experience, is also available on select models, including the Galaxy Z Flip7.
Rumors suggest the S25 Edge may not receive a successor in 2026, potentially signaling a reassessment of the ultra-thin design strategy within Samsung’s product development plans.
