Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Review: slim profile, slimmer battery

The Galaxy S25 Edge challenges everything we've come to expect from smartphone design - mainly, that small batteries usually lead to user disappointment. Even if the device is compact. Even if it's ultra-thin.

But the S25 Edge made me realize just how much I hate carrying bulky flagships in my pocket. If only the battery was a bit more capable.

Design and Display

Housed in an ultra-thin titanium chassis, the S25 Edge is thinner and lighter than anticipated. Even skeptics are surprised by how different it feels in hand. Numbers don't do it justice: it’s 5.8mm thick versus the 7.3mm S25 Plus (20% thinner) and weighs just 163g versus 190g (15% lighter). It feels like an even bigger difference in practice.

Color options are minimalist: Titanium Jetblack, Icyblue, and Silver - the latter two looking almost identical. Inside the box, it’s just the phone and a charging cable. No charger included.

The 6.7" OLED screen offers 1440p resolution and a 120Hz variable refresh rate. It’s nearly identical to the S25 Plus, though it lacks the Gorilla Armor found on the Ultra. That’s disappointing given the Edge's high price point.

Brightness peaks at nearly 2,400 nits - matching the S25 Plus and Ultra - and dips below 1 nit for nighttime use. Biometrics include a fast ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and basic 2D face recognition.

Camera System

No surprises here: the S25 Edge features the same 200 MP main sensor as the S25 Ultra (larger than the one in the S25 Plus), paired with a 12 MP ultra-wide. There's no telephoto lens, but 2X and 4X digital zoom perform decently due to the high-res main sensor.

Portraits are limited to 1X and 2X, missing that ideal 3X "85mm" focal length. Photos have Samsung’s trademark saturated colors. Zoomed-in shots benefit from strong software processing, though detail falls off quickly beyond 4X.

Ultra-wide shots are serviceable but lack detail and consistency in exposure. Selfies match the rest of the S25 line. Video quality is solid - good stabilization and color, though zoom remains limited in quality beyond 4X. You can seamlessly switch between front and back cameras during recording - a Samsung exclusive feature.

Performance and Benchmarks

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the S25 Edge runs the full 8-core setup. Still, benchmarks trail slightly behind the S25 Plus, though performance in daily use remains excellent.

Software

Running One UI 7 atop Android 15, the experience is polished. Samsung DeX is here, allowing the phone to serve as a desktop with a monitor and peripherals. It’s a great option to have, even if rarely used.

One UI continues to evolve and now resembles iOS in many ways - arguably making it the best Android skin. However, micro-stutters persist in gesture navigation. Samsung promises 7 years of updates, though past rollout delays cast some doubt.

Battery Life

This is the Achilles' heel. With only a 3,900 mAh battery - smaller even than the base S25 - endurance suffers. And that’s hard to ignore.

Audio and Haptics

Speaker quality is surprisingly solid despite the slim design. Sound is clear and loud with decent bass. Haptics are average - acceptable but not as refined as on competitors like the OnePlus 13.

Verdict

The Galaxy S25 Edge is both likable and hard to recommend. It delivers on the promise of a stylish, lightweight flagship with top-tier software and main camera. But the lackluster battery is a real compromise.

If you’re aware of this trade-off and prioritize form over battery life, the S25 Edge offers a refreshing, elegant option in a market full of cookie-cutter slabs.