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The ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge is lastly official. Samsung unveiled the cellphone late on Monday, a number of months after teasing it on the fundamental Galaxy S25 Unpacked occasion of the 12 months.
Samsung can now brag that it launched a slim candybar cellphone effectively earlier than Apple, although everyone knows the Galaxy S25 Edge solely occurred as a result of phrase received out that Apple was making an ultra-thin iPhone to interchange the Plus model.
The joy across the Galaxy S25 Edge in January proves there may be loads of curiosity from common customers for such gadgets. I’m one in all them. For months, I instructed you I needed an iPhone with a show as massive because the Plus and Professional Max, however with out the thickness and additional weight.
The iPhone 17 Air will probably be that system, and I’m prepared to just accept the compromises Apple must make to launch an ultra-thin cellphone this 12 months.
Nevertheless, I’ve some issues, so it’s nice to see the Galaxy S25 Edge come out earlier than the Air. Samsung simply addressed my greatest questions on ultra-thin telephones, and it’s largely excellent news.
Will the Galaxy S25 Edge bend?
Bendgate will immediately come up when you concentrate on an ultra-thin iPhone. However this isn’t 2014. The iPhone 17 Air may be thinner than the iPhone 6, however it gained’t bend. That a lot I’m sure even earlier than Apple unveils the Air.
Whereas I wait, I do like what I’m seeing from Samsung. The Galaxy S25 Edge has a titanium body, a design and sturdiness characteristic reserved for the Galaxy S25 Extremely till now.
The glass panel on the entrance of the Galaxy S25 Edge is a brand new Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 cowl, whereas the again is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cowl tech. The latter is what Samsung makes use of for the Galaxy S25 Plus’s show, which is sort of telling. The 2 telephones have the identical 6.7-inch shows, however the Galaxy S25 Edge will probably be extra sturdy.
I might nonetheless put a display protector and a case on an ultra-thin cellphone, however I like what Samsung is doing right here. Sure, utilizing equipment will make the cellphone really feel thicker, however I exploit equipment on common handsets too, and that makes them even bulkier.
By the way in which, the Galaxy S25 Edge weighs simply 163g in comparison with 190g for the Galaxy S25 Plus.
With that in thoughts, I anticipate the iPhone 17 Air to be fairly sturdy, each by way of the metallic body and the quilt glass. The design has lengthy been determined, and the cellphone needs to be mass-produced quickly. It’s not like Apple can react to Samsung’s strikes, however Apple is probably going equally involved with the iPhone’s sturdiness.
How dangerous is the battery life going to be?
Neglect Bendgate; battery life goes to be the primary query folks could have concerning the iPhone 17 Air. I anticipate Apple to promote it as all-day battery life, identical to Samsung does. Effectively, Samsung says the Galaxy S25 Edge will offer a “long-lasting battery you’ll love,” which is certainly not the easiest way to promote battery life for ultra-thin telephones.
The Galaxy S25 Edge contains a 3,900 mAh battery, which is smaller than the Galaxy S25’s 4,000 mAh battery. The Plus and Extremely have 4,900 mAh and 5,000 mAh batteries, respectively.
Samsung says the Galaxy S25 Edge will last as long as 24 hours for video playback, or 5 hours fewer than the smaller 6.2-inch Galaxy S25. That’s a 17% drop in battery life, and one thing energy customers won’t essentially like, particularly with charging speeds not exceeding 25W.
I might anticipate Apple to make comparable battery life compromises for the iPhone 17 Air, however I nonetheless assume the iPhone 17 Air will final a few day. I can’t dream of iPhone 16 Pro Max battery life, and I’m able to recharge the Air each night time.
The one factor that I hoped for this 12 months’s ultra-thin telephones will apparently not occur. I assumed the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone 17 Air would characteristic new carbon-silicon batteries, which pack extra density in the identical footprint. Since Samsung didn’t say something concerning the battery tech in the course of the occasion, it means we’re taking a look at a conventional battery. Apple will doubtless use a conventional battery, too.
What is that this factor going to price me?
I wasn’t stunned to see the Galaxy S25 Edge’s beginning worth, contemplating what rumors stated. The cellphone would price not less than as a lot because the Galaxy S25 Plus, which begins at $999, if not barely extra. We now know you need to pay $1,099 for the 256GB model.
I don’t know whether or not Trump’s tariffs compelled Samsung to lift the beginning worth past what that they had needed, however I do know you’ll get perks in case you preorder the cellphone. Additionally, the handset’s worth will drop within the coming months, so there’s no motive to rush to purchase it.
I additionally know the value is consistent with what the Edge has to supply. Consider it as a lighter model of the Galaxy S25 Extremely, the top-of-the-line Galaxy S mannequin you should buy proper now, on the subject of {hardware}.
The Extremely has further telephoto cameras for higher zoom, a built-in S-Pen stylus, a bigger battery life, and a display with an anti-reflective coating utilized to it. All of that will price you an additional $200 in contrast with the Galaxy S25 Edge.
What does that inform me concerning the iPhone 17 Air? I anticipate the cellphone to price about as a lot as an iPhone Plus, if not barely extra. Which means we’re taking a look at a $899+ price earlier than contemplating tariffs. Rumors say Apple is already trying to elevate the iPhone 17 costs with out tying the value hike to tariffs.
May the iPhone 17 Air match the $999 beginning worth of the iPhone 16 Professional? Sure, if Apple raises the costs throughout the board. In any other case, I can’t see how Apple will justify the next price ticket than the Plus price.
Whereas the Galaxy S25 Edge is a Galaxy S25 Extremely “Gentle” sort of cellphone, the iPhone 17 Air won’t be an iPhone 17 Professional “Gentle” cellphone. Apple will make extra compromises in comparison with Samsung; that a lot is for certain. The iPhone 17 Air gained’t have a titanium body, and it’ll rock a single-lens digicam on the again. Additionally, the cellphone will ditch bodily SIM playing cards.
With that in thoughts, I don’t see how the iPhone 17 Air can match or exceed the iPhone 17 Professional worth.
