Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: iPhone 17 Air Competitor

Samsung may have pulled the rug out from under us all with its latest teaser at the Galaxy Unpacked event in San Jose. Right when we thought they were finally going minimalist with the rumored Galaxy S25 “Slim,” they dropped a curveball, or rather, the absence of one. Instead of sticking to the “Slim” moniker, Samsung resurrected a branding from the dead—the iconic “Edge.” Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we’re getting the Galaxy S25 Edge. Only... it’s not really “edgy” anymore.

Now, before we dive into this branding conundrum, let’s set the stage. The Galaxy S25 Edge is poised to challenge Apple’s rumored iPhone 17 Air in the battle of who can make their phone slim enough to double as a bookmark. At an astonishing rumored thickness of just 6.4mm, the S25 Edge shaves off nearly 2mm from the current S25 Ultra, making it as slender as a wafer (or as some might say, an overly ambitious potato chip). For context, the standard Galaxy S25 sits at 7.2mm, which is practically bloated by comparison. Though, let’s be fair—these numbers conveniently ignore the notorious camera bulge. But hey, what’s a little dishonesty between tech companies and their marketing?

I was lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you feel about being elbowed by an overenthusiastic tech blogger) to get a first look at the Galaxy S25 Edge during the demo. Sadly, Samsung must have taken the “hands-off” approach a little too literally because getting my paws on the device was an absolute no-go. Forget touching it—I couldn’t even get close enough to a staffer to bribe them with a free latte. What I did get was a glimpse of the device sitting next to block forms about the size of your average flagship smartphone. And yes, it’s as slim as the rumors suggest, though my measuring tape was confiscated at the door, so don’t quote me on the decimals.

A Flat Twist on the "Edge" Brand

Now, here’s where things get a little dicey. Back in the day, the Edge series was synonymous with curved displays. Remember the Galaxy S7 Edge? Those beautifully swooping screen edges? It was the epitome of "look, I’m rich!" But the S25 Edge has done away with all that. Instead, it sports a flat display. Yep, Samsung took a brand built on the idea of curves and made it… straight. You’d think they’d rebrand this phone as the “Galaxy S25 Flat” for accuracy’s sake, but that wouldn’t exactly roll off the tongue, now would it?

Jokes aside, the display itself is what you’d expect—minimal bezels and a punch-hole selfie camera. It’s clean, it’s modern, and it looks like it’s been on a strict no-carb diet. But that doesn’t change the fact that the lack of curves makes the revival of the Edge brand feel a bit like they’re trotting out your high school band’s name for a reunion tour while ditching the lead singer.

Could This Have Been the Galaxy Alpha 2.0?

Speaking of branding choices, can we talk about the Galaxy Alpha? For those of you who remember 2014 (congratulations, you’ve survived a lot), the Galaxy Alpha was Samsung’s ode to slimness, inspired by the 2006 Samsung Card Phone (SGH-P310). This little legend was famous for being stylish, thin, and so compact it could disappear into your pocket. Bringing back the Alpha name for a phone like this would’ve made so much sense! It could have leaned into the legacy of slim sophistication rather than confusing us with a term that now feels out of place. But alas, the Edge brand won the lottery this time.

A Peek at the Back (and the Rumors)

Now let’s flip this pancake over. The Galaxy S25 Edge reportedly comes with a dual rear-camera setup. While that’s nothing revolutionary these days, it’s nice to see Samsung resisting the urge to slap on 15 cameras just because they can. I couldn’t confirm any other specs, though. Samsung kept mum on the processor, screen size, battery capacity, and whether this phone is durable enough to survive a drop from your pocket into the nearest puddle (spoiler: probably not).

What we do know is that Samsung is leaning heavily into the sleek-and-sexy narrative here. The flat display, the ultra-slim design, and the name itself scream, "I’m here to be seen, not necessarily practical." But hey, who buys a slim flagship for practicality, anyway? If you wanted that, you’d get a Galaxy XCover and call it a day.

The Crowd Swarm

Let me paint a picture of the demo area: a sea of humans, shoulder to shoulder, all craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the S25 Edge. The vibe was part Black Friday sale, part live concert mosh pit, and fully exhausting. I managed to maneuver close enough to squint at the phone from an awkward angle but not close enough to snap a decent picture. By the end, I felt like I’d just completed an Olympic sport in crowd navigation.

Final Thoughts: Slim Hopes?

So, where does that leave us with the Galaxy S25 Edge? On the one hand, Samsung’s commitment to pushing design boundaries (or, in this case, shrinking them) is impressive. A 6.4mm-thin phone that can still pack in dual cameras and a presumably decent battery is no small feat. On the other hand, the misuse of the Edge branding feels like a missed opportunity, especially when the Alpha name was sitting right there.

Still, whether you’re a die-hard Samsung fan or just someone who appreciates a phone that can slide under a door, the S25 Edge is bound to make waves when it officially launches. Just don’t expect it to bring back the curves. Those, it seems, have been left in 2016 where they belong.