At a Glance
- Apple and Samsung launch ultra-thin flagship phones in 2025.
- iPhone Air starts at $999, Galaxy S25 Edge at $1,100.
- The two phones together are thicker than a single flagship but lighter than most rivals.
- Why it matters: Consumers can choose a slimmer design without sacrificing too much battery or performance, but must weigh trade-offs.
Apple’s new iPhone Air and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge arrive as the latest examples of a trend toward ultra-thin smartphones, offering larger displays and premium processors while trading off battery life and camera complexity.
Design and Dimensions
The iPhone Air measures 156.2 mm by 74.7 mm and weighs 165 g, while the S25 Edge is 158.2 mm by 75.6 mm and weighs 163 g. Both phones are thinner than their flagship siblings, with the Air at 5.64 mm and the S25 Edge at 5.8 mm. Together, their combined thickness of 11.44 mm exceeds the 7.9 mm of the iPhone 17 and the 7.2 mm of the Galaxy S25.
- Thickness: 5.64 mm (Air) vs 5.8 mm (S25 Edge)
- Weight: 165 g vs 163 g
- Dimensions: 156.2 × 74.7 mm vs 158.2 × 75.6 mm
Display
The Air features a 6.5-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with 2,736 × 1,260 pixels at 460 ppi and up to 3,000 nits peak brightness. The S25 Edge sports a 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 3,120 × 1,440 pixels at 513 ppi and 2,600 nits. Both screens support adaptive 120 Hz refresh rates.
Camera
The Air houses a single 48-megapixel wide rear camera with a 26 mm equivalent field of view and f/1.6 aperture, plus a 12-megapixel telephoto crop. The S25 Edge offers a 200-megapixel wide lens and a 12-megapixel ultrawide, with a 12-megapixel 2× crop. Front-side, the Air has an 18-megapixel sensor with Center Stage, while the S25 Edge uses a 12-megapixel selfie camera.
Battery and Charging
Battery capacities are not disclosed for the Air, but it promises all-day life and up to 27 hours of video playback. The S25 Edge contains a 3,900-mAh battery that Samsung claims supports 24 hours of video playback. Both phones fast-charge to 50 % in 30 minutes using a 20 W or higher wired adapter.
Processor, Storage, OS
The Air runs on the A19 Pro chip, likely 8 GB of RAM, and starts at 256 GB of storage, scaling to 512 GB or 1 TB. It ships with iOS 26. The S25 Edge uses a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB or 512 GB storage, and Android 15.
| Feature | iPhone Air | Galaxy S25 Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999 | $1,100 |
| Display | 6.5″ OLED, 460 ppi, 3,000 nits | 6.7″ AMOLED, 513 ppi, 2,600 nits |
| Processor | A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB | 256 GB / 512 GB |
| Battery | Not disclosed, 27 h video | 3,900 mAh, 24 h video |
| Camera (rear) | 48 MP wide + 12 MP tele | 200 MP wide + 12 MP ultra |
| Front camera | 18 MP Center Stage | 12 MP |
| Weight | 165 g | 163 g |
| Thickness | 5.64 mm | 5.8 mm |
Key Takeaways
- Apple’s iPhone Air and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge both offer larger displays at $999 and $1,100.
- The phones are thinner than flagship siblings but trade battery life and camera depth.
- Users must decide if the slimmer form factor outweighs the reduced battery capacity.
The iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge push the limits of slimness while offering premium specs, but consumers need to weigh whether the trade-offs in battery and camera depth are worth the thinner design.
