iPhone 17 Air vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: The Ultra-Thin Smartphone Battle of 2025
Tech giants Apple and Samsung are set to compete in the ultra-thin smartphone segment in 2025, with the anticipated launch of the iPhone 17 Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.
Ultra-Thin Design and Display
Apple’s iPhone 17 Air is expected to replace the iPhone 16 Plus, featuring an incredibly slim 5.5mm design at its thinnest point. The device is rumored to come with a 6.6-inch OLED display, a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, and a shift toward an eSIM-only model to maintain its sleek form.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to measure between 5.6mm and 6.4mm in thickness. It is expected to feature a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring vibrant colors and smooth visuals.
Performance and Chipset
- iPhone 17 Air: Powered by Apple’s A19 chip, based on the 3nm process, paired with 8GB of RAM. Apple is also expected to introduce its in-house C1 modem chip, improving efficiency but lacking mmWave 5G support.
- Galaxy S25 Edge: Expected to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, also with 8GB of RAM. Samsung is likely to incorporate optimized heat dissipation to balance performance in its ultra-thin design.
Battery and Charging
Apple is expected to maintain battery life comparable to current models despite the slim form, thanks to efficiency improvements in the C1 modem. The MagSafe wireless charging and wired charging speeds will likely remain similar to the iPhone 16 series.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to feature a 3,800mAh to 4,200mAh battery, smaller than the S25 Ultra’s 4,900mAh. It will likely support 25W wired charging, slower than Samsung’s 45W fast charging seen in premium models. AI-driven optimizations are expected to help manage battery efficiency.
Read more: iPhone 17 Design Leak A Comparison with iPhone 17 Air & iPhone 17 Pro
Camera Capabilities
- iPhone 17 Air: Expected to feature a single 48MP primary camera, relying on computational photography and sensor cropping for 2x optical-quality zoom.
- Galaxy S25 Edge: Rumored to house a dual-camera setup, including a 200MP primary sensor and an ultra-wide lens, with AI-powered photography enhancements.
AI and Software
- iPhone 17 Air: Will run on iOS 19, integrating Apple Intelligence for AI-driven Siri enhancements, on-device text summarization, and smart photo editing tools.
- Galaxy S25 Edge: Will feature Samsung Galaxy AI, offering real-time language translation, AI-enhanced photography, and cross-app automation for a seamless experience.
Launch Timeline and Pricing
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17 Air in September 2025, alongside the iPhone 17 series, with an expected price of $899 (₹89,900 in India).
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge could launch between April and June 2025, possibly alongside its next-generation foldable lineup. Pricing is uncertain but is expected to replace the Galaxy S25 FE, which costs around $649.
With both brands competing for the slimmest flagship of 2025, the rivalry between iPhone 17 Air and Galaxy S25 Edge is set to intensify in the coming months.
