Samsung Unveils Slimmest Flagship Smartphone, the Galaxy S25 Edge, in Bid to Outpace Apple

Samsung Electronics on Tuesday unveiled its slimmest flagship smartphone to date, the Galaxy S25 Edge, featuring enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities and a sleek design aimed at attracting younger consumers and gaining an edge over rival Apple in the high-end smartphone market.

Set to go on sale in South Korea on May 23 and in the United States on May 30, the Galaxy S25 Edge will be rolled out in approximately 30 countries, including China and several European nations. Priced from $1,099, the device boasts a 6.7-inch display and a body thickness of just 5.8 millimetres, making it both larger and only marginally heavier than the standard S25 model.

Samsung emphasized that consumer demand for portability was a key factor in the development of the new model. “The feedback was clear – users wanted something slimmer and easier to carry without sacrificing performance,” the company stated. To achieve this, structural changes were made to reduce the size of internal components such as the printed circuit board and thermal systems.

Industry analysts view the timing of the launch as a strategic move to gain an early advantage ahead of Apple’s expected release of a thinner iPhone later this year. “By releasing the product a few months ahead, Samsung could inflict some impact on Apple and attract consumers looking for thinner smartphones,” said Ryu Young-ho, a senior analyst at NH Investment & Securities.

The S25 Edge also integrates Samsung’s latest AI innovations, including multimodal AI, which allows users to interact with the phone through vision and voice. This feature enables real-time queries using the camera and microphone, enhancing the device’s usability.

At the launch event, Samsung executives addressed concerns over potential overheating issues, often associated with slimmer devices. “We managed to engineer a thinner vapor chamber to fit the slim design, and we put everything into making that happen,” said Moon Sung-hoon, Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics. “We’re confident the S25 Edge can be used without concerns about overheating.”

The launch comes as Samsung recently reclaimed its position as the world’s leading smartphone vendor in the first quarter of 2025, capturing 20% of the global market, narrowly surpassing Apple’s 19%, according to Counterpoint Research. However, the company warned last month that second-quarter shipments could be impacted by potential tariff risks affecting global demand.