Tremendous-thin telephones carry lots of attraction with out lots of bulk. They’re lighter than many counterparts, extra snug to carry and let’s not neglect how nice they give the impression of being. And though they continue to be a area of interest class, the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge are additionally paving the way in which for the slim know-how that makes the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and rumored iPhone Fold attainable.
However are you giving up an excessive amount of else for a slim cellphone? When you press them collectively, are they a lot thicker mixed than a daily iPhone 17 or Galaxy S25 (or the brand new Galaxy S26)? And do they overcome trade-offs in battery life, digital camera and sound high quality that include a thinner design? I am right here to do the mathematics and evaluate options for you.
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Need to purchase the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge? Discover out which carriers and retailers are providing the greatest offers on Samsung’s slim cellphone.
The iPhone Air begins at $999.
iPhone Air vs. S25 Edge value comparability
iPhone Air: $999. The iPhone Air takes the place previously held by the iPhone 16 Plus, making it the one mannequin with a display bigger than the iPhone 17 that is not an iPhone 17 Professional.
Galaxy S25 Edge: $1,100. The S25 Edge joins the S25 and S25 Extremely on this 12 months’s Galaxy lineup.
The iPhone Air consists of fewer options than the iPhone 17, such because the variety of cameras. Nevertheless, it contains a bigger show, an A19 Professional processor, and is supplied with 256GB of storage to start with. Moreover, Apple has constantly utilized premium pricing for minor design adjustments. The unique MacBook Air match into an inter-office envelope and value $1,799, regardless of being underpowered in comparison with the remainder of the MacBook line. (Over just a few generations, it could finally turn into Apple’s entry-level inexpensive laptop computer at $999, the place it nonetheless resides.)
The Galaxy S25 Edge’s larger value ($101) might be an try to seize extra {dollars} from clients in search of a cellphone that units them aside, however we’re already seeing occasional steep reductions on it.
In each instances, it is value noting that the pricing has held up towards the Trump administration tariffs to this point.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is available in three colours.
iPhone Air vs. S25 Edge dimensions and weight
Now it is time to go deep — as in, simply how skinny is the depth of every cellphone?
No cellphone producer describes its telephones as cumbersome or chunky, even for extra-large fashions just like the iPhone Professional Max. But, the distinction between the depths of the iPhone Air and the S25 Edge, in addition to the usual telephones of every respective household, is stark.
Not counting the digital camera meeting, which Apple refers to because the “plateau,” a lot of the iPhone Air’s physique is 5.64mm thick. The S25 Edge, at its narrowest level, is a hair thicker at 5.8mm. (Each firms checklist solely the thinnest measurement, not together with the cameras.) Examine that to 7.9mm for the iPhone 17 and seven.2mm for the Galaxy S25.
The iPhone Air is 5.64mm thick.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is definitely thinner when open, at 4.2mm, but it surely additionally has a bigger floor space to accommodate its battery and different parts. Different foldables from Chinese language firms, corresponding to Huawei, Oppo and Honor, additionally boast thinner our bodies than the iPhone Air or S25 Edge, however solely when opened.
And whenever you press the 2 skinny telephones collectively, do they actually match as much as the everyday cellphone slab you are carrying now? Mixed (and once more, excluding the digital camera bumps), the iPhone Air and S25 Extremely are 11.44mm thick, which is thicker than both the iPhone 17 or Galaxy S25, and even the iPhone 17 Professional Max at 8.75mm. Nevertheless, if you wish to obtain a extra classic really feel, the unique first-generation iPhone, launched in 2007, measured 11.6mm.
Stacking the iPhone Air (high) and the S25 Edge (backside) provides you a similar thickness as the unique first-generation iPhone (in case you ignore the digital camera bumps, and the awkwardness of not seeing both display).
Surprisingly, the much less depth interprets to solely a slight lower in weight in comparison with the opposite fashions in every lineup. The iPhone Air weighs 165 grams versus 177 grams for the iPhone 17, whereas the S25 Edge pips in at simply 163 grams however will get barely undercut by the Galaxy S25 at 162 grams.
How massive is every cellphone within the hand? Whereas each are comparable, the iPhone Air is barely shorter and narrower, measuring 156.2mm tall and 74.7mm vast, in comparison with the S25 Edge’s dimensions of 158.2mm tall and 75.6mm vast.
iPhone Air vs. S25 Edge shows
Apple calls the iPhone Air’s 6.5-inch OLED display a Tremendous Retina XDR show. It contains a excessive decision of two,736×1,260 pixels at a density of 460 ppi (pixels per inch) and might output a most of three,000 nits of brightness outdoor, in addition to a minimal of 1 nit in the dead of night.
The iPhone Air’s show can output 3,000 nits of brightness on a sunny day.
Samsung packed a bigger 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display into the S25 Edge, which interprets to a high-resolution show measuring 3,120×1,440 pixels at 513 ppi. Its brightness goes as much as 2,600 nits.
Each telephones’ screens characteristic adaptive 120Hz refresh charges for smoother efficiency.
The Galaxy S25 Edge show has a extra dense decision.
Evaluating the iPhone Air and S25 Edge cameras
To date, most of the specs have been shut sufficient to weigh every cellphone pretty evenly. Then, we get to the cameras.
The iPhone Air features a single rear-facing 48-megapixel vast digital camera with a 26mm-equivalent discipline of view and a relentless f/1.6 aperture. In its default mode, the digital camera outputs 24-megapixel “fusion” photographs that end result from an imaging course of the place the digital camera captures a 12-megapixel picture (utilizing teams of 4 pixels appearing as one bigger pixel for improved gentle gathering, often known as “binning”) and a 48-megapixel reference for added element.
The iPhone Air consists of only a single 48-megapixel rear digital camera.
Apple additionally claims the iPhone Air can seize 2x-zoomed (52mm-equivalent) telephoto photos which can be 12 megapixels in dimension and symbolize a crop of the middle of the picture sensor.
The S25 Edge options two built-in rear cameras: a 200-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. There is not any devoted telephoto digital camera, so the S25 Edge additionally presents a 2x-zoomed crop that shoots photographs at 12 megapixels in measurement.
The Galaxy S25 Edge has twin cameras.
The front-facing selfie cameras on every cellphone differ considerably. The iPhone Air introduces a brand new 18-megapixel digital camera with an f/1.9 aperture. However the elevated decision over the S25 Edge’s 12-megapixel selfie digital camera is not what’s notable.
Apple calls it a Middle Stage digital camera as a result of it contains a sq. sensor that may seize tall or vast pictures with out requiring the person to bodily flip the cellphone, in contrast to the 4:3 ratio sensors present in typical selfie cameras. It might probably adapt the facet ratio primarily based on the variety of individuals it detects in entrance of the digital camera: a standard portrait orientation whenever you’re snapping a photograph of your self, for instance, or swap to a panorama orientation when two mates stand subsequent to you within the body.
iPhone Air vs. S25 Edge batteries
In terms of considerations, the battery lifetime of skinny telephones is on the high of the checklist. The insides of most telephones are filled with as a lot battery as will match, so making a cellphone slimmer naturally means eradicating house for the battery. With both mannequin, you find yourself sacrificing battery energy for design. However how a lot?
Apple would not checklist the iPhone Air’s battery capability, however claims “all-day battery life” and as much as 27 hours of video playback. It additionally sells a particular iPhone Air MagSafe Battery add-on that magnetically snaps to the again of the cellphone and works solely with the iPhone Air. In her evaluation, CNET’s Senior Tech Reporter Abrar Al-Heeti drained the battery in 12 hours over a phone-intensive day, however did finish a extra typical day with 20% remaining.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs. iPhone Air.
The S25 Edge contains a 3,900-mAh battery, which Samsung claims will help as much as 24 hours of video playback. (Come on, cellphone producers, our telephones aren’t televisions left working within the background.)
In her S25 Edge evaluation, Al-Heeti famous that the cellphone additionally usually lived as much as Samsung’s personal “all-day battery life” boast, saying, “In the end, you may get much less juice out of that slimmer construct, however S25 Edge presents simply sufficient battery life to make me pleased…However the S25 Edge has shifted my priorities. I am having fun with the modern kind issue a lot that I am prepared to make some compromises, even when which means I’ve to you’ll want to cost my cellphone every night time, which is one thing I are likely to do anyway.”
It is value noting that each telephones help quick charging when used with a 20-watt or larger wired energy adapter, permitting them to achieve round 50% cost in half-hour from a very discharged state.
iPhone Air vs. S25 Edge processor, storage and working system
The iPhone Air is powered by Apple’s newest A19 Professional processor, the identical one discovered within the iPhone 17 Professional fashions (in comparison with the A19 within the inventory iPhone 17). Apple would not checklist the built-in reminiscence, however we suspect it consists of 8GB of RAM (which is acknowledged because the minimal quantity to run AI options corresponding to Apple Intelligence). The bottom storage configuration is 256GB, with choices to order the iPhone Air with 512GB or 1TB capability. It ships with iOS 26, the newest model of the working system that Apple launched broadly this week.
The S25 Edge is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, the identical one which powers the opposite S25 fashions. It consists of 12GB of RAM and is offered in storage capacities of 256GB and 512GB. The cellphone comes preinstalled with Android 15.
iPhone Air vs. S25 Edge all specs
Apple iPhone Air vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Apple iPhone AirSamsung Galaxy S25 Edge Show measurement, tech, decision, refresh fee 6.5-inch OLED; 2,736 x 1,260 pixel decision; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED show; 120Hz refresh fee Pixel density 460ppi513 ppiDimensions (inches) 6.15 x 2.94 x 0.22 in2.98 x 6.23 x 0.23 inchesDimensions (millimeters) 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.64 mm75.6 X 158.2 X 5.8mmWeight (grams, ounces) 165 g (5.82 oz)163g (5.75 oz)Cellular software program iOS 26Android 15Camera 48-megapixel (vast)200-megapixel (vast), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)Entrance-facing digital camera 18-megapixel12-megapixelVideo seize 4K8KProcessor Apple A19 ProSnapdragon 8 EliteRAM + storage RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GBExpandable storage NoneNoBattery As much as 27 hours video playback; as much as 22 hours video playback (streamed). As much as 40 hours video playback, as much as 35 hours video playback (streamed) with iPhone Air MagSafe Battery3,900 mAhFingerprint sensor None (Face ID)Below displayConnector USB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneSpecial options Apple N1 wi-fi networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Motion button. Apple C1X mobile modem. Digital camera Management button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visible Intelligence. Twin eSIM. 1 to three,000 nits brightness show vary. IP68 resistance. Colours: house black, cloud white, gentle gold, sky blue. Quick cost as much as 50% in half-hour utilizing 20W adapter or larger through charging cable. Quick cost as much as 50% in half-hour utilizing 30W adapter or larger through MagSafe Charger.IP88 score, 5G, One UI 7, 25-watt wired charging, 15-watt wi-fi charging, Galaxy AI, Gemini, Circle to Search, Wi-Fi 7.US value begins at $999 (256GB)$1,100 (256GB)
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