Samsung to unveil slimmer Galaxy S25 Edge on May 13

Mock-ups for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge are showcased at Galaxy Unpacked 2025 in San Jose, Calif., Jan. 22. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics will unveil a slimmer version of its Galaxy smartphone, the Galaxy S25 Edge, on Tuesday, setting the stage for a showdown with Apple over slimmer form factors.

Samsung said Thursday it will hold the Galaxy S25: Beyond Slim Unpacked event online at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The event will be streamed via the company’s official website and YouTube channel.

Since launching the Galaxy S20 series in 2020, the company has maintained a three-model form factor lineup for its S series, comprised of standard, plus and ultra models. The upcoming S25 Edge will be the first new form factor in years.

Samsung has yet to disclose details of the S25 Edge, but it is believed it will be just 5.8 millimeters thick, the thinnest in Samsung’s Galaxy smartphone lineup. It will have a 6.7-inch display like the Galaxy S25 Plus model, but it will weigh 163 grams, which is similar to its 6.2-inch standard model.

Its casing will feature a titanium alloy frame with a ceramic finish to address concerns about the structural strength of slimmer smartphones.

While it will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite and 128 gigabytes of RAM — the same as other S25 models — the S25 Edge will make compromises in battery life and camera performance.

The S25 Edge is expected to debut first in Korea and China, followed by a global release, including the U.S. market.

A promotional image of the showcase event for the Galaxy S25 Edge / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

The launch will mark a showdown with Apple over slimmer smartphones, as the U.S. tech giant is expected to unveil the 5.5-millimeter-thick iPhone 17 Air in September.

While Samsung and Apple are staging a neck-and-neck race for global smartphone leadership, Chinese manufacturers are rapidly gaining ground with slimmer models that appeal to consumers seeking more noticeable changes in smartphone form factors.

With thickness emerging as the new battleground for smartphone makers, the key point is how each company addresses battery life. Apple is also expected to have made compromises in battery performance for the iPhone Air, and some analysts predict the company may release a dedicated battery case.