If a flagship is defined by its rear camera array—then what exactly is the S25 Edge?
Let’s not beat around the bezel. Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 Edge is a stunner: at just 5.8mm thin, it’s the slimmest Galaxy device ever made—all flowing curves, titanium edges, and a barely-there display border housing a 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s an unashamed metaphorical flex—Samsung knows it; it wants you to know it.
But once you get past the allure of the aesthetics, the question lingers: Where’s the flagship-class telephoto? In the world of S25 Ultra-grade expectations, it’s far from a minor omission. It’s the elephant in the showroom—especially when the S25 Edge starts at SGD 1,628 for the 256GB model and SGD 1,808 for the 512GB variant.
So, is this Samsung redefining what a flagship means, or is it hoping you won’t notice the missing long zoom while admiring its sleek lines?
Thin is in, but at what cost?
Thin is in, but at what cost?Samsung’s edgy calling card is centred around a new “Flex-Layer Design”, which stacks components vertically and repositions internals to shave precious millimetres, resulting in a full-size, AI-capable phone that feels like it’s been on a biohacking diet binge. Combined with an upgraded vapour chamber for thermal control, it’s how the Edge stays cool despite its sleek figure—all the more remarkable when you consider that it’s a Snapdragon Elite under that hood.
Having said that, we’ve not seen how hot it runs under stress, so the jury is still out on that one. Despite the smaller battery (3,900 mAh), it manages 21+ hours of video playback, according to Samsung. That’s not bad at all.
However, in slimming down the device, Samsung also snipped off the telephoto camera, a longstanding tentpole of Galaxy’s upper-tier cameras. You get a high-res main and ultrawide setup—but no optical zoom beyond the default range. The 200MP sensor should be sufficient for at least 2-3x zooms, but those who appreciate those extreme zooms for concerts and the like will be disappointed.
Samsung’s lifestyle pivot—and a little bit of nostalgia
Perhaps there’s a cultural callback here, too. The “Edge” branding returns after a long hiatus, reviving the identity Samsung first carved out when it brought curved screens to the masses nearly a decade ago. The S25 Edge leans into that heritage, offering a phone that feels intentionally luxurious, not just powerful.
As AI levels the playing field across apps and performance, brands are pivoting to design, UX fluidity, and lifestyle ‘alignment’ as the new battleground. In a way, the S25 Edge is Samsung’s ‘nope’ riposte to the flagship arms race: what if elegance is enough?
Price check: is it worth it?
Price check: is it worth it?That’s the hard part. SGD 1,628 (256GB) and SGD 1,808 (512GB) puts the S25 Edge within spitting distance of the S25 Ultra (from SGD 1,828) and the iPhone 15 Pro (from SGD 1,649). And yet, you’re trading away flagship staples like the periscope optical zoom. You do, however, get Galaxy AI’s full toolkit (including live translation during WhatsApp calls and Circle to Search), IP68, a titanium build, and that glorious form factor.
In raw spec terms? The price feels high. But there is a cost to achieving this level of elegance. The S25 Edge is the smartphone equivalent of a sleek dress watch—minimalist, intentional, and designed to slip into your life and not dominate your wrist.
If that sounds like you, the S25 Edge might be the most luxurious flagship experience of the year—even if it’s not the most powerful one.
Availability
The Galaxy S25 Edge will be available in Titanium Silver, Titanium Jetblack and Titanium Icyblue (this is the only real choice), launching on 30 May 2025 (pre-orders start 13 May 2025) across Singapore. During the pre-order period, buyers will also receive a complimentary storage upgrade worth SGD 180.
