Galaxy S25 Edge is a 'preemptive strike' against Apple?

Samsung has just launched the Galaxy S25 Edge, a slimmer version of the flagship S25 series. With a starting price of 30 million VND, the device was launched amid a slowing smartphone market and users' concerns about US tariff policies.

At 5.8mm thin and weighing 163g, the S25 Edge is the thinnest Galaxy S ever. In Vietnam, the product is available for pre-order from May 13.

Interesting addition

Sharing with Tri Thuc - Znews , Mr. MS Hwang, an analyst from research firm Counterpoint Research , said the S25 Edge is an interesting highlight in Samsung's flagship line this year.

"Situated between the S25 Ultra and S25+, it combines a host of compelling elements, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and Galaxy AI in an ultra-slim design.

A design-centric approach could open up a new segment in the premium smartphone segment, catering to those who value aesthetics in addition to performance,” said Mr. Hwang.

The Galaxy S25 Edge comes less than four months after Samsung unveiled the S25 series. This is different from previous years, when the Korean company usually launched the Galaxy S in the beginning of the year, followed by the foldable smartphone in the second half of the year.

The move shows that Samsung wants to capitalize on the success of the Galaxy S25 to continue its growth momentum, especially as the Korean company faces competitive pressure from Chinese rivals, as well as a volatile economic situation.

The Galaxy S25 Edge's slim and lightweight design.

In late April, Samsung announced a surge in first-quarter revenue and profit for its mobile division, largely due to strong sales of the S25 series.

Still, Daniel Araujo, vice president of Samsung’s mobile division, predicted that smartphone demand in the second quarter could decline due to “seasonal trends.” Global tariff policies could also impact forecasts.

Days after President Donald Trump announced the reciprocal tariffs, the US suspended them for 90 days. Meanwhile, the US and China have just reached an agreement to suspend most tariffs.

During this period, Araujo said the Galaxy S25 Edge could help “maintain flagship sales,” which is also why Samsung decided to launch the device in May.

Samsung representatives emphasized that the S25 Edge was developed to exploit the growing demand, especially among users aged 20-30, requiring smartphones with higher mobility.

“The feedback shows that users want a slim, portable device without compromising performance,” Reuters quoted a Samsung representative as saying. The company has refined the internal structure of the S25 Edge, reducing the thickness of components such as the circuit board and the cooling system.

Thin but low trade-off

Ultra-thin smartphones have become the new hope of mobile companies, with the goal of attracting users who demand thin and light devices, but still have a good experience.

The Galaxy S25 Edge features a 6.7-inch screen, the same as the S25+ but thinner and lighter. Compared to the S25 Ultra, the new device is about 30% thinner and 25% lighter.

The product also has 2 rear cameras, with the main camera 200 MP identical to the S25 Ultra. Samsung emphasizes the factor of not compromising performance when equipping the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor chip.

The latest Galaxy AI features are also available on the S25 Edge, including Gemini Live for real-time information mining, portrait photo editing modes...

According to Mr. MS Hwang, the strategy of combining AI features with a thin and light design can convince those who are hesitant to upgrade their smartphones and are looking for a different experience.

The thinness of the Galaxy S25 Edge compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra.

At the launch event, Samsung dismissed concerns that the ultra-thin smartphone could affect performance, overheat, and have poor battery life.

“Some people may worry that thinner smartphones will affect performance, or that heat management will not be good.

“We designed a thinner vapor chamber to accommodate the new design. With our best efforts, we are confident that users will be able to experience the S25 Edge without overheating,” said Moon Sung-hoon, vice president of Samsung Electronics, in a statement .

According to data from Counterpoint Research , Samsung was the world's leading smartphone company in terms of smartphone market share in the first quarter (20%), followed by Apple with 19%.

Preemptive strike against Apple

When smartphones that looked similar to the iPhone were released nearly 20 years ago, companies sought to reduce thickness to gain an advantage over their competitors.

For years, companies have abandoned thin designs to focus on improving battery life, cameras, and processors. Now, both Samsung and soon Apple are returning to their old strategies, at least adding ultra-thin versions to their existing product portfolios.

Avi Greengart, president of analyst firm Techsponential , said that thin smartphones can bring novelty and appeal, especially when other designs like foldable phones are popular, and AI has not significantly changed the way phones are used.

“Any product that looks new and different will attract a lot of attention,” Greengart writes.

Samsung emphasizes thinness and lightness without sacrificing too many features on the Galaxy S25 Edge.

Responding to CNBC , analyst Ben Wood from CCS Insights commented that ultra-thin smartphones will become a new trend in the second half of 2025.

“Samsung was the first to introduce a slim design, but Apple could follow in September. Chinese brands like Honor and Xiaomi won’t wait too long before joining the game,” Wood said.

According to Bloomberg , the early launch of the S25 Edge is a move to help Samsung get ahead of rival Apple, which is expected to launch the ultra-thin iPhone 17 later this year.

Based on rumors, the iPhone 17 Air will be as thin as the Galaxy S25 Edge, but will only have a single rear camera. Samsung first teased the S25 Edge in January without sharing any specs, pricing, or release date.

“It is no exaggeration to say that this is a 'preemptive' attack, amid rumors that Apple will launch an ultra-thin device in the next generation of iPhone,” Wood added.

Still, the Galaxy S25 Edge faces challenges. Analyst Avi Greengart says the slim, lightweight design is the only highlight of the product.

Although it doesn't sacrifice too much in terms of configuration, in the context of economic instability and users tightening their spending, it cannot be affirmed that a fashionable product like the S25 Edge will be successful.

“I think the Galaxy S25 Edge will be in limited production, mainly to attract users interested in other devices in the Galaxy S25 series.

Of course, there is still a possibility that users will really like and want to own the S25 Edge when they hold it in their hands. That is what happened in 2004 when Motorola focused on developing the first ultra-thin clamshell phone called Razr, which sold 130 million units,” Greengart emphasized.

Galaxy Ring smart ring was introduced by Samsung in Vietnam with Galaxy S25 Edge.

In Vietnam, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S25 Edge and the Galaxy Ring smart ring. With a starting price of 10 million VND, the product has a compact size, supports many sensors to monitor health and exercise. In addition, the Galaxy AI platform provides a personalized experience with the ability to analyze and provide health care advice.

Speaking to Tri Thuc - Znews , analyst MS Hwang from Counterpoint Research said that Samsung is gradually unifying the design language across new product categories, including the Galaxy Ring.

“This not only enhances product cohesion, but also reflects the overall industry trend towards a thinner, more integrated smart device experience.

It will be interesting to see how competitors, especially Apple, react. If users respond positively to the S25 Edge, many brands may adjust their design strategies and high-end ecosystems in the future," Hwang emphasized.

Source: https://znews.vn/galaxy-s25-edge-la-don-phu-dau-voi-apple-post1552996.html