Samsung unveils its thinnest flagship smartphone

Samsung has officially unveiled its thinnest flagship smartphone to date, the S25 Edge, boasting enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities. This strategic move aims to give the South Korean tech giant a crucial edge over its main competitor, Apple, in the fiercely contested premium smartphone market.

The launch of the S25 Edge directly addresses the growing consumer demand, particularly among those in their 20s and 30s, for more portable devices without compromising on performance. Samsung emphasized the user feedback that drove this design, stating that structural innovations allowed them to significantly reduce the thickness of internal components, including the circuit board and thermal management systems.

Industry analysts view this launch as a calculated maneuver to preempt Apple, which is anticipated to release its own thinner iPhone model in the latter half of this year. Ryu Young-ho, a senior analyst at NH Investment & Securities, suggested that by releasing the S25 Edge a few months ahead, Samsung could gain a significant advantage and attract consumers specifically seeking slimmer smartphones.

The S25 Edge is slated to hit shelves in South Korea on May 23rd, followed by a U.S. release on May 30th. Samsung also plans to roll out the device to approximately 30 countries across Europe and China.

Not Cheap

Priced starting at $1,099, the S25 Edge features a spacious 6.7-inch display within an incredibly sleek 5.8-millimeter-thick body. While larger than the standard S25 model, it remains only marginally heavier, showcasing Samsung’s engineering prowess.

A key highlight of the S25 Edge is its integration of Samsung’s latest AI functionalities. This includes multimodal AI, enabling users to interact with the device in real-time through a combination of vision and voice commands, leveraging the camera for contextual inquiries.

Addressing potential concerns about performance and heat management in such a slim design, Samsung executives, including Executive Vice President Moon Sung-hoon, reassured the audience at the launch event. Moon stated that they had successfully engineered a thinner vapor chamber and dedicated significant effort to ensure the S25 Edge can be used without overheating issues.

Recent data from Counterpoint Research indicates that Samsung has already overtaken Apple to become the leading smartphone vendor in the first quarter of 2025, capturing 20% of the global market share compared to Apple’s 19%. However, Samsung cautioned last month that second-quarter shipments could be affected by tariff risks impacting demand.