Samsung launched the Galaxy S25 Edge, a thinner model of its flagship smartphone.
Arjun Kharpal | CNBC
Samsung on Tuesday unveiled a skinny model of its flagship smartphone in an unusually timed launch because it seems to be to keep up momentum in its cell divison in opposition to an unsure shopper backdrop and U.S. tariff coverage.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is simply 5.8 millimeters skinny and weighs 163 grams, making it one of many thinnest smartphones available on the market.
Samsung stated the system begins at $1,099 and goes on sale on Could 30.
The launch comes slightly below 4 months after Samsung staged its annual flagship cellphone launch for the S25 collection. It’s uncommon for Samsung to launch a brand new high-end system this quickly after the January occasion with the conventional timeline typically being the center of the yr for the revealing of its newest foldable telephones.
The transfer highlights the South Korean tech large’s need to capitalize on the success of the S25 vary because it faces rising competitors from Chinese language gamers and an unsure macroeconomic atmosphere.
Samsung reported final month that it noticed a leap in income and revenue within the first quarter of the yr at its cell division because of robust gross sales of its S25 collection.
Nevertheless, Daniel Araujo, vice chairman at Samsung’s cell division, warned on an earnings name final month that smartphone demand is anticipated to lower within the second quarter as a result of “seasonality traits” and forecasts might be “adjusted” additional as a result of international tariff coverage.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs took impact in April although they had been paused shortly after. The White Home exempted sure tech merchandise akin to smartphones and chips, offering some reprieve for corporations like Samsung and Apple. The U.S. and China in the meantime agreed on Monday to pause most of their tariffs on every celebration.
Araujo stated that the S25 Edge may assist “maintain flagship-centric gross sales,” underscoring why Samsung has determined to launch the cellphone now.
Apple reportedly engaged on skinny iPhone
Thinner telephones have grow to be an obsession with smartphone makers who’re hoping these units will enchantment to individuals who need the flagship expertise with out the scale of a standard system. Samsung’s S25 Edge has a 6.7-inch show, the identical because the Galaxy S25+, however it’s thinner and lighter.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge on show throughout a briefing on the Samsung KX retailer in London, U.Okay.
Arjun Kharpal | CNBC
The cellphone additionally packs a twin digital camera system and Samsung’s newest AI options.
“For the second half of 2025 ‘skinny is most positively in’,” Ben Wooden, chief analyst at CCS Perception, advised CNBC.
“Samsung is first out the gate with a slim design, however Apple is anticipated to comply with in September, and the burgeoning Chinese language manufacturers akin to Honor and Xiaomi most likely will not be far behind.”
Samsung could also be making an attempt to get forward of its closest rival Apple, which is gearing as much as launch a skinny model of its flagship system dubbed the iPhone 17 Air, in response to a Bloomberg report this yr.
“It’s arduous to imagine this isn’t a pre-emptive strike following the widespread hypothesis that Apple may have a skinny iPhone in its subsequent line-up,” Wooden added.
