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Due to a Price Agreement with Samsung, Amazon Can’t Publicly Show the Huge Galaxy S25+ Discount
Gaming Gear

Due to a Price Agreement with Samsung, Amazon Can’t Publicly Show the Huge Galaxy S25+ Discount

by admin


Amazon typically has deals with major brands such that they do not destroy the luxury brand image by offering massive discounts. That means technically, you can have a “hidden price” on the product page and you will only see the real discount if you add the product to your cart.

This is exactly the situation with the Galaxy S25+, the clear best-seller among the S25 series. The Galaxy S25+ has come out earlier this year and is now at a record-low price, way below that on Samsung’s own website. Currently, the Galaxy S25+ 512GB is available on Amazon for $919 which is a substantial reduction from its original $1,119 price.

See at Amazon

Flagship Android Phone

At the heart of the Galaxy S25+ is a Qualcomm Snapdragon very premium processor running at 4.47 GHz, paired with 12GB of RAM. This combination delivers lightning-fast performance. The 512GB of internal storage gives you plenty of room for documents so you’ll never have to worry about not having enough space. The 6.7-inch AMOLED ProScaler display is a treat for the eyes, and offers rich colorful shades, deep blacks, and sharp details.

Galaxy S25+ runs on the latest One UI 7 which is based on Android 15 so you’ll enjoy the latest features, security patches, and a snappy user interface. The phone is carrier-unlocked for all carriers, so you can use it with any of the leading carriers in the US. Its 5G capability means you’ll enjoy ultra-fast download and upload speeds, perfect for streaming, video calls, and online gaming. Battery life is another strong point with the Galaxy S25+ easily lasting way more than a full day on a single charge, even with heavy use.

You will also be impressed by its AI-powered camera system: The Audio Eraser AI Camera lets you capture rich low-light videos and minimize unwanted noise so you can relive your best moments less interrupted. Upgraded portrait features control skin tones and preserve natural textures to give each shot a sophisticated, professional look. The in-phone AI assistant can perform several tasks simultaneously, freeing you up during your day and making it easier to stay organized.

The Galaxy S25+ also includes Now Brief, a smart assistant that provides you with the information you need before you even realize that you do. This puts you ahead of the game. The phone’s powerful processor makes it possible for you to translate calls, slow down video, or edit pictures without losing a beat, so you can do it both for work and play.

Don’t lose out on this exclusive chance to upgrade to one of the best phones of 2025 at a price that’s just irresistible.

See at Amazon



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The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is a big phone with small phone energy
Product Reviews

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is a big phone with small phone energy

by admin


Oh shit. Did I leave my phone at home?

I experienced that moment repeatedly while testing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. I’d glance into my bag, or note the lack of weight in my jacket pocket, and my stomach would drop. The phone isn’t there. But lo and behold, after another moment of digging through my purse, or by reaching into my pocket, I’d find it. These moments don’t usually happen when I’m carrying a big phone — but the Galaxy S25 Edge isn’t your average big phone.

On paper it might not sound so impressive. The Edge is 1.5 millimeters thinner than the Galaxy S25 Plus and about an ounce lighter. That’s what all this fuss is about? I was skeptical, too. And I haven’t been completely slim-phone-pilled by the S25 Edge, either. But after living with it for a couple of weeks, I’ve come around to the idea as a pleasant alternative to chunky phones I can barely wedge into an evening bag. Especially since I’ve been able to draw one important conclusion: the battery life is fine.

$1100

The Good

  • Like a regular phone, but slim
  • Surprisingly lightweight
  • Battery life isn’t as bad as I feared

The Bad

  • No telephoto camera
  • Battery life not as strong as a standard phone

It feels like a cop-out to say that you really have to hold the S25 Edge to understand it, but I’ll say it anyway. Maybe after a decade holding phones that are roughly the same size and weight we’ve become hyperaware of even slight weight differences — at least that’s the theory one of my colleagues put forth when I handed the phone to him. I think he’s right.

There are a few scenarios where the slightly slimmer dimensions and lighter weight make a difference. It doesn’t look or feel as bulky as other phones usually do in the side pocket of my yoga pants. I spend a lot of time in yoga pants (and if I’m being honest, zero time actually doing yoga) so I appreciate this. And the S25 Edge actually fits into a slender clutch that’s only designed to hold a couple of credit cards and a chapstick. No other modern phone — save the iPhone 13 Mini — has gone in without a fight.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge key specs

  • 158.2 x 75.6 x 5.8mm | 163g (5.75 oz)
  • 256GB storage | 12GB RAM
  • Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
  • 6.7-inch 1440p 120Hz LTPO OLED
  • 200-megapixel f/1.7 main camera with OIS | 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide | 12-megapixel f/2.2 selfie
  • IP68
  • 3,900mAh battery
  • 25W wired charging | 15W wireless | Qi2 Ready

I’d be less willing to endorse the S25 Edge if it cost a lot more or the battery life was markedly worse than the standard S25-series phones. Great news: it only costs a bit more, and battery life is only a bit worse. It’s $1,099 compared to the $999 Galaxy S25 Plus. An extra $100 is nothing to sneeze at, but if you’re spreading that cost out over three years the difference is a few bucks a month.

My biggest concern when I started testing this phone was the battery life. The Edge’s 3,900mAh capacity is much lower than the 4,900mAh cell in the S25 Plus. And no surprise, the S25 Edge’s battery doesn’t stretch as far as what you’ll get in the S25 Plus or Ultra. But it’s fine.

Compared to the S25 Plus (left) the difference is noticeable, but you feel the impact once you pick the phone up.

As a rule, I turn on every battery-draining feature I can when I test a phone, including the always-on display and the highest screen resolution and refresh rate settings. With all this enabled I embarked on a trial by fire: a full day covering Google I/O in person. With about three hours of screen-on time and an hour-ish using it as a mobile hotspot to post photos to our live blog, it managed to get through the day with 20 percent left by that night. Did it feel great? No. Under normal circumstances I would have charged it partway through the day, because I suffer from battery anxiety. But it was fine.

I’ll give it a stamp of approval, but with the caveat that if you watch a lot of streaming video or do a lot of graphics-intensive gaming, this is probably not the phone for you. I’m also concerned about what the battery performance will look like a few years from now as its capacity naturally degrades. If you’re the kind of person who wants to hang on to your phone for as many years as possible it wouldn’t be a bad idea to plan on getting a fresh battery swapped in after a few years — take it from an iPhone 13 Mini owner.

On the subject of small phones: the S25 Edge isn’t one. It’s a lighter, more approachable big phone, but I still struggle to get my thumb to the far corner of its 6.7-inch screen. Most people will want to put a case on this phone anyway, which takes it from “slim” to “just kinda regular” rather than “wow this is super chunky.” This is a very vibes-based assessment, but I don’t want any of my fellow small-phone fans to make the mistake of thinking this could be a small phone in disguise.

This is the first non-Mini phone to go into this bag without a fight.

Battery life might be the biggest tradeoff you’ll have to make for this phone, but it’s not the only one. The Galaxy S25 Edge comes with only two rear cameras — a 200 megapixel main similar to the S25 Ultra’s and a 12-megapixel ultrawide. On the standard S25 and S25 Plus you get a 3x telephoto, too. Obviously the size constraints were a factor on the Edge, and Samsung included a top-shelf main camera to make up for the telephoto. I think that was the right call.

I love a dedicated telephoto camera as much as the next guy, especially with Samsung’s excellent portrait mode, but the 2x crop zoom works fine for a little extra reach. As always, you’ll either love Samsung’s punchy, bright colors or they won’t be your cup of tea. I’ve learned to live with them.

Outside of battery life and camera options, the S25 Edge gives up remarkably little. You still get a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, full IP68 dust and water resistance, and a 6.7-inch screen with 1440p resolution. Even with the slimmer profile heat dissipation is fine. In everyday tasks I rarely noticed the phone heating up, and it managed a 20-minute Diablo Immortal session with every display setting I could access cranked up. It was toasty by the end, but I didn’t see any drop in performance.

More than meets the eye.

Using the Galaxy S25 Edge for the past couple of weeks has cleared up some of my concerns with this new form factor — one we’re likely to see from Apple in the near future, too. Battery life is alright. Using a thin phone really does feel different. Subtracting 1.5 millimeters in thickness actually does make it appreciably easier to carry.

The S25 Edge makes a kind of sense for someone who likes a large screen but not the bulk and weight of a big phone. But this person should also be someone who’s easy on a battery, and isn’t the kind of person who just wants to buy a phone and not have to think about replacing it (or more likely its battery) for as long as possible. Those are some pretty serious caveats.

At the very least, I encourage you to go find this phone at your wireless carrier or Best Buy or whatever and just pick it up. It doesn’t seem that impressively slim or light on paper, but you might just be amazed at how it feels in your hand.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Agree to Continue: Samsung Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Edge

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.

To use the Samsung Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, or S25 Edge, you must agree to:

  • Samsung’s Terms and Conditions
  • Samsung’s Privacy Policy
  • Google’s Terms of Service (including Privacy Policy)
  • Google Play’s Terms of Service
  • Automatic installs (including from Google, Samsung, and your carrier)

There are many optional agreements. If you use a carrier-specific version, there will be more of them. Here are just a few:

  • Sending diagnostic data to Samsung
  • Samsung services, including auto blocker, customization service, continuity service, nearby device scanning, personal data intelligence, and smart suggestions
  • Google Drive backup, location services, Wi-Fi scanning, diagnostic data
  • Bixby privacy policy (required to use Bixby), plus optional for Bixby options like personalized content, data access, and audio recording review

There may be more. For example, Samsung’s Weather app also has its own privacy policy that may include sharing information with Weather.com.

Final tally: there are five mandatory agreements and at least 10 optional ones.





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Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge from a 3/4 angle with black lights and an Android figuring blurred in the background
Product Reviews

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: a little bit less and never the most

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Samsung understood the assignment with the Galaxy S25 Edge, but it didn’t strive for extra credit. The goal was to make a Galaxy S25 Plus that’s easier to hold, but Samsung did not set out to make the thinnest phone possible – in fact the Galaxy S25 Edge isn’t even the thinnest phone Samsung makes today. Instead, it did what Samsung does best: it gave us a little more inside a little less.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is a very good phone, and it feels like something unique compared to every other phone I’ve reviewed. The difference is noticeable; it’s much slimmer and lighter than almost everything else, even when wearing a case. Still, the S25 Edge isn’t a revolutionary new design, and I can’t help but anticipate the competition it’s going to face from Apple in the shape of the rumored iPhone 17 Air.

This is the thinnest Galaxy S device Samsung has ever crafted. It’s 1.5mm thinner than the Galaxy S25 Plus, and almost 2.5mm thinner than the Galaxy S25 UItra.


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Could I feel that millimeter in my hand? I’m not sure, but between the thinness and the weight reduction – it’s almost a full ounce lighter than the Plus and two ounces lighter than the Ultra – the Galaxy S25 Edge is undoubtedly a standout.

Front to back: Galaxy S25 Edge, Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, Galaxy S25 Ultra (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Galaxy S25 Edge isn’t the phone for you if you want the thinnest phone possible. It’s the phone for you if you want a Galaxy S25 Plus, but wish it were easier to hold. It’s the Galaxy S25 Ultra, minus the extra bits that you wouldn’t use, like the S Pen stylus. It’s not something totally new, but it’s a better option for the right buyer.

But why didn’t Samsung go for broke? Why not make the Edge the absolute thinnest smartphone ever? The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is 5.6mm thin when it’s unfolded. Had it shaved another 0.3mm off the Edge, Samsung could have at least said that this is the thinnest Samsung phone you can buy.

The answer, of course, is battery life. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is super thin, but the battery is split between the two halves. Each half of the Z Fold 6 packs only about 2,200mAh of battery life (for 4,400mAh total), which is a lot less than the 3,800mAh the Galaxy S25 Edge offers.

A thinner Galaxy S25 Edge would have meant a smaller battery, and based on my testing, the S25 Edge is using the smallest battery it can get away with.

The Edge had trouble lasting past dinner time in my testing period. If Samsung had made the Edge the thinnest phone ever!, it probably wouldn’t last through my lunch break. I have no doubt Samsung could build such a phone, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

That makes the S25 Edge a pleasantly thin phone that is simply not very special. There are no special features that set it apart from the rest of the Galaxy S25 family. There’s nothing new here. It’s a well-crafted device that delivers exactly what I expected; no more and no less. That’s not a bad thing! It’s just… predictable.

Front to back: Galaxy S25 Edge, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Galaxy S25 Ultra (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The big problem is that Samsung is competing against a specter. The iPhone 17 Air could arrive later this year, and it’s hard not to see the Galaxy S25 Edge as a preemptive attack by Samsung on Apple’s next design concept. Because make no mistake, Apple is going to make a big deal out of going thin.

Apple is going to pretend it invented the millimeter. If and when Apple launches an iPhone Air in September, it will act like thinness is the biggest design innovation since the capacitive touchscreen. All other specs be damned! And I think Apple will be willing to shrink the battery and cut back on cameras even more severely than Samsung.

If that happens, the iPhone 17 Air will probably be less capable than the Galaxy S25 Edge in many ways, but it will give Apple the all-important bragging rights. Apple could use the dual-OLED display found on the iPad Pro, and recent rumors suggest the rumored phone will be around 5.5mm, making it thinner than any phone Samsung currently sells.

In a way, this takes the pressure off Samsung. The Galaxy S25 Edge is a very nice phone, and it fits neatly into Samsung’s price ladder as a little nicer than the Galaxy S25 Plus, but not as feature-packed as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It doesn’t need to prove anything – the Galaxy S25 Edge does fine with less, without trying to be the most.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Price and availability

  • Starts at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849 for 256GB/12GB configuration
  • That’s $100 / £100 / AU$500 more than S25 Plus, $200 / £150 less than the Ultra

Left to right: Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25 Edge, Galaxy S25 Plus, Galaxy S25 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Galaxy S25 Edge slots in neatly between the Galaxy S25 Plus and S25 Ultra in Samsung’s lineup. It’s closer to the Plus, which makes sense because it lacks more of the Ultra features than it possesses – there’s no S Pen, no telescopic zoom lens, and no big battery inside, for instance, although it is, like the S25 Ultra, built from titanium.

Otherwise, you get most of what you’d expect from the Galaxy S25 Plus, minus the zoom camera. It packs a sensor with a lot of megapixels, and that sensor is actually larger than the main sensor on the Galaxy S25 Plus. Both cameras use sensors that are smaller than the main 200MP sensor on the mighty Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Now I need a moment with my Australian friends, because something very odd is happening down under. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has come down in price by AU$400 since launch, which means it costs less than the Galaxy S25 Edge by AU$100. Also, the S25 Edge seems priced a bit high in Australia compared to the rest of the world – it’s AU$500 more than the Galaxy S25 Plus?! That seems like a mistake, but it’s the real price for now, so I would wait until Samsung offers a discount to buy the Edge.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Storage

US price

UK price

AU price

256GB

$1,099

£1,099

AU$1,849

512GB

$1,219

£1,199

AU$2,049

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Specs

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (left) and Galaxy S25 Plus (right) are very similar inside (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Like the rest of the Galaxy S25 family, the S25 Edge gets 12GB of RAM to support the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset inside. This platform has proven powerful and very efficient in my reviews of the best Android phones this year.

The 6.7-inch display on the S25 Edge seems to be identical to that on the S25 Plus. The main camera uses a new 200MP sensor that we haven’t seen before, which is a bit smaller than the 200MP sensor on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but larger than the 50MP sensor on the Galaxy S25 Plus. There’s no telephoto lens, but the Edge seems to use the same 12MP ultrawide camera as the S25 Plus.

The Galaxy S25 Edge comes with a 3,900mAh battery under its display, which is even smaller than the 4,000mAh battery beneath the Galaxy S25’s 6.2-inch screen. That’s what you sacrifice when you make a phone thin.

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Samsung Galaxy S25

Dimensions

158.2 x 75.6 x 5.8mm

Weight

163g

OS

OneUI 7, Android 15. 7 major Android upgrades promised.

Display

6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz

Chipset

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

RAM

12GB

Storage

256GB / 512GB

Battery

3,900mAh

Rear cameras

200MP main, 12MP ultra-wide

Front camera

12MP

Charging

25W wired, 15W wireless

Colors

Titanium Silver, Titanium Icyblue, Titanium Jetblack

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Design

  • Feels exceptionally light when you hold it
  • Even with a case, it’s a very thin phone

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The real selling point for the Galaxy S25 Edge isn’t the thinness, it’s the lightness. You have to hold this phone to appreciate it; you can’t just look at the S25 Edge if you want to experience how thin and light it is. Photos don’t do justice to the remarkably light weight, and that’s a big part of the experience.

If you get pinky-finger fatigue from balancing your phone, the S25 Edge might be the phone that will save your favorite digit. Even though it has a huge 6.7-inch display, the Galaxy S25 Edge is lighter than the iPhone 16 (6.1-inch screen, 170g), or the Pixel 9 (6.3-inch screen, 198g). It’s only one gram heavier than the 6.2-inch Galaxy S25, but it feels lighter since it’s less dense.

I almost always use a case with my phone, and since Samsung did not have cases ready for my review period, I asked my friends at Casetify to send over their thinnest cases for the Galaxy S25 Edge. Even with a case on the phone, it still feels remarkably thin and light, especially considering that huge screen size. My S25 Edge in a protective Casetify shell is still lighter than my Galaxy S25 Ultra with no case.

Image 1 of 3

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is almost as thick as the Galaxy S25 Edge in a case, including the camera bump(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)The MagSafe magnets make this Casetify case worth buying(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Still thin, even in a case(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The design overall looks nearly identical to that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but on very close inspection things are less impressive. Frankly, the build quality of the Galaxy S25 Edge seems messy compared to the Ultra or to any Apple iPhone.

There are gaps between the frame and the back glass. The SIM card tray doesn’t line up perfectly. There’s a gap between the camera bump and the back of the phone that I worried would pick up dirt – and by the end of my review period, that was the dingiest part of the phone.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

This phone could have been special. Samsung could have tried something new, like capacitive buttons on the side – a trick that rumors say Apple is considering. It could have had super-fast charging to go with that slim battery. It could have had unique colors or a unique finish.

Instead, it’s just a slimmer version of a phone we got six months ago, and it’s not even a really nice version at that.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Display

  • More Galaxy S25 Plus than Ultra, but that’s pretty great
  • Fingerprint scanner was totally unreliable

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Galaxy S25 Edge, like the Galaxy S25 Plus, is sort of a hidden gem in Samsung’s lineup when it comes to display quality. While the S25 Ultra has a slightly-larger 6.9-inch screen, all three phones all have the same resolution. When you pack the same pixels into a smaller display, you get a screen that’s technically sharper, in terms of pixel density.

Which is to say the Galaxy S25 Edge has a fantastic screen, one of the best you can find on any phone. It is plenty bright, even in bright sunlight, though the Ultra does beat the Edge thanks to the addition of the remarkable coating that Samsung has been using for a couple of years to eliminate glare on its flagship flat phone.

The display can refresh at up to 120Hz – take that iPhone 16 Plus – and thanks to LTPO tech you can even get a full-color always-on display that refreshes as slowly as 1Hz to save power.

I’ve never had great luck with Samsung’s fingerprint scanners, and the S25 Edge didn’t recognize me any faster than other Galaxy phones, and unlocking failed more often than not. I know I have fingerprints because my OnePlus 13 sees them with 99% accuracy, so I assume this is a Samsung problem, not a me problem.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Software

  • OneUI 7 is well built, but doesn’t add much to the Edge experience
  • AI features can be useful, but many feel like even more bloat

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

For better and for worse, the Galaxy S25 Edge uses the same One UI 7 interface as the rest of the Galaxy S25 family, with Android 15 serving as the engine. Samsung and Google seem to be locked in a perpetual struggle to control Samsung’s phones, so you’ll get two web browsers, two photo gallery apps, even two wallets and two different password managers.

It’s getting to be a bit much. I’m the first to insist that Samsung’s software – like its Internet web browser – performs better than Google’s alternative. But nobody wants two of everything; you don’t get an extra steering wheel when you buy a car. It’s time for Samsung to end the duplicate-apps project.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

There are plenty of Galaxy AI features on the phone, and it comes with Google Gemini preloaded and ready to take over the power button at your beck and call.

I think we may have already hit the wall with AI features. Samsung has been touting its Now Brief widget and app since the Galaxy S25 launched, and it’s a completely useless piece of software. It’s supposed to learn things about me and then offer information tailored to my needs, but nothing like that happens.

I’ve been wearing a Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro while using the S25 Edge for weeks. The Now Brief offers no more than today’s weather, a missive that feels creepy coming from an AI (‘Wishing you well’?!), and the first few events on my work calendar, which are usually the first three people who took the day off and logged it properly.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

At worst, Now Brief offers me partisan political news. I filter out most politics from my social feeds, and I don’t talk about politics in my text messages, so I’m not sure why Now Brief thinks politics are what interests me. It’s inescapable.

Thankfully, Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S25 Edge will get seven years of major Android and security updates, so it should last through Android 22, just like the rest of the Galaxy S25 family.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Cameras

  • Exactly what I expected based on the specs
  • Samsung’s processing can be fun, or inconsistent

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

When I heard that the Galaxy S25 Edge would use fewer cameras than its S25 stablemates, with one big 200MP main sensor and a supporting ultra-wide, I was excited at the prospect. After all, one of Leica’s most popular cameras, the Leica Q3, uses a single large sensor and a wide lens, and fakes all of the zoom with digital cropping. If anybody can pull off the same trick on a camera phone, it’s Samsung.

Nope. I’m disappointed to say the cameras are fine, but not groundbreaking. I was hoping the Edge would be a trendsetter. Instead, it runs down the middle of the road without faltering. It does a great job at the things Samsung camera phones do well, but it can’t handle the all-in-one duties of the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

There are no surprises with the Galaxy S25 Edge cameras. The main camera uses a 200MP sensor with a wide lens, and that sensor is a bit smaller than the 200MP sensor on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. No surprise then that the Ultra is still the best Samsung camera phone, in more ways than one.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The main camera produces images that are a bit fuzzier than what I got from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and I was surprised to find the colors dialed back a bit as well. The Edge’s cameras don’t seem to be tuned to pop colors as much as the Ultra cameras do. It still managed to take excellent food photos and warm portraits, like I expect from Samsung.

Image 1 of 2

Taken with Galaxy S25 Edge(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Galaxy S25 Edge 100% crop

Taken with Galaxy S25 Ultra(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Galaxy S25 Ultra 100% crop

If you need a zoom lens, the S25 Edge isn’t going to satisfy you. The digital zoom doesn’t come close to providing the detail and quality I get with optical zoom on the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max. A heron across the river looked like a white, featherless blob when I snapped a pic with the Edge. The iPhone and Galaxy Ultra images revealed a beak and some plumage.

Image 1 of 2

Taken with the Galaxy S25 Edge(Image credit: Philip BerneFuture)

Galaxy S25 Edge 10X digital zoom

Taken with the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

iPhone 16 Pro Max 5X optical zoom, enhanced to 10X

If you take a lot of photos outdoors, the S25 Ultra has a coating on the display to reduce glare, and it makes a big difference even compared to the S25 Edge, which has a nearly-identical display otherwise. The Edge can get bright, but it’s much easier to see the Ultra’s screen if the sun is shining directly on you.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Camera samples

Image 1 of 7

(Image credit: Philip BerneFuture)(Image credit: Philip BerneFuture)(Image credit: Philip BerneFuture)(Image credit: Philip BerneFuture)(Image credit: Philip BerneFuture)(Image credit: Philip BerneFuture)(Image credit: Philip BerneFuture)

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Performance

  • Excellent performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • The Edge stayed very cool under conditions that break other phones

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I was expecting excellent performance from the Galaxy S25 Edge, and this phone delivered beyond my expectations. It was plenty fast, with that overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset providing a bit more boost than you’ll get on a non-Samsung Snapdragon phone. Samsung has also done a remarkable job of keeping the phone cool, even when you push the performance to the limit.

I perform a stress test where I run multiple mapping apps on a phone, and play music over Bluetooth, then sit the phone above my car dashboard in the sunshine. Most phones take less than an hour of this punishment before they shut down due to overheating.

The S25 Edge never quit, managing to stay cool enough to function for as long as I needed. That’s incredible – every iPhone, Pixel phone, and Galaxy phone I’ve tested has failed this endurance test. The Edge really lives up to Samsung’s claims of much better cooling – that 10% larger vapor chamber clearly makes a real difference.

This makes the Galaxy S25 Edge an easy contender for a best gaming phone ranking. It offers great performance and superior cooling – everything a gaming phone needs.

I also had fun playing games with the Galaxy S25 Edge clipped onto my Xbox wireless controller using a cheap third-party attachment from Amazon. The phone is so lightweight that gaming for long periods was a breeze – it’s a nice way to kill time while I wait for my Switch 2 to arrive.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Battery

  • Good battery for the thin size, but not great
  • Couldn’t last a full day if I used it aggressively

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

As I said above, Samsung could have made a thinner Galaxy S25 Edge, but the battery life would be terrible – as it is, during my review period the S25 Edge often needed a recharge while I was eating dinner, especially if I played games, took a lot of photos, or otherwise taxed the phone heavily.

If I scrolled my social feeds and listened to music on the train into work, I would be concerned about whether the battery would last until the train ride home.

It’s too bad Samsung didn’t use the latest silicon carbon battery technology found in the OnePlus 13, which might have helped it to pack in more power. I also wish this phone charged faster than other Galaxy S25 models, not slower – if it had 80W charging like the latest OnePlus phones I wouldn’t be worried about having to top up throughout the day, because that top-up would take less than 15 minutes.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

As it stands, 15 minutes of charging got me just past 25%, and a full charge took about an hour. That’s pretty slow by today’s standards, especially considering that this battery is smaller than any other inside a Galaxy S25 phone.

Samsung might also be exaggerating its battery claims. It told us to expect the Edge to offer longevity somewhere between the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25, but in our lab benchmark tests the S25 Edge lasted for less than 13 hours of constant use where the Galaxy S24 lasted more than 13 hours, and the Galaxy S25 topped 15 hours.

If you really need good battery life the Galaxy S25 Plus is the Samsung champ, delivering almost 19 hours of screen time in our rundown test. But it’s not the Edge’s lack of battery life as such that bugs me; it’s how long it takes to top the phone up.

Swipe to scroll horizontallySamsung Galaxy S25 Edge score card

Value

Not a bad price for the svelte design and pocketability. You know what you’re getting, there are no surprises, so it seems like a fair upgrade from the Galaxy S25 Plus (or is it a downgrade from the Ultra?)

4/5

Design

A bit thinner and much lighter than any other flat phone you’ve tried. You can’t tell by looking; you have to pick it up to feel the difference. The finish is a bit shoddy, but the design might still satisfy buyers with a sore pinky.

3/5

Display

The same great display I saw on the Galaxy S25 Plus (with the same lousy fingerprint scanner). It’s super sharp and very bright, though if you’ll often be in bright sunshine the Ultra has a better anti-glare coating that makes it worth a look.

5/5

Software

Samsung’s One UI looks as good as ever, though the AI features are starting to wane in terms of their usefulness. Thankfully, this phone gets seven years of updates, so it will have no problem running your favorite apps and hopefully improving in the years to come.

3/5

Cameras

You get fewer cameras on a thinner phone, but the main camera still takes fantastic shots, albeit ones that are a bit subdued by normal Samsung standards. They don’t pack the same detail as the Ultra, but food photos and portraits are especially gorgeous.

3/5

Performance

Fantastic performance from the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is paired with some of the most impressive cooling I’ve experienced on a smartphone. I couldn’t get the Edge to fry itself, no matter how much I pushed past its performance limits.

5/5

Battery

Battery life isn’t terrible considering the weight reduction, but I wish the smaller battery came with faster charging to make me forget how long I need to wait. I had to charge the phone most nights after dinner, unless I was careful.

3/5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus

Galaxy S25 Ultra

Price:

$1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849

$999 / £999 / AU$1,699

$1,299 / £1,249 / AU$2,149

Display:

6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED

6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED

6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED

Cameras:

200MP main, 12MP ultra-wide

50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto

200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto, 50MP 5x telephoto

Battery Life HH:MM (Future Labs test):

12:45

18:46

18:35

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

  • I tested the phone for two weeks
  • I took dozens of photos
  • I played games and watched movies
  • I checked email and worked in Slack
  • I used AI features extensively
  • Benchmark testing is for comparison, not scoring purposes

I tested the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge for more than two weeks before posting this review. I received the Edge before I traveled to Google I/O, and I took the phone along as my primary work device and for entertainment on flights.

When I got back from Google I/O I had Covid, so the Galaxy S25 Edge was my primary couch companion, and my source of entertainment and contact with the world. I used it to play games, watch movies, and listen to audiobooks.

When I’d recovered, I took the S25 Edge car shopping and connected it to a number of different cars to test. I used the phone to take photos, research cars, and more. I even asked for help from Google Gemini and Samsung’s Galaxy AI to do research, answer calls, and respond to solicitors.

I connected the Galaxy S25 Edge to a Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and an Xbox Wireless controller, among numerous other devices.

Future Labs tests phones using a mix of third-party benchmark software and proprietary, real-world tests. We use Geekbench, CrossMark, JetStream, WebXPRT and Mobile XPRT, and 3DMark for performance testing. We test a phone’s performance on video tasks using Adobe Premiere Rush. We also measure display color output and brightness.

For battery testing we perform proprietary tests that are the same for every phone, which enable us to determine how long it takes for the battery to run down.

Read more about how we test

Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of gaming laptops reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Price Comparison



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The Samsung Galaxy S25 is cheaper than ever right now
Product Reviews

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is cheaper than ever right now

by admin


Memorial Day weekend might be over but the sales have kept coming. Current deals include an all-new low price on the Samsung Galaxy S25, which is down to $685 from $860. The 20 percent discount is available on the 256GB model in either Silver Shadow or Mint.

Samsung released the Galaxy S25 smartphone early this year alongside the S25+, Edge and Ultra. We gave it an 82 in our review thanks to its improved Gemini AI experience and new high-powered processor. It also offers 28 hours of battery life, a four hour improvement from its predecessor.

Samsung

Our biggest quip with the Samsung Galaxy S25 is that many things mirror the specs of its predecessor. The device offers the same display and camera sensors as the Galaxy S24. It’s also almost the exact same thickness, with just 0.4 millimeters shaved off.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.





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Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Review: Super Thin With a Catch
Gaming Gear

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Review: Super Thin With a Catch

by admin


That last part is the problem with the Edge: It has a paltry 3,900-mAh battery capacity. That’s the smallest of the Galaxy S25 series, 100 mAh smaller than the compact Galaxy S25. Samsung has made some smart optimizations to maximize the battery life of this small cell, but there’s only so much it can do. The Galaxy S25 Edge’s battery life is not good enough for a $1,100 phone.

Over the last week, I’ve been traveling with the Edge to cover Google I/O, and I’ve had to remember to charge it in the afternoon on most days. When I was away from a charger, I consciously decided to avoid using the phone so as not to drain the battery. I’ve often only had 4 hours of screen-on time by the end of the day before the device hits 15 percent. Mind you, with light to average use, this handset can last just about a day. Then again, if your needs are light, you hardly need to spend $1,100 to get a great phone.

In my 10 years of reviewing phones, I’ve frequently heard grumbles from the people around me when companies introduce thinner phones with smaller batteries. I have also heard complaints that phones are getting too big. The S25 Edge is still big—folks with smaller paws than me will still find it hard to reach the top of the screen—but the bigger size doesn’t bring the benefit of a bigger battery. It begs the question, who is this for?

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

If you’ve bemoaned the same things, the clear winner for you is a folding flip phone. Devices like the Motorola Razr Ultra and the Galaxy Z Flip6 will match, if not offer slightly better battery life than the Edge, but you can fold them up and stow them in a pocket or purse even more nicely. No need to sacrifice screen size. Or just get the nice and compact Galaxy S25, which will last a smidge longer than the Edge.

Fringe Price

Samsung is positioning the Galaxy S25 Edge as a phone for power users who want many of the capabilities of the Galaxy S25 Ultra without the massive screen and weight. But the Edge has more compromises than just having the worst battery life: it charges more slowly, there’s no S Pen stylus, and there’s no telephoto zoom camera. It does have a few perks over the cheaper S25 and S25+, though, such as the ability to capture 4K video at 120 frames per second.

The results from the 200-MP primary camera and 12-MP ultrawide cameras are sharp and colorful. You won’t find too much to complain about. However, I kept trying to zoom in on a lot of shots, and while the 2x digital zoom has decent quality, things deteriorate quite quickly at further zoom options. It’s rare to find a $1,000+ smartphone today without a 3x or 5x optical zoom camera, and it’s sorely missed here.



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The best MagSafe and Qi2 chargers for iPhones (and the Galaxy S25)
Gaming Gear

The best MagSafe and Qi2 chargers for iPhones (and the Galaxy S25)

by admin


Wireless charging is slower and less efficient than plugging in a wire, but it’s certainly convenient — especially when you add magnets. Most people who have an iPhone 12 or later (except the 16E) and want a magnetic charger should get a Qi2 charger. Any Qi2-certified charger will charge a MagSafe iPhone up to 15W — just as fast as MagSafe on any phone but the 25W-capable iPhone 16. Qi2 chargers are also less expensive than MagSafe-certified ones, and there are many more options. And unlike MagSafe, Qi2 is an open standard.

All of Samsung’s Galaxy S25-series phones — including the new S25 Edge — are “Qi2 Ready,” which means they don’t have the magnets, but they can charge up to 15W on a Qi2 charger when paired with a Qi2 Ready magnetic case. While it’s disappointing that Samsung didn’t include Qi2 in the phones themselves, most people use a case, so this feels like a small price to pay for access to the huge ecosystem of Qi2 accessories. If you use Android and like the sound of Qi2, we expect Google and others to release more Qi2-compatible phones later this year.

Qi2 adds some much-needed simplicity to the magnetic charging ecosystem. The options that once consisted of MagSafe-certified chargers (made or licensed by Apple, capable of 15W charging on iPhones) and “MagSafe-compatible” chargers (made by third parties, capable of 7.5W charging on iPhones) are now being replaced by Qi2.

Unless you can get a great deal or you have an iPhone 16, the only MagSafe-certified charger still worth considering is Apple’s improved puck. The 16-series iPhones can charge up to 25W on the new charger and the new charger only. The new charger is also Qi2-certified, so it’s worth considering for once.

$49

Apple’s updated MagSafe Charger is the only model that can currently supply up to 25W power to iPhone 16 series phones. It even works with non-Apple Qi2 devices.

Read More

$110

The excellent 3-in-1 BoostCharge Pro stand offers 15W wireless charging and a refined design, one that allows the attached phone to tilt.

Read More

$70

Anker’s MagGo power bank features 6,600mAh capacity and a built-in stand that, while bigger than it needs to be, is far sturdier than the kickstands on competing models.

Read More

$20

You’ll need to supply your own USB-C power adapter, but ESR’s compact Qi2 charger remains a great budget pick that can be either vent- or dash-mounted in your car.

Read More

There’s little reason to get a “MagSafe-compatible” charger unless you’re an Android user with a magnetic phone case on a phone that isn’t Qi2 Ready. The original Qi phones fall back to 5W charging on Qi2 but can charge up to 10W with a regular Qi charger, while Qi2 Ready phones can charge up to 15W when paired with the proper magnet case and charger.

Confused? Check out the table below that summarizes these charging speed nuances, and read on for our favorites of the Qi2 and MagSafe pucks, stands, 3-in-1 chargers, and battery packs we’ve tested so far.

MagSafe / Qi2 Maximum charge rates

Charger type

iPhone 16 and 16 Pro

iPhone 12 – 15

Non-Qi2 phones

New Apple MagSafe / Qi2 chargerUp to 25WUp to 15W5WQi2Up to 15WUp to 15W5WMagSafe-certifiedUp to 15WUp to 15W (12W for Minis)less than 5W (Apple being Apple)MagSafe-compatible / Qi with magnetsUp to 7.5WUp to 7.5WUp to 10W

What we’re looking for

Qi2 or MagSafe certification

Collapse

The Qi2 certification ensures not just proper 15W charging, but also the strength and position of the alignment magnets. Anybody can slap a ring of magnets around a cheap Qi coil and call it MagSafe-compatible, but if it isn’t certified, you won’t get more than 7.5W charging from it, and there’s no guarantee that the magnets will be strong enough. MagSafe certification is fine too, but MagSafe chargers tend to be more expensive than Qi2, aren’t compatible with non-iPhones, and (with the exception of the new one) aren’t any faster than Qi2.

Convenience

Collapse

Does it include the AC adapter? Is the cable long enough? Can it charge more than one device?

Portability

Collapse

Does the charger travel easily, or is it best left in one spot to never move?

Design

Collapse

Is it janky or refined? Does it have clever design elements or bonus features?

Value

Collapse

Does this charger offer a better value than most, or at least justify its price?

Best for the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro

$49

Apple’s updated magnetic charging puck is available in two sizes, 1m and 2m, and supports 15W MagSafe / Qi2 charging as well as 25W charging on the iPhone 16 only.

Read More

Certification: MagSafe, Qi2 / Wireless charge output: 25W (iPhone 16), 15W (Qi2) / Cable length: 6.6ft / 2m / Connector type: USB-C / AC adapter included: no / Warranty: One year

While Qi2 is as fast as MagSafe on the iPhones 12 through 15, Apple has moved the goalposts with the iPhone 16 generation. The new phones can charge at up to 25W with the updated MagSafe Charger — making it the best choice for owners of the latest iPhone. It’s great to see faster wireless charging, but it does mean you’re again incentivized to buy Apple’s puck over cheaper, more widely available Qi2 options.

For once, there’s good reason to consider the Apple puck. It’s Qi2-certified as well as MagSafe, so it’ll work with non-Apple Qi2 devices, should those materialize. And the company has finally added a version with a 2m / 6.6ft cable instead of only offering a too-short 1m / 3.3ft one. Get the longer one. You’ll also need an AC adapter since it doesn’t come with one. Both Anker and Nomad, among others, have options that are smaller and cheaper than Apple’s USB-C chargers. Nomad’s, in particular, has a nice, flat design.

— Antonio G. Di Benedetto

Best Qi2 charging puck overall

$19

The latest version of Anker’s magnetic MagGo charging pads supports 15W Qi2 and has a five-foot USB-C cable.

Read More

Certification: Qi2 / Wireless charge output: 15W / Cable length: 5ft / 1.5m / Connector type: USB-C / AC adapter included: Yes, optional / Warranty: Two years

Any Qi2-certified charger will charge any MagSafe iPhone at 15W (except for the iPhone 12 Mini and 13 Mini, which top out at 12W). If you just want a basic puck, we like Anker’s MagGo Qi2 wireless charging pad. Its five-foot cable is shorter than the 6.6-foot one on Apple’s new MagSafe charger, but it’s also $20 cheaper. When you consider that Anker includes an AC adapter and Apple doesn’t, it’s more like $40 cheaper. Unless you have an iPhone 16 and really want that 25W charging, the Anker Qi2 puck is a better value.

— Antonio G. Di Benedetto

Best Qi2 3-in-1 charger for travel

$117

The Satechi 3-in-1 has a sturdy aluminum frame and folds flat for travel. Its included 45W power adapter allows simultaneous charging of a Qi2 phone, wireless earbuds, and Apple Watch (with fast-charging).

Read More

Certification: Qi2 / Wireless charge output: 15W / Apple Watch fast charging: Yes / Cable length: 5ft / 1.5m / Connector type: USB-C / AC adapter included: Yes / Warranty: One year

The Satechi 3-in-1 Foldable Qi2 Wireless Charging Stand makes a great travel charger for people who hit the road with an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. It folds up flat and compact enough to easily slip into a bag or carry-on pocket, and it includes a 45W power plug with prong adapters that cover most of the globe. Its aluminum and faux-leather construction is also substantial enough, and its design elevated enough, to be the main 3-in-1 charger on your desk once you’re back home. (There’s also a 2-in-1 version without the Apple Watch charger, which is similarly nice but doesn’t come with an AC adapter.)

$82

Anker’s Qi2-certified MagGo Wireless Charging Station unfolds to wirelessly charge a MagSafe-compatible iPhone, an Apple Watch, and a pair of AirPods, all at the same time.

Read More

Certification: Qi2 / Wireless charge output: 15W / Apple Watch fast charging: Yes / Cable length: 5ft / 1.5m / Connector type: USB-C / AC adapter included: Yes / Warranty: Two years

Anker’s folding 3-in-1 is smaller and more compact than the Satechi — it’s more like a bar of soap than a bar of chocolate — but it doesn’t include prong adapters. Also, its lighter build makes it easy to accidentally pick up the whole charger when you just meant to grab your phone and gives it more limited articulation for home desktop use. It’s best suited for frequent travelers who don’t want to pack up their home charger before every trip.

— Antonio G. Di Benedetto

Best Qi2 3-in-1 stand for home

$110

The latest version of Belkin’s 3-in-1 BoostCharge Pro stand uses Qi2 for 15W wireless charging and a refined design allowing the attached phone to tilt. It also comes with a compact 36W USB-C power adapter.

Read More

Certification: Qi2 / Wireless charge output: 15W / Apple Watch fast charging: Yes / Cable length: about 5ft / 1.5m (permanently attached) / Connector type: USB-C / AC adapter included: Yes / Warranty: Two years

Once again, the Belkin “tree” towers over all others when it comes to a 3-in-1 for home use. The latest version fixes some of our minor grievances from its predecessors while adopting the Qi2 standard. It now uses an included 36W USB-C power adapter instead of a gigantic plug with a barrel connector, and the elevated Qi2 mount can tilt your phone in a variety of angles. Its nylon-wrapped USB-C cable isn’t detachable, but at least it’s about five feet long.

— Antonio G. Di Benedetto

$70

A Qi2 pad on the front and a party in the back, with three AC outlets and four USB ports. It can deliver up to 67W through a single USB-C port or divided between its two USB-C and two USB-A ports.

Read More

Certification: Qi2 / Wireless charge output: 15W / Cable length: about 5ft / 1.5m / Connector type: 12V AC / AC adapter included: Attached / Warranty: Two years

Staff opinions on this orb are, frankly, divided, but I had it on my desk for a while, and after I sent it back, I missed it enough that I bought one. This Death Star-looking thing has a Qi2 pad on the front and two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and three AC outlets on the back, with up to 67W charging between them. Fully utilized, yeah, it’s gonna look like a cable octopus, but it’s nice to have something in arm’s reach that can charge your phone, your laptop, and whatever else you’ve got going on.

$70

A 6,600mAh Qi2 power bank with a hefty built-in stand. It’s bigger than it needs to be but the stand is a lot sturdier than the flimsy kickstands on other magnetic power banks.

Read More

Certification: Qi2 / Wireless charge output: up to 15W / Cell capacity: 25.41Wh (6,600mAh) / Connector type: USB-C / Warranty: Two years

This folding Qi2 battery pack doubles as a phone stand and has 6,600mAh capacity, which is more than enough to fully charge even an iPhone 16 Pro Max. You can also charge from its USB-C port if you prefer. It’s not the slimmest Qi2 battery, but it’s sturdy enough to hold the phone in landscape mode without toppling, which is nice.

Read our hands-on with the Anker MagGo Power Bank (6.6K).

$20

A compact, flexible Qi2 charger for vent and dash mounting. Read our review.

Read More

Certification: Qi2 / Wireless charge output: 15W / Cable length: 3.3ft / 1m / Connector type: USB-C / AC adapter included: No / Warranty: One year

The Verge’s Thomas Ricker and I both like this compact Qi2 car charger. It can be either vent- or dash-mounted, and it’s inexpensive, though you’ll have to supply your own USB-C power adapter. I bought the “CryoBoost” version, which has a cooling fan, since I live in sweltering Texas. And since my car is ancient and my old Bluetooth FM transmitter’s USB port couldn’t power the Qi2 pad, I also got this 60W FM transmitter / USB-C charger thing. It plugs into the 12V (the “cigarette lighter”) port and has an integrated coiled 30W USB-C cable, which I use for the ESR Qi2 charger, plus another 30W USB-C PD port, a USB-A port, and the aforementioned Bluetooth FM transmitter. Honestly, a killer deal.

There are a ton of Qi2 car mounts out there, and we have a few more in the queue, but this one’s good!

Read our full review of the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger.

Other chargers worth considering

Now that Qi2 is widely available, it’s a safe bet that you’re at least getting something decent if it’s Qi2-certified and it’s from a reputable brand. While our best-ofs above don’t cover every single make and model of charger out there, we’re frequently testing units from the likes of Anker, Belkin, Casetify, Mophie, Nomad, Satechi, Ugreen, Peak Design, Zens, Sharge, and ESR. If there’s a Qi2 charger from one of them that seems like a good fit for your particular needs and your budget, it’s likely worth a shot. When in doubt, know the retailer’s return policy and the manufacturer’s warranty if it ends up not being to your liking.

Update, May 21st: Adjusted pricing / availability for several options and noted that the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge also supports Qi2 charging when paired with the proper case.





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Bond or Batman? Why the Galaxy S25 Edge is a phone for cool characters
Gaming Gear

Bond or Batman? Why the Galaxy S25 Edge is a phone for cool characters

by admin



“I call it the James Bond phone,” Samsung’s Annika Bizon, vice president of mobile product and marketing in the U.K. and Ireland, told Digital Trends during a conversation about the new Galaxy S25 Edge shortly after its announcement. 

“I call it the Bruce Wayne phone.” Samsung’s smartphone specialist product manager Kadesh Beckford said later in the same call.

Why did these names come up, and how do they relate to the new, slimline smartphone? It turns out, understanding why the comparisons were drawn is key to understanding the Galaxy S25 Edge itself, and Samsung’s daring plan with it. 

A statement maker

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I really wanted to understand who Samsung has made the Galaxy S25 Edge — a 5.8mm, 163 gram flagship smartphone — for, and spoke at length about it with Bizon and Beckford during an online conversation soon after the phone’s announcement. 

“Samsung has seen people want lightness, slimness, and to know they have the very best technology in their device,” Bizon explained. “The S25 Edge is for people who want to make a statement, and it blows my mind how we’ve managed to fit so much into such a small space. I call it the James Bond of phones. He would only have the coolest of phones.”

While the comparison with a cool character makes sense, what she said next showed while Bond would be a great fit for the S25 Edge, the phone has been positioned and pitched quite differently to other Samsung mobile devices.

“We’ve looked at the younger market,” Bizon said, “but we don’t know who else it will be for yet, and that’s exciting. We’ve done the research to find there’s demand, so we’ve got the foundations, but we’ve got to learn who’s buying it, what they’re using it for, and how they’re enjoying it.”

A phone with presence

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The more we talked about the Galaxy S25 Edge, the more delightfully experimental it sounded. Not in terms of its technology, but how it fits into Samsung’s range of devices, and the people the company expects it to appeal to. It’s how Batman entered the conversation. 

“I call it the Bruce Wayne phone,” Beckford laughed, “In Jet Black it’d match up with the Batmobile really well.” 

Beckford continued to say what the phone means to him, and his own reference to a well-known character related more to the S25 Edge’s presence than its coolness. “It allows me to make a statement. You put an S25 Edge down on the table, and it means something.”

Beckford gave some deep insight into how the Galaxy S25 Edge enters new territory for Samsung:

“Our Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 6 phones are called ‘Life Maximizers,” he said, “while the base Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and FE phones are ‘Social Expressers. What’s happening is we’re seeing people who want a bit of both. They want to express themselves, but they also want the power and performance from a Life Maximizer phone brings. The S25 Edge is a device that fits into both these areas.” 

Internal innovation

Samsung

It was becoming clear the S25 Edge is more than just a new entry into the S25 series, and understanding some of the engineering that went into making it sees it shift closer to the Z Fold series for innovation. Beckford talked about some of the challenges faced by the team making the phone:

“The camera module was a challenge,” he said. “The 200-megapixel main sensor is quite thick, but we reduced it in size by 18% to fit. It means the phone is well balanced. In a confined space you usually lose performance from the processor if there’s no heat dissipation. We’ve used special cooling and a vapor chamber to ensure the phone runs at its highest performance without overheating. These are challenges that come from making a phone this slim, but we solved them.”

Why doesn’t the S25 Edge have a telephoto camera? After all, the Galaxy S25 Plus has one. It goes back to the phone appealing to two usually separate groups of buyers. The main and wide-angle cameras are key on the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and the S25 Edge is as much a part of that family as it is the S Series. Beckford pointed out that although there are only two cameras, you still get a macro mode and a 2x optical quality zoom alongside them. 

A new direction for Samsung

The Galaxy S25 Edge has elements of the technical innovation we love from Samsung’s ongoing range of folding devices, blended with the mainstream appeal of its S series phones. What differentiates it is the incredible slim, lightweight body and design. Bizon ended our conversation by telling me how this has shaped her personal opinion of the S25 Edge.

“I think it’s beautiful,” she said. “It’s a statement about you, I like that it’s a conversation starter, and I see it stepping more into fashion and style.” She added, “You have to be playful and quirky and do things differently to attract people.” I felt this likely best described what Samsung is hoping to achieve with the Galaxy S25 Edge. 

Playful, quirky, interesting, cool, fashionable, and stylish. When was the last time all of these words could be used together to describe a single mobile device? It’s certainly not recently, and the fact we’re using them to talk about a new Samsung — a brand few would consider daring when it comes to design — smartphone is a particular surprise. 

There was an air of excitement during my conversation with Bizon and Beckford. Like it was the start of something new and exciting, but also ever-so-slightly mysterious and experimental too. After playing it safe with the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung has let itself go wild with the Galaxy S25 Edge and in the best way possible it’s not entirely sure where it’s going to lead, which makes us like this incredibly slim phone even more.





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