iPhone Air vs Galaxy S25 Edge: Slim Phone Winner

Thin was once a novelty in smartphones but is fast becoming the norm of what’s possible, and the iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge are the most compelling ultra-thin contenders yet. I spent time using both as my daily driver to see which of these slim flagships compromises less and, frankly, to determine which one is worth your money.

Design and durability across wafer-thin forms

Apple’s iPhone Air takes thinness to a brash 5.6mm. You notice it immediately: it disappears in a pocket as if it were a card, and its flat edges help you grasp but don’t dig into your palm. Samsung answers with an equally pocket-slicing S25 Edge that curves at the edges for your pleasure. The two phones employ tempered glass and aluminum, but the real engineering miracle is structural rigidity. They’re also so slim that there’s not much space for a sturdy frame, wider vapor chambers, and thicker lens docks; therefore, drop protection and continued performance depend on intelligent internal bracing. Neither feels flimsy in the hand, though you’ll definitely want a case if you’re clumsy.

Displays: brightness, refresh and reachability

For outdoor consumption, the iPhone Air touts up to 3,000 nits peak brightness when outdoors, edging out the S25 Edge’s 2,600-nit rating. That advantage is evident when you’re navigating in direct sunlight; text and maps pop a smidge more on the iPhone. Both offer 120Hz adaptive refresh and premium OLED color, with durability coatings from the regular glass leaders. While Apple goes with a 6.5-inch panel that feels more manageable in your palm, Samsung’s has the larger, 6.7-inch screen for even more multitasking space. Professional screen assessor organizations have also consistently reflected that peak luminance matters for glare-heavy viewing environments, but color accuracy and PWM tuning can’t be ignored—and both are excellent here.

Camera: hardware muscle vs computational finesse

Samsung goes heavy on the optics with a 200MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide. There is so much resolution it allows more headroom for loss-limited crops and detailed RAW files, especially in daylight. The iPhone Air hits back with a 48MP “Fusion” system that relies on multi-frame processing and intelligent sharpening to produce more natural images without the over-smoothing we saw in early high-megapixel phones. In lower light, sensor size, lens throughput, and stabilization count for more than megapixels; both play up computational photography to minimize noise and maintain tone. If you’re a regular landscape or interiors shooter, or just like the options of creative framing, however, these coast-to-coast perspectives and high-res megapixel counts can be quite liberating in squeezing that little bit more into your frame than with the iPhone Air’s optics.

Performance, software and AI features compared

Both devices are running top-tier chipsets, and in everyday use they feel lightning quick. Where the two brands part ways is software philosophy. The S25 Edge is also powered by Google’s Gemini services and integrates Galaxy AI to deliver an even more seamless experience with functions such as on-device Circle to Search, system-wide translation, transcription, and photo editing. The iPhone Air’s iOS is about flow, app quality, and tight security, with fresh onboard intelligence that spreads throughout Apple’s ecosystem. Update longevity is strong on both sides: Apple typically provides well over five years of support, and Samsung now guarantees multiple OS and security updates for its new flagships, so the historic updating gap that favored iOS has been reduced.

Battery life, charging, and thin chassis thermals

The iPhone Air has a ~2,800mAh pack, while the S25 Edge includes a 3,900mAh cell and comes with a large capacity advantage. Capacity isn’t everything—Apple’s efficiency often offsets capacity differences—but after several days of mixed usage (messaging, photography, streaming, and maps), the Samsung consistently ended evenings with more headroom. Thinner phones also have less thermal mass, so continuous gaming or 4K video can result in more rapid throttling. Here, Samsung’s big battery and stereo speakers help it win in the long-activity category, while the iPhone is more about fast, efficient sprints throughout the day.

Connectivity and audio essentials for travelers

Travelers, take note: the iPhone Air is all eSIM, for all regions. The S25 Edge still has room for a physical SIM as well as eSIM, however, and that’s handy if you’re swapping over to local cards when going abroad. Audio is another split. Samsung’s stereo speakers are louder and wider; the iPhone Air has a single channel that is fine for calls and casual clips but can’t play with the Galaxy’s fuller stage whether you’re watching movies or gaming without earbuds.

Price, storage and long-term value considerations

That makes the iPhone Air’s 256GB version $100 cheaper than the S25 Edge’s starting price, at $999 instead of $1,099 for equivalent storage. That counts, especially when you factor in Apple’s extensive retail and support footprint for repairs and trades. Samsung strikes back with aggressive carrier promotions and bundled services that can cover the list-price spread, but also holds an edge in power efficiency as well as camera capabilities. Both ecosystems are mature markets for apps and add-ons, so the choice will probably be dictated more by the phone as a device than any extra features.

The result: the current best ultra-slim phone

If you want the best, least compromised thin phone, it’s the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. It’s a more versatile everyday device with its bigger battery, stereo speakers, flexible camera setup, and wider AI toolkit, all the while remaining impressively svelte.

Pick the iPhone Air if you value the smallest profile, top-end outdoor brightness, lower entry price, and the consistency of iOS with long-term support. It is the most polished example of ultra-thin design to date—but for most people, Samsung’s extra endurance and camera range tilt the balance.