And then it got interesting. Apple’s iPhone Air and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge are designed for the same thing – two endless flagships stuffed into a phone that’s almost invisible in your pocket. I took them for face-offs in design, display, cameras, battery, software and value, spending time comparing both. The margin is narrower than it appears, but there is a winner.
Design that chases millimeters
The iPhone Air is the most daring iPhone shape we’ve seen so far, barely thicker than 5.6mm. Apple has achieved that profile by shaving the camera array and battery, and pushing an aggressive internal packaging. It’s almost impossibly light and flat, with edges that neatly slide into a jeans pocket. It’s supposed to be visible that trade-offs are taking place.
The S25 Edge from Samsung takes a similar philosophy but craves fewer compromises. It is still remarkably slim, but adds room for an additional camera — and a bigger cell. The frame feels frosted and a bit more contoured to improve grip. Both are designed statements as far as ultra-thin phones are concerned, whether they’re good ones or bad ones just depends on how much functionality they retain and how thin they stay.
Displays and sound: brightness versus breadth
On paper, and on the hand, the iPhone Air’s screen stands out. Apple says they peak at 3,000 and 2,600 nits brightness respectively, and both have 120Hz refresh rates. That extra level of brightness will be immediately useful outside, where stretchability and legibility matter more than lab charts. The Air’s 6.5-inch screen is also slightly smaller, which makes it easier to use with one hand.
Audio is where Samsung takes the lead. The S25 Edge has stereo speakers that give you a fuller level of sound that comes from further apart whereas the iPhone Air borrows the mono channel treatment. For podcasts while out and about or watching something on the fly, the Galaxy just fills the room more. Laboratories like DisplayMate typically confirm such peak brightness claims in controlled windows; in actual use, both panels look great, but the Air’s glare edge is legit.
Cameras: physics still matters
Samsung’s camera array is more versatile — a 200MP main sensor with a 12MP ultrawide that allows for detailed crops and wide perspectives — without relying on extensive computational tricks. The iPhone Air shifts to a stripped-down configuration built around a 48MP sensor. Apple’s processing is a worthy effort — particularly in skin tones and low-light noise — but the lack of an ultrawide is creatively limiting.
If you shoot a lot of RAW and/or base your work on reframing, the S25 Edge allows you to grow. DxOMark’s historical scoring trends can often favor the strength of optics as well as software, and the trend appears to have held true here: the Galaxy is the more versatile shooter, the iPhone the more consistent one.
Performance, AI and software lifespan
Apple’s silicon is still the kind of efficiency royalty, and you’ll struggle to find fault with the fluidity of iOS. App support and polish are also top-tier, and with Apple’s long track record of supporting its products, the Air will remain relevant for years. Samsung comes back with a strong AI offering that’s utilizing both Galaxy AI and Google’s Gemini functionality, like Circle to Search, on-device translation tools and a comprehensive photo editor.
Most importantly, Samsung’s new flagship phones come along side a promise for a seven-year OS and security commitment to fit the lengthening ownership cycles companies such as Counterpoint Research have been reporting for the industry as a whole. Historically Apple releases 5+ major iOS updates to premium devices. Either way, both phones are solid, long-term bets — it’s simply a question of whether you want more advanced AI tools (Samsung) or the tightly controlled iOS ecosystem (Apple).
Battery life: efficiency vs capacity
The battery is the thin phone’s stress test. This is just under 3,900mAh for the S25 Edge, and just under 2,800mAh for the iPhone Air. Capacity isn’t destiny — Apple’s chips are notoriously stingy, as independent analyses from outlets like AnandTech have proven across multiple generations — but physics still sets the guidelines. With the same workloads, Samsung’s larger tank just means more headroom for long days.
In real world use, if your day-to-day is filled with navigating, snapping pics and streaming, the Galaxy’s extra cushion of safety is perceptible. If you lean on Apple’s efficiencies and use the Air mixed throughout the day, the Air will last you a full day, but there’s little buffer. That makes a bigger difference when a phone is too thin to conceal a larger battery.
Connectivity and travel perks
And travelers, don’t forget my SIM story. In all regions, the iPhone Air is eSIM-only. It’s up-to-date and increasingly well supported — GSMA Intelligence projects eSIM adoption will continue to rise — but plenty of travelers would rather just pop in a local SIM card. The S25 Edge has a slot for a physical SIM, too, so it’s the simpler grab-and-go device for users overseas or those who need multi-line support.
Price, storage, and aftercare
For this, Apple is undercutting Samsung: the iPhone Air is a $999 model, $100 less than the S25 Edge, and both start at 256GB of storage. Another practical advantage is Apple’s retail footprint, offering dense store coverage for same-day support in many cities. Samsung’s service network is strong but not as widespread in some markets.
Verdict: the skinny phone that takes the week
Both are minimalist takes on the hardware. If all you want is the absolute safest bet inside a super-slim package — and you live within iOS — the iPhone Air is a joy: brighter outdoors, less costly, with Apple’s support-machinery behind it. But for raw thin-phone utility value, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge takes the cake.
It keeps more of the essentials, a larger battery, stereo speakers, an ultrawide camera, richer AI (artificial intelligence) extras and a certain physical SIM flexibility without giving up the slim, pretty look. That combination makes it the phone most people should buy if they don’t have a specific need, and the one I would trust to survive the chaos of real life with fewer compromises.