A palpable sense of anticipation filled the SAP Centre in San Jose, California, on Jan. 22, as Samsung Electronics unveiled its Galaxy S25 series during a much-anticipated Unpacked event. The highlight of the evening came with a teaser for the ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge, introduced with the words, “Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the show isn’t over,” displayed on a massive screen. The audience of over 2,000 journalists erupted in applause as a dramatic video montage showed smartphone components coming together to form an impossibly sleek device.
The Galaxy S25 Edge, long rumored as the “Galaxy S25 Slim,” was officially revealed under its new moniker. While detailed specifications were not disclosed, industry insiders estimate its thickness at around 6.4mm—up to 22% thinner than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which measures 8.2mm. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggested the Edge would be priced below the Ultra and could hit the market as early as May, potentially beating Apple’s rumored iPhone 17 Air to shelves.
The unveiling set the stage for a renewed “thinness race” between Samsung and Apple. Just a day earlier, tech site MacRumors had shared leaked images of what appeared to be components from the iPhone 17 Air. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts Apple’s ultra-slim model could be as thin as 5.5mm, though other reports place it at 6.25mm.
Excitement spilled into the event’s hands-on area, where journalists jostled for a closer look at the S25 Edge. While attendees weren’t allowed to physically handle the device, its razor-thin design was on full display, confirming its slimmer profile compared to other S25 models. Unlike earlier speculation about a triple-camera setup, the Edge features only two rear cameras, while other specifications align closely with the rest of the S25 series.
Samsung emphasized artificial intelligence as a defining feature of the Galaxy S25 lineup. Its AI agent streamlines tasks, allowing users to adjust settings or send text messages via voice commands, removing the need for intricate navigation. “This is the first smartphone where AI feels naturally integrated,” said CNET’s Abrar Al-Heeti.
The event also marked the debut of Samsung’s first extended reality (XR) headset, Project Moohan, developed in collaboration with Google. Resembling oversized ski goggles with multiple cameras and side buttons, the headset runs on Google’s new Android XR operating system. A video presentation from Google DeepMind’s CEO Demis Hassabis underscored the partnership, highlighting shared advancements in AI and XR technologies.
Previous demonstrations of Project Moohan showcased its potential in real-world applications, such as real-time translation of foreign menus and turn-by-turn navigation projected onto the headset screen. “Being Android-based, it could outperform Apple’s Vision Pro, especially for gaming,” said Brandon Le Proktor, a French tech YouTuber.
