iPhone Air vs. Samsung S25 Edge: I compared both thin phones, and here's the winner

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The market of ultra-thin and lightweight phones is officially at its tipping point, as Apple threw its hat into the ring this week with the new iPhone Air.

The newest and arguably most innovative iPhone features the company's slimmest design yet, measuring at around 5.6mm thin. How did the folks at Cupertino achieve such a record? By opting for a smaller battery, fewer cameras, and some design elements that disrupt the norm, especially by iPhone standards. In other words, this is a totally different beast.

Also: Apple Event live updates: Everything announced

Its closest competitor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, is another one. The S25 Edge follows a similar design philosophy, serving users a burdenless hardware experience with some questionable omissions. Between the two phones, which one should you buy? That's what I'm here to answer.

Specifications

You should buy the iPhone Air if...

Apple/ZDNET

1. You want the less risky thin phone

What do I mean by that? For starters, the iPhone Air starts at $999, undercutting the S25 Edge by $100, so it's already an investment that should be easier to manage. That money gets you 256GB of internal storage (the same as the Samsung), Apple's repubtable software update policy that keeps the phone feature-relevant for years down the road, and an iOS experience that has proven reliable for app support and fluidity.

Also: Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Here are the main differences

It goes without saying that if you're a current iPhone user, the iPhone Air will be the better choice of the two, with benefits like easier data transfer (including those pesky contacts that never save properly) and access to a familiar suite of iOS apps like iMessage and FaceTime.

Apple's retail presence is also much stronger than Samsung's, with multiple stores centralized across popular cities in the U.S. (and outside) for smoother servicing.

2. You're frequently outdoors (and want the best view)

Apple says the iPhone Air can reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, beating the S25 Edge's 2,600-nit rating. That simply means the iPhone will appear brighter when outdoors or under intense lighting, making the device easier to read, browse, and navigate.

Also: Every iPhone 17 model compared: Should you buy the base model, Air, Pro, or Max?

As far as other display specs go, the iPhone Air competes squarely with the S25 Edge, from the 120Hz display to the durability of the glass layering. You can also argue that the iPhone's smaller 6.5-inch screen size makes it easier to wield and operate with one hand compared to the S25 Edge's 6.7-inch screen.

You should buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge if...

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You want a more flexible camera system

While both manufacturers had limited form factors to build cameras around, Samsung offers more creative freedom with the S25 Edge. That starts with the 200MP main sensor (compared to the iPhone Air's 48MP), which enables high-resolution images when cropped or captured in RAW. 

Also: Finally, a Samsung phone that I'd put my S25 Ultra away for (especially at this price)

Then you factor in the additional 12MP ultrawide sensor that stretches the width of the shots you can take. I expect Apple to heavily market the iPhone Air's "Fusion Camera," but trust me when I say that no artificial modifications will ever beat pure, physical optics.

2. You want a more feature-packed phone

Android phones have always been more functional than iPhones, and that holds true for the S25 Edge. Compared to the iPhone Air, the Samsung handset features a more expansive AI toolkit, backed by both Galaxy AI and Google's Gemini services. That includes browsing tools like Circle to Search, a more extensive image editing suite, system-wide translation capabilities, and more.

The S25 Edge also supports physical SIM cards, while the iPhone Air is eSIM only, no matter which region you purchase the handset from. This may be a deal breaker for frequent travelers who require the use of local SIM cards or customers who simply don't want to digitize their SIM cards.

Lastly, the S25 Edge has a larger 3,900mAh battery compared to the iPhone Air's estimated 2,800mAh capacity. Still, those numbers don't tell the full endurance story, so we'll have to test the iPhone to see exactly how optimized the device is.

Alternatives to consider