Apple iPhone Air vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Is The Slim Phone Hype Dying?

Apple has finally killed its Plus model iPhone this year in favor of the much-hyped iPhone Air. Just like the Galaxy S25 Edge, the iPhone Air focuses on slimness and lightweight design. With both manufacturers pushing slimmer phones, is this the start of a long-term shift or just another short-lived trend? Let’s find out in this comparison of the Apple iPhone Air vs the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

Apple iPhone Air Vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Specification Showdown

Design: The Only Good Thing

Design is the highlight for both phones, and this is where they shine. The iPhone Air is thinner at 5.6 mm compared to the S25 Edge’s 5.8 mm. At just 146 g, it is also noticeably lighter. It comes in Black, White, Light Gold, and Light Blue. Like the rest of the iPhone 17 series, you get an Action Button and Camera Control. It is also the first iPhone with Ceramic Shield glass on the back. However, unlike the Pro models, it swaps titanium for an aluminum-and-glass sandwich to keep the weight down.

Samsung, on the other hand, uses a titanium frame while still offering a dual-SIM slot, with only marginally more thickness. The South Korean giant has managed to add a dual camera and a bigger battery despite being only slightly thicker. But Apple’s premium Titanium and Ceramic Glass design manages to stand out more.

Winner: Apple iPhone Air

Display: 120Hz ProMotion

Both the iPhone Air and the S25 Edge use 120Hz panels, and interestingly, both phones’ screens have been made by Samsung. Apple has finally listened to consumers and added a 120Hz refresh rate to its base iPhones after years of waiting. Coming to the size of the screen, the Air has a 6.5-inch Retina XDR OLED panel, which sits between the iPhone 17 and the 17 Pro.

Comparatively, the S25 Edge uses the same display as the S25 Plus. This means you get a bigger and sharper 6.7-inch 2K panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung offers an Always-on display and uses the latest Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2. The South Korean giant has a clear advantage here in terms of display.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Performance: Same-Same But Different

When it comes to raw performance, both the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air hold their own and are powered by a top-of-the-line chipset. The iPhone Air uses the new A19 Pro processor with one less GPU core and packs 8GB of RAM, which is the bare minimum for Apple Intelligence. The Air also uses the C1 modem just like the iPhone 16e.

On the other hand, the S25 Edge uses the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite and has 12GB of RAM.Both phones are more than powerful to handle day-to-day tasks and even intense games. However, when it comes to sustained peak performance, the S25 Edge has an edge here thanks to the inclusion of a vapour cooling chamber. The iPhone Air misses out on one so it might get warm during those intense Genshin Impact sessions.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Software And AI: Samsung Has The Edge

With the launch of iOS 26 and all the gaffes Apple has been making with Apple Intelligence, Samsung has a clear winner here. Not only does the S25 Edge get 7 years of OS updates, but it also comes with useful and practical AI features. The Liquid Glass design of iOS 26 and the fact that Apple Intelligence only exists on paper doesn’t exactly go in Apple’s favor.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Cameras: A Major Compromise

Unfortunately, no matter which slim phone you choose, you will end up compromising on the cameras. The iPhone Air has a single 48MP camera on the back and it misses out on the ultrawide and telephoto found on the base and Pro models respectively. Due to the slim nature of the device, Apple had to compromise on the optics of the phone. Just like the iPhone 16e, it has a single camera on the back.On the front, you get a 18MP front camera with Centre Stage.

Similarly, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge misses out on a telephoto lens, which is present on the base S25 and its sibling, the S25 Plus. Although it uses the same 200MP primary as the S25 Ultra so atleast you get a good primary camera here. Due to the better primary and the presence of ultrawide angle lens, Samsung gets a point here.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Battery And Charging: The Achilles Heel

Battery is another area where, no matter which phone you choose, you will end up charging at the end of the day. While not officially disclosed, the iPhone Air likely has a 3,036mAh battery, which is even smaller than the iPhone 17. In terms of charging, you get 25W wired charging and Qi 2.2, which should result in better MagSafe connectivity.Apple stills claims it is the most efficient iPhone ever made

On the other hand, the S25 Edge packs a 3,900mAh battery, which is the smallest in the entire S25 series. Sadly, you don’t get MagSafe here, but the bigger battery should help it last longer. It’s disappointing to see that both Apple and Samsung are not using Silicon Carbon tech that other Chinese manufacturers have already switched to.

Pricing And Availability:

In terms of pricing, the Apple iPhone Air sits between the base iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro. At its current price of Rs. 1,19,000 for the 256GB variant, it’s a bit expensive than the S25 Edge.

But with the compromises that you need to make, it’s a hard sell, especially at the current price. If you can live with a single camera and a slightly smaller battery, the Air might be worth it for you. On the other hand, the S25 Edge costs Rs. 1,10,000 which makes it expensive compared to the iPhone 17 Air this time.

Similarly, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is currently positioned between the S25 Plus and the S25 Ultra. With a price tag of Rs. 1,08,999, it’s priced way too close to the Ultra.And compared to the Air, you get better cameras, two cameras, and a more durable design. This makes it a much better buy compared to the iPhone Air.

Final Words: Apple iPhone Air Vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

With Apple killing its Plus models this year and Samsung set to do the same next year, the trend of “Plus” sized phablets is coming to an end. However, given the trajectories that both companies follow and the lacklustre response of the S25 Edge and iPhone Air, the trend of slim phones could also come to an end. With other manufacturers cramming bigger batteries, Samsung and Apple seem to be the outliers in this trend. You don’t get silicon carbon, and as a result, you need to rely on external accessories to get a full day’s battery backup. There is a high possibility that the trend of these slim and lightweight phones could follow the footsteps of their Plus models and eventually come to an end. While they make for good headlines, consumer surveys and sales numbers don’t seem to add up in their favour.