Ever since Samsung’s Unpacked at the start of the year, the Korean giant has been teasing the Galaxy S25 Edge, their slimmest phone yet. And after a series of delays, the phone we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. However, the S25 Edge isn’t the only slim phone we’ll see this year, since Apple is rumored to announce the iPhone 17 Air in the upcoming months as well.
This begs the question: did Samsung gain an edge over Apple, or can the iPhone manufacturer still knock the Air out of Samsung? More importantly, should you pick the Galaxy S25 Edge, or wait for the iPhone 17 Air instead?
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: What’s All the Buzz About?
Now that the S25 Edge is here, we have official details on its specifications. The company took their New Year’s resolution more seriously than I did. It managed to slim down the phone by 1.36mm compared to the regular S25 and almost 2mm thinner than the iPhone 16 . This kind of sharp aesthetics makes the device look like a design statement rather than a phone.
Image Credit: Samsung
But it is not just a pretty face. Samsung has packed it with a sizable 6.7-inch 2K 120Hz LTPO AMOLED panel. However, unlike the previous Galaxy devices with the “Edge” moniker, this one doesn’t come with a curved screen. The giant display also makes room for the 3,900mAh battery in this claustrophobically thin design, along with the beefy internals.
Image Credit: Samsung
It packs the same powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor ( benchmarks ) as the rest of the S25 lineup, coupled with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It almost seems like this is a no-compromise version with a slim waistline. But that is not the case. The S25 Edge doesn’t have a telephoto camera. Instead, it features only two cameras at the back: a 200MP main and a 12MP ultrawide lens.
Image Credit: Samsung
To play the Devil’s advocate, the main camera should suffice for most of your zoom needs without a massive loss in quality. With these specs, Samsung went with a titanium frame to keep the phone durable, while still weighing only 163 grams . And to prevent any water damage, the phone is secured with an IP68 rating. This complete package is going to feel light on your pocket. But not on your wallet, as the S25 Edge will cost you $1,099 with 256GB of storage.
Apple’s Countermove: What We Know About the iPhone 17 Air
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Iphone-air-1.jpg?w=1024" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“illustration featuring the rumored iPhone 17 Air design in front of a red gradient background and “Air” text - 4”>
Apple hasn’t officially shown its hand yet, but leaks (and Apple’s naming history) suggest the iPhone 17 Air is coming this fall, along with the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup. Supposedly, the iPhone 17 Air will be thinner than the S25 Edge, possibly around 5.5mm , and will bring a lighter titanium build , smaller bezels, and the latest A19 chip.
Image Credit: X/ @SonnyDickson (edited by Ajaay Srinivasan/ Beebom)
The screen will be around 6.6 inches with Dynamic Island and get the same Pro Motion treatment as the Pro models. This size makes a lot more sense when you realize that the iPhone 17 Air will replace the “Plus” model this year. While we don’t know the actual battery capacity, reports indicate that Apple will use a high-density cell this year, implying the use of a silicon-carbon battery. The leaked dummy units also confirm the MagSafe on the iPhone 17 Air.
Image Credit: X/ @SonnyDickson (edited by Ajaay Srinivasan/ Beebom)
Additionally, similar to Samsung, Apple will make tradeoffs in camera setup, using a single 48MP camera on the rear. Not sure what’s with Apple releasing single-lens devices in 2025. First, the iPhone 16e and now possibly the Air. Another feature brought over from the 16e is Apple’s C1 modem , which has proven to be quite reliable in daily use.
Will iPhone 17 Air Stand a Chance against Galaxy S25 Edge?
To clear the clouds of confusion, we have summarized everything we have on the two phones in this table. Have a look:
With all the evidence in front of you, both phones are shaping up to be pretty similar options. Both boast a big display with a high refresh rate, a sharp design refresh, and somewhat debatable camera offerings. So it all comes down to ecosystem, battery life, and pricing.While the first one is up for debate, if the iPhone 17 Air can pack a larger battery and get the price right, then Apple might just have an edge over Samsung.
Image Credit: Samsung
So, who’s winning the slim phone war? Right now, Samsung can have its moment. The Galaxy S25 Edge is here, real, and turning heads. Apple? They’re still building suspense. But make no mistake, if the iPhone 17 Air lands with the usual polish, integration, and battery life Apple is known for, this could turn the tide real fast.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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- Apple and Google have officially confirmed their team-up for the next-gen Siri AI.
- The Cupertino Giant will be using Google’s Gemini for a more personalized Siri model as well as Apple Intelligence features.
- We can expect the next-gen Siri to come out with iOS 26.4, sometime in March or April.
Apple has officially confirmed joining forces with Google to use its Gemini AI model to power the next-generation Siri. It will offer a more personalized experience and will be coming out with the iOS 26.4 update. Apple also plans to leverage Gemini’s capabilities for other Apple Intelligence features as well, later down the line.
The Next-Gen Siri will be powered by Google’s Gemini AI
Apple officially confirmed that it will be partnering with Google in a statement to CNBC . Here’s what it stated, “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models, and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.”
Later, Google also shared a post on X confirming the tie-up, “Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.”
Image Credit: X/@NewsFromGoogle
Both statements clearly mention that the Cupertino Giant will be using Gemini to power its assistant Siri. This was already rumored, as Apple’s attempts to acquire Perplexity went nowhere. With Gemini, Siri will get a major AI update . It will be able to handle more nuanced conversations and provide better results. Something long-time Apple users have been asking for years.
The next-gen Siri will arrive with the iOS 26.4 update, which will launch sometime in March or April. And it is only going to be available for Apple Intelligence-supported devices .
Something else worth noting is how Google’s statement mentions that Gemini will power Apple Intelligence features. This leads us to believe that Apple could use Gemini’s multi-modal capabilities for its Writings tools , Image Playground , and Message summaries, too.
Elon Musk Not Happy With Apple and Google Tie Up
xAI CEO Elon Musk also responded to Google’s announcement post on X, sharing his thoughts on the matter by saying, “This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that they also have Android and Chrome.” Though we don’t expect either Apple or Google to respond to Elon, we will update the situation as it progresses.
It is worth noting that xAI is the company behind Grok, which is in hot water currently due to its inappropriate image generation fiasco , and has been getting backlash from multiple news outlets, X users, and even government authorities.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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