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The market of ultra-thin and light-weight telephones is formally at its tipping level, as Apple threw its hat into the ring this week with the brand new iPhone Air.
The latest and arguably most modern iPhone options the corporate’s slimmest design but, measuring at round 5.6mm thick. How did the parents at Cupertino obtain such a report? By choosing a smaller battery, fewer cameras, and a few design parts that disrupt the norm, particularly by iPhone requirements. In different phrases, it is a completely totally different beast.
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Its closest competitor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, is one other one. The S25 Edge follows an identical design philosophy, serving customers a burdenless {hardware} expertise with some questionable omissions. Between the 2 telephones, which one must you purchase? That is what I am right here to reply.
Specs
| Function | Apple iPhone Air | Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge |
| Beginning value | $999 | $1,099 |
| Show measurement | 6.5″ | 6.7″ |
| Processor | A19 Professional | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Entrance digicam | 18MP Heart Stage, Twin Seize | 12MP ultrawide |
| Rear cameras | 48MP Fusion digicam | 200MP Primary, 12MP ultrawide |
| Battery | 2,800mAh (estimated) | 3,900mAh |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB |
| Weight | 165g | 162g |
| Finishes | Sky Blue, Gentle Gold, Cloud White, House Black | Titanium Icyblue, Jetblack, and Silver |
You can purchase the iPhone Air if…
1. You need the much less dangerous skinny telephone
What do I imply by that? For starters, the iPhone Air begins at $999, undercutting the S25 Edge by $100, so it is already an funding that ought to be simpler to handle. That cash will get you 256GB of inner storage (the identical because the Samsung), Apple’s repubtable software program replace coverage that retains the telephone feature-relevant for years down the street, and an iOS expertise that has confirmed dependable for app help and fluidity.
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It goes with out saying that in case you’re a present iPhone consumer, the iPhone Air would be the better option of the 2, with advantages like simpler information switch (together with these pesky contacts that by no means save correctly) and entry to a well-known suite of iOS apps like iMessage and FaceTime.
Apple’s retail presence can be a lot stronger than Samsung’s, with a number of shops centralized throughout well-liked cities within the U.S. (and outdoors) for smoother servicing.
2. You are ceaselessly outdoor (and need the most effective view)
Apple says the iPhone Air can attain a peak brightness of three,000 nits, beating the S25 Edge’s 2,600-nit score. That merely means the iPhone will seem brighter when outdoor or beneath intense lighting, making the system simpler to learn, browse, and navigate.
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So far as different show specs go, the iPhone Air competes squarely with the S25 Edge, from the 120Hz show to the sturdiness of the glass layering. You can even argue that the iPhone’s smaller 6.5-inch display measurement makes it simpler to wield and function with one hand in comparison with the S25 Edge’s 6.7-inch display.
You can purchase the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge if…
1. You desire a extra versatile digicam system
Whereas each producers had restricted type components to construct cameras round, Samsung provides extra artistic freedom with the S25 Edge. That begins with the 200MP important sensor (in comparison with the iPhone Air’s 48MP), which permits high-resolution photographs when cropped or captured in RAW.
Then you definately issue within the further 12MP ultrawide sensor that stretches the width of the pictures you possibly can take. I count on Apple to closely market the iPhone Air’s “Fusion Digital camera,” however belief me once I say that no synthetic modifications will ever beat pure, bodily optics.
2. You desire a extra feature-packed telephone
Android telephones have all the time been extra purposeful than iPhones, and that holds true for the S25 Edge. In comparison with the iPhone Air, the Samsung handset includes a extra expansive AI toolkit, backed by each Galaxy AI and Google’s Gemini providers. That features searching instruments like Circle to Search, a extra intensive picture modifying suite, system-wide translation capabilities, and extra.
The S25 Edge additionally helps bodily SIM playing cards, whereas the iPhone Air is eSIM solely, regardless of which area you buy the handset from. This can be a deal breaker for frequent vacationers who require the usage of native SIM playing cards or prospects who merely do not wish to digitize their SIM playing cards.
Additionally: Lastly, a Samsung telephone that I might put my S25 Extremely away for (particularly at this value)
For audio-listeners, the S25 Edge packs a stereo speaker system versus the iPhone’s mono audio channel. It will be very tough for the iPhone to output a louder and richer sound than the Galaxy, even when Apple embeds some display vibration know-how to assist amplify the audio.
Lastly, the S25 Edge has a bigger 3,900mAh battery in comparison with the iPhone Air’s estimated 2,800mAh capability. Nonetheless, these numbers do not inform the total endurance story, so we’ll have to check the iPhone to see precisely how optimized the system is.
