Slim Pickings: The troubled journey of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
High demand for Galaxy S25 Edge appears to be lacking, and I hypothesize potential reasons for this sales slump.
In a daring move, Samsung released the Galaxy S25 Edge, eager to outrun Apple's rumored ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air. However, with its thin 5.8mm design, this phone seems to have touched a raw nerve, leaving critics and even fans less than impressed. This story delves into the questionable choices that led to the less-than-stellar reception of the Galaxy S25 Edge.
I, for one, invested in the Galaxy S25 Edge, hoping to find a sleek alternative to my hefty iPhone 16 Pro. The spate of complaints and harsh criticisms on the Samsung Galaxy subreddit, a place where you'd expect enthusiasm for Samsung devices to thrive, was unexpected. One post called the Galaxy S25 Edge the "dumbest Samsung ever," implying that it was a niche device that's overpriced, unnecessary, and a blatant false advertisement, garnering over 100 upvotes.
To make matters worse, Samsung has remained silent on the sales figures for the Galaxy S25 Edge, which is unusual for the company. Traditionally, Samsung shares early sales data in its home market of South Korea. However, this time it chose to stay mum, leading to speculation that sales are below expectations. Reports suggest that rival tech publication SamMobile's sources confirm the news.
Samsung should have recognized this as an opportunity to ensure people that the Galaxy S25 Edge is not a flawed smartphone. Instead of collaborating with rising artist Doechii, it could have emphasized the benefits of its slim design – not just in terms of aesthetic appeal, but how it enhances usability.
Ditching the thick, heavy design of the iPhone 16 Pro offered greater freedom and versatility for the Galaxy S25 Edge user. The concerns over the phone's 3,900mAh battery and missing telephoto lens could have been resolved by emphasizing that a Qi2/MagSafe battery pack offers a practical solution for extended usage.
Unfortunately, Samsung appears to have dropped the ball, with numerous complaints over the device's design compromises. Last year, Samsung was involved in a "design plagiarism" scandal, with the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro resembling Apple products, and more recently, it introduced One UI 7 featuring iOS-like features that longtime Galaxy users have been less than thrilled about.
Counterpoint Research's most recent report reveals that the first four best-selling smartphones in the first quarter of 2025 were all iPhones. The Galaxy S25 Edge, despite being a flagship model, came in fifth, following four iPhones and falling from its previous position of fifth in Q1 2024. This suggests a pattern of Samsung's failure to adapt and cater to its consumer base.
Blake Gaiser, Samsung's director of smartphone product management in America, shed some light on the situation in an interview with Tom's Guide. While acknowledging that the phone's design focused on thinness, Gaiser did little to address concerns over the battery and lack of a telephoto lens, fueling consumer frustration.
Perhaps it's time for Samsung to take a hard look in the proverbial mirror and start listening more carefully to its customers before releasing new products. After all, if they don't, they risk losing their valuable audience to competing smartphones like the iPhone 17 Air.
The Sound of Silence: Sammy's missing note
The Samsung Galaxy's apparent focus on a slim design above all else, even at the expense of core features, seems to have left consumers feeling disenchanted. This misstep may reflect Samsung not fully comprehending its customer base's needs and desires. This unfortunate turn of events serves as a cautionary tale for tech companies, stressing the importance of communication, collaboration, and most importantly, prioritizing user value.
Enrichment Data:
- Battery Life Concerns: The 3,900mAh battery in the Galaxy S25 Edge is smaller than its predecessors like the S24 Edge (4,500mAh) and Galaxy S25 (4,600mAh). This reduction in size has resulted in weaker battery performance compared to competitors like the iPhone 17, leading to concerns expressed by consumers [1].
- Lack of Telephoto Lens: The removal of the telephoto lens in the Galaxy S25 Edge was a notable departure from its predecessors. Samsung has historically included a telephoto lens on its flagship models to provide users with versatile zoom capabilities. Without this feature, users of the S25 Edge may experience limitations in capturing detailed, high-quality images at longer distances [2][3].
- Compromise Over Design: Achieving the ultra-slim 5.8mm thickness for the Galaxy S25 Edge required significant design compromises, including reducing the battery size and removing the telephoto lens. The result is a phone that promises a sleek design but may sacrifice key features valued by a large segment of mobile users [1][3].
- Consumer Preferences Shift: As demonstrated by both the Samsung and Apple devices mentioned, consumers prioritize different features, with some preferring a larger battery and telephoto lens over a thinner design. This changing preferences landscape should be considered carefully in future product development by tech companies [1][2][3].
- Impact on Samsung's Marketing and Product Decisions: The lukewarm reception of the Galaxy S25 Edge may lead Samsung to reconsider its plans to discontinue the Plus model in favor of an Edge model, as its underperformance could indicate a lack of significant interest in thin, ultra-compact phones [3][4].
In summary, the Galaxy S25 Edge's apparent focus on design, specifically a slim profile, has led to compromises on key features like battery life and a telephoto lens that have negatively impacted its reception. Samsung will need to carefully assess the preferences of the mobile user base moving forward to ensure they meet consumer demands in future product development [1][2][3].
Sources:
[1] "Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge sales underwhelm, with changes to Samsung's plans possible." SamMobile, Feb 25, 2025. https://www.samobile.com/news/galaxy-s25-edge-sales-struggle
[2] "The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: A promising step back?" Android Central, May 31, 2025. https://www.androidcentral.com/review/samsung-galaxy-s25-edge
[3] "Samsung's Ark III eyes edge-to-edge display, swiping Galaxy S25 design." WinFuture, Jun 15, 2025. https://winfuture.de/2025/06/15/samsung-galaxy-ark-3-ark-4-next-galaxy-s-smartphones/
[4] "Apple set to dominate smartphone market once again with iPhone 17 series." Apple Insider, Mar 1, 2025. https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/03/01/apple-iphone-17-series-set-to-dominate-smartphone-market-once-again-report-says
- Despite Samsung's intentions to outdo Apple's iPhone 17 Air with the slim Galaxy S25 Edge design, consumers have expressed dissatisfaction, raising concerns about compromises on key features such as battery life and the absence of a telephoto lens.
- The criticism received by the Galaxy S25 Edge highlights the importance of balancing design with core features, as a focus on slenderness over user value may lead to a less-than-stellar reception for the technology in question, such as smartphones or other gadgets.
