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Thin Phone Battle: iPhone Air vs. Galaxy S25 Edge

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Although purely anecdotal, I've seen reports of people going into Apple retail stores intent on buying an iPhone 17 Pro -- with its improved camera system, vapor chamber cooling system and of course that bright orange color -- and then walking out with the slim iPhone Air instead. And when Samsung announced the Galaxy S25 and S25 Ultra, what caught everyone's attention was the tease of a thinner model that was subsequently released as the Galaxy S25 Edge. If you're unexpectedly considering a thinner phone, this seems to be the year to do it.

So how do these two slim phones compare? If you press them together, are they combined much thicker than a regular iPhone 17 or Galaxy S25? I'm here to do the math and compare features.

Looking to order the iPhone Air? Check out our order guide to learn if you can get it free and other great deals.

Want to buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge? Find out which carriers and retailers have the best deals on Samsung's slim phone.

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The iPhone Air starts at $999. Apple

iPhone Air vs. S25 Edge price comparison

iPhone Air: $999 . The iPhone Air takes the place formerly held by the iPhone 16 Plus, making it the only model with a screen larger than the iPhone 17 that isn't an iPhone 17 Pro.

Galaxy S25 Edge: $1,100. The S25 Edge joins the S25 and S25 Ultra in this year's Galaxy lineup.

The iPhone Air includes fewer features than the iPhone 17, such as the number of cameras. But it includes a larger display, an A19 Pro processor and is configured with 256GB of storage to start. Plus, Apple has always applied premium pricing for thin design changes. The original MacBook Air fit into an inter-office envelope and cost $1,799, despite being underpowered compared to the rest of the MacBook line. (Over a few generations, it would eventually become Apple's entry-level affordable laptop at $999, where it still resides.)

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