We're coming out of an era where it seemed like all smartphones were roughly the same size and shape. Now, designs are speeding away from that uniformity. We're seeing slightly larger cases to accommodate bigger batteries like the iPhone 17 Pro and even immense folding phones like the new Galaxy Z TriFold.
They're also going the other way, as evidenced by the super-thin designs of the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.
But are you giving up too much else for a slim phone? If you press them together, are they much thicker combined than a regular iPhone 17 or Galaxy S25? And do they overcome trade-offs in battery life, camera and sound quality that come with a thinner design? I'm here to do the math and compare features for you.
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 are offering 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.
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