5 things Apple needs to learn from Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge

Summary

The Galaxy S25 Edge has set the bar as the thinnest device in the series at 5.8mm
iPhone 17 Air may follow suit and bridge the gap between the base and pro models
Apple should not skimp on iPhone 17 Air’s battery for a thinner design.

Samsung recently revealed the Galaxy S25 Edge, the thinnest device in the Galaxy S series. At only 5.8mm, the Galaxy S25 Edge lives up to its name. With the launch of the device in the US and other regions, Samsung is ushering in the era of thin smartphones, and given rumors are circulating that Apple is following suit in a few months., we now have a good benchmark of what to expect.

It’s believed that the rumored ‘iPhone 17 Air‘ will follow the footsteps of the Galaxy S25 Edge and become the thinnest iPhone yet. If true, Apple would be wise to adopt and improve on a few aspects of the Galaxy S25 Edge. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be announced alongside the iPhone 17 series later this year in September, so we’re still several months from an official reveal. With that in mind, here’s what I hope the device will take from Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge.

1

Bridge the gap between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro

I hope the iPhone 17 Air is a more exciting iPhone Plus

The Galaxy S25 Edge features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x display and measures in at 45.5 x 2.9 x 0.22-inches (158.2 x 75.6 x 5.8mm). It also only weighs 5.7oz (163g). Compared to the Galaxy S25 series, the new device slots nicely between the base model and the Galaxy S25 Plus. I’d love to see the iPhone 17 Air replicate this in a few ways. Right now, it looks as though I might get my wish as Apple is reportedly poised to replace this year’s Plus model with the iPhone 17 Air.

If true, the tech giant could benefit from establishing a more thoughtful bridge between the base iPhone 17 and its Pro models. Aside from offering a slightly larger screen, the iPhone Plus model always felt like a safe option. The iPhone 17 Air could reduce the thickness of the iPhone 17 while also providing a Plus-like display size. This would end up becoming a far more compelling option for those that want a larger smartphone but don’t want to pay the Pro-level price tag.

2

Complement the iPhone 17 Air with a compelling camera array

Galaxy S25 Edge’s shooters take a step back to accommodate the device’s thickness

One of the more noticeable concessions Samsung had to make when developing its Galaxy S25 Edge revolves around its rear camera array. The thin device omits a telephoto lens and instead only includes an f/2.2 12-megapixel ultrawide alongside a 200-megapixel f/1.7 wide-angle lens.

Looking at the iPhone 16 series, the base models already omit the use of a telephoto shooter. However, further concessions to the camera array push the iPhone 17 Air into iPhone 16e territory. At a minimum, iPhone 17 Air needs to feature the same camera options as the unannounced iPhone 17. However, if Apple is feeling ambitious and the rumors of a redesigned camera bump are true, perhaps the iPhone 17 Air could support the lenses offered on the Pro models?

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3

Don’t skimp on battery life

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge conceded in battery, but maybe Apple doesn’t have to

A disappointing aspect of the Galaxy S25 Edge is its 3,900mAh battery. To accommodate the thin design, Samsung scaled down the 4,000mAh battery of the base Galaxy S25. TheiPhone 16 already supports a limited 3,561mAh battery. If Apple were to scale that battery down to accommodate a thinner design, I feel as though the trade-off wouldn’t be worth it.

I’d love to see Apple aggressively maintain the same battery power it offers now in the base iPhone. Of course, reducing the thickness of the iPhone from 0.31-inches to around 0.22-inches will prove challenging. However, if the Cupertino-based tech giant can find a way to remain consistent or even improve the current battery life, the iPhone 17 Air will stand to be a competitive option.

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4

Lean into a diverse assortment of colorways

Apple has always benefited from having multiple color options to choose from at launch

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge is launching in titanium black, titanium silver, and titanium icyblue colorways. Each is paired with a matt finish and features Gorilla Glass Victus 2. While maintaining a premium look and feel, I can’t help but be disappointed that there aren’t more vibrant options at launch. Apple could really benefit from offering the iPhone 17 Air with wider assortment of color options.

Apple has always offered diverse colorways when it comes to new devices. Each year, its flagship iPhones launch with a wide range of refined colors as well as one or two new additions. Assuming Apple retains parity across all iPhone 17 models, there’s a good chance iPhone 17 Air could be available in more than three color options. This would be a great perk for those who want either something bold or a color that’s a bit more muted.

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5

Complement the iPhone 17 Air with advanced AI features

Apple’s A19 chip will likely be used for advanced Apple Intelligence features

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. With the use of the chip’s integrated NPU, the Galaxy S25 Edge is able to offer Galaxy AI and other AI-powered features. Assuming that Apple is going to continue to invest in Apple Intelligence past the delays, the iPhone 17 Air could leverage the NPU of a new chipset.

The prevailing theory is that the iPhone 17 Air might only feature the A19 chip, while the iPhone 17 Pro models will sport the A19 Pro processor. However, we do know the A19 chip series will be built on an upgraded 3-nanometer process, improving performance efficiency for local AI-powered features.