That final half is the issue with the Edge: It has a paltry 3,900-mAh battery capability. That is the smallest of the Galaxy S25 sequence, 100 mAh smaller than the compact Galaxy S25. Samsung has made some sensible optimizations to maximise the battery lifetime of this small cell, however there’s solely a lot it might do. The Galaxy S25 Edge’s battery life is just not ok for a $1,100 cellphone.
Over the past week, I have been touring with the Edge to cowl Google I/O, and I’ve needed to bear in mind to cost it within the afternoon on most days. Once I was away from a charger, I consciously determined to keep away from utilizing the cellphone in order to not drain the battery. I’ve usually solely had 4 hours of screen-on time by the top of the day earlier than the system hits 15 %. Thoughts you, with gentle to common use, this handset can final nearly a day. Then once more, in case your wants are gentle, you hardly have to spend $1,100 to get a terrific cellphone.
In my 10 years of reviewing telephones, I’ve steadily heard grumbles from the folks round me when firms introduce thinner telephones with smaller batteries. I’ve additionally heard complaints that telephones are getting too massive. The S25 Edge remains to be massive—of us with smaller paws than me will nonetheless discover it onerous to succeed in the highest of the display screen—however the greater measurement would not convey the good thing about an even bigger battery. It begs the query, who is that this for?
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
In the event you’ve bemoaned the identical issues, the clear winner for you is a folding flip cellphone. Gadgets just like the Motorola Razr Extremely and the Galaxy Z Flip6 will match, if not provide barely higher battery life than the Edge, however you possibly can fold them up and stow them in a pocket or purse much more properly. No have to sacrifice display screen measurement. Or simply get the great and compact Galaxy S25, which is able to final a smidge longer than the Edge.
Fringe Value
Samsung is positioning the Galaxy S25 Edge as a cellphone for energy customers who need most of the capabilities of the Galaxy S25 Extremely with out the huge display screen and weight. However the Edge has extra compromises than simply having the worst battery life: it expenses extra slowly, there is no S Pen stylus, and there is no telephoto zoom digicam. It does have a number of perks over the cheaper S25 and S25+, although, akin to the power to seize 4K video at 120 frames per second.
The outcomes from the 200-MP major digicam and 12-MP ultrawide cameras are sharp and colourful. You will not discover an excessive amount of to complain about. Nonetheless, I stored making an attempt to zoom in on numerous pictures, and whereas the 2x digital zoom has respectable high quality, issues deteriorate fairly rapidly at additional zoom choices. It is uncommon to discover a $1,000+ smartphone right now with no 3x or 5x optical zoom digicam, and it is sorely missed right here.
