Android Police Is the Galaxy S25 Edge dull?
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Jan 25, 2025 On-site reactions to Samsung's S25 lineup and whether the Edge name makes sense for a flat-screen phone. Hands-on impressions of the teased thin Edge models and how the S25 family stacks up against rivals. Deep dives into Galaxy-specific AI features like Gemini integrations, side-button workflows, and Now Brief. Early Android 16 beta highlights for tablets and Live Updates.
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Edge Name Is More Nostalgia Than Design
- Will explains the S25 Edge name came from nostalgia for Samsung's old curved 'Edge' branding despite the new model lacking a curved display.
- He recounts seeing suspended demo models at Unpacked and how the handset looked only marginally slimmer than rumors suggested, leaving many questions about fit and timing.
S25 Feels Like A Modest Upgrade For Older Phones
- The S25 line is an iterative update aimed primarily at older S21/S22 owners rather than S23 buyers, with most changes being modest tweaks rather than wholesale improvements.
- Samsung focused on AI marketing and minor hardware shifts (lighter devices, small camera updates), leaving the series feeling familiar but not transformative.
AI Hype Masks Small Regressions And Minor Specs
- Samsung marketed S25 as AI-first but left RAM and many specs largely unchanged, weakening the argument that it's meaningfully futureproof for heavy on-device AI.
- Small regressions like reduced S Pen Bluetooth LE features and hidden lock-screen notifications show iterative trade-offs that may frustrate power users.