Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs S25 Ultra: What's the difference?
Deciding between the Galaxy S25 Edge and higher-end Galaxy S25 Ultra? Here's a breakdown of the differences
š¤ Samsungās Galaxy S25 Edge is one of the thinnest phones on the market
š It comes with flagship specs in a design thatās 5.8mm thick
š± Meanwhile, Samsungās thicker phone is its most capable to date
šø The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with high-end cameras, a big battery, an S Pen, and more
š¤ On the fence about which to buy? Hereās a breakdown
Samsung made headlines with its Galaxy S25 Edge. The fourth member of the Galaxy S25 series, the device has one of Samsungās thinnest designs to date. At just 5.8mm thick, it has a stunning design that seems impossibly thin given all the specs jammed inside. And at $1,099, itās subject to comparisons to Samsungās other high-end phone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The $1,299 S25 Ultra is one of Samsungās most popular. With an āeverything but the kitchen sinkā approach to specs, the device comes with a huge screen, a big battery, four rear cameras, an S Pen, and some of the best performance of 2025 so far.
But the price difference between it and the S25 Edge is much smaller than with the rest of the S25 series. With $200 of wiggle room, it makes sense you might be considering one phone over the other. Here at The Shortcut, itās our job to help you decide which device is right for you. Below, weāre breaking down the differences between the S25 Edge and S25 Ultra.
Galaxy S25 Edge vs Galaxy S25 series specs
Buy the Galaxy S25 Edge ifā¦
š¤ You want a thin and light phone. If you want your next phone to be easier to hold than ever before, the Galaxy S25 Edge is the wya to go. This phone is way thinner and lighter than the S25 Ultra; itās 5.8mm thick and 163 grams, versus the S25 Ultraās 8.2mm of thickness and 218 grams of weight. The Edge feels wildly different in the hand as a result, which makes for a more comfortable experience.
šļø You donāt need a ton of bells and whistles. The Galaxy S25 Edge is a flagship phone by every account, yet it keeps things simple in the way that the regular Galaxy S25 does. It checks a lot of boxes that normal users will appreciate like a beautiful screen, a fast chip, capable cameras, and regular software updates for the next seven years. It doesnāt add a ton of bells and whistles you might not use, which may appeal to you if you just want a reliable phone.
šø You want a Galaxy S25 with a better camera. If the Galaxy S25 is calling your name but youāre a camera snob, this could be the device to get. While there isnāt a telephoto camera for zoom shots, the 200MP main camera gives you a big upgrade over the 50MP shooter on the S25 and S25 Plus detail-wise. You can capture higher-resolution photos with more light and clarity, all without losing as much detail when you zoom in. Plus, the ultra-wide lens is there when you need to punch out to capture a larger scene. Itās a nice upgrade compared to the regular S25s.
š° You want to save some money. The S25 Edge is cheaper than the S25 Ultra, which could be helpful if you donāt want to spend too much money on your next phone. Of course, the $200 difference isnāt as big as the different between the regular S25 and the Ultra, but itās still two Benjamin Franklins that could go toward accessories or your phone bill.
Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra ifā¦
šø You want the best cameras with incredible zoom. Samsungās Galaxy S25 Ultra has one of the best camera systems on any smartphone. Between the 200MP main camera, 5x periscope lens, 50MP ultra-wide, and extra 10MP telephoto lens, you can do all sorts of things with these cameras. From zooming in 100x to taking breathtaking landscapes, recording 8K video, and more, the S25 Ultra is the device to get if you value camera quality/capabilities above everything else.
š You like taking notes. The S Pen has been a stable in Samsungās smartphones for years, and the S25 Ultra is the only one to come with a pen built-in. Itās perfect for taking notes on the fly, doodling, taking precise screenshots, and more. The S25 Edge isnāt compatible with the S Pen at all, so if you want a stylus with your next phone, get the S25 Ultra.
š± You need the biggest screen. The Galaxy S25 Edge has a big screen. It measures 6.7 inches and gives you enough room for multitasking, gaming, watching movies, and more. But if you want the biggest screen you can get, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has you covered. It has a 6.9-inch panel with the same AMOLED technology, 2,600 nits of brightness, and super-slim bezels. Itās an amazing display, one that deserves to be in your pocket if youāre a fan of pretty screens.
š You want long battery life and fast charging. While itās cool that Samsung was able to get the Galaxy S25 Edge so thin, it had to sacrifice battery size in order to achieve it. The S25 Edge comes with a 3,900mAh cell as a result. Itās supposed to last all day, but if you want something we know is reliable, get the S25 Ultra. It comes with a huge 5,000mAh cell that can easily get through a full day. Plus, it comes with faster 45W wired charging, whereas the S25 Edge can only charge at 25W.
š¾ You need an insane amount of storage. The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with three storage tiers: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Who needs an entire terabyte of storage in their phone? Maybe you do! If so, get the Ultra. The S25 Edge only gets the first two storage tiers with no option to expand it (unless you pay for cloud storage).
Where to buy
Galaxy S25 Edge
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Which one are you buying?
Deciding between the Galaxy S25 Edge and S25 Ultra can be tricky, so I hope we were able to clear the air a bit for you. Which one have you decided to go with? Let me know in the comments!
Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut. Heās been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.