The last time Samsung released an Edge device was nearly a decade ago, and it featured a signature screen that's curved on the sides.
Now, the company has revived the Edge branding, but this time slim's the name of the game with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.
First teased at January's Unpacked, the device seems to be a breath of fresh air in an era of smartphones getting bulkier as manufacturers cram in more components to power their features. The National takes a deeper look.
Form: It has the edge
At 5.8mm thin, the Galaxy S25 Edge is one slim phone, equivalent to about seven or eight credit cards stacked. For perspective, its bigger brother, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, is way up there 8.1mm, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is even thicker at 8.25mm.
Still, it's not the slimmest: while still a concept, the Tecno Spark Slim, which is a hairline thinner at 5.75mm, was teased at this year's Mobile World Congress. Meanwhile, the Motorola Moto Z from 2016 measured just 5.2mm.
The rumoured iPhone 17 Air is also allegedly coming in at 5.5mm.
Interestingly enough, the Galaxy Z Fold6 – when unfolded – is slimmer than the Galaxy S25 Edge at just 5.6mm.
And since everything – buttons, USB-C port, etc – are in the same places as the rest of the Galaxy S25 line-up, this is literally a slimmer version of the Galaxy S25+ – except, however, for the camera.
Which leads to a pet peeve: phone makers may tout their slim phones as such, but you do have to consider the camera bump.
In the case of the Galaxy S25 Edge, it has a really big snapper bump that spikes its thickness to 8.45mm – which means this is what you'll be dealing with after slapping on a protective case. It takes the edge off its slimness.
Galaxy AI stays put
Samsung has chosen to keep its generative artificial intelligence platform, Galaxy AI, intact as it is on the Galaxy S25 Edge. It is a little surprising that there are no major boosts for the new device.
To recap, Galaxy AI was launched last year and it ushered generative AI into Samsung mobiles. Gradual improvements have been rolled out, and the Galaxy S25 Edge Samsung is heavily promoting its Now Bar, a little strip on the lower area of the lock screen that lets you control supported apps.
One advantage that Samsung's Now Bar has over the Apple iPhone's Dynamic Island is that it is easier to access being below the screen and allowing for more convenient one-hand use. Additionally, it is possible to set up and scroll through multiple apps on the Now Bar for added flexibility.
A disadvantage, on the other hand, is that things are still being worked out to let third-party apps use the Now Bar.
Additionally, Google Gemini's incorporated as well, so that's a bonus.
Make do with two
The biggest downsizing on the Galaxy S25 Edge is on its camera, as it only sports a dual-lens system compared to the rest of the S25 line-up's triple setup. The last Galaxy S device with a dual camera was 2019's Galaxy S10e.
It does, however, make up for that with a massive 200MP main sensor, and we do have to give it props for the crisp and clean shots, with good lighting balance. You can also capture videos in 4K.
But the device lacks a telephoto camera, limiting its zoom capabilities. This was to be expected, since a telephoto sensor requires more space, so there might not have been a way to cram it into the device's thin frame.
Battery's on the low side
The Galaxy S25 Edge has the smallest battery in the S25 series, clocking in at just 3900mAh, lower than even the base S25 – and that isn't exactly a surprise, given its thinner frame.
From a full charge in the morning and with some intense use throughout the day, we found ourselves in the mid-30s by late afternoon, meaning that it was necessary to charge it up to make sure it doesn't conk out by night. That can be a little frustrating especially for those who have days that are unpredictable.
In our standard one-hour YouTube-at-full-brightness test, the device lost 8 per cent, and it shot up to 47 per cent with a 30-minute charge, below its advertised 55 per cent, using a 45w adapter.
Verdict: Who's this for?
In Samsung's promotional materials and our first look, the Galaxy S25 Edge was being positioned as a lifestyle device, with shots of it snugly fitting into the pockets of tight jeans and really small purses.
Having a slim device is refreshing take amidst all thicker devices out there.
The Galaxy S25 Edge seems to be the non-foldable version of the Galaxy Z Flip, given some attributes they share such as the 6.7-inch (170mm) screen.
But we see the smartphone as more of a statement device. We're unsure if users will find that the device's premium build and more unique look cancel out the toned-down specs. And more importantly – the Galaxy S25 Edge is more expensive than its most comparable peer, the Galaxy S25+.
It will be interesting to find out the trickle-down effects of this – if we'd see an emergence of slimmer smartphones at lower price points; there are triple (and even quad) camera phones in the Dh1,000 range.
It could be the start of a trend: aside from Apple's rumoured slimmer iPhone, word has it that the next Galaxy Z devices, the Fold7 and Flip7, are also tipped to be even slimmer than their predecessors. We'll have to wait and see who'll really have the edge in this race.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Marseille 0
Atletico Madrid 3
Greizmann (21', 49'), Gabi (89')
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Sweet%20Tooth
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BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
