Tech Desk 
Aug 18, 2025
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge was designed to roll out a fresh fleet of ultra-thin smartphones. Unfortunately, that underwhelming launch left plenty of room for the rumoured iPhone 17 Air to poach all of Samsung's thunder when it makes its stomp into stores later this year.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to launch at Apple's expected September event alongside the rest of the new iPhones. If leaks are accurate, the iPhone 17 Air could be Apple's thinnest iPhone to date; we are looking at an impressive 5.5 mm compared to the 5.8 mm of the Galaxy S25 Edge.
On the surface, that's not an enormous difference, but in the smartphone world, this is something that Apple can use as a major design win.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone 17 Air camera
The rumour mill is saying that the iPhone 17 Air will have just one rear camera, a single 48 MP camera, while the Galaxy S25 Edge has three! That sounds like an absolute weakness, but we have seen time and time again that Apple can get way more out of fewer lenses and with higher-quality image processing.
In comparisons of the iPhone 16e vs the Pixel 9a, Apple cameras have shown they can still be really good despite dual-lens functionality, especially in dynamic range and quality telephoto performance.
The iPhone 17 Air’s camera bar design also hints at a larger sensor, possibly borrowed from the iPhone 17 Pro series, which could further close the gap.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone 17 Air battery life
Thin designs always involve compromises, and the biggest compromise is battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge performed well in many areas, but battery life was not one of them.
Fortunately, Apple may have a solution for that; through the adaptive power mode in iOS 26 and the anticipated A19 Pro chip, Apple may have found a way to extend battery life even further than anticipated.
By altering performance based on the task, the iPhone 17 Air might completely dodge the battery life and runtime issues which plague many ultra-thin phones.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone 17 Air price
Price is the biggest question mark. Some reports state that the iPhone 17 Air could potentially cost more than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which would be a large hurdle for sales.
While a realistic estimate would be about $1,099, which would directly compete with the Galaxy S25 Edge, Apple's strong carrier relationships likely and potentially guarantee launch-day deals that might make the Air far less painful.
