Samsung executive defends Galaxy S25 Edge from critique: “just hold it”
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge may not be as feature-rich as the Ultra, but it sure feels great.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is a stunning feat of engineering, but compromises had to be made in more than one key aspect. Blake Gaiser — director of smartphone product management at Samsung Electronics America — defended the phone’s shortcomings in a recent interview.
In Gaiser’s eyes, the S25 Edge isn’t a phone where users should focus on the specifications. He says that he basically “gave up” on trying to woo consumers with the hardware packed within the slim chassis. Instead, Gaiser now simply asks people to hold the phone before passing any judgment on it.
One aspect that I personally dislike about the new slim phone craze is the smaller battery. Battery life has been a major concern for me for many years, but Gaiser says that most users just need “all-day” battery. The S25 Edge battery isn’t as bad as I had initially feared, so Gaiser is right about that. However, I would have definitely preferred a thicker phone with a bigger battery.
But that’s the entire selling point of the Edge, and something that Gaiser said multiple times throughout the interview. In his eyes, the slimness, weight, and distribution of said weight makes the S25 Edge a very compelling sidegrade to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and a formidable competitor to the upcoming iPhone 17 Air.
Apple is, of course, not far behind in the new slim phone race. The iPhone 17 Air is reportedly going to replace the iPhone Plus model, which had previously replaced the mini model. Reports indicate that the Air will have similar compromises to the Edge, opting instead for a more elegant form.
But only time will tell whether super slim phones catch on, or whether the S25 Edge will flop.
In Gaiser’s eyes, the S25 Edge isn’t a phone where users should focus on the specifications. He says that he basically “gave up” on trying to woo consumers with the hardware packed within the slim chassis. Instead, Gaiser now simply asks people to hold the phone before passing any judgment on it.
And so when I hear those naysayers, I'm like, okay, get your hands on the device, and then let’s see what your opinion is.
— Blake Gaiser, Tom’s Guide, June 2025
The Galaxy S25 Edge is, in Gaiser’s opinion, a phone for the people who want a large and powerful phone without the weight and unnecessary features that they don’t need. Gaiser defends the lack of telephoto zoom by saying that most users don’t need it. He claims that “people don't really understand the quality of their photos,” and as such can still take excellent pictures without telephoto zoom.
The Galaxy S25 Edge provides an Ultra experience in a much slimmer form factor. | Video credit — Samsung
One aspect that I personally dislike about the new slim phone craze is the smaller battery. Battery life has been a major concern for me for many years, but Gaiser says that most users just need “all-day” battery. The S25 Edge battery isn’t as bad as I had initially feared, so Gaiser is right about that. However, I would have definitely preferred a thicker phone with a bigger battery.
But that’s the entire selling point of the Edge, and something that Gaiser said multiple times throughout the interview. In his eyes, the slimness, weight, and distribution of said weight makes the S25 Edge a very compelling sidegrade to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and a formidable competitor to the upcoming iPhone 17 Air.
Apple is, of course, not far behind in the new slim phone race. The iPhone 17 Air is reportedly going to replace the iPhone Plus model, which had previously replaced the mini model. Reports indicate that the Air will have similar compromises to the Edge, opting instead for a more elegant form.
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