The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge simply dropped, and up to date rumors counsel that it may substitute the Plus in Samsung’s upcoming flagship lineup. In response to a report by The Elec, Samsung is reportedly contemplating including the S26 Edge to its subsequent flagship collection, probably launching it rather than the Galaxy S26 Plus.
This aligns with the report’s declare that Samsung has seen decrease gross sales figures for its Plus fashions over the previous few years. This pattern may proceed even with the Galaxy S25 collection, as Samsung is projected to ship solely 6.7 million items of the Plus mannequin.
You will need to observe that the Galaxy S24 Plus additionally offered roughly 6.77 million items in its preliminary 11 months post-launch, an identical quantity to what they estimate for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus. Nonetheless, by the tip of 2024, the Plus mannequin’s gross sales shot up by 54% in comparison with its predecessor, promoting about 7.4 million items.
Regardless of this late and constant rise in gross sales for the Plus variant, the system’s efficiency has been decrease when in comparison with the usual and Extremely fashions, which offered 13.6 million and 17.4 million items, respectively.
Buying and selling ‘Plus’ for ‘Edge’
It is simply hypothesis for now, so we should always take it with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, if it seems to be true, Jitesh Ubrani, analysis supervisor for IDC’s Worldwide Cell System Trackers, feels that swapping out the Plus variant may really play in Samsung’s favor.
“The Edge variant may probably function a substitute for the Plus, however this additionally opens the door for Samsung to nudge a Plus client to purchase up the stack and spend on an Extremely as a substitute,” he tells me.
That mentioned, the brand new Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge arrives with one main disadvantage — the corporate appears to have traded in battery life (3,900 mAh) for sleekness. That’s one thing not many customers shall be completely satisfied about.
From a client’s perspective, a key issue when buying a cellphone is its battery life, minimizing the necessity to attain on your charger. A current report by Payless Energy signifies {that a} vital majority, 59%, of People consider Android telephones provide superior battery efficiency in comparison with iPhones, and 22% of shoppers would even change manufacturers to acquire higher battery life.
Contemplating the above, it appears unlikely that people would change a premium system that includes a considerable 4,900 mAh battery for one which seemingly compromises on battery capability. Regardless that Samsung claims that the Galaxy S25 Edge can final a complete day with regular utilization, that is simply subjective to particular person utilization patterns.
In response to 9to5Google, early reactions to the Galaxy S25 Edge have been largely targeted on “questioning why the system exists, particularly contemplating its very tiny battery in comparison with different flagships in Samsung’s lineup.”
Galaxy S25 Edge vs. Galaxy S25 Plus
Traditionally, the Galaxy S-series Plus caters to individuals who favor a bigger show, with a give attention to efficiency and battery life, versus how mild or glossy the cellphone is. These shoppers are additionally much less involved with spending the exorbitant quantities that include shopping for an Extremely with all its further options.
In distinction, with the Galaxy S25 Edge, Samsung aimed to innovate in design, making an attempt to beat Apple to the punch by making a slimmer and lighter cellphone that delivers the identical efficiency as a flagship system.
Whereas the Galaxy S25 Edge might not have all of the specs of the Plus variant, the 2 carry some similarities. Each have a premium construct, the identical high-res AMOLED 6.7-inch show, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, each units run on the most recent One UI 7, backed by Android 15, and include comparable AI capabilities.
Samsung ought to transcend simply the battery and discover Qualcomm’s developments in decreasing energy consumption
Jitesh Ubrani
The glossy design of the Galaxy S25 Edge nudged the corporate to omit a further telephoto lens, limiting its zoom functionality and decreasing its battery dimension. In essence, each these fashions are extra alike than the opposite telephones within the lineup, which could possibly be why Samsung could also be switching one for the opposite.
In response to Ubrani, if Samsung intends to discontinue a middle-tier mannequin, sure enhancements are essential for client adoption. Nonetheless, addressing issues about battery capability could possibly be a significant precedence, he feels that Samsung ought to transcend simply the battery and delve into “Qualcomm’s developments in decreasing energy consumption,” which could possibly be a big step.
Ubrani means that persevering with the collaboration with Qualcomm, as seen within the Galaxy S25 collection, is perhaps “the first method to enhance battery life” for a streamlined system.
Will the Edge be capable of sustain with the Plus?
Solely time will inform.
Whereas the Plus variant has a powerful and regular fan base since its inception, it is exhausting to say whether or not or not this new Edge variant could be accepted by the viewers at massive.
For now, The Elec provides that “NPA (alleged codename for the Galaxy S26 lineup) is beginning with customary, Edge, and Extremely fashions in thoughts, however might change Edge again to Plus if Galaxy S25 Edge doesn’t carry out effectively.”
That mentioned, if Samsung does certainly resolve to ditch its Plus mannequin, as a result of lag in gross sales when in comparison with the opposite two variants, it is perhaps a logical choice in terms of producing income. Moreover, Samsung has featured a constant lineup for years, with the usual, Plus, and Extremely fashions. This transfer may additionally point out a possible shift within the firm’s technique to cater to evolving client preferences, which may come as a refreshing change.
“Assuming all goes effectively and the Edge prices greater than the Plus, then this might result in higher income for Samsung as customers transition to the Edge or Extremely,” Ubrani provides.
