It’s an indisputable fact that smartphones have gotten bigger and bigger through the years. Samsung is attempting to show again the years with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, a smartphone that embraces the whole lot we love about trendy telephones, however tries to make it simply that little bit extra svelte. The result’s a telephone that’s simply 5.9mm thick, making different flagships seem like lumbering brutes.
The Galaxy S25 Edge’s slimness goes to imply compromises, after all — mainly, the battery dimension is smaller than its opponents, and whereas the construct is thinner, there’s a fear that would make the telephone simpler to wreck. All of that is pure supposition till we get probability to overview the telephone, after all, and should you’re contemplating shopping for the S25 Edge, we’d advocate ready till our remaining overview till making a decision. However that doesn’t change the truth that there are a selection of robust smartphones on the market that may do the S25 Edge’s job effectively, and typically, higher. Listed below are 5 telephones you should purchase as an alternative of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
For the primary various, you need to look no additional than Samsung’s personal roster. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus is similar to the S25 Edge, and whereas it’s not as skinny as its newer sibling, it has some options which can sway you.
First off, and most clearly, the S25 Plus has yet one more digicam lens than the S25 Edge. This 10-megapixel lens is a telephoto zoom, offering a 3x optical zoom for clear and crisp zoomed snaps. Edge house owners gained’t be totally ignored within the chilly although, as cropping that telephone’s monstrous 200MP primary lens can spoof an analogous stage of optical zoom, but it surely’s good to have a devoted lens for that.
The opposite large benefit is battery dimension. The S25 Plus’s comparatively thicker construct means it could possibly squeeze in a considerably bigger battery. Particularly, a complete 1,000mAh — roughly 25% greater than the Edge’s 3,900mAh cell. Throughout our testing, this battery powered the S25 Plus for a day-and-a-half on a single cost, so it’s positively stable. If the Edge’s battery worries you, then that is one avenue you may take to get a telephone with related specs at a barely cheaper value.
And once we say related specs, we imply it. The S25 Plus has the identical 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, the identical 256GB and 512GB choices for storage, and the identical 12Gb of RAM. Heck, should you dive actually deep you may see the Edge’s CPU has really been decreased barely by taking out a core, presumably to assist it match inside the Edge’s restricted confines. Whereas that’s unlikely to make an enormous distinction, it does imply the Plus is the extra highly effective of the 2.
The S25 Plus is so just like the Edge that Samsung is reportedly contemplating dropping the Plus in favor of the Edge in subsequent 12 months’s Galaxy S26 lineup, however we think about rather a lot will rely upon how effectively the Edge does with shoppers. Both method, the Plus continues to be presently right here, and it’s a fantastic selection to purchase as an alternative of the S25 Edge — particularly when you think about you should purchase the S25 Plus for $100 much less.
Google Pixel 9 Professional
If there was ever a telephone to not look away when confronted with the S25 Edge’s 200MP primary digicam, it’s the Google Pixel 9 Professional. Google’s flagship telephones are famend for his or her unimaginable digicam efficiency, and conceivably, this slot to go to both this Pixel or the Pixel 9 Professional XL, as each are glorious telephones with beautiful cameras. Nevertheless, we thought we’d provide one thing a bit smaller, given a lot of telephones on this checklist are fairly sizeable.
The Pixel 9 Professional is thicker than the S25 Edge, but it surely helps to make up for that by being an honest bit smaller general. The display screen measures in at 6.3-inches, and doesn’t lose out to the Edge by way of pure visible constancy and deep coloration copy. Equally, the Tensor G4 processor isn’t any pale imitation of the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s energy, and is able to going blow-for-blow, although it’s price declaring the Google-made processor has some points with temperature regulation.
However the digicam is the place we’ve hung our hat for this advice, and it’s right here the Pixel 9 Professional actually shines. The rear digicam system includes a 50MP primary lens, 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto zoom lens. Admittedly, the mixed megapixel depend is lower than the S25 Edge’s primary 200MP lens, but it surely’s not concerning the variety of megapixels, it’s how they’re used. The Pixel 9 Professional’s digicam is great, taking stong photographs in any circumstance or lighting. It’s an unimaginable set of shooters, and simply probably the greatest digicam telephones you should purchase. It’s essential to notice we haven’t examined the S25 Edge’s digicam but, however the Pixel 9 Professional is prone to be much more versatile, because of its extra digicam lenses.
The Pixel 9 Professional can also be $100 lower than the S25 Edge, giving it one more, um, edge. Costs begin from $999 for this glorious smartphone.
Apple iPhone 16 Professional Max
There aren’t any absence of huge telephones to select from, and if an Apple iPhone appeals, then there’s none higher than the iPhone 16 Professional Max.
The Galaxy S25 Edge share a variety of similarities. They’re each giant telephones, with shows above 6.5-inches, each use essentially the most highly effective silicon on the market, and each provide nice AI options. However there are a variety of variations that make the iPhone a tempting prospect. Firstly, and most clearly, it runs on Apple’s iOS software program, moderately than Android. That might put you off should you’re not used iOS earlier than, but it surely’s fairly just like Android now, so swapping shouldn’t be an enormous drawback for many.
The second main distinction could also be extra of a game-changer although, and that’s the superb battery life. Two days on a single cost isn’t unusual, and that’s a really stellar battery life in comparison with most different flagships. We haven’t examined the S25 Edge but, however don’t assume it’s prone to high that achievement.
What can’t this telephone do? It’s improbable trying, stupendously highly effective, takes glorious images, and even has a long-lasting battery. The Professional Max is likely one of the greatest iPhones, and that makes it a wonderful various to the S25 Edge. Clearly this gained’t be an possibility should you’re an Android fanatic, however for many who don’t thoughts the concept of taking part in in Apple’s walled backyard, the iPhone 16 Professional Max is a superb possibility beginning at $1,199.
OnePlus 13
The S25 Edge is some huge cash for objectively much less telephone, and that’s, effectively, the purpose of it. However if you would like a telephone that’s a real worth king, look no additional than the OnePlus 13.
This and the S25 Edge share a processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, but it surely’s largely there the similarities finish, because the OnePlus 13 can have as much as 24GB of RAM and as much as 1TB in space for storing. Merely put, it’s a specs monster, placing something Samsung has put out in recent times to disgrace. Add to {that a} battery life that may stretch to 3 days on gentle use and a charging velocity that tops out at an unimaginable 80 watts (greater than twice the S25 Edge’s charging velocity), and you’ve got some critical worth for cash.
However how a lot cash is it? The OnePlus 13 begins at an unimaginable $900. That’s a full $200 much less for a telephone with simply as a lot, if no more energy than the S25 Edge, a bigger show, a lot sooner charging velocity, and a multi-day battery battery life. Plus, it appears unimaginable.
Actually, whenever you weigh it up, it’s onerous to not make the OnePlus 13 the alternate selection for any telephone on the market. It’s just too good a discount, and should you’re not sworn to discovering as skinny a telephone as you presumably can, the OnePlus 13 is a improbable possibility.
Moto Razr Extremely 2025
One of many S25 Edge’s greatest promoting factors is its leading edge design — but it surely loses out in cool factors to the elephant within the room: Folding telephones. Should you’re taking a look at forking out on an costly S25 Edge, why not go the additional mile and purchase a tool that basically is futuristic? The Moto Razr Extremely 2025 is Motorola’s newest folding telephone, and it’s a surprising and versatile various to Samsung’s newest.
The primary apparent distinction is the shape issue. The Razr Extremely is a clamshell flip telephone, just like the Moto Razr of previous, which implies it folds from a big smartphone right into a a lot smaller package deal that simply slips right into a pocket. In consequence, it’s far thicker than the S25 Edge when folded, however a lot bigger when unfolded. It’s the right giant smartphone should you lack pocket area, and the 4-inch outer show is much extra helpful than you may assume. Inside there’s an enormous 7-inch pOLED show with a 165Hz refresh price. The telephone may even sit open half-folded, making it helpful for video calls or selfie photographs.
It’s highly effective, because of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, and it has loads of RAM and storage too. The place it does crumble barely is within the replace guarantees. Motorola’s three-year promise was positive a number of years in the past, however when Samsung and Google at the moment are providing seven years as customary, three doesn’t really feel anyplace close to sufficient. Nonetheless, there’s no regulation saying you need to eliminate it as soon as the updates are over, and it ought to operate simply positive if taken care of effectively.
There’s a fly on this ointment although, and it’s the worth. Whereas the S25 Edge isn’t an affordable telephone by any means, the Moto Razr Extremely 2025 is much more costly, tipping the scales at a really hefty $1,299. If that’s just a little wealthy on your blood, think about the Moto Razr Plus 2025 for $1,000, or the Moto Razr 2025 for the very affordable $700. Whilst you gained’t get the newest processors and digicam options, these are each nonetheless stable choices on your cash.