BarcelonaThe market of the smartphones It's constantly under competition between manufacturers, who are looking for new ways to stand out. One trend that's emerging strongly is the creation of ever-thinner phones. This strategy doesn't respond to any explicit consumer demand, but rather is a deliberate tactic to establish a unique identity in a saturated landscape.
Thinness is nothing new in the mobile industry: manufacturers have been pursuing it for decades. This renewed commitment to ultra-thin design has more to do with the possibility of increasing the average price of products by positioning these models as premium options.
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This trend It was already evident at MWC25 in Barcelona, where several manufacturers showed off extremely thin prototypes. Interest in the segment has been rekindled this week with the commercial launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, a phone that Samsung previewed at the Barcelona conference and is now hitting the market with a focus on reduced thickness as a differentiating factor.
The decline of foldable phones
For a few years, foldable phones had emerged as the main way to differentiate themselves in the market, precisely with Samsung at the head. However, after an initial period of expectation, sales of this format are showing signs of stabilizing. Market reports offer mixed perspectives on the future growth of this segment, the rates of which vary significantly depending on the source, underscoring the uncertainty of this market.
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Several factors have contributed to this stabilization: high manufacturing costs, the need to optimize applications for the foldable format, and strong competition from smartphones conventional. Despite these challenges, foldable phones could receive a new boost if Apple were to enter the market. Its ineffable ability to influence consumer trends could revitalize interest and demand. Rumors of a foldable iPhone are increasingly frequent, with possible release dates between 2026 and 2027.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: the commitment to thinness
Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge, which went on sale this week, represents a significant commitment by the Korean brand to thinness as a differentiating element within the high-end range. It is only 5.8 millimeters thick, 20% less than the S25+, and at 163 grams it is also 14% lighter. It is the first in the Galaxy S series with a titanium casing, a more robust material that is part of an effort to prevent the slim models from bending. as was the case with aluminum ones a few years ago. It is also the first to use Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 on the display. On the software side, the S25 Edge offers the same multi-modal AI features as the Galaxy S25 already known, although still limited for Catalan-speaking consumers.
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A look at the thickness of the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.Samsung
The new S25 Edge shares its RAM (12 gigabytes), processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite) and screen size (6.7 inches) with the Galaxy S25+. However, they differ in the camera configuration: while the S25+ has three (50 mpx main, 10 mpx telephoto lens and 12 mpx ultra-wide angle), the S25 Edge has only two, the 12 mpx ultra-wide angle and the same 20 m2 20 mpx main camera. Another important aspect is the battery capacity, which determines the autonomy time: the S25+ has 4,900 mAh, while the S25 Edge settles for 3,900 mAh, even less than the 4,000 mAh of the standard Galaxy S25.
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As for the price, the base Galaxy S25 Edge with 256 GB of capacity costs 1,259 euros, 200 more than the equivalent S25+. For comparison, the Galaxy S25 (6.2 inches) is priced at 969 euros and the S25 Ultra (6.9 inches) is sold for 1,459 euros.
Thinner as a new competitive weapon
In a market of smartphones Increasingly homogeneous, reduced thickness is emerging as one of the preferred strategies for differentiation and raising prices, as a remedy to the sluggishness of the foldable segment.
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The example of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge clearly illustrates this approach, with an ultra-thin design and premium materials that justify a higher price despite trade-offs such as a lower battery capacity and less versatility in terms of photography. This strategy by Samsung could be a move to get ahead of a possible iPhone 17 Air. It remains to be seen whether consumers are willing to prioritize an elegant and more expensive design over the aforementioned factors.
Apple's plans: schedule changes and new products
In parallel with the trend toward slimmer smartphones , journalist Mark Gurman—Apple's usual channel for leaking information without being caught—assures Bloomberg that the Apple brand is preparing to modify its usual presentation schedule, traditionally centered in September for its iPhones. This alleged change would be motivated by the imminent arrival of the first foldable iPhone.
The idea being considered is that the most expensive iPhone models, including the foldable model, would continue to be introduced in September, while the base models, including the less expensive E variant , would be released in the spring. This change would give Apple a greater presence during the first half of the year, in sync with the launches of many Android manufacturers, and would also facilitate a more differentiated marketing strategy for each product segment.
Regarding the new products the brand is preparing, the focus is especially on the rumored foldable iPhone. There's talk of a notebook-style design like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold, with a 7.8-inch interior display and a 5.5-inch exterior screen. Also mentioned is the possibility of a design without visible creases and the use of materials such as titanium for the frame—already used in the iPhone Pro—and the hinge. Possible release dates are between late 2026 and early 2027.
In addition to the foldable, there is talk of other new products for 2025 and 2026, such as the iPhone 17 series, which could include a thinner Air model replacing the iPhone Plus, new iPads with the M5 chip, renewal of Macs with new M5 processors, an Apple Watch with a plastic case and the possible presentation. In most cases, says the Wall Street Journal , raising prices to absorb the effects of the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump.