Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: What are the differences?

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 lineup simply obtained a glossy new sibling: meet the S25 Edge. It’s an ultra-thin, titanium-clad model of the flagship, designed to lure within the premium crowd. Over in Apple-land, there’s a brand new child too: the iPhone 16e. It’s not flashy, not titanium, however it’s the most cost-effective solution to get a brand new iPhone this 12 months.

So, which digital ecosystem do you need to plug your life into? We’re breaking down how these two stack up on value, design, show tech, battery life, and cameras. When you’re right here for a fast choose and value is your solely metric, simply get the 16e and transfer on. However if you need the total image, please, preserve studying.

We also needs to notice that for those who’re excited for the year of thin phones, you will have to attend for the rumored iPhone 17 Air to get an ultra-slim Apple smartphone.

The brand new Samsung Galaxy S25 affords quite a lot of options for the cash, however the 16e wins on value alone.
Credit score: Alex Perry / Mashable

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Value and specs

When you’re judging by value alone, the iPhone 16e is the clear winner. It begins at $599 — virtually half the price of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, which begins at $1,099 for 256GB or $1,219.99 for the 512GB model. At that time, you may simply get a regular iPhone 16 for $799 and nonetheless have money to spare for equipment.

So what does $599 get you with the 16e?

It’s not dripping in luxurious, however it’s fashionable the place it counts.

In the meantime, Samsung’s S25 Edge does price extra. This isn’t a cellphone for deal hunters — it’s for Android customers who need one thing razor-thin, ultra-premium, and unapologetically unique. Nonetheless, the S25 Edge nonetheless affords quite a lot of worth for its value. It has lots of the same features as the flagship S25 Ultra, however for an entire lot much less (each in {dollars} and dimension).

For $1099, consider it much less as a cellphone, extra as a flex:

• 12GB RAM

• 256GB storage

• Snapdragon 8 Elite

• 6.7-inch AMOLED show

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Design

Samsung’s pitch for the S25 Edge is easy: Take all the things you’re keen on in regards to the flagship S25 and wrap it in a physique that’s thinner, lighter, and slicker. It’s obtained these signature curved edges, a titanium body that feels extra aerospace than smartphone, and three sharp finishes: Titanium Silver, Titanium Jetblack, and Titanium Icy Blue.

The iPhone 16e takes a extra utilitarian strategy. It’s obtained Apple’s tried-and-true aluminum-and-glass construct paired with a Tremendous Retina XDR show. It seems clear, feels stable, and is available in precisely two shades: Black and White. Easy, basic, and never attempting too onerous.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Show

The iPhone 16e sticks with what works: a 6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR OLED panel that’s sharp at 460 ppi. You continue to get Apple’s ordinary bag of methods — True Tone, Extensive Colour (P3), and Haptic Contact. It’s vibrant sufficient for most individuals, topping out at 800 nits in typical use and 1200 nits for HDR content material. It is also value noting that the 16e ditches a rear digicam in comparison with the usual 16.

Samsung, by no means one to be outdone in show tech, provides the S25 Edge a 6.7-inch AMOLED display wrapped in a brand new Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2. It boasts a crisp 3120 x 1440 decision, a dynamic refresh charge from 1Hz to 120Hz, and a peak brightness of two,600 nits. It’s greater, smoother, and sharper on paper.

Meet the ultra-slim new Samsung cellphone.
Credit score: Alex Perry / Mashable

Plus, there’s an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor constructed proper into the show. Just like the 16e, the Edge additionally drops one of many ordinary rear cameras, preserving issues a bit extra minimal this time round.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Cameras

This one is for the photographically inclined; you may get by with both smartphone. Each the S25 Edge and the iPhone 16e are straight shooters relating to taking a photograph. This is what the iPhone 16e affords:

What the S25 Edge provides up in digicam depend, it tries to make up for in sheer megapixel flex. Samsung’s additionally betting massive on Galaxy AI, promising smarter seize, enhancing, and sharing:

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Efficiency/Battery Life

Beneath the hood, the iPhone 16e runs on Apple’s new A18 chip, constructed with a 6-core CPU—two efficiency cores, 4 for effectivity— designed to juggle duties easily whereas preserving energy draw low. The primary spec break up from the common iPhone 16? The GPU. The 16 will get a 5-core GPU, whereas the 16e settles for 4. It isn’t a large distinction, however for those who sport or edit video in your cellphone, you would possibly really feel it.

On the Android facet, the Galaxy S25 Edge runs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite — the identical chip that powers the S25+ and Extremely. It’s tuned for critical cell horsepower, from AAA cell gaming to AI-heavy picture edits. The Edge additionally packs extra RAM than the 16e, which supplies it a leg up in multitasking and efficiency headroom.

If battery life is your dealbreaker, the iPhone 16e would possibly simply edge out the Edge — satirically. Samsung’s obsession with making the S25 Edge thinner and lighter got here at a value: battery capability. The iPhone 16e packs a 4,005mAh cell, which Apple claims is nice for as much as 26 hours on a single cost.

The S25 Edge isn’t far behind, with a 3,900mAh battery. That places it effectively forward of the baseline iPhone 16 (which sits at 3,561mAh), however nonetheless barely behind the 16e.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs iPhone 16e: Which must you purchase?

When you’re searching for most worth with out feeling such as you’re settling, the iPhone 16e is a brilliant, balanced choose. It provides you flagship-level efficiency, fashionable Apple design, stable battery life, and simply sufficient of the bells and whistles to really feel present, all for $599. It’s not flashy, however it’s environment friendly, dependable, and comfortably inside attain for many consumers who simply need a fantastic cellphone that’ll final a couple of years.

The Galaxy S25 Edge, however, is a press release piece. It’s the cellphone you purchase since you need one thing that feels high-end each time you choose it up — ultra-thin, titanium-framed, and loaded with show and digicam tech. It’s extra highly effective, extra polished, and costlier, as anticipated. However that price ticket is shopping for you greater than specs — it is shopping for a vibe. So for those who’re deep within the Android ecosystem and crave glossy {hardware} with top-tier efficiency, the Edge earns its identify. Simply convey your pockets.