Ultra-thin phones: Amazing design or risky? Samsung and Apple are about to release ultra-thin flagship phones

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and Apple iPhone 17 Air are about to be released, and its ultra-thin design has sparked heated discussions. While many fans are concerned about their design compromises, ultra-thin phones still have some attractive advantages.

Ultra-thin design: how much does it cost?

First of all, these devices are expensive. Ultra-thin design requires custom parts and improved manufacturing processes, greatly increasing costs and ultimately passing them on to consumers.

While prices may change at any time, reliable news shows that the iPhone 17 Air may be priced the same as the $899 iPhone Plus, or even completely replace the latter; while the S25 Edge may be priced between the S25 Ultra and the S25.

What is even more worrying is the decline in battery life. Most people would rather use a slightly thicker phone in exchange for longer battery life. This is proven by Apple's 2021 increase in the thickness of the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro series to significantly increase battery life.

However, this time this time this time this time is not the case.

We are not sure about the battery capacity of the iPhone 17 Air, but leaked certification information confirms that the S25 Edge will come with a 3900mAh battery. This is even lower than the battery capacity of the smaller base S25. This means that the S25 Edge not only has a smaller battery, it also has to power a large screen that is nearly the same size as the S25.

Ultra-thin phones do not necessarily mean poor battery life. If both companies want, they can use silicon-carbon batteries with higher energy density to achieve larger battery capacity at the same size. Some phones have adopted this technology, such as the OnePlus 13 and the vivo X200 Pro with a 6000mAh battery.

The use of silicon-carbon batteries can offset the battery capacity loss caused by ultra-thin body. But Apple and Samsung seem to have not adopted this technology out of caution, which is understandable, after all, no one wants their phones to repeat the mistakes of the Galaxy Note 7. But this does make their phones less competitive at the moment. Even with this technology, don't you prefer to maintain the same thickness and get longer battery life?

Another issue worth noting is that both the S25 Edge and the iPhone 17 Air sacrifice camera lenses. The former lacks a telephoto lens and the latter lacks an ultra-wide-angle lens, which means the iPhone 17 Air will have only one main camera.

Let's be clear: Apple hopes you spend nearly a thousand dollars in 2025 to buy a phone with only one rear camera. There is no doubt that this main camera is as good as the one on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but the ultra-wide-angle camera is very practical, and losing this feature will make many people dislike it.

Additionally, due to limited body space, the speakers and vibrating motors of ultra-thin phones may not be louder and have good feedback than regular phones.

Similarly, the lack of large heat sinks and radiators can lead to a degradation of heat dissipation performance, which affects performance. This is also one of the reasons why gaming phones are usually thicker; a larger body can achieve better heat dissipation management, so that the heat generated by the chip is evenly distributed in the device.

The infamous iPhone curved door

When the phone becomes thinner, it is not only the specifications but also the structural integrity of the phone. Apple paid a heavy price for this on the 2014 iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. To create the thinnest iPhone ever, Apple prioritized the appearance, and largely ignored the problem of the device's flex.

When the device reached consumers, people surely began to notice their brand new iPhones bent in the most fragile middle of the slim one-piece aluminum frame. Despite this, Apple has successfully sold more than 220 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and is still the highest-selling iPhone series.

Of course, apart from the iPhone, many other phones have also experienced their own "bending door" moments, but because Apple has a huge user base, people expect more strength from its devices.

Worryingly, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are 6.9mm and 7.1mm thick, respectively. The iPhone 17 Air is said to be only 5.5mm thick, while the S25 Edge is slightly thicker, at 5.8mm. Obviously, the risk is higher now.

Remember that these data do not include the thickness of the camera bulge. Reliable whistleblower Ice Universe claims that the iPhone 17 Air's camera bulge height is 4mm, which is quite considerable given the thickness of the rest of the device. This is because shrinking the camera module is not as easy as shrinking other components, as smaller image sensors can reduce image quality.

I also think that the camera bulge is so disproportionately large that it will cause the phone to feel unbalanced because the center of gravity will be away from your hands. This does increase the likelihood of a phone turning over, resulting in unexpected falls.

What's the difference this time?

It's been a decade since the iPhone Bend Door incident, and both companies are very clear that once their devices are released, critics will test them. No media wants to miss the opportunity to write "#Bent Door Return" in the title.

While it would be fun to write this, I would rather not imagine the PR nightmare Apple and Samsung would face if these phones failed the bending test.

Fortunately, we have reason to remain optimistic this time. The risk remains, but the risk has been mitigated as both companies reportedly use titanium to enhance the strength of the phone. Titanium has one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios, and for ultra-thin devices, that's exactly what you need.

Of course, there is more than just bending the phone. For example, the front and rear glass may shatter, but this is not a problem unique to ultra-thin phones, and even a regular $1,000 flagship phone will have a considerable number of screen replacement orders.

Why might you want an ultra-thin phone?

We've fully explained why you shouldn't buy an ultra-thin phone, but there are many reasons why you may still want an ultra-thin phone. The most obvious advantage of this shape is its lightweight appeal.

Reliable news shows that the S25 Edge weighs 162 grams, the same as the base S25. This is good news for those with small hands, because wanting a larger screen should not come at the expense of having to wrestle with your phone. We don't know how much the iPhone 17 Air weighs, but it may be a little heavier than the S25 Edge, as it is rumored to be equipped with a larger 6.9-inch display.

For reference, the S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max weigh 218 grams and 227 grams, respectively, and you will feel hand fatigue after just a few minutes of use, especially when using your phone in bed, with improper handheld posture. So the lighter phone is undoubtedly a welcome addition.

Many people, including me, prefer small phones because of their lightweight design and the ease of one-handed operation, but most prefer larger screens. That's it. That's why Apple canceled the iPhone Mini series and replaced it with the Plus series.

Even if those who have purchased the iPhone 12 Mini and 13 Mini are very much in love with them, from a business standpoint, the demand for such a small phone is not enough to prove its existence.

People usually associate larger screens with higher value, which makes total sense because a larger display is more immersive, more suitable for multitasking, and more suitable for gaming because it provides a larger surface area for in-game controls. The ultra-thin phone gives you a larger screen without having to bear the extra weight.

Furthermore, because these phones are very thin, they offset the added thickness of the case. This means that even with the case on the phone, the phone won't feel bulky in the pocket and will not form ugly bumps. This is especially useful if you are using a sturdy phone case or leather case, as they tend to be thicker and heavier, making your phone a little clumsy.

If you are using a silicone or TPU phone case, manufacturers can design their phone case to match the raised protruding parts of the camera so your phone won't shake when placed on a flat surface.

There is a lot to look forward to, and while I’m concerned about the durability of these new ultra-slim phones, I’m also curious to know how popular they will be for consumers. Tech giants Apple and Samsung don’t take such a big risk every day, so I appreciate this new design, although I personally wouldn’t buy either of these two phones.

Given all the compromises these new devices bring, it would be interesting to see how both companies prove the high price of these new devices. The advantages they offer are real, and if the new design is not a complete commercial failure, we may see the problems associated with it being addressed within generations.

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