Samsung is developing an ultra-thin version of the Galaxy S25 series and is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2025 to compete with the iPhone 17 Air.
According to reports from Korean media and data from global mobile organization GSMA, Samsung is developing the Galaxy S25 Slim, an ultra-thin version of the Galaxy S25 series to be launched next year, to compete directly with Apple’s iPhone 17.
ET News said Samsung’s product could launch in the second quarter of 2025, just a few months before the launch event of the iPhone 17, including the iPhone 17 Air model in September.
In addition, Smartprix also discovered a Samsung Galaxy smartphone in the GSMA IMEI database with the model number SM-S937U. This model is believed to be the Slim version because the other models all have the SM-S937 number. According to the source, Samsung usually registers smartphones that they are testing internally in this database about six to seven months before the official launch. This model number is said to match the Galaxy S25 series, but it will most likely be launched separately from the main line to avoid affecting sales.
This isn’t the first time Samsung has experimented with slim designs. In 2014, the company released the Galaxy Alpha, which was just 6.7mm thick compared to the 8.1mm thickness of the regular Galaxy S5. Industry sources say Samsung sees this latest effort as a strategic move to refresh the smartphone market amid slowing demand. The company is said to be evaluating the market response to the ultra-slim model before restructuring the entire Galaxy S26 lineup in 2026. The Galaxy S25 Slim is expected to replace the struggling FE series.
As for Apple, the iPhone 17 Air is said to have a 6.6-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he thinks the iPhone 17 Air will have a standard A19 chip, Dynamic Island, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G modem.
The release timing of both products suggests that 2025 could mark the beginning of a new trend focused on thinness from the two smartphone giants, after years of emphasizing improved photography and processing power.
