The year 2025 promises an exciting lineup of flagship smartphones. Apple, Google, OnePlus, Samsung, Oppo and many other tech giants will follow their usual routine of unveiling their “best phones”. However, some devices always manage to stand out from the crowd. While other notable devices may grab our attention next year, based on what we know so far, two smartphones launching in 2025 are already generating significant interest. Both the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim and the Apple iPhone 17 Air are already among the most exciting phones of 2025.

Why so? It’s all in the name. Samsung and Apple are once again going back toward more compact designs with these phones – well, sort of. While the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be only 6.25mm thick, and is said to be Apple’s sleekest iPhone yet, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim is rumored to be only 6mm thick. For perspective, the Galaxy S24 is 7.6mm thick. Of course, there’s more to phones than just their dimensions.

Let’s take a look at what you can expect from two of the most exciting phones of 2025.

What to expect from the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim?

According to multiple tipsters, Samsung’s ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Slim will launch in Q2 2025. While this brings the phone’s launch timeline closer to the same time as the annual iPhone launches – where we can expect the launch of the iPhone 17 Air – it deviates from the Galaxy S series’ traditional January debut. However, reports suggest that Samsung will align the release of the S25 Slim with the Galaxy A and FE lineup.

Design and form factor

As the name suggests, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim is sleek. In fact, it will likely be Samsung’s thinnest smartphone ever. To put this in perspective, that’s significantly thinner than the 7.6mm Galaxy S24 and even thinner than the anticipated 6.25mm iPhone 17 Air.

Battery and performance

Apart from its design, one of the standout features of the S25 Slim is its 4,700 to 5,000mAh battery*, which is an impressive feat for such a thin device. Reports suggest that Samsung may take advantage of advanced silicon-carbon anode battery technology, as we have seen in the OnePlus Ace 3 Pro. This will ensure long-lasting performance without compromising the slim design of the phone. Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 Slim is expected to have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC.

Display and camera capabilities

The Galaxy S25 Slim is said to have a 6.66-inch display, which puts it in the same league as the Galaxy S24+ in terms of screen size. On the photography front, the device may sport a 200-megapixel HP5 primary camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 50-megapixel 3.5x telephoto snapper.

What to expect from iPhone 17 Air?

The iPhone 17 Air is likely to launch in September 2025. As the successor to the iPhone 16 Plus, the device is expected to offer premium features with a refreshed design, while maintaining a competitive price point.

Based on current trends, the iPhone 17 Air price could start around Rs 85,000, which puts it slightly below the iPhone 16 Pro, whose price in India starts at Rs 1,19,900.

Design and performance

Apple is rumored to feature a titanium frame in the iPhone 17 Air, a feature that promises to increase both durability and weight reduction. The phone is likely to feature a 6.6-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, which offers vibrant colors, deep contrast, and a great viewing experience. In a much-awaited upgrade, the device may finally adopt a 120Hz refresh rate.

performance and efficiency

At the heart of the iPhone 17 Air will be Apple’s new A19 chip, which is expected to deliver notable gains in performance and energy efficiency, making multitasking, gaming and graphics-heavy applications easier. Enhanced machine learning capabilities can further improve features like photography, augmented reality (AR), and on-device intelligence.

camera enhancements

Photography enthusiasts can expect significant upgrades, including a 48-megapixel primary sensor for sharper and more detailed photos. There is rumored to be a 24-megapixel selfie camera on the front.

As we get closer to the expected Q2 2025 launch for both smartphones, more details about the Galaxy S25 Slim and iPhone 17 Air are likely to emerge. While it seems like both the devices could set a new benchmark for slim smartphones, it will also be interesting to see how the two will perform against each other.