Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: A slimmed-down model to compete against Apple's iPhone 17 Air

Samsung and Apple often go in the same direction. After all, the South Koreans are often accused of taking too much after Apple, with the design of the Galaxy Buds 3 being the most recent example. The plans for thinner Galaxy S25 models may have also been spurred by what Apple has repeatedly chosen as its maxim: slimmer case designs. In the case of the iPhone, the successor to the iPhone 16 Plus is expected to usher in a new generation of super-slim iPhones, and rumors have been circulating for months about an "iPhone 17 Slim" or "iPhone 17 Air".

This is likely to be launched in September 2025 and will be significantly more expensive than the Plus iPhones of recent years, although no Pro features are expected here, at least not next year. In order to counter this slimmer "iPhone Air", Samsung may trim the next Galaxy Fan Edition more in the direction of "slim and light", at least according to a report by South Korean industry newspaper ETNews, which primarily focuses on the three Galaxy S25 models expected in early 2025 and their 6.2-inch, 6.7-inch and 6.9-inch displays, the latter belonging to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

In a subordinate clause, however, early plans for the Galaxy S25 FE are also mentioned, which, with a 6.7-inch display, is likely to be similar in size to the recently launched Galaxy S24 FE. Development of the Galaxy S25 Fan Edition is not yet complete, according to the report, but plans currently point to a "slim model", potentially at the expense of battery size. Given the proximity to the iPhone 17 launch in September 2025, a slimmed-down case would certainly make sense for the fourth Galaxy S25 model, and the Galaxy S25 FE could also launch with a Mediatek chip for the first time, as was announced just yesterday.