The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge promises to be a unique entry in Samsung’s smartphone lineup. Deviating from their typical design philosophy, it emphasizes slimness while retaining flagship-level specifications. Unlike the “FE” models, the S25 Edge sits firmly within the flagship S25 series, a positioning confirmed by recent leaks revealing its powerful processor. However, this impressive chipset also raises concerns about potential performance issues.
Playing a game on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Snapdragon 8 Elite: Powerhouse with a Potential Problem
A Geekbench listing (via Notebookcheck) confirms the Galaxy S25 Edge will boast the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The clock speeds indicate it’s the same overclocked “For Galaxy” variant found in other S25 models, offering enhanced CPU and AI performance. Notably, the listing suggests the phone utilizes the full 8-core version, not the slightly weaker 7-core version rumored for other slim phones like the Oppo Find N5 or OnePlus Open 2. This powerful processor should ensure the S25 Edge performs competitively within its price range, but there’s a catch.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge side profile next to Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25
Overheating Concerns: The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s Achilles’ Heel?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite uses the same Oryon cores as the Snapdragon X Elite, a chipset designed for laptops. This translates to exceptional mobile processing power, but also significant heat generation. This can lead to thermal throttling, where the chipset reduces performance to prevent overheating. While some manufacturers like OnePlus implement advanced cooling solutions like large vapor chambers, Samsung’s approach has been less aggressive. The S25 series does have a vapor chamber, but it’s not as extensive as those found in competitors like the OnePlus 13.
OnePlus 13 vapor chamber stack.
Our Galaxy S25 Ultra review revealed lower-than-expected benchmark scores despite the powerful chipset, likely due to thermal throttling. Leaked benchmarks for the S25 Edge are even lower, raising concerns. A smaller vapor chamber than the Ultra model, coupled with the Edge’s extremely slim profile, could exacerbate heat dissipation issues.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge next to the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25 molds
A Glimmer of Hope: Optimization and Launch Date
It’s important to remember that these benchmarks are from pre-release hardware. Samsung may still optimize the S25 Edge’s thermal management before launch. Furthermore, benchmark listings can be manipulated. The true performance will only be revealed when the phone officially launches. Rumors suggest a Q2 2025 release (April-June), so we’ll have to wait a bit longer for definitive answers.
