Charles EstherThe Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is a marvel in modern smartphone design.
At just 5.8mm thick, its titanium chassis feels almost unreal in the hand.
It’s light, sleek, and oozes premium craftsmanship.
But when I first picked it up, I couldn’t help but notice something missing — a dedicated telephoto lens.
Initially, this seemed like a deal-breaker.
A flagship Android device with no true optical zoom?
That’s a bold move.
However, after spending some quality time with the S25 Edge, my perspective began to shift.
Samsung may have compromised in one area but made up for it in an unexpected way.
Front Camera Brings Wider Views
The selfie camera on the Galaxy S25 Edge is a 12MP wide-angle lens.
It comes with an 85-degree field of view — wider than any other model in the S25 lineup.
This means more friends can fit into your frame during group selfies.
It’s a subtle but welcome enhancement for social users.
Rear Camera Setup Highlights Its Strengths
On the back, the S25 Edge sports a 12MP ultrawide lens with a 120-degree field of view.
Perfect for macro photography and dramatic landscape shots, it’s a must-have for any flagship today.
But the real star of the show is the 200MP main camera.
Yes, it’s the same high-resolution sensor found in the much pricier Galaxy S25 Ultra.
That’s impressive considering this device weighs only 163 grams and is thinner than most pens.
No Telephoto Lens But a Clever Alternative
Like many others, I assumed the S25 Edge wouldn’t include a telephoto lens.
There’s simply not enough space in its slim build for a periscope-style zoom system.
So, when I learned that the phone would launch at $1,099.99 without a telephoto lens, I was disappointed.
However, Samsung had another trick up its sleeve — the 200MP sensor isn’t just there for show.
Samsung uses the full resolution of the sensor to simulate a 2x optical zoom.
Instead of relying on digital tricks, the camera crops into the best pixels, creating a zoom effect with minimal loss in quality.
Samsung calls it “2x optical zoom quality”, and the results are surprisingly sharp.
Zoom Performance Compared to the Competition
Let’s be clear — true optical zoom still has the edge.
I adored the 10x optical zoom on the Galaxy S23 Ultra and often depend on the 5x zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
But I also recognize that Apple uses similar cropping techniques for its 2x zoom range.
So Samsung isn’t alone in this approach.
What makes the Galaxy S25 Edge special is the balance it strikes.
It offers the power of the Ultra’s camera in a thinner, more elegant form.
This makes the lack of a dedicated zoom lens more forgivable.
A Hybrid Flagship with Purpose
The Galaxy S25 Edge isn’t just a thinner version of the S25.
It’s a thoughtful hybrid.
It combines premium design with high-end camera features typically reserved for the most expensive model.
This strategy could make it the ideal phone for users who want excellent photography in a compact body.
Yes, I miss the extended zoom.
But I also appreciate what the S25 Edge does right.
The phone may not satisfy zoom enthusiasts completely, but it will likely win over users who value elegance, quality, and smart design.
Final Thoughts on the Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung made a bold move by dropping the telephoto lens.
But it also made a brilliant decision by equipping the S25 Edge with its top-tier 200MP sensor.
This clever use of high-resolution cropping turns a potential weakness into a strong feature.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge finds a sweet spot between form and function.
It may not be perfect, but it’s probably the slimmest flagship that still delivers outstanding photo performance.
