The most exciting Samsung Galaxy S25 model likely won't be announced at Unpacked

We’re just a weekend away from Samsung’s big Unpacked event, where the company is expected to unveil the new Galaxy S25 series of smartphones — and possibly more. 

If last year’s January product launch was any indication of what we can expect from Samsung moving forward, the company may just squeeze in a teaser or two of future devices toward the end of the Wednesday keynote. It might be a new XR headset. It might be the Ray-Ban Meta competitor I’ve been waiting for. It might even be another phone.

Also: Samsung Unpacked 2025: How to watch and what to expect

That’s what the latest rumors suggest, with OnLeaks and SmartPrix hinting at a Samsung Galaxy S25 “Slim” edition. As the name suggests, the unique rendition of this year’s mobile lineup will have a thinner design, supposedly measuring just 6.4mm in width. For reference, the iPhone 16 Pro is 8.25mm thick, while the standard Galaxy S24 is 7.6mm thick. If the specs are accurate, the Galaxy S25 Slim would be Samsung’s thinnest phone to date.

You may be asking: Why would a device like this exist? After all, choosing among the standard three Galaxy S models is already quite the chore. To that, I say, “competition.” With Apple expected to launch an iPhone 17 Air model later this year, which takes a similar, slimmed-down approach to industrial design, Samsung may want to be the first to cross the finish line — even if it’s at the expense of polish and buying confusion.

Besides the design, Smartprix says the Galaxy S25 Slim model will mostly be the same as the standard S25 and S25 Plus in terms of features and capabilities. For example, it’ll feature a triple camera array, a metal frame and glass back, and a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset to power the system.

The big question mark is battery life, especially with the phone being thinner. Would the smaller real estate mean that the Galaxy phone will have a smaller battery capacity? That’s possible, but Samsung has some viable solutions — should it take them. 

Also: Samsung confirms Unpacked date for Galaxy S25 series – and $1,250 off preorder deal

For one, the company can optimize the device to be more power efficient, whether that’s at a processor level or by system throttling. Option two is opting for a silicon-based battery, which has a greater energy density than lithium-ion. I recently reviewed the OnePlus 13, and while the phone is relatively thin, it still manages to carry a 6,000mAh capacity thanks to its silicon battery. I’d like to see Samsung follow a similar path.

Regardless, there’s a small likelihood that Samsung will showcase the Galaxy S25 Slim during its Unpacked event next week, even if it’s just a teaser image to get the crowd cheering. OnLeaks says the launch date is closer to May time, which wouldn’t be surprising. Stay tuned to ZDNET as we learn more.