Samsung Reports Reveal A Mysterious Galaxy S25

Update: December 22 with details on the Galaxy S25 Special Edition production run.

Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event, and the launch of the Galaxy S25 family, is expected at the end of January 2025. Yet one handset is not expected until later in the year. Those looking forward to a thin and fashionable Galaxy S25 Special Edition must wait.

When Will The Galaxy S25 Special Edition Be Released?

Reports on the presumptively named Galaxy S25 Special Edition suggest that the slimline S25 will appear in the second quarter of 2025.

This release window for the slim Galaxy S25 does not line up with the main line of S25 handsets. The latter are expected at the next Galaxy Unpacked, while the former is not expected to happen until Q2. That staggered release matches the pattern used with the 2025 foldable range. The Galaxy Z Fold6 was released in July 2024, while the thinner Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition was released four months later in October 2024.

Update: Sunday December 22.

New details on Samsung’s plans for the Galaxy S25 Special Edition production run were reported this weekend by the team at ETNews. While the run of three million units will be seven times larger than the 400,000 units of the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, it is barely ten percent of the Galaxy S25 family’s expected sales of 35 million.

While some manufacturers would be delighted to see a product line reach the three million mark, this remains a conservative production run for one of Samsung’s premium devices. It is likely that the South Korean company expects demand to be limited and wants to ensure that they do not overstock their handsets. Those numbers may, in part, be due to the price premium this premium phone will need.

Samsung is expected to maintain the highest imaging quality possible, and that is going to require advanced technology in the camera. Expensive advanced technology which will push this fashionable handset into “luxury” territory.

This contrasts with the current discussions around Apple’s presumptively titled iPhone 17 Air. Current rumours point to a position in the portfolio between the vanilla iPhone 17 and the more capable iPhone 17 Pro.

Two different starting points with two different destinations could make for an interesting comparison when both handsets reach the market. However, with a Q2 launch, Samsung will have a first-mover advantage and a chance to define this new form factor.

Where Will The Galaxy S25 Special Edition Be Released?

The Z Fold Special Edition had another crucial difference… it is only available in China and South Korea. Many saw this limited release as a testing ground for a thinner device. If that was the case, then selling out in record time would have been a welcome sight for Samsung’s management.

While the popularity of foldable phones is rising, the sales of regular “candybar” smartphones are significantly higher. A thinner and more fashionable version of the Galaxy S25 could be more popular than a Special Edition of the Galaxy Fold and potentially just as popular as the Z Fold 6 itself if it goes on general release.

Who Are The Galaxy S25 Special Edition’s Competitors?

The launch timing has another interesting side effect due to the timing. Samsung’s two leading competitors, Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Pixel range, are both expected to release the second quarter. Those handsets will focus more on a lower price with several compromises to bring the price down, leaving the field open for an S25 Slim to stun on the smartphone catwalk.

Samsung will need to take care that those buying a regular Galaxy S25 smartphone will be satisfied with their purchase when the thinner variant comes out—but as the South Korean release of the Z Fold Special Edition shows, there is an appetite for the regular sizes and an appetite for the thin sizes.

Now read about a new feature the Galaxy S25 Ultra will miss out on…