Next year could be the year of the “slim” smartphone, with both Apple and Samsung tipped to release new devices with high-end specs and remarkably skinny profiles.
However, the two companies appear to be taking different approaches, which, according to a new report, could tip the balance in Samsung’s favor when it comes to the camera.
As the well-known tipster Ice Universe recently revealed, “The difference between Samsung Galaxy Slim and iPhone Slim models is that Samsung wants to make the camera stronger, stronger than S25, and more similar to the idea of vivo X200 Pro mini, not just thin and light.”
As I reported previously, this would position the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim as a flagship-level device with, at the very least, a triple-lens camera. Apple, on the other hand, is expected to opt for just a single-lens camera in its hotly-anticipated iPhone 17 “Air” (or perhaps iPhone 17 “Slim”) in 2025, potentially giving Samsung’s device a distinct advantage in zoom capabilities and image quality.
Could Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Slim Beat Apple’s iPhone 17 Air?
Fitting a triple-lens camera in a super-thin smartphone body is no easy task. Telephoto and zoom optics typically take up considerable internal space, even when using prisms and mirrors to “fold” the lenses into smaller sizes.
Furthermore, higher-quality telephoto optics need physically larger lens elements in order to capture enough light to deliver a high-quality image.
This often results in thicker smartphones with large camera bumps — neither of which would be appropriate for a “slim” device.
Samsung Has A New Super-Thin Camera Technology
Samsung’s recently announced ALoP (All Lenses On Prism) technology is designed to meet this challenge by delivering considerably smaller telephoto lenses while maintaining image quality.
With ALoP, the internal lens elements are stacked in front of the prism rather than between the prism and the sensor. This results in considerably more compact telephoto lens modules that would fit a much thinner smartphone body, such as a Galaxy S25 Slim.
iPhone 17 Air Likely To Be Thinner Than Galaxy S25 Slim
Despite Samsung’s new camera tech, Apple may still claim the crown for the thinner smartphone. While we’re still a long way off from seeing any confirmed specs, rumors currently speculate that the Galaxy S25 Slim will be under 7.2mm thick, the size Ice Universe previously tipped to be the thickness of next year’s entry-level Galaxy S25.
The iPhone 17 Air, however, is expected to be even thinner: According to a research note from analyst Jeff Pu, seen by MacRumors, the iPhone 17 Air could measure just 6mm thick, giving Apple the “thinness” crown next year.
Ultimately, the decision for most customers won’t come down to whether Samsung or Apple has the better “Slim” smartphone but whether the Galaxy S25 Slim and iPhone 17 Air prove compelling within their respective product ranges. Will potential iPhone 17 Air customers care about having just a single-lens camera? We’ll have to wait and see.
Follow @paul_monckton on Instagram.