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.
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…
