Apple and Samsung have long been fierce rivals, and next year, a new front in their battle may open up with the highly anticipated Galaxy S25 Slim and iPhone 17 Air. These rumored new lightweight flagship phones are set to capture the attention of tech enthusiasts worldwide.

The Battle of the Lightweight Flagships

Price and Availability

Rumors suggest that the Galaxy S25 Slim could make its debut at Galaxy Unpacked in January as part of the regular trio of S25s. However, it might also get its own separate launch in June 2025. Samsung is said to be building limited quantities to gauge interest before including it in the Galaxy S26 lineup.For the iPhone 17 Air (or possibly the iPhone 17 Slim), it is likely to appear in September 2025 when the other iPhone 17 models are launched. Apple has typically followed this release pattern, with the exception of the iPhone 12 in 2020. Pricing for both slim phones remains a mystery, with one rumor suggesting the iPhone Air could cost $1,200 or more.

Design and Display

The design of these phones is a topic of much speculation. The Galaxy S25 Slim is rumored to be related to the Galaxy S FE series or even replace it, acting as a new, slimmer entry-level flagship. It is expected to measure 6.7 inches across and fit between the 7.6mm Galaxy S24 and the 5.6mm Galaxy Z Fold 6 in terms of thickness.The iPhone 17 Air is said to replace the Plus model and aim to be the thinnest iPhone ever, potentially matching the thickness of the iPad Air and iPad Pro. It will feature a 6.6-inch display with a smaller Dynamic Island cutout and a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, along with aluminum sides.

Cameras

The Galaxy S25 Slim is rumored to have a 200MP main camera, similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, helping with lossless digital zoom. While not on the level of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, its cameras are expected to be stronger than the basic Galaxy S25.The iPhone 17 Air, on the other hand, may surprise with a single 48MP main sensor, lacking a Pro-style telephoto camera and an ultrawide lens. However, it is tipped to have a 24MP selfie camera, an upgrade from the current iPhone 16. One render shows the iPhone 17 Air with dual central cameras, which is a departure from Apple's usual design.

Specs

If the Galaxy S25 Slim follows the rumored specs, it will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for excellent performance and Qi2 wireless charging with magnetic alignment. There are rumors of up to 16GB of RAM for the Galaxy S25 Ultra series, but no information is available yet for the S25 Slim.For the iPhone 17 Air, it is expected to use a 3nm Apple A19 chipset, 12GB of RAM for better AI processing with an Apple-built modem. It will use the same battery tech as other iPhones, although attempts to make it thinner may impact the phone's size. There is also talk of new glue to make battery replacement easier.

Outlook

Despite their similar names, the Galaxy S25 Slim and iPhone 17 Air/Slim are quite different based on the rumors. Apple aims to simplify its Air phone, while Samsung wants to keep flagship features intact, even if it means a thicker frame. The rumors for both phones are still incomplete and sometimes contradictory. We will continue to monitor for more information and update this page as it becomes available.