Apple simply unveiled the iPhone Air, and it’s turning heads with its ultraslim design. Preserve studying to see why skinny telephones may lastly make sense.
Aside from foldables, the designs of as we speak’s telephones haven’t modified a lot over the past decade. Telephones preserve getting larger with bigger batteries and sharper cameras, which appears to match what individuals need. Some individuals rave about skinny telephones, however for me, thickness sits on the backside of my listing. Laptops want slim builds for journey, however telephones? I don’t see a lot profit except you skip options. Nonetheless, in case you commerce desk or automobile charging for that modern really feel, you might discover the very best skinny smartphones interesting.
Apple gives you the iPhone Air, Samsung brings the Galaxy S25 Edge, and foldables preserve pushing slimmer frames. My uncle goes for lean telephones. He says they really feel higher in hand and deal with drops with much less danger. I get his view, and perhaps you do, too. So if top-tier efficiency isn’t your objective, these are the slim telephones I like to recommend.
Apple iPhone Air
Bear in mind the unique MacBook Air from 2008? It was loopy skinny and approach lighter than different laptops on the time. Quick ahead to 2025, and the headline from Apple’s September 9 occasion is the iPhone Air ($999). That is Apple’s first new smartphone in a couple of years. The corporate launched the machine at an occasion with the “awe dropping” tagline from its headquarters in Cupertino, California
The iPhone Air stays tremendous slim with ceramic shields on either side, giving it further toughness. It measures simply 5.6 millimeters (0.22″) thick and feels extremely mild in your hand.
Battery life had everybody curious earlier than the reveal. Apple didn’t go into full element, however the Cupertino big promised that even with its skinny design, the Air nonetheless delivers all-day efficiency. The interior structure packs in as a lot battery as attainable, and iOS 26 provides new power-saving options that be taught your habits and predict if you may run low. Rumors had prompt the Air’s battery sits at 3,149 mAh, a bit smaller than the iPhone 13, however Apple claims it nonetheless holds up for on a regular basis use. Yeah, Apple’s announcement was a reduction.
Skinny cellphone with greatest battery: TECNO POVA Slim
TECNO stepped in early, unveiling its slim cellphone earlier than Apple may draw all the eye. The Hong Kong model confirmed off the POVA Slim, which it calls the “world’s slimmest 3D-curved 5G cellphone” at 5.95 mm (0.23″). That quantity grabs consideration, however the remainder of the specs deserve a glance, too.
Inside, the cellphone packs a 5,160 mAh battery, outpacing the moto G (2025) and its 5,000 mAh cell. For perspective, Motorola’s cellphone measures round 8.2 mm (0.32″), so TECNO matches extra energy right into a body far thinner.
The show performs its personal function within the enchantment. You get a 1.5K ultrabright AMOLED panel with a 144 Hz refresh charge. From my expertise, the bounce from 60 Hz as much as 90, 120, and 144 Hz makes each swipe, scroll, and faucet really feel alive in your hand.
Tremendous-thin cellphone: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge ($1,099.99) places thinness entrance and heart. It measures 5.8 mm (0.23″) thick and weighs 168 grams (5.9 oz), making it really feel even lighter than it appears to be like. Photos don’t seize how modern it feels in hand.
Efficiency, software program, and Galaxy AI match different S25 fashions. Pure language search works properly. You’ll be able to ask the S25 Edge to point out a number of objects directly, like “Present me footage of cats,” and it finds them. This characteristic is ideal for anybody hoarding a big assortment of pictures and movies.
Even with the smallest battery (3,900 mAh) within the lineup, the S25 Edge nonetheless delivers stable battery life. Samsung claims it lasts all day, and consumer studies again that it does—however don’t depend on further hours past that.
Thinnest foldable cellphone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 sits at 8.9 mm (0.35″) when folded and 4.2 mm (0.17″) when open. To provide you an concept, the iPhone 16 Professional Max is 8.25 mm (0.32″), but the Fold7 nonetheless comes out lighter than Apple’s massive cellphone. That type of design takes severe ability.
Now in its seventh run, the Fold7 ($1,999.99) steps up with robust {hardware}, extensive and sharp screens, clean multitasking, and good software program.
The 6.5-inch (165 mm) cowl display feels proper for fast texting or scrolling. Flip it open and also you get an 8-inch (203 mm) show that works nice for ebooks, motion pictures, or work. Many individuals say studying information articles or PDFs feels extra pure on the massive display. Social apps profit too, since footage and movies present with extra affect.
A 4,400 mAh battery retains the Fold7 working just below 2 days with about 4 hours on every display and several other hours on 5G. That’s on par with earlier Fold fashions and just like common slab telephones.
Honor’s Magic V5
If you’d like a skinny foldable with out diving into Apple or Samsung, HONOR’s Magic V5 (£1,699.99 ≈ $2,309.72) makes a powerful case. The Magic V2 first broke the ten mm (0.39″) barrier, and now the V5 folds down to only 8.8 mm (0.35″). It’s so slim, the USB-C port virtually touches the body edges—any thinner, and it wouldn’t match in any respect.
The true spotlight is the working system. HONOR’s MagicOS 9.0 works properly with foldables, providing a clean Android expertise that makes the larger display helpful for primary productiveness. The one massive snag? Netflix. Some individuals declare the app runs for about 10 minutes earlier than throwing an error, and you could restart the cellphone to maintain watching.
Earlier than you go
Shopping for a cellphone doesn’t occur every single day, so that you need to choose one that matches your wants. As soon as expertise catches up and types ship slim fashions with stable battery, efficiency, and cameras, I feel they are going to go mainstream.
In case you’re after a skinny cellphone as we speak, I’ll be trustworthy. You’ll commerce battery life and digital camera high quality except you drop an enormous amount of money. Nonetheless, slim telephones look modern, fashionable, and premium. They offer off a minimalist, high-design vibe, which might flip heads. Perhaps that’s precisely what you need?
