S25 Slim May Launch in 39 Markets, But Maybe Not the One You Want

Samsung is a company that deserves its top spot among Android manufacturers for good reason. It provides devices for the entire range of consumers and it offers consistently solid hardware, regardless of the price point that you’re at. In recent years though, the company hasn’t necessarily embraced drastic change.

That’s probably why the rumors of a fourth model in the usual three-member Galaxy S lineup are a bit of a shock. We know it’ll be called the Galaxy S25 Slim and will prioritize a very slim profile. It’s something of an experimental device though, and that might explain why it is only expected to find its way to 39 regions, with one very notable omission.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim Set for Nearly 40 Countries; The USA Isn’t One of Them

Late last year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition. Compared to the Z Fold 6, it brought a slimmer build, a slightly different design, bigger screens, more RAM, and an upgraded camera. That sounds like the dream Samsung foldable for many people, but the major issue is that the device is only available in China and South Korea. Why? I have no idea, but Samsung must have deemed it wasn’t worth a wide launch.

It looks like history might repeat itself with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim. The South Korean OEM’s slimmed-down flagship seems set for a launch sometime after the rest of the lineup (in two days, so we’re excited about that!). However, if you live in certain regions and you were excited to get your hands on the phone, I hate to dash your hopes, but it looks like the release will be limited—though a lot wider than with the foldable.

This information comes courtesy of the folks over at PhoneArena, who say that the origin of this information is a “historically trusted source”. That makes it sound like there’s very little doubt. Below are the countries that can expect to see the Galaxy S25 Slim’s release:

What’s the Point of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim?

My home country is going to be one of those getting the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim, so that’s a little bit exciting to me because it means I could get the chance to see the device in person. However, even before this news broke, I found myself wondering who the target audience for this new device is meant to be.

It’s going to come with the same flagship chip as the rest of the lineup, which is good. However, such a slim frame means it is bound to make compromises to some aspects of the spec sheet—most notably, the battery. In terms of pricing, it is expected to be above the S25+ but under the S25 Ultra, so that equates to “expensive”. Simply for a device that’s thinner, in a world where most people have cases?

The phone is unlikely to be anything more than teased at Samsung Unpacked in a couple of days. We will get to know more about it as its actual launch approaches, and hopefully, by then, some of the mystery might have been solved.