This year, Samsung unified the design language for its S-series flagships, making the S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra look and feel the same (minus the camera). The curved sides of the S24 Ultra are finally gone, replaced by solid square lines found on cheaper Galaxy S devices. The flat sides make it easier to grab your device, slip it into your pocket, or prop it up to take a photo for a tech website.
To be honest, it looks similar to an iPhone. And an old Galaxy S smartphone. And, well, even old iPhones. For as long as smartphones have existed, smartphones have gone from flat to curved.
samsung
Samsung has been using rounded sides since the debut of the Galaxy S (2010) until 2015. Later, the sides of the Galaxy S6 (2015) became flatter, and then returned to curves with the S8 (2017). It remained that way until the recent S24, but in recent years it has gradually taken off its curve. All S25 series models use flat sides.
Is it actually easier to grip on a flat surface? I don’t know. I’m a hypocrite. I found multiple reviews and testimonials that loved the flat surface. I found just as many stories that loved curved devices. Why should you believe me again? I’m sure there are some tech journalists out there who insist on one form factor being better, but I haven’t been able to find one.
Engadget
Whenever that happens and the company explains the change, designers say that the lack of curves/introduction of curves this time is better than last year. In a 2024 interview with Vanity Fair magazine, Jony Ive said that Apple chose rounded edges for the iPhone 6 series to keep the large phones from feeling clunky. That was back when the iPhone 6 Plus had an incredible 5.5-inch screen, which in 2025 seems…archaic.
My theory is that our hands have become accustomed to the phone form factor we’ve been using for the past few years. This means that if the design changes (or if you change to a different manufacturer), you’ll have to pay more attention to how you hold it. However, the effect will fade.
If two of the most important and most influential mobile phone manufacturers have settled into a flat situation, there’s a reason for that. Until I have an even bigger reason to go back on the curve.
