Technologies

Apple Should Steal These Galaxy S25 Edge Features for a Thin iPhone

Commentary: If the rumored iPhone 17 Air comes to fruition, I hope it borrows these five attributes from Samsung’s skinny phone.

Tech companies are known for, shall we say, «borrowing» features from each other. Any time Apple or Samsung release a new phone or software update, you can be sure arguments over who did it first, or better, will ensue among hardcore fans.

So, as Apple reportedly plans to debut a thinner version of the iPhone 17 this fall, it might look to competitors to see what resonates with consumers. And a few features on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge are on my wishlist for the rumored iPhone 17 Air. Reports suggest the skinnier iPhone could ultimately replace the iPhone Plus, and would have a similar $900 price tag. But whether or not tariffs will affect that price isn’t clear.

Samsung’s super-thin S25 Edge clocks in at 5.8mm and 163 grams. It costs $1,100 and is available for purchase now. It’s also one of my favorite phones I’ve ever used, thanks to the fresh form factor. In fact, despite my initial skepticism, I’m now convinced thin and light phones are the way to go. You can check out my review for a more in-depth breakdown of my experience using the phone.

For now, though, I want to share five Galaxy S25 Edge features I’d love to see on the iPhone 17 Air. Apple may not have confirmed the existence of this slim device just yet, but that can’t stop a girl from dreaming.

A titanium frame

Despite the Galaxy S25 Edge’s spacious 6.7-inch display, it still feels impressively feather-light. In spite of its thinness, it’s also surprisingly sturdy, it doesn’t feel like it’s going to snap in my hand or pocket.

That lightweight durability is thanks to the phone’s titanium frame, which is something I hope Apple adopts for its thin iPhone, too. Apple uses titanium frames in its Pro model phones, so it’d be great to see that same treatment applied to a thin iPhone. Since I’m sure it’ll also have a premium price, it will definitely need extra reinforcement to keep it from bending.

Rumors have gone back and forth on whether Apple’s upcoming iPhones will have aluminum or titanium frames. However, analyst Jeff Pu said in February that the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will all have aluminum frames, and that the iPhone 17 Air could be the outlier with a titanium frame. I really hope that’s true.

A 120Hz refresh rate

Samsung’s S25 Edge has a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling. Honestly, with that $1,100 price, I’d be pretty annoyed if it didn’t. If the iPhone Air is going to be marketed as a premium device, then it also needs to have a premium display. Simple as that.

Asking for a 120Hz refresh rate in 2025 doesn’t sound like an extravagant request — until you remember that Apple’s baseline 16 and 16 Plus iPhones only have a 60Hz refresh rate, which is truly mind boggling. Hopefully, Apple remedies that with the entire iPhone 17 lineup, and especially with the iPhone 17 Air.

More than one camera, please

Number three on my wish list is the iPhone 17 Air’s cameras — and notice I said «cameras» with an «S,» because I don’t want just one.

One of the compromises with thinner phones is that the camera hardware can get scaled back. The Galaxy S25 Edge has two rear cameras, which is less than the rest of the S25 lineup. But Samsung has, impressively, carried over the 200-megapixel main camera that you’ll also find on the S25 Ultra, and pairs it with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. This makes for some pretty great shots — images are sharp, colors are balanced and portraits really pop.

Some rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Air could follow in the footsteps of the iPhone 16E and have just one rear lens. But that would be a huge bummer, since the 16E is technically a «budget» phone — even if that $600 price tag suggests otherwise.

Although the iPhone 16E has a 48-megapixel camera with 2x magnification, I’d still feel cheated if that’s all I got with a more premium device like the iPhone 17 Air. If I’m going to spend around $1,000 on a phone, I want the cameras to live up to the price tag.

Beat Samsung on battery life

Another feature you’ll have to compromise with when opting for a slim phone is battery life. Less room means a smaller battery, which means shorter battery life. The S25 Edge has a 3,900 mAh battery, which is the smallest capacity across the S25 series. It’s lasted me all day, even with my excessive screen time, but not much more than that.

I challenge Apple to break past that limitation and give us a skinny phone that doesn’t skimp on battery. It could be a great way to set the iPhone 17 Air apart from competitors — and in turn can push those competitors to improve their offerings, too. Apple’s Adaptive Power feature on iOS 26, which uses AI to subtly scale back energy usage, could be the secret to that longer battery life.

Generous storage and RAM

I was pleasantly surprised that the Galaxy S25 Edge packs 12GB of RAM, with 256GB and 512GB storage options. Since expandable storage is such a rarity — and is practically out of the question with a thin phone — it’s great to not worry too much about filling up your phone’s memory with photos, videos and games. All of that RAM helps to power the S25 Edge’s many AI features it shares with the rest of the S25 lineup.

The entire iPhone 16 lineup has 8GB of RAM, which seems to be working just fine, even when powering Apple Intelligence features. So maybe asking for 12GB of RAM on the iPhone 17 Air is unnecessary. But what I really hope is that a skinny iPhone won’t scale back on memory, and will also include a 512GB storage option. That way, you can really enjoy having a thin phone, without curtailing your use of it.

We’ll see what Apple’s got up its sleeve, and whether it really will launch a cutting-edge competitor to Samsung’s S25 Edge.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Feb. 18, #513

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Feb. 18, No. 513.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition has a fun yellow category that might just start you singing. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: I don’t care if I never get back.

Green group hint: Get that gold medal.

Blue group hint: Hoops superstar.

Purple group hint: Not front, but…

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Heard in «Take Me Out to the Ball Game.»

Green group: Olympic snowboarding events.

Blue group: Vince Carter, informally.

Purple group: ____ back.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is heard in «Take Me Out to the Ball Game.» The four answers are Cracker Jack, home team, old ball game and peanuts.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is Olympic snowboarding events. The four answers are big air, giant slalom, halfpipe and slopestyle.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Vince Carter, informally. The four answers are Air Canada, Half-Man, Half-Amazing, VC and Vinsanity.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ back. The four answers are diamond, drop, quarter and razor.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, Feb. 18

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Feb. 18.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s Mini Crossword is a fun one, and it’s not terribly tough. It helps if you know a certain Olympian. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: ___ Glenn, Olympic figure skater who’s a three-time U.S. national champion
Answer: AMBER

6A clue: Popcorn size that might come in a bucket
Answer: LARGE

7A clue: Lies and the Lying ___ Who Tell Them» (Al Franken book)
Answer: LIARS

8A clue: Close-up map
Answer: INSET

9A clue: Prepares a home for a new baby
Answer: NESTS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Bold poker declaration
Answer: ALLIN

2D clue: Only U.S. state with a one-syllable name
Answer: MAINE

3D clue: Orchestra section with trumpets and horns
Answer: BRASS

4D clue: «Great» or «Snowy» wading bird
Answer: EGRET

5D clue: Some sheet music squiggles
Answer: RESTS

Technologies

The Witcher 3, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Bring the Heat to Xbox Game Pass

Two amazing games will be available soon for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

The second half of February and early March could be considered one of the best stretches in recent memory for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, widely regarded as one of the best games of the past decade, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 headline a lineup that leans heavily into sprawling, choice-driven adventures but does throw in some football to mix things up a bit.

Xbox Game Pass offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, smart TV, PC or mobile device, with prices starting at $10 a month. While all Game Pass tiers offer you a library of games, Game Pass Ultimate ($30 a month) gives you access to the most games, as well as Day 1 games, meaning they hit Game Pass the day they go on sale.

Here are all the latest games subscribers can play on Game Pass. You can also check out other games the company added to the service in early February, including Madden NFL 26.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition

Available on Feb. 19 for Game Pass Ultimate and Premium Game Pass subscribers.

The Witcher 3 came out 10 years ago, and it’s still being praised as one of the best games ever made. To celebrate, developer CD Projekt Red is bringing over The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition to Xbox Game Pass. Subscribers will be able to play The Witcher 3 and its expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Players once more take on the role of monster-slayer Geralt, who goes on an epic search for his daughter, Ciri. As he pieces together what happened to her, he comes across vicious monsters, devious spirits, and the most evil of humans who seek to end his quest.

Death Howl

Available on Feb. 19 for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Death Howl is a dark fantasy tactical roguelike that blends turn-based grid combat with deck-building mechanics. Players move across compact battlefield maps, weighing positioning and card synergies to survive increasingly difficult encounters. Progression comes through incremental upgrades that reshape each run. Battles reward careful planning, as overextending or mismanaging your hand can quickly end a run.

EA Sports College Football 26

Available on Feb. 19 for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

EA Sports College Football 26 delivers a new take on college football gameplay with enhanced offensive and defensive mechanics, smarter AI and dynamic play-calling that reflects real strategic football systems. Featuring over 2,800 plays and more than 300 real-world coaches with distinct schemes, it offers expanded Dynasty and Road to Glory modes where team building and personnel decisions matter. On the field, dynamic substitutions, improved blocking and coverage logic make matches feel more fluid and tactical.

Dice A Million

Available on Feb. 25 for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Dice A Million centers on rolling and managing dice to build toward increasingly higher scores. Each round asks players to weigh risk against reward, deciding when to bank points and when to push for bigger combinations. Progression introduces modifiers and new rules that subtly shift probabilities, making runs feel distinct while keeping the core loop focused on calculated gambling.

Towerborne

Available on Feb. 26 for Game Pass Ultimate, PC, and Premium Game Pass subscribers.

After months in preview, Towerborne will get its full release on Xbox Game Pass. The fast-paced action game blends procedural dungeons and light RPG progression, with players fighting through waves of enemies. You’ll unlock permanent upgrades between runs and equip weapons, spells and talents that change how combat feels each time. The core loop pushes risk versus reward as you dive deeper into tougher floors, adapting builds on the fly, and mastering movement and timing to survive increasingly chaotic battles.

Final Fantasy 3

Available on March 3 for Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Another Final Fantasy game is coming to Xbox Game Pass. This time, it’s Final Fantasy 3, originally released on the Famicom (the Japanese version of the NES) back in 1990. Since then, Final Fantasy 3 has been ported to a slew of devices and operating systems, including the Nintendo Wii, iOS and Android. Now, you’ll be able to play on your Xbox or PC with a Game Pass subscription. A new group of heroes is once again tasked with saving the world before it’s covered in darkness. Four orphans from the village of Ur find a Crystal of Light in a secret cave, which tasks them as the new Warriors of Light. They’ll have to stop Xande, an evil wizard looking to use the power of darkness to become immortal.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Available on March 3 for Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Last year was stacked with amazing games, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was one of the best. Developer Warhorse Studios’ RPG series takes place in the real medieval kingdom of Bohemia, which is now the Czech Republic, and tasks players with a somewhat realistic gaming experience where you have to use the weapons, armor and items from those times. The sequel picks up right after the first game (also on Xbox Game Pass) as Henry of Skalitz is attacked by bandits, which starts a series of events that disrupts the entire country.

Games leaving Game Pass in February

For February, Microsoft is removing four games. If you’re still playing them, now’s a good time to finish up what you can before they’re gone for good on Feb. 28.

For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, and check out our hands-on review of the gaming service. You can also learn about recent changes to Game Pass.