Apple introduced its newest lineup of iPhones in the beginning of September, nevertheless it shook issues up this 12 months with a shiny new iPhone among the many regular culprits.
The iPhone Air is the corporate’s “thinnest iPhone ever”, nevertheless it’s additionally one of many slimmest smartphones interval – at 5.6mm, it’s even thinner than the 5.8mm Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.
Now, a few of you’ll little doubt be sitting there pondering, “who cares, it’s only a slimmer iPhone”, and that’s honest as a result of to some extent, you aren’t mistaken. Nevertheless, having used the iPhone Air for the final week, I’d argue that it’s rather more than only a skinny cellphone with no substance.
Listed below are 5 large the reason why it’s value contemplating.
A surprising, future-gazing design
I’ll begin with the design as a result of let’s be trustworthy, that’s what the iPhone Air is all about.
At 5.6mm, it’s thinner than a pencil and precisely the identical thickness as two one-pound cash on high of one another. I do know as a result of I checked with the intention to give some real-world context.
I do consider it is a machine that you need to maintain and use your self to actually admire, however a minimum of that reference offers you some indication of how skinny 5.6mm really is.
Britta O’Boyle / Foundry
The body is a elegant titanium, and whereas I’d have chosen a matt end just like the iPhone 17 Professional fashions, it does lead to a really premium-looking cellphone. In fact, you need to count on no much less from a cellphone that begins at £999/$999.
Nevertheless, the mirrored end does love a fingerprint thoughts, so be ready to wipe it continuously until you place a case on it.
It is a machine that you need to maintain and use your self to actually admire
In case you’re eager about a case, although, I’d urge you to think about if the Air is admittedly the cellphone for you. The official Bumper Case nonetheless permits you to expertise the texture of the graceful, soft-to-touch rear (protected with Ceramic Defend for higher scratch resistance), however there’s no denying it takes away a number of the attraction of this cellphone by overlaying the body.
With no case, it’s gloriously light-weight (coming in at simply 165g), and the slim body feels excellent. Crucially, although, the iPhone Air seems like one half of what a foldable iPhone may very well be sooner or later. Based mostly on my expertise with the Air to this point, I’d be all in favour of two Airs in a single machine.
The sensible entrance digicam is great
In relation to the rear digicam, there are some large compromises on the iPhone Air. It solely has a single sensor, although Apple claims that this 48Mp ‘Fusion’ digicam will get you the equal of 4 lenses in a single.
What this implies is that you could shoot in several focal lengths from that one sensor by leaping between them within the Digicam app, with choices for 24mm (1x), 26mm (1.1x), 28mm (1.4x) and 35mm (2x). The 35mm possibility is the place you’ll discover the extent of the Air’s zoom capabilities, maxing out at 2x optical. It could possibly do as much as 10x digital, however I’d by no means advocate utilizing digital zoom on any cellphone should you care in regards to the picture high quality.
Outcomes from the one major digicam are good
The iPhone Air can’t shoot in macro for the tremendous close-up photographs both, and there’s no ultra-wide digicam (not like the usual iPhone 17) for the instances once you wish to match slightly extra into your shot. These compromises are plain and restrict the flexibility of the digicam system as a complete.
Nevertheless, outcomes from the one major digicam are good. They provide loads of element, with naturally balanced colors and a constantly high-quality photograph that few handsets can match. I’ve been happy with all of the photographs I’ve taken during the last week, in each good lighting and low mild.
Britta O’Boyle / Foundry
The entrance digicam can be glorious. It’s an 18Mp ‘Centre Stage’ lens, matching what you’ll discover on the iPhone 17 and the 17 Professional fashions, and an improve on the 12Mp sensor present in the previous few generations of iPhone.
The Centre Stage tech is identical as what’s been on the iPad for years, retaining you within the body should you transfer round. If another person joins your selfie, the entrance digicam on the iPhone Air zooms out to get them in. It’s much like the Auto Zoom characteristic on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 when it’s in Flex Mode and works very effectively.
Moreover, on-screen buttons help you seamlessly swap between a portrait and a panorama selfie with out rotating the cellphone. It’s excellent, and stops the awkward photographs the place folks aren’t trying in the identical route. The Twin Seize characteristic that permits you to concurrently report your response and movie utilizing the rear cameras is nice too, and one I can see getting used for the likes of sporting occasions or concert events.
It’s received a Professional-level show
You might need to make do with one rear digicam lens on the iPhone Air, however you don’t need to take care of a sub-par show. You’ll discover an equivalent show to the iPhone 17 Professional fashions by way of expertise, and that features the ProMotion tech that permits for a dynamic refresh fee as much as 120Hz.
Now, you possibly can’t select what refresh fee the show is utilizing at anyone time – the OS decides for you – nevertheless it means you get a beautiful, clean scrolling expertise virtually on a regular basis.
When it comes to measurement, the iPhone Air is 6.5 inches, placing it between the iPhone 17’s 6.3-inch show and the 17 Professional Max’s 6.9-inch panel. In my view, it’s the right measurement, providing you a large enough display screen to look at films on and really get pleasure from them, while additionally being usable one-handed.
Britta O’Boyle / Foundry
I like my iPhone 16 Professional Max (the cellphone I used earlier than the iPhone Air), however reaching the highest of its show shouldn’t be straightforward with out two fingers.
With a decision of 2736 x 1260, the iPhone Air has the identical pixel density because the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Professional fashions – 460ppi. It additionally has the identical peak brightness of 3000 nits, which is the brightest show Apple has ever provided on an iPhone.
That peak will solely kick in when completely crucial, in fact, nevertheless it’s greater than vivid sufficient to be seen on a vivid sunny day, slicing by the reflections. Colors are nice too, saturation is sweet, and the final viewing expertise is a delight.
The battery is healthier than you’d count on
In relation to battery life, I’ll be trustworthy, I anticipated it to be horrible on the iPhone Air.
When it was introduced, Apple claimed the Air would final 27 hours on a single cost, which is respectable, although decrease than the iPhone 17 that’s mentioned to final 30 hours, the iPhone 17 Professional’s 31-hour estimate that’s claimed to final 31 hours and the iPhone 17 Professional Max that’s claimed to offer you 37 hours. There’s additionally the choice of shopping for the iPhone Air MagSafe charger (an additional £99/$99)that can apparently provide you with as much as 40 hours.
The battery life has undoubtedly exceeded my expectations
I’ve received nice information right here, although, as a result of having used the iPhone Air for the final week, I not solely haven’t needed to connect that MagSafe Charger but, however the battery life has undoubtedly exceeded my expectations.
I feel 27 hours could be a push, however I completed all days on over 25 %, regardless of usually recurrently beginning my day at 6am and ending it at midnight. In my expertise, the iPhone Air will get me by a day and night, although if I used to be planning on a giant night time out, I’d high it up in the direction of the tip of the day simply to make certain.
Talking of topping it up, the iPhone Air helps quick charging, a minimum of by Apple’s requirements. This isn’t a OnePlus cellphone with 100W quick charging, however you’re going to get 50 % battery in half-hour from a 20W adapter.
Britta O’Boyle / Foundry
Efficiency is really glorious
My final motive in favour of the iPhone Air not being a vacuous slim cellphone is that it has the identical processor beneath its hood because the iPhone 17 Professional fashions. The A19 Professional runs the present, and efficiency is clean and lag-free with apps opening swiftly and duties working with none points.
Often, the highest of the iPhone Air will get slightly heat, however just for just a few seconds and no hotter than most telephones. For sustained efficiency, I’d advocate the iPhone 17 Professional fashions as these now include a vapour chamber, which permits for higher warmth dissipation.
Britta O’Boyle / Foundry
Nevertheless, within the overwhelming majority of conditions, the iPhone Air delivers excellent efficiency that gained’t allow you to down.
Within the overwhelming majority of conditions, the iPhone Air delivers excellent efficiency that gained’t allow you to down
However contemplate this earlier than you hit purchase
Pretty much as good because the iPhone Air is, you might want to make sure that it’s what you need from a cellphone.
With a beginning worth of £999/$999, you possibly can get the iPhone 17 Professional for simply £100/$100 further, accessing a superior rear digicam system within the course of – together with a devoted ultrawide lens and telephoto with 8x optical zoom.
Or, you possibly can pay £200/$200 much less and purchase an iPhone 17, which provides higher worth for cash and nonetheless provides an additional digicam lens in comparison with the Air.
But when design is your high precedence, the iPhone Air feels superb. It’s refreshingly light-weight, and I’m thrilled to say its battery life doesn’t suck. Don’t pay an excessive amount of consideration to the downgraded specs – they don’t inform the total story.
