Apple • iPhone Air
This is the iPhone Air, and it’s the first iPhone in a long time that actually feels new. At just 5.6 millimeters thin and 165 grams, it’s a phone that makes you want to pick it up, use it, and then immediately pick it up again after you’ve set it down. It feels futuristic, while somehow being the most familiar iPhone experience Apple has ever made.
The titanium frame makes it one of the strongest iPhones to date. I know Apple says that kind of thing every year in their marketing, but after watching people try (and fail) to bend this phone, it’s clear this one really is in a different league.
Apple positioned the Air in an interesting way this year: if you care most about form, this is your phone. If you care most about function, the Pro is your phone. The base model sits neatly in between. And that choice—form or function—is what makes the Air such an exciting device.
But the real question is this: do the pros outweigh the cons? Let’s dive in.
Form: Thin, Beautiful, and a Pleasure to Hold
This might be the best-looking iPhone Apple has ever made. It’s impossibly thin, the camera bump doesn’t overwhelm the design, and in the hand it feels like holding the future.
The display is a 6.5-inch XDR OLED with 120Hz ProMotion across the lineup this year, hitting up to 3000 nits outdoors. It looks fantastic, and the Cloud White color I tested is striking—though I’m personally trading mine in for Space Black, because I think darker phones look even slimmer.
Apple has also leaned into accessories. The bumper case feels more like a gimmick than a must-have. It doesn’t protect the camera bump and actually makes the phone feel thicker in hand. I’ve preferred Apple’s frosted-back case or the ultra-thin Pataka case, which protects the cameras without adding bulk.
Even the new battery pack feels thoughtfully designed. The indicator light now subtly shines through the pack instead of sticking out—classic Apple refinement.
Function: Surprisingly Strong for Such a Thin Phone
Battery Life
Let’s address the big concern right away. Somehow, the iPhone Air’s battery life rivals the iPhone 16 Pro. In one test I watched, the Air only fell behind by a few minutes. Considering how thin this phone is, that’s remarkable.
Apple still launched it with a matching battery pack, which made the messaging feel strange. But in my actual daily use, I haven’t needed the pack at all.
Speakers
The Air ditches stereo speakers in favor of a single loudspeaker up top. For vertical TikTok scrolling, that’s fine. For watching movies, it’s not ideal. But for my real test—watching YouTube videos over the sound of the shower—it held up surprisingly well.
Performance
This phone runs the same A19 Pro chip as the iPhone 17 Pro. That was a surprise, and it means performance is as smooth as it gets. iOS 26 flies on this device.
Cameras
Yes, there’s just one rear camera. Coming from the triple-camera Pro, it takes some adjustment. But truthfully, most people—including me—use the main camera the majority of the time. The ultra-wide and telephoto were “nice to haves,” not essentials. The Air’s single camera, with Apple’s post-processing, delivers more than enough for everyday use.
Who Is the iPhone Air For?
The iPhone Air isn’t for spec-chasers. It’s for people who want a fresh iPhone experience—something thinner, lighter, and more enjoyable to use every day.
It’s not about being the most powerful phone Apple makes. It’s about the experience of form and function together. For most average consumers, the compromises (like a single camera and one speaker) are more than worth it.
If you’ve got a little more jingle in your pocket and battery life wasn’t a struggle with your last phone, the iPhone Air might just be the most exciting phone Apple has made in years.
Final Thoughts: Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons?
For me, absolutely. The thinness, beautiful design, solid battery life, A19 Pro chip, and overall experience outweigh the compromises.
Tech reviewers may nitpick, but for the average consumer—or for someone like me who just wants a phone that feels fresh—the iPhone Air is the iPhone to buy this year.
I’ll be switching to Space Black soon, and I can’t wait to see how this design looks even sleeker in a darker finish. I’ll also be covering the iPhone 17 Pro and base model soon, so make sure to subscribe and check back for those reviews.
In the meantime, if you’re curious about accessories, I’ll leave links to the cases and battery pack I’ve been testing below.
