When I started using the iPhone Air a month ago, I braced myself for compromise. Could I cope with a single rear camera? Would I constantly worry about the phone bending? Surely, such a thin battery would keep me on the hunt for a charger. Right?
It turns out my experience with Apple’s thinnest phone wasn’t quite so black-and-white.
This wasn’t my first time using a premium ultrathin phone. I also tested the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge earlier this year and had similar concerns that were generally alleviated. But things could always be different with Apple’s attempt at a skinny phone. Still, I fell in love with the $999 iPhone Air’s sleek design the moment I first held it at Apple Park, which motivated me to have an open mind about the apparent trade-offs compared to the rest of the new iPhone lineup.
I quickly realized I could live with them just fine — for the most part.
Going from the iPhone 16 Pro Max to the iPhone Air felt like it would be a big step down camera-wise, since the Air only has a single 48-megapixel wide-angle camera on the back. But it turns out I don’t use an ultrawide or telephoto lens all that much.
Don’t get me wrong: I love having the option to punch out to 0.5x for more sweeping landscape shots. When I went to a Jonas Brothers concert a few weeks ago, I kept my iPhone Air securely in my pocket most of the time, instead opting for the 5x optical zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. (You can get an even closer 8x shot on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but I worked with what I had.) And honestly, if you’re spending nearly $1,000 on a phone, you should have more flexible camera options than what you’ll get on the Air.
Here are some of my favorite shots I’ve taken on the iPhone Air over the last month:
I’m not letting Apple fully off the hook, though. If Samsung can pack a wide and ultrawide camera in its slim Galaxy S25 Edge, I trust Apple can do the same. Maybe next year.
The iPhone Air is slim but mighty
When Apple debuted the iPhone Air in September, there was general apprehension about how durable the slim device could be. Even with its titanium frame, the phone’s 5.6mm thickness led to worries it might bend or snap. Those fears were largely put to rest when Apple showed me and a handful of reporters just how much force the phone could handle.
In a demo room at Apple Park following the company’s fall keynote, I watched a machine apply more than 130 pounds of force to the middle of the iPhone Air. It bent with the pressure to avoid breaking, but once the force was lifted, the phone snapped right back into shape, as if nothing had happened. I looked at both the front and back of the phone afterward and didn’t see any cracks or fractures. I was impressed, and figured this meant I could slip it in my back pocket without bending it.
Apple also sells a $99 slim MagSafe battery pack made specifically for the iPhone Air. I don’t like the idea of depending on an external battery to keep my phone alive, no matter how sleek it is, and thankfully I’ve only had to use it a couple of times in the last month. In fact, I hardly ever carry it around, but it’s good to know it’s there, like if I need to quickly head out the door and didn’t get around to charging my phone. On the rare occasions I have used the MagSafe battery, it took my phone from 1% to 69% before it ran out.
I’m a consistently heavy phone user, and I like knowing my phone’s battery will last well beyond a day of regular (and slightly more intense) use. So while I can certainly make do with the iPhone Air’s battery, and it’s held up well for me, I still prefer the larger capacity on something like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, so I don’t have to keep tabs on the battery levels as much. But I’m pleased with how well the iPhone Air held up for how thin it is, and if you’re a light to moderate phone user, you shouldn’t have any issues.
One of the biggest tradeoffs surprised me
There’s one drawback with the Air that wasn’t even on my radar before I started using it: The slim phone only has one speaker, rather than the dual stereo speakers you’ll get on other iPhones.
Most of the time, I hardly notice the audio is a little quieter than it would be on the iPhone 17 or 17 Pro models. But when I’m lying in bed binging Better Call Saul or watching YouTube videos instead of going to sleep at a normal hour, I notice just how lopsided the sound is. That’s why I typically end up reaching for another phone to watch movies and TV shows on, even though I prefer how light the Air is to hold up.
It’s not a major red flag, and the phone’s audio is still clear and loud enough, but I prefer having a more balanced sound. If you’re not as particular as me about these things, it likely won’t be an issue. But it’s good to know if you’re buying a phone that’s nearly $1,000.
Airing my final thoughts
A testament to the iPhone Air’s design is that it had me reconsidering my priorities of long battery life and first-rate cameras. To be clear, the Air didn’t dazzle me into fully neglecting the importance of those features. But it did show me that I’m willing to concede more than I thought in exchange for something lightweight and sleek.
Like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, it was refreshing to use something that looks and feels different from the bulk of phones on the market. I quickly grew accustomed to the Air’s build, but was reminded of just how unique it is each time someone else would marvel at it. (My favorite description someone gave it was “dainty.”)
Ultimately, the iPhone Air is a first-generation product, and there are going to be kinks to work out in future models. I hope Apple adds more rear cameras, extends battery life and doubles up the speakers to offer a more premium experience that aligns with the Air’s price. Or, as analysts have speculated, this might be a stepping stone to a foldable iPhone, which would also be a welcome — and long-awaited — release.
Until then, though, the iPhone Air largely pulls its weight.
Source: CNET.
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