Apple iPhone Air: the thinnest iPhone yet — A19 Pro power, 6.5" Super Retina XDR, 48MP main camera, iOS 26, and featherweight design.
Apple iPhone Air (2025) — Review & Full Breakdown
Introduction / Overview
Apple introduced the iPhone Air in September 2025 as a bold exercise in design: the company squeezed flagship performance into one of the slimmest and lightest iPhones ever. The Air ships with Apple’s A19 Pro chipset, runs iOS 26, and focuses on a pared-down camera setup in exchange for a remarkably thin titanium build. If you want an iPhone that looks and feels like an engineering stunt and still behaves like a daily driver, the Air is Apple’s answer.
Design & Build Quality
The headline here is thinness: Apple measures the iPhone Air at roughly 5.6 mm thick and around 165 g, making it unusually light for a 6.5-inch device. The frame uses grade-5 titanium for strength with less bulk, while both the front and back carry Apple’s new Ceramic Shield 2 for improved scratch and crack resistance. The result is a phone that feels delicate in the hand — in the best possible way — combining premium materials with surprisingly reassuring rigidity.
Display
The Air sports a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with ProMotion adaptive refresh up to 120Hz. The panel hits extremely high peak brightness (advertised up to ~3000 nits for HDR peak), supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, and includes anti-reflective coatings that help outdoors readability. Despite its slim chassis, Apple managed to keep bezels tight and deliver an immersive viewing surface that still feels comfortable to hold.
Performance & Hardware
Under the hood the iPhone Air is powered by the A19 Pro, built on a 3 nm process. Apple pairs the chip with 12 GB of RAM and storage tiers at 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB (NVMe). The A19 Pro emphasizes single-thread speed and GPU uplift for gaming and on-device ML workloads; benchmarks show it as one of the fastest mobile SoCs this generation, and Apple promotes improved neural performance for generative AI features in iOS 26. Connectivity includes dual eSIM support, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, Ultra Wideband (UWB) gen2, NFC, and a USB-C port (limited to USB-2.0 speeds).
Camera
Apple chose to simplify the rear array: the iPhone Air uses a single 48 MP Fusion wide sensor with sensor-shift OIS and advanced computational imaging. That means stellar stills at the default focal length, very clean HDR shots, and strong video capture up to 4K/60fps with Dolby Vision HDR. However, there is no ultrawide or telephoto lens on the rear — a deliberate trade that reduces thickness and weight but limits framing options. The front camera is an 18 MP Center Stage module that supports adaptive framing for video calls and selfies. If you mostly shoot standard wide photos and value slimness, the Air’s camera will satisfy; if you rely on wide-angle landscapes or optical zoom, you’ll miss the extra lenses.
Battery & Charging
The iPhone Air contains a modest ~3149 mAh battery. In everyday use — messaging, browsing, streaming, and occasional gaming — the Air reaches a full day for many users, though heavy gaming and long 5G sessions will shorten that. Charging supports wired PD fast charging and MagSafe / Qi2 wireless charging (with region-specific power differences); Apple lists 50% in ~30 minutes under its PD2.0 profile. Expect solid but not class-leading endurance compared with larger-battery phones.
Software & Features
The Air ships with iOS 26, which brings interface refinements, improved widgets, and new system animations Apple calls “Liquid Glass.” Apple also leans heavily on on-device neural processing for accelerated features (photo processing, live transcription, and generative models where supported). The usual Apple staples are present: Face ID, Apple Pay, Find My (including satellite features), and Emergency SOS. Durability features like IP68 water resistance remain, and Apple rates the Air for immersion up to 6 meters for 30 minutes.
Audio, Haptics & Extras
Stereo speakers deliver solid loudness and spatial separation for media. There’s no headphone jack (no surprise), but UWB support and tightly integrated haptics make device interactions feel refined. Apple also introduced a MagSafe accessory ecosystem for the Air, including battery packs and mounts tailored to the slim profile.
Price & Variants
The iPhone Air starts at approximately €1,199 / £999 / $999 (256 GB) with higher prices for 512 GB and 1 TB models. Model numbers vary by region (e.g., A3517, A3260, A3518). Availability opened in mid-September 2025 through Apple’s channels and major carriers. Pricing and offers (trade-ins, financing) are consistent with Apple’s launch practice.
Who Should Buy the iPhone Air?
The iPhone Air is aimed at buyers who prioritize design and handling: those who want flagship performance in the lightest, slimmest package possible. Photographers who depend on multiple focal lengths or users who demand the longest battery life are better served by Pro models or larger-battery rivals. For commuters, minimalists, and anyone who loves a phone that feels nearly weightless, the Air is compelling.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Exceptionally thin and light, premium titanium build, A19 Pro performance, excellent 6.5" OLED display, strong video and stills at the main focal length. 10
- Cons: Single rear camera limits versatility, smaller battery than larger iPhones, USB-C limited to USB-2 speeds, premium price for what is essentially a design-led device.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the iPhone Air released?
Announced September 9, 2025, and available beginning September 19, 2025.
How thin is the iPhone Air?
About 5.6 mm thick and roughly 165 g in weight. 13
What camera setup does it use?
A single 48 MP Fusion wide sensor with sensor-shift OIS on the rear and an 18 MP Center Stage front camera. 14
What are the storage and RAM options?
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB storage; all models ship with 12 GB RAM. No microSD slot.
How long does the battery last?
Apple rates the Air for all-day use under typical loads; the 3149 mAh cell performs well for normal use but will trail larger-battery phones in heavy usage scenarios.
Verdict
The iPhone Air is a statement product: it proves Apple can push the envelope on thinness while keeping most of the modern iPhone experience intact. It’s an excellent pick for someone who prizes design, display quality, and on-device performance. But the Air is also an unapologetic compromise: you trade camera versatility and battery headroom for a form factor few rivals can match. Buy it if you want the lightest flagship-feeling iPhone with top silicon and a brilliant screen; skip it if your workflow demands multiple lenses or marathon battery life.
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