The iPhone Air is a marvel of technology and design that poses the question: how much are you willing to sacrifice for a lightweight, ultra-slim device? The Guardian’s journalism remains independent, but we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through an affiliate link. Learn more.
Beyond the obvious engineering required to create one of the slimmest phones ever, the Air simplifies the iPhone to its core essentials in a premium build. By removing the rear cameras, shrinking the battery, eliminating stereo speakers, and maximizing the screen, what remains is a striking piece of titanium and glass.
This design comes at a cost. The iPhone Air starts at £999 (€1,199/$999/A$1,799), positioning it between the standard £799 iPhone 17 and the £1,099 17 Pro models.
The Air’s sleek silhouette is slightly interrupted by a raised section and camera lens on the back, which doubles the phone’s thickness to around 11.3mm, similar to Google’s Pixel design. Photos don’t fully capture the Air’s appeal; it feels special from the moment you hold it. Its 5.64mm frame seems even thinner due to soft edges and a weight that’s 12g lighter than the already slim iPhone 17.
Most of the phone’s components are housed in the glass section on the back, with the rest dedicated to the battery. The sides feature the usual iPhone buttons, including camera control and action buttons. A single earpiece speaker at the top provides decent sound, though the lack of stereo is noticeable when watching videos—a slight drawback given the smooth, bright, and impressive 6.5-inch screen.
The Air operates just like any modern iPhone, running iOS 26 with its sleek design, offering all the same apps, Face ID, and responsive performance. The only hiccup is the absence of a nano SIM card tray, as the iPhone Air relies solely on eSIM. While Apple has used eSIM exclusively in the US since the iPhone 14, models elsewhere included nano SIM slots until the Air.
Most major UK networks support eSIMs, but the setup process or switching between phones isn’t seamless for all providers, and not all budget carriers offer support. Mobile networks need to improve the eSIM experience universally.
Specifications:
– Screen: 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR (120Hz OLED) (460ppi)
– Processor: Apple A19 Pro (5-core GPU)
– RAM: 12GB
– Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
– Operating System: iOS 26
– Camera: 48MP rear; 18MP front-facing
– Connectivity: 5G eSIM-only, Wi-Fi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 6, Thread, USB-C, satellite, UWB, and GNSS
– Water Resistance: IP68 (6 meters for 30 minutes)
– Dimensions: 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.64mm
– Weight: 165g
The Air features the A19 Pro chip, similar to the iPhone 17 Pro but with one fewer GPU core, slightly reducing performance in games and graphics-heavy tasks. It feels fast in everyday use but warms up noticeably near the camera during intensive operations.
Despite much of the body being allocated to the battery, a smaller cell is the first major trade-off for slimness. Battery life is shorter than other iPhones but not as poor as expected. On lighter days with about five hours of screen time for browsing, messaging, and video on Wi-Fi, the Air lasted a respectable 40 hours between charges.
Using Qi2 or MagSafe wireless chargers, like the Twelve South PowerBug, can make it easier to top up the battery quickly during the day. On heavier usage days involving photography and more demanding tasks, battery life decreases accordingly.During my daily commute, I used the iPhone Air for mapping with 5G, listening to music, messaging, and watching videos. It lasted around 30 hours, finishing the day with about 25% battery remaining. With a nightly charge, it should easily get through most days, though intensive tasks like gaming might require switching to low power mode.
Sustainability
The slim design still houses a battery that’s fairly easy to replace, which might be necessary after approximately 1,000 charge cycles. The battery maintains at least 80% of its original capacity beyond 1,000 full cycles and can be replaced for £109. Out-of-warranty screen repairs cost £349. iFixit gave the iPhone Air a repairability score of 7 out of 10.
It includes over 35% recycled materials, such as aluminum, cobalt, gold, lithium, rare earth elements, steel, tin, titanium, and tungsten. Apple details the phone’s environmental impact in its report and provides trade-in and free recycling programs, even for non-Apple products.
Camera
The camera operates similarly to most iPhones, though the absence of ultrawide and telephoto lenses simplifies things. The Air features a single 48-megapixel rear camera and a new 18MP front camera with Centre Stage technology from the iPhone 17 series.
The main camera matches the standard iPhone 17, not the larger sensor in the 17 Pro, but it performs well. It takes great photos and videos in good light and handles dim indoor settings fairly decently. While it can appear soft or grainy at times and isn’t award-winning, it generally produces good results. The 2x crop zoom works well in bright conditions, but further zooming results in the typical drawbacks of digital zoom: softer surfaces and lost detail on distant subjects.
Without ultrawide or telephoto options, the range of shots is limited. The only other iPhone with a single rear camera is the more affordable iPhone 16e.
The 18MP front camera automatically adjusts to fit everyone in group shots and allows for landscape selfies without rotating the phone—a handy feature. You can also record video simultaneously with both front and rear cameras to include the photographer in a small window.
Price
The iPhone Air starts at £999 (€1,199/$999/A$1,799) for the 256GB model.
For comparison:
– iPhone 16e: £599
– iPhone 17: £799
– iPhone 17 Pro: £1,099
– iPhone 17 Pro Max: £1,199
– Google Pixel 10: £799
– Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: £899
– Fairphone 6: £499
Verdict
The iPhone Air is an impressive design in search of a problem. I doubt many people have wished for a thinner phone over longer battery life or a better camera.
The ultra-slim frame feels revolutionary at first, but the novelty fades quickly. Like Samsung’s equally thin Galaxy S25 Edge, the lighter weight is the most practical improvement, making it easier to hold and carry. The Air has a large screen without being heavy.
Battery life exceeds expectations and should last most of the day when new, though this may decline after a couple of years. Apple offers a MagSafe battery that adds 65% capacity, but attaching it negates the slim, lightweight design—as does using a case.
The biggest compromise is the single rear camera. For me, the lack of ultrawide and telephoto options is too much of a sacrifice when using a phone as my main camera for capturing memories.
However, if you’re an Apple user looking for a slender device…The iPhone Air is a delight to hold and use, standing out as a unique piece of hardware. However, for most people, there are better alternatives available.
Pros: It’s incredibly thin and lightweight, with a great screen, a solid single rear camera, an improved Centre Stage selfie camera, top-tier performance, long software support, and Face ID.
Cons: It lacks ultrawide and telephoto cameras, comes with a high price tag, has relatively short battery life, feels too good to hide in a case, and misses out on the latest AI features.
The iPhone Air makes a strong impression, looking and feeling distinct from other iPhones in the lineup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and clear FAQs about a hypothetical iPhone Air focusing on Apples pursuit of ultimate slimness
General Beginner Questions
1 What is the iPhone Air
The iPhone Air is a hypothetical future iPhone model that would represent Apples ultimate effort to create the thinnest and lightest iPhone possible prioritizing a minimalist and ultraportable design
2 What are the main benefits of an ultrathin phone
The primary benefits are exceptional portability and a sleek premium feel It would be very light in your pocket or bag and comfortable to hold for long periods
3 Will the iPhone Air be more expensive than a regular iPhone
Its very likely Pushing the boundaries of design using specialized materials and engineering components to fit a thinner chassis typically result in a higher price tag
4 Is the iPhone Air just a thinner version of the current iPhone
Not exactly To achieve extreme thinness Apple would have to make significant changes which could include a smaller battery different camera design and potentially the removal of some ports
Design Durability
5 If its so thin will it be durable or will it bend easily
This is a major concern While Apple would use strong materials like titanium or a special aluminum alloy an extremely thin device is inherently more susceptible to bending under pressure compared to a thicker one
6 Would the iPhone Air have a headphone jack or a physical SIM slot
Its highly unlikely Removing these ports is one of the easiest ways to save internal space and reduce thickness It would almost certainly rely on eSIM and wireless audio
7 What about the camera bump Will it finally be flush with the body
Achieving a flush camera would be a key goal for the ultimate slimness design However this is a major engineering challenge as highquality camera sensors and lenses need a certain amount of physical space to function properly
Performance Battery Life
8 Will the thin design mean worse battery life
Yes this is the biggest tradeoff A thinner body means less physical space for a battery While Apple could make the battery more efficient you should expect shorter battery life compared to a standard iPhone model
9 Will it overheat more easily because the components are packed so tightly
Thermal management is
