iPhone Air review – It’s not what I expected
Apple iPhone Air - Verdict
In its pursuit of making a premium smartphone super-slim, Apple has done something incredible.
While I've been pleasantly blown away by the design, the iPhone Air is a difficult phone to recommend right now.
Its super-slender frame is kind of cool, but the novelty wears off after a while.
What you're left with is a fairly expensive piece of tech with concessions that many of us won't be able to ignore. This is particularly true for the camera setup and battery life.
The low sales figures are proof of this, but I don't think it's a flop despite my current stance. I reckon it's the future of smartphones - the iPhone Air, like any new tech, needs to go through the paces to get better.
The good stuff
- Super thin and light
- Reliable performance
- Nice, bright OLED screen
- Excellent selfie camera
What we don't love
- Battery life isn't on par with the iPhone 17 family
- Single camera setup is limiting
- Speaker audio quality isn't great
- Expensive
- Runs hot
I've really taken my time with the iPhone Air.
In fact, it's been a few months of juggling between all of Apple's September releases - the three iPhone 17 models and then, of course, the iPhone Air.
And suffice to say, it's amazing how a few grams can make a world of difference.
So it should come as no surprise that I'll kick off this review by chatting through (read marvelling) the design.
iPhone Air design
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
The iPhone Air exists primarily because of its design. It's almost impossible to describe just how light it feels.
I don't think I had the same reaction when I held the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.
The iPhone Air is 5.6 millimetres thick and weighs 165 grams, compared to the iPhone 17 Pro, which weighs 206 grams and is 8.75mm thick.
This is despite the Pro model having a smaller screen - 6.5 versus 6.3 inches.
Those numbers, however, don't have the same impact as when you first hold the phone.
I've been using the Pro Max models as my everyday phone for the last couple of years. So switching up to the iPhone Air for the past month or so has been an experience.
Apple's big claim is that it's more durable than past iPhones. It uses a titanium frame and the new Ceramic Shield 2 on the display to keep it safe.
And it does feel rigid and strong, not cheap as I had initially assumed because of its ultra-thinness.
The horizontal camera plateau is also an interesting change for Apple. The simple, single-lens camera gives off a nice, minimalistic look.
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
I skipped the extreme bend test others have performed, but it held up well under my own force.
Now this might ruffle some feathers, but I had to slap on the bumper case - at least it's not a full-on cover-up.
It kept slipping from my grip. The bumper case makes it easier to grasp.
I did have to search how to remove it, though. One comment said to push it out from the bottom right corner, and it worked!
iPhone Air display and performance
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
The 6.5-inch OLED screen is a treat, even under direct sunlight.
It's also coupled with a 120Hz screen refresh rate, which used to be reserved for the Pro models.
The performance is smooth, as you'd expect; however, it can get very hot, particularly around the camera module.
I definitely felt it after reviewing the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which have a new vapour chamber cooling system.
You also won't get the same graphical experience, but that doesn't mean non-aggressive gamers won't enjoy the iPhone Air. It features the powerful A19 Pro chip, and it shows compared to the iPhone 17.
iPhone Air battery life
This is where the iPhone Air starts to lose its brownie points.
There's just not enough Airtime if you get my drift.
On work days when I wasn't using my phone for much beyond Netflix on my commute, Spotify while writing, and a doomscroll before bed, it held up fine. I'd still end the day with about 10% juice left.
But I had anxiety on days I knew I'd be using it a lot. After a long morning bike ride - with navigation, Spotify and plenty of photos - I was down to 12% by late afternoon.
The good thing is that it can charge fast, plus the iPhone Air MagSafe battery is a nice-ish addition.
It's super thin, looks and feels premium, but that also comes at a price ($159). It can also only charge up to 65% of its capacity.
iPhone Air camera
Aside from the battery, the camera is the second biggest trade-off with the iPhone Air.
Here's what it offers - a single 48-megapixel fusion camera that can shoot 4K video.
The Centre Stage front camera can capture 18MP images. Its new square sensor allows for both landscape and portrait shots, regardless of whether you hold the phone vertically.
The main camera produces great results, particularly in good lighting, though low-lit images can feel a bit washed out. Though I'm most nitpicking here.
The 2x crop zoom generally works well, but if you push too far, you'll notice the digital zoom leaving its mark.
What really dampens the spec sheet is the lack of an ultrawide and telephoto camera, affecting the type of shot you can get.
For how much you're paying, this feels like too big a trade-off.
This also comes down to personal preference. My colleague loves his iPhone Air for the design. He doesn't care much for taking pictures and isn't a heavy user to be bothered by the battery.
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder
Final thoughts
The iPhone Air is an exciting phone and better than I expected, but it's hard to ignore the concessions. Particularly for how much you're paying.
For now, it's made for a niche group of people, though it may very well be the future of phones as more iterations come out.
| Model | Australian RRP |
|---|---|
| Apple iPhone Air 256GB | $1,799 |
| Apple iPhone Air 512GB | $2,199 |
| Apple iPhone Air 1TB | $2,599 |
How to buy the Apple iPhone Air on a phone plan
You can sign up for a 12-, 24-, or 36-month phone repayment plan with Optus, Vodafone and Telstra.
All opinions expressed in this review are based on my own experience with the phone. Use this review for informational purposes only.
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