When I started using the iPhone Air a month ago, I braced myself for compromise.
(You can get an even closer 8x shot on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but I worked with what I had.)
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.
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.
Ultimately, the iPhone Air is a first-generation product, and there are going to be kinks to work out in future models.
I prepared for compromise when I began using the iPhone Air a month ago. Would I be able to handle just one rear camera? Would I be worried about the phone bending all the time? Surely, a battery this thin would keep me looking for a charger. Yes?
My experience with Apple’s thinnest phone wasn’t quite so clear-cut, as it turns out.
Using a high-end, thin phone was nothing new to me. Similar worries that were mostly allayed were present when I tested the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge earlier this year. However, Apple’s attempt at a thin phone could always change things. Even so, I was captivated by the svelte design of the $999 iPhone Air the moment I held it at Apple Park, which inspired me to remain receptive to the apparent compromises in comparison to the other iPhone models.
I soon came to the conclusion that, for the most part, I could live with them.
Generally speaking, the solo camera performs well.
Given that the iPhone Air only has a single 48-megapixel wide-angle camera on the back, switching from the iPhone 16 Pro Max to the Air felt like a significant camera drop. It turns out, though, that I don’t really use telephoto or ultrawide lenses.
Please understand that I adore being able to punch out to 0.5x for more expansive landscape photographs. My iPhone Air was mostly in my pocket when I went to a Jonas Brothers show a few weeks ago; instead, I used the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 5x optical zoom. I made do with what I had, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max offers an even closer 8x shot. In addition, you ought to have more versatile camera options than the Air if you’re shelling out almost $1,000 for a phone.
However, I think I could count on one hand how many times I thought the Air’s camera was inadequate. Admittedly, it took me a while to get used to not having to drag the 16 Pro Max around for pictures and videos. However, after truly embracing the Air, I began to value the clear, detailed footage it continuously produced, leaving very little room for improvement. Also, I’m happy that the iPhone Air (and the standard iPhone 17) has features like Center Stage, which can automatically change your selfie from portrait to landscape mode without you having to turn your phone, rather than just the 17 Pro models.
Some of my favorite photos I’ve taken with the iPhone Air in the past month are listed here.
I am not, however, completely absolving Apple. I believe Apple can incorporate a wide and ultrawide camera into its svelte Galaxy S25 Edge, just as Samsung has done. Maybe the following year.
The iPhone Air is powerful despite its small size.
The durability of the thin device was a common concern when Apple unveiled the iPhone Air in September. Despite having a titanium frame, there were concerns that the phone might bend or break due to its 5 point 6 mm thickness. When Apple demonstrated to me and a few reporters how much force the phone could withstand, those worries were mainly allayed.
After the company’s fall keynote, I witnessed a machine exert over 130 pounds of force on the center of the iPhone Air in a demo room at Apple Park. The phone bowed to prevent breaking when the pressure was released, but it immediately reformed as though nothing had occurred. Upon closer inspection, I found no cracks or fractures on the phone’s front or back. After being impressed, I assumed that I could put it in my back pocket without it bending.
In fact, the Air has held up surprisingly well during the past month of my courageous case-less journey. I tried warping it to see how much it could withstand, but it didn’t bend. Additionally, I haven’t noticed any scratches aside from a few minor scuffs on the corners from when I conducted a water immersion test in what turned out to be a stone-bottom fountain.
You have a lot of thin options if you do want to put on a case for peace of mind. For a few days, I experimented with Apple’s clear MagSafe option, which is less than 1mm thick and has the added benefit of smoothing out the protruding camera bump to prevent the phone from wobbling on a table. However, my experience ought to give you some peace of mind if you don’t want anything to stand in the way of your stylish new iPhone.
The battery is good. Other than when it isn’t.
Not surprisingly, I noticed the biggest difference in battery life between the iPhone Pro Max and the Air. However, it was not as obvious a problem as I had anticipated.
On days with less use, particularly when I stayed at home and connected to Wi-Fi, the iPhone Air usually had around 20 percent of its battery left over at the end of the night. However, on days when I had a lot going on, I had to make sure that my phone was charged when I got home.
That wasn’t as bad as I had expected, for some reason. If you’re like me, you most likely charge your phone at night or before you leave in the morning. Your routine won’t likely be disrupted by having to plug in the air every day. I kept using and charging the Air just like I would any other phone, and I only occasionally worriedly checked the battery level while I was out and about the town.
Even though the Air can only charge at a maximum of 20 watts, it helps that it charges rapidly. It charged from dead to 54% in a 30-minute test. In addition, the Air can receive up to 20 watts of Qi2 wireless charging and can charge from 17 to 64 percent in 30 minutes. so when it’s time for a recharge, you can fill up the battery rather quickly.
Additionally, a slim MagSafe battery pack designed especially for the iPhone Air costs $99 and is sold by Apple. Fortunately, I’ve only needed to use my phone a few times in the past month, but I still don’t like the idea of relying on an external battery to keep it alive, no matter how stylish it is. Although I rarely use it, it’s helpful to know that it’s there in case I need to leave quickly and haven’t had time to charge my phone. The MagSafe battery took my phone from 1 percent to 69 percent before dying on the few times I used it.
I use my phone a lot, and I like to know that the battery will last for a long time after a day of normal (and a little more intense) use. Even though I can get by with the iPhone Air’s battery and it has held up well, I still prefer the larger capacity of an iPhone 17 Pro Max so I don’t have to check the battery levels as frequently. But given how thin it is, I’m happy with how well the iPhone Air held up, and if you use your phone occasionally or occasionally, you shouldn’t have any problems.
You can view a detailed analysis of the battery life of each of Apple’s most recent phones by visiting CNET.
I was surprised by one of the largest tradeoffs.
Before I started using the Air, I was unaware of its one disadvantage: the thin phone only has one speaker instead of the two stereo speakers found on other iPhones.
The audio is a bit quieter than it would be on the iPhone 17 or 17 Pro models, but I rarely notice it most of the time. But I’m aware of how uneven the sound is when I’m lying in bed watching YouTube videos or binge-watching Better Call Saul rather than going to bed at a regular hour. I therefore usually reach for another phone to watch TV shows and movies on, even though I like how portable the Air is.
The audio on the phone is still loud and clear, so it’s not a big deal, but I would rather have a more well-balanced sound. If you don’t care as much about these things as I do, it probably won’t be a problem. But, if you’re purchasing a phone that costs close to $1,000, it’s helpful to know.
letting my last thoughts flow.
The iPhone Air’s design is so good that it made me reevaluate my priorities, which were excellent cameras and a long battery life. To be clear, the Air did not completely convince me that those features were not important. However, it did prove to me that I’m prepared to give up more than I had anticipated in return for something streamlined and light.
Similar to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, using a phone that resembles and feels different from the majority of phones on the market was refreshing. I soon got used to the Air’s design, but every time someone else expressed awe at it, I was reminded of how special it is. (My favorite way to describe it was “dainty.”. “.”.
Since the iPhone Air is a first-generation device, certain issues will need to be fixed in subsequent iterations. In order to provide a more upscale experience that is in line with the Air’s price, I hope Apple doubles the speakers, enhances battery life, and adds more rear cameras. Alternatively, as commentators have hypothesized, this could be a precursor to the long-awaited and welcome release of a foldable iPhone.
But for the time being, the iPhone Air does a good job.
