iPhone Air Reviews: Is the Thinnest iPhone Worth It?

With the iPhone Air, Apple is launching a smartphone that stands out primarily for its ultra-thin design, measuring just 5.6 millimeters. Even before its launch, initial reviews have been published, offering a closer look at the device. The focus is on the question of whether the iPhone Air's compactness justifies foregoing certain Pro features.

The iPhone Air is the slimmest iPhone yet, boasting a design that feels elegant and sturdy despite its thinness. Apple uses materials like Ceramic Shield glass and titanium, giving the device a premium feel. At the same time, some of the features are based on the Pro models, but don't offer the full package. This is precisely what makes the reviews so interesting: They show where Apple cuts corners and where the iPhone Air surprises.

design and workmanship

The most striking feature is its thin casing, measuring just 5.6 millimeters. Despite its thinness, tests have shown no signs of bending the device in the hand. However, how the iPhone Air will fare in a pocket over the long term remains to be seen.

Display and performance

The device features a ProMotion display with up to 120 Hertz, ensuring smooth scrolling and a pleasant visual experience. The built-in A19 Pro chip offers a 6-core CPU, identical to the Pro models. The only difference is the GPU, which is slightly weaker with five cores. The iPhone Air performs very well in benchmarks and stress tests. In the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test, which simulates over 20 minutes of gaming, it showed stable results and outperformed the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. Another surprising feature was that it remained cooler than the iPhone 17 Pro Max in a direct comparison. Only the Galaxy S25 Edge performed more efficiently in these temperatures.

battery life

Apple claims up to 27 hours of video playback for the iPhone Air. By comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro achieves 33 hours, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max even 39 hours. Reviews paint a mixed picture. Allison Johnson of The Verge describes the battery life as "just okay." With intensive use, the battery charge sometimes dropped below 20 percent before dinner. On quieter days with Wi-Fi use, however, the battery lasted until late in the evening. Julian Chokkattu of WIRED was somewhat more positive about the endurance. In his everyday life, the device generally lasted a full day with five hours of screen time, although heavy users have to recharge it on the go. However, on a day of travel, where navigation, music streaming, phone calls, and social media were used simultaneously, the battery was already almost empty by the afternoon. However, compared to other ultra-thin smartphones like the Galaxy S25 Edge, the result was better.

camera

The iPhone Air has a single 48-megapixel camera. It lacks an ultra-wide-angle or telephoto lens, which limits the camera's capabilities. The ultra-wide-angle camera is particularly noticeable when taking landscape photos. However, CNET 's Abrar Al-Heeti emphasized that the overall image quality is impressive. Photos show clear details, natural colors, and balanced exposure. Portrait shots with background blur also work reliably. However, in direct comparison with devices like the Galaxy S25 Edge, the lack of additional lenses seems like a clear compromise.

Further differences to the Pro models

Besides the camera and battery, there are other differences compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. The Air offers only one speaker instead of stereo sound, a slower USB-C port for data transfer, and slightly reduced charging speeds via USB-C and MagSafe. These points may be negligible for some users, but for others, they are a major selling point against the Air.

iPhone 17 & iPhone 17 Pro Reviews: Display, Battery, Performance

The iPhone Air as a compromise solution

The iPhone Air reviews reveal a smartphone that stands out with its ultra-thin design while still incorporating many Pro features. With Ceramic Shield, a titanium frame, the A19 Pro chip, and the ProMotion display, it offers premium technology in an extremely slim package. The compromises lie in battery life, features, and the camera. The device is well-suited for everyday use, but quickly shows weaknesses under intensive use. For users who prefer a slim and elegant iPhone, the Air is an interesting choice. However, those who value maximum battery life, versatile cameras, and a full range of hardware features are better off with the Pro models. The iPhone Air is a bold step toward ultra-thin smartphones—and an attempt to combine design and performance in an unusually slim format. (Image: Apple)