iPhone Air: Is Thin and Light the Future? An In-Depth Review
Apple has once again demonstrated that innovation is in its DNA, and this year’s iPhone Air is a prime example. Replacing the “Plus” model in the iPhone 17 series, this is the first generation of the iPhone Air, and its design is truly distinctive. Let’s delve into what Apple’s thin and light innovation offers and if it’s the right phone for you.
Price and Design: A Thin and Premium Experience
The biggest allure of the iPhone Air is its incredibly thin and light design. It’s merely 5.64mm thin and approximately 165.7 grams light (156 grams was also mentioned, but 165.7 grams was shown on screen). The moment you hold it, you’re likely to exclaim “Wow.”
Regarding the box, it’s very compact and only contains a USB Type-C to Type-C cable. Surprisingly, there’s no SIM card tool, as this is an eSIM-only model. By saving space from the SIM card tray, Apple aimed to increase battery capacity, which is crucial for such a thin phone.
Extreme Durability: Apple has utilized 3D-printed Grade 5 Titanium for its construction, replacing aluminum, which addresses past “bendgate” issues. The phone also demonstrated resilience in a 50kg load test, bending slightly and returning to shape, and proved extremely sturdy in drop tests. Ceramic Shield 2 protection on both the front and back provides additional durability.
Accessories: If you’re considering buying the iPhone Air, definitely get the accompanying battery pack (approx. 3149 mAh). It’s equivalent to the phone’s internal battery capacity and provides extra power without making the phone feel bulky. The original bumper case is also a good option.
Display and Multimedia: Stunning Visuals, but Audio Lacks
The iPhone Air features a 6.5-inch display, considered by many to be the “perfect” size – neither too small nor too large. It comes with a ProMotion display (120Hz adaptive refresh rate) and 3000 nits peak brightness, making it incredibly vibrant. With thin bezels, it offers a fantastic visual experience, especially for consuming multimedia.
However, there’s a drawback in the multimedia experience: it features mono speakers. For a phone priced at ₹1,20,000, stereo speakers are typically expected. The speaker is top-firing and delivers “decent” performance, but it’s a compromise for a premium device.
Performance and Battery: Powerful, but Thermal Management
This phone delivers performance akin to the Pro Max model, featuring the A19 Pro chipset and 12GB of RAM. It includes a 5-core GPU (the Pro Max gets a 6-core GPU), and Apple has implemented several measures to enhance battery efficiency, such as the C1X modem that uses less power.
However, it lacks a vapor cooling chamber found in Pro models. This means the phone can get warm during heavy gaming or intensive tasks. For instance, playing Genshin Impact yields 58.8-58.9 FPS, but the temperature can reach 43-44 degrees Celsius. In normal usage, there are no issues, and the combination of iOS 26 with the A19 Pro delivers an extremely smooth experience.
Regarding battery life, Apple claims 27 hours of video playback time (compared to 22 hours on the iPhone 14 Pro). In our tests, despite the small 3149 mAh battery, it provided 4.5 to 5 hours of screen-on time, which is good considering the hardware and software optimization. For an average user, it might last all day, but heavy users might need to charge it once during the day. “Smart Charging” is also available with the external battery pack.
Connectivity and Camera: Single Sensor Innovation
In terms of connectivity, the iPhone Air offers all modern options: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, and support for all 5G bands. It features an N1 chipset that manages Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread networking, leading to faster AirDrop and hotspot speeds.
The camera setup is also unique:
- Rear Camera: A single 48MP Fusion Camera. Despite being a single sensor, it can capture 2x lossless photos and shows improved still photography compared to previous generations. In portrait mode, the Fusion sensor performs the work of two sensors to achieve a smooth bokeh effect.
- Selfie Camera: An 18MP Selfie Center Stage camera that automatically adjusts to horizontal mode for group selfies.
iPhones have always excelled in video recording, and this model is no exception. It can shoot 4K 60FPS Dolby Vision HDR videos from both front and back cameras. The reviewer deemed the “camera capture button” a failure and predicted its potential removal next year.
Conclusion: A Thin Future?
The iPhone Air is an intriguing offering that showcases Apple’s innovation. Its extreme thinness, lightness, premium build quality, and powerful performance make it unique. However, the mono speaker and thermal management under heavy use are some of its weaknesses.
The reviewer believes that this thin “Air” model could be an intermediate stage, paving the way for future foldable iPhones. It will be interesting to see if users embrace the slight compromises in battery capacity and other areas for the sake of extreme thinness.
If you are a consumer who desires an incredibly thin, light, and premium iPhone and are comfortable with an eSIM-only model, the iPhone Air is definitely worth considering, especially if you appreciate its “wow” in-hand feel.
