The newest, and arguably most eye-catching iPhone from Apple’s recent 17 release is the iPhone Air, on sale in the UK from Friday, 19 September.
It’s the thinnest-ever iPhone, just 5.64mm thick – not counting the camera bump. So, is it a case of style over substance, or does its performance match its good looks? Plus, with something this thin, does the battery run out after lunchtime? Will it bend in half in my pocket?
Although the new phone is unmistakably an iPhone, it looks different in more ways than just its thickness – though that certainly stands out. There’s a single rear camera, which may make it less appealing for some, which sits in a camera panel that stretches the width of the phone. This is a change from previous iPhones, which have the camera or cameras in a corner area.
And there’s another change: for the first time ever in an iPhone in the UK, there’s no SIM card tray. Instead, the iPhone Air works with an eSIM only. That means more space for the battery, of course. While it’s not something everyone has done, Apple has aimed to ensure it’s an easy setup.
And the first indication that this phone is about brains as well as beauty comes from the fact that it sports a version of the most powerful new processor, A19 Pro, instead of the A19 in the regular iPhone 17.
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David Phelan is a tech expert and editor, penning reviews for The London Standard since 2012. From apps that transform the day-to-day and covering the latest launches at major shows like CES to casting a forensic eye over Apple, Samsung and Google newcomers, what he doesn't know about the tech world could fit on a postage stamp.
iPhone Air Review key specs
- Processor: Apple A19 Pro
- Display: 6.5in OLED, 120Hz with ProMotion, 2,736 x 1,260 pixels, 460ppi
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB /1TB
- Size: 156.2mm x 74.7mm x 5.64mm
- Weight: 165g
- Rear camera: 48MP
- Selfie camera: 18MP
Design
The specs for the iPhone Air are impressive enough, but handling the device blew me away. And not just once. Over and again, I was taken aback by just how thin it was, and how light.
Even with protection like Apple’s slender transparent case, the resulting device is still remarkably thin. And the lightness is such that when you pick it up, you wonder if they’ve left something out, like the battery, perhaps. That’s ironic because, having seen a deconstructed iPhone Air, I can tell you that it’s very nearly all battery. Almost all the parts that aren’t battery are the technological gubbins crammed into the camera panel.
I won’t go on about this much longer, but the effect of all this thinness and lightness is that I have tended to pick it up a lot, to admire its design and generally marvel at it.
Like the other phones released this month, the iPhone Air has an Apple-designed material on the front and back, called Ceramic Shield. It was introduced a few years ago and promised greater protection from drops. For the first time, Ceramic Shield is now on the rear of the phone as well, while on the front, we’re on to Ceramic Shield 2, which promises greater protection against scratches and also adds a layer of anti-reflection to make it easier to see what’s on screen when it’s under bright lights, for instance. It’s early days, but so far, the anti-scratching has proved wholly successful.
The anti-reflective coating makes a difference, though it’s subtle rather than dramatic.
The iPhone Air comes in four colours, Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White and Space Black. The first three add to the airiness of the phone with their quiet hues, while the fourth is so matte-finish, it seems to draw the light in like a black hole (though arguably less dangerous). This also, somehow, makes it feel light. My favourite? Light Gold: subtly opulent and chic.
So, how about that bend in the phone? Relax, this is a tough phone. I’ve seen demonstrations done by Apple where they applied pressure of 60kg (way more than your hands could manage) and the Air remained unscathed. In my less scientific tests, such as wearing it in my back pocket for days, there’s also been no wear or tear.
Display
Like the other models in this year’s iPhone crop, the iPhone Air has a display with ProMotion. That’s Apple’s name for a screen with dynamic refresh rate changes: when you’re scrolling through a menu, say, the 120Hz rate makes everything smooth, but when you’re looking at still content, it dials the rate down to save battery life.
And when the screen is locked, the refresh rate is just 1Hz. It’s this that enables the always-on screen, which until now, has been the preserve of Pro iPhones.
This is an all-new screen size for the iPhone, measuring 6.5 inches. That’s a bit bigger than the iPhone 17 (6.3 inches) and smaller than the iPhone 17 Pro Max (6.9 inches). It helps to confirm this as the Goldilocks phone, just the right size in the hand. In use, 6.5 inches is plenty and is quickly immersive.
Cameras
There’s only one rear camera on the iPhone Air, which may be a problem for some customers. After all, the iPhone 17 is £200 cheaper and has two cameras, while the iPhone 17 Pro is only £100 more and has three snappers on board.
But the sole camera on the Air is very good. It has a 48-megapixel sensor, so you can achieve a fully optical 2x zoom by cropping into the middle of the sensor, giving a 12-megapixel shot.
The camera has strong versatility. You can shoot the full frame at 48 megapixels for maximum resolution, ideal for landscapes and brightly lit situations. Or choose between the equivalent of 28mm and 35mm shots, which camera nerds will tell you give subtly different results. Or you can do what frankly almost everyone does, and just leave everything to the iPhone to sort out.
Overall, the results are excellent, both for stills and video. Apple’s photographic engineers have many skills, and good taste is among them, so images routinely look faithful to reality and rich in detail.
This is also the first one-camera iPhone that’s capable of what Apple calls its next-generation portrait shots. If the camera detects a person, dog or cat, it automatically records the depth information, so it can create a portrait shot instantly or at a later date.
Then there’s the selfie camera. Like the other iPhones just released, it uses a square sensor. The advantage of this is that you don’t need to move the phone to switch from portrait to landscape orientation.
Holding the phone vertically makes it easier to grip and focus your eyes, says Apple. One tap of the screen swivels the image to landscape, for group shots, say, without you moving the phone. It’s a simple but oddly very satisfying trick.
There’s one more new feature. It’s a bit of a gimmick, but quite fun. Dual Capture means you can record video on front and back cameras at the same time. Maybe you’re filming a concert. Instead of holding the camera up too high, to the annoyance of everyone behind you, keep it lower and you can capture not just the show but your reaction, too.
Performance and battery life
So much for beauty, how about performance? The device is speedy, so whatever you’re doing, it’ll be fast. Gaming, such as in Apple’s new Games app, is responsive and speedy. Video playback is smooth. Apps leap open and everyday usage is quick.
Battery life had been a worry for me. I honestly couldn’t see the phone lasting more than a few hours before it needed recharging. I was wrong.
In testing, the iPhone Air has lasted the full day. Maybe not as long as the thicker, heavier iPhone 17 Pro, but enough to get me through. I’ve ended most days at about 25 or 30 per cent. Nightly charges, of course, are essential.
Verdict
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Apple iPhone Air
This is one of the handsomest smartphones ever, with its thin profile and light weight reason enough to buy it, it’s so well-designed. Fears of brittleness or a disappointing battery were allayed each day I tested it.
If you’re a photography buff, you’re probably going to want the Pro or Pro Max, it’s true, but the camera here is strong. I had to get past an inherent bias in my mind that said one camera couldn’t be enough. In a lot of cases, it was.
Sure, there’s a premium for design compared to the regular iPhone 17, but when a phone is as capable as the iPhone 17 Air, as fully-featured, and has drop-dead glorious looks, it seems like a premium that’s worth it.
Buy now £999.00, Apple
