iPhone Air Review: I’ve never felt this way about a phone since holding the iPhone Eight years later, the same spirit of cherishing the future has returned this time iPhone Air,
The Air replaces Apple’s Pro models as the company’s most premium-feeling devices. While the Pros have become more industrial and functional, the Air has unapologetically put form above function. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t excel in some areas, its battery life really is amazing. Yet in other aspects where I expected more, it fell short. Using the iPhone Air for over two weeks has been a discovering experience. It feels mature, not like a first generation product, offering a refined and sophisticated experience right from the start.
looks like jewelry
Like the iPhone The X set the aesthetic for the next decade, and the Air feels similarly prophetic.
It’s impossibly thin at just 5.6mm. holding both iPhone 17 Pro And the iPhone Air, the Air clearly feels more premium. Not only is it crafted from titanium (the Pro has reverted to an aluminum back for better thermal management), but it’s also incredibly light. The Air comes in at a single 6.5-inch size, and its overall form factor is an experience you can’t find anywhere else, except maybe the S25 Edge. Aesthetically, it is one of the most beautiful iPhones ever made; It feels as if you are holding a piece of jewellery.
For those concerned about durability, rest assured. The phone has been tested by experts by bending it and it does not bend. While a significant drop or heavy force will break it like any other phone, its resilience is remarkable, especially its scratch resistance. I did not baby this device. Although I used a case outside, it was caseless at home, and I haven’t seen a single scratch yet. The display, protected by Ceramic Shield 2 glass, remains surprisingly good. Even after sharing the pocket with other phones, its ceramic shield back remains flawless. It is a durable device that easily withstands everyday wear and tear.
Single camera setup but should you care?
The camera is definitely one of the most controversial aspects of the iPhone Air. Single camera in a phone will become expensive in 2025 Rs 1,20,000 seems an odd choice at first glance. However, this was a strategic trade-off to achieve its super-thin design, as most of the components are packed into the top half, below the camera plateau.
However, for most users, this will not be a weak link. The standard iPhone 17 includes an ultra-wide lens, but the reality is that most people stick to the main camera for their everyday photos and portraits. If you’re one of those people who rarely changes lenses, you’ll be very happy with the 48-megapixel primary sensor on the iPhone Air. It’s the same sensor as the iPhone 17 and, despite being smaller than the 17 Pro, I found it consistently produced images with less noise and more detail than my 16 Pro, thanks to Apple’s software magic.
The major omissions are for professionals: Apple ProRAW and LOG (and the new ProRes RAW) video capture are absent. If you rely on RAW images or Apple’s Log profile for video, this phone isn’t for you. For the zoom, Apple claims “four lenses in one.” Although this is a strange claim, the 2x digital zoom produces images of near-optical quality, and the portraits I took were impressively sharp with excellent edge detection. This is a reliable camera that will not disappoint in everyday use.
However, the real highlight is the 18-megapixel front-facing center stage camera. Now standard across the iPhone 17 lineup, it makes content creation a breeze. You no longer need to rotate your phone for landscape shots; A simple toggle handles this for you. I previously considered the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s selfie camera to be the best in the business, but the iPhone Air has surpassed it. With autofocus and automatic wide-angle for group shots, it captures incredibly detailed images and streamlines the user experience.
Image quality from the rear camera is classic iPhone: slightly warm tones, ample detail and good dynamic range. It appears that Apple has made its HDR more realistic than the iPhone 16 series. The new “bright” photographic style has also become an increasingly favorite of mine.
So, what’s missing? Cinematic mode. This is a significant omission for content creators. Its absence, presumably due to the single-camera setup, means those who want the feature should look towards the standard iPhone 17 or 17 Pro. Ultimately, your satisfaction with the camera depends on your needs. For everyday photos, group shots, and personal photos, the iPhone Air is more than enough.
Here is a link to unedited photo samples that you can view: iPhone Air photo samples
an amazing performance
The iPhone Air’s display is as impressive as its design. It features a 6.5-inch LTPO OLED panel with a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, making it a true flagship screen on par with the Pro models.
With support for HDR10, Dolby Vision, and 3000 nits of peak brightness, the panel is vibrant, and it looks just right. That brightness isn’t just a number on a spec sheet. In the bright sunlight of Jaipur, it is much brighter than my iPhone 16 Pro. The premium experience is further enhanced by equally thin bezels and a new anti-reflective coating, a feature shared with the iPhone 17 Pro. This coating reduces glare significantly, and while it may not be as effective as the S25 Ultra, it’s a welcome improvement.
Overall, this is a gorgeous display that won’t let you down. The inclusion of LTPO technology is also an important touch.
oh yes, battery life
Let’s address the elephant in the room: battery life. In short, the battery is smaller than other iPhones, but this won’t be a deal-breaker for many potential buyers, provided their lifestyle includes ample charging opportunities. If you have a charger in your car and a wireless charger on your desk for your travels, there won’t be any problems for you. On a light day, you can expect 4-5 hours of screen-on time and around 4 hours with heavy usage.
That’s a few hours less than the regular iPhone 17 and several hours less than the iPhone 17 Pro models. Longevity isn’t as good, and it charges slowly, but if you’re buying an iPhone Air, I’ll assume you don’t mind that. If you don’t like plugging your phone in frequently or are often away from a power source, take a look at the iPhone Air. That said, it still surprises me by lasting longer than I expected.
performance winner
When it comes to performance, things get interesting. The iPhone Air has the same A19 Pro chip as the iPhone 17 Pro, although it has one less GPU core. The phone is quite fast in everyday use. Apps open instantly, and the Apple Intelligence experience is similar to other iPhone 17 models. The iOS 16 experience feels more seamless on the Air than on my iPhone 26 Pro, which demonstrates the power of the new chip.
However, with great power also comes the need for thermal management. The top half of the iPhone Air, where the internal components are located, can become quite hot. It’s not hot, and it’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s worth mentioning.
In an interesting test, I exported a 35-second 4K clip into LumaFusion on both the iPhone Air and iPhone 16 Pro. Surprisingly, the 16 Pro, with its A18 Pro and an extra GPU core, exports video consistently faster. The difference is only a few seconds and shouldn’t impact your purchasing decision, but it’s a bizarre result of the Air’s hardware configuration.
As for benchmark experts, the phone recorded 3242 points in the Geekbench 6 single-core test and 9077 points in the multi-core test. It scored 38,115 points in the GPU benchmark. In comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro scored 3486 points in single-core, 8752 points in multi-core, and 32,642 points in the GPU test.
What could be better (or different) than this?
Even for a tool that prioritizes form, it seems to be missing some of the basics. My number one problem is the single speaker located at the top of the phone. While fine for most audio, I noticed crackling at high volumes on YouTube and other social media apps. For a device with such a gorgeous screen, the audio experience leaves little to be desired.
Other agreements include:
Having eSIM only: Apple has removed the physical SIM tray for the iPhone 17 series worldwide. While this saves internal space for a larger battery, it’s a major inconvenience in markets like India, where physical SIMs are still common (and preferred).
USB 2.0: The Air is still equipped with a USB 2.0 port, unlike the Pro model’s USB 3.0. This means slower data transfer speeds for anyone transferring large files.
Then again, the target audience for the iPhone Air probably isn’t attaching SSDs to shoot high-end video. They’re buying it for how it looks and feels, for something unique and different from anything else on the market. When viewed through that lens, its minor flaws seem to disappear.
Decision
For 1,19,900, the iPhone Air is different from any other phone. It’s remarkably thin, has a great camera for most people, and a gorgeous display at just the right size. It is great to hold and remains comfortable even for long periods of time. If you appreciate beautiful technology, the iPhone Air is an easy choice.
Battery life is quite good and performance is excellent. If you prioritize form over function and don’t want to spend extra 15,000 for the Pro model, the Air is an excellent option. This isn’t the phone most people should buy, that would be the standard iPhone 17. But for those who are inspired by design and the simple joy of using a well-crafted tool, the iPhone Air itself is worth a buy.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say that this is a practical phone for many people if content creation isn’t a priority. The more I used it, the more it grew on me. If it included a telephoto lens, I would happily make it my daily driver. that is so nice.
