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Apple iOS 26 Released Sep 2025

Apple iPhone Air

7.9 / 10
Compass Score
Based on 45 critic reviews

Where to buy

Checked Oct 22
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iOS 26 Operating system
6.5" Screen size
48MP f/1.6 Main camera
A19 Pro Hexa-core Processor
256/512/ 1000 GB Storage
3,149 mAh Battery

Verdict

An incredibly thin and light phone with thoughtful design but some compromises in camera and battery.

+
What's good
+ Extremely thin design
+ Lightweight and portable
+ Durable material
+ Bright rich display
+ A19 Pro performance
−
What's not
− Single rear camera
− Not the longest battery life
− Limited camera features
− Gets warm with use
− No stereo speakers
By category

Key specs

What critics say

Critic consensus

TechRadar · Phone of the Year · 2025
Compass Score
45 reviews
weighted by credibility
Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck
8.7

“The iPhone Air impressed us with its ultra-thin design and premium build quality, but the slim design comes at a cost: the battery, camera and sound can only be described as mediocre, while the high price and the lack of features such as USB 3.2 and dual speakers spoil the overall impression. Users for whom design and portability are of primary concern will find this a stylish lifestyle device, but power users and camera enthusiasts are better served by Pro models. Overall, the Air remains a bold design choice with noticeable compromises, impressing us more with its form than its function.”

GSMArena
GSMArena
8

“All in all, the iPhone Air tries to do things differently in an attempt to bring in new crowds under the iOS banner. The kind of people that will take a one-of-a-kind device even with significant drawbacks instead of heading to the arena of flagships fighting over a few extra pixels or milliamps. There's certainly no shortage of such customers, but it remains to be seen how many of them are willing to pay the premium price of the Air.”

PC Magazine
PC Magazine
8

“The Apple iPhone Air is an exciting phone that favors design and aesthetics over features and raw performance. It looks terrific and is a joy to use, but lacks some capabilities of other models.”

Apple Insider
Apple Insider
8

“The iPhone Air is extremely thin, powerful enough, and is a preview of Apple's smartphone future, but it has too many compromises to pull Pro-phone faithful away.”

Third-party data

Testing & benchmarks

AnTuTu v11 · Performance
2,568,709
DxOMark · Camera
141
Photo 134 · Video 155
#58 globally
GSMArena v2.0 · Endurance
12:44h
Mixed-use battery rating
iFixit · Repairability
7/10
Performance in context · AnTuTu v11
Video reviews

Watch before you decide

Reviews
iPhone Air Durability test — I AM SHOCKED
JerryRigEverything
My Biggest Issue With The iPhone Air
Dave2D
iPhone Air Review: Beauty is Pain
Marques Brownlee
Long-term
iPhone Air – 6 Months Later: An HONEST Review
Andrew Ethan Zeng
Long-term
iPhone Air Review – 6 Months Later
6 Months Later
Long-term
iPhone Air Long Term Review – Still Loving It!!
JSL Review
Long-term
iPhone Air, 1 Year Later — My Honest Take
Brian Minor
Long-term
iPhone Air! HONEST 3-Month Long Term Review!
AppleInsider
iPhone Air Review: Pushing The Envelope
MrMobile [Michael Fisher]
Comparisons
Long-term
iPhone 17 vs iPhone Air – Long Term Honest Review
Nick Ackerman
iPhone 17 vs. Air vs. 17 Pro vs. 17 Pro Max Battery Test!
PhoneBuff
Long-term
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone Air Honest Review | Which Should You Buy In 2026?
Andrew Clare
Long-term
iPhone Air Vs iPhone 17 In 2026! (Which Should You Buy Now?)
Simple Alpaca
Camera tests
iPhone Air Camera Review: Pros, Cons & Honest Thoughts After 1 Week!
Daniel Romero
Battery tests
Life with iPhone Air as a Pro Max User… (Battery Test + Camera)
Andres Vidoza
iPhone Air – A REAL Day In The Life + Camera & Battery test!
Canoopsy

In Depth

Design

With a sleek design, the phone stands out due to its unbelievably thin 5.64mm profile, bringing an elegant touch and a modern feel. The premium titanium and glass construction ensures both strength and durability, making it resilient against everyday accidents.

Despite its lightweight nature, reviewers noted its solid build, with The Independent saying it “feels solid, with no creaking or movement” which helps users feel confident that it won’t bend under pressure.

The innovative design choices extend to a camera plateau housing key internals, leaving more room for the battery. It makes the device feel balanced and secure in your hand, justifying being one of Apple’s boldest designs yet.

Display(s)

The display on the iPhone Air stands out with a 6.5-inch OLED screen that shows off vivid colors and deep blacks, enriching your visual experience.

With Apple’s ProMotion technology, the screen adapts its refresh rate, providing fluid scrolling and responsiveness, enhancing everything from social media browsing to intense gaming.

Expert reviewers from The Independent noted, “It’s dazzlingly bright and easy to see and use everywhere,” so you’ll love its clarity even under direct sunlight.

Performance

The iPhone Air features the powerful A19 Pro chip, similar to that of the iPhone 17 Pro models, ensuring quick app launches and smooth processes. Its performance excels for typical daily tasks, even handling demanding games efficiently.

While it matches the latest iPhone 17 in CPU speed, it slightly lags in graphics performance, as noted by PCMag: “The Air […] falls behind in GPU power.” This does not hamper most regular phone usage, supporting seamless transitions and user interactions.

Users may experience occasional warmth during prolonged tasks, but the robust performance remains unaffected. Overall, the A19 Pro chip guarantees potent mobile computing in a slim, lightweight design.

Software & Storage

The iPhone Air provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface that lets you navigate apps seamlessly. The A19 Pro chip’s power ensures smooth performance, making each swipe and tap feel responsive.

With iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design, the phone’s interface becomes visually striking, adding depth to your interactions. Features like Live Translation and Visual Intelligence enhance everyday tasks with efficiency and ease.

David Phelan from The Independent highlighted its powerful software mix, praising its ease of use and effective integration of Apple’s tools.

Cameras

The iPhone Air features a solid 48MP Fusion rear camera that combines a full capture with a low-res image to produce natural-looking photos with high detail. Reviewers from The Independent praised its ability, noting “it can spot when it sees a person, dog, or cat and knows to save the depth information needed for a portrait shot automatically.” This single camera is perfect for everyday users focusing on capturing clear images without complex settings.

The Air also introduces an 18MP Center Stage selfie camera, which allows you to take photos in portrait or landscape orientation without moving the device. PCMag highlights its design as “really quite something,” which adds versatility and ease to taking selfies, especially in dynamic group or solo shots.

While the lack of multiple lenses like ultrawide might feel limiting, the iPhone Air’s camera system caters well to capturing your essential moments effortlessly, making it appealing for those appreciating simplicity in a premium design.

Battery

The phone’s battery life holds up under moderate use, ensuring one full day without issue. Reviewers note that this thin phone’s battery exceeds expectations, delivering decent endurance even in a compact form.

Charging options include support for Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack, which provides roughly 65% more power for busy days or travel. However, heavy use may demand a midday recharge, especially if you’re streaming or gaming extensively throughout the day.

Well optimized, the A19 Pro chipset plays a key role in extending battery life, fine-tuning energy usage with smart system management. While it’s not the longest-lasting option, the phone still performs admirably for light to standard daily usage.

Audio

The iPhone Air, despite having just one speaker, delivers a surprisingly vibrant and loud audio experience. Many reviewers note the clarity of the sound during calls and when watching videos or playing music, even if it doesn’t match the depth offered by stereo speakers.

“The speaker provides a surprising range,” remarked one reviewer, noting the impressive clarity during voice calls and media playback. This makes the iPhone Air well-suited for casual listening, voice calls, and streaming content.

Though not as powerful as the audio systems in some pricier models, those who prioritize portability over multiple speakers will appreciate its sound quality. The phone’s design allows for adequate volume and quality, ensuring you can enjoy your content without an external speaker.

The Bottom Line

This device offers a sleek design with a strikingly thin profile and a durable build using titanium and Ceramic Shield 2. It’s an ideal choice for those who prioritize style and portability, showing remarkable engineering in fitting strong performance within such a compact frame. The single camera delivers quality images, though it lacks the versatility of multiple lenses, which is worth considering if photography is a priority for you. As for battery, it could disappoint heavy users, providing only satisfactory all-day usage for lighter tasks.

While this model may not be the best for extensive photography or heavy gaming, it stands out in pocket-friendliness and comfort. Phone enthusiasts find the structural resilience reassuring, with one reviewer noting, “Apple’s thinnest phone ever is a marvel of engineering”. Overall, it’s a phone for early adopters fascinated by ultra-thin design over extensive functionalities.

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