iPhone Air First Look: Apple's Thinnest iPhone Feels Premium

[ZiBart]

I guess the days of Apple coming out with something later excuse with something better is over.
The S25 EDGE beats it. 5.65mm vs 5.8mm. 163gm vs 165gms. 6.7 I inch vs 6.5 inch. One camera vs 2.
Apple is rumored to be coming out with a fold, flip, ring etc. Samsung has them. Now.
Apple is being left behind. Sad really. They used to be good.

They keep the hardware race within enough range of Samsung so that Apple's entire ecosystem, support, marketing and brand makes up that gap and more.

The iPhone Air will smoke the Edge in many other categories that are more important even if one can look past Android and Samsung's skins and repetitive apps. How many Folds did Samsung need to release to finally get something with a form factor that's appealing... 7? Apple may take a generation or two to refine a new form factor if not already refined at first release.

 

[x-evil-x]

This is the best looking phone they have this year. The back is simple and I like the layout of the camera bump the best. I feel like I don’t need a pro anymore after the 120hz across all lines now. Would I miss the other camera’s? I don’t think so. I also don’t use cases.
Still unsure which one I want but I think the air is it for me

 

[citysnaps]

Obviously there are people who want this phone... and I hope those of you who do, enjoy it immensely. But, personally, I can't say I've ever thought "darn my iPhone is just TOO THICK" for even a moment.

I think that every time I put my silicone cased 16PM back in the pocket of shirts I like to wear. Thus... my consideration of a 17 Air.

 

[daveymacdaveface]

I think the Air is a proof-of-concept in thinness in what will eventually be used in their folding phone.

 

[NotApplicable]

I guess the days of Apple coming out with something later excuse with something better is over.
The S25 EDGE beats it. 5.65mm vs 5.8mm. 163gm vs 165gms. 6.7 I inch vs 6.5 inch. One camera vs 2.
Apple is rumored to be coming out with a fold, flip, ring etc. Samsung has them. Now.
Apple is being left behind. Sad really. They used to be good.

Confused. The edge is 5.8mm. The Air is 5.6mm. The edge does indeed beat it, if thickness is the goal.

But realistically VERY FEW are cross shopping the edge with the air. You’re in one ecosystem or the other.

 

[barfingclouds]

My carpal tunnel syndrome in my wrists hurts just looking at it.

 

[TheMountainLife]

The title of this is a little odd to me. Everything apple does, even going back to the iPhone 5C and before, feels premium. They are known for producing products that feel expensive. So proclaiming that the Air is premium seems obvious.

That's exactly why I thought using the words gorgeous and awe dropping felt like ingenuine marketing buzzwords. However I do look forward to the teardown

 

[klasma]

I associate glossy surfaces with cheap bling, so the look of the Air isn't for me.

The camera is more than doubling the thickness. It also makes the iPhone Air wobble on surfaces (watch The Verge video on YouTube).

The weight is pretty much the same as the 16e, so unless you specifically want a larger screen, there's no point to the Air in terms of lightness.

 

[akula1488]

I will gladly pay at price point above Pro Max for iPhone Air Pro with 3 rear cameras.

 

[zilchfox]

I'm in absolute love with the way it looks, can't wait to see how it feels in my hand, and it's the model I'm definitely getting. I only had two hard requirements for it, and that was ProMotion and Always-On Display, and they got both of those. In addition, the fact it will have better battery than my iPhone 15 Pro, which was already sufficient for me, is fantastic. Don't even care about the cameras, I've never been a picture person.

 

[1984]

Personally I feel like it is a pointless product with the huge camera bump. But that is just me. I dont care for the bump on any of the lineupS for ages. But bragging about how thin your phone is, when actually it looks 2x to 3x thicker than the number you conveniently measure for your marketing team you is just stupid. Does anyone know the measurement for the thickest part of the phone?

Based on the measurements of the Beats case it would appear the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 have the same thickness at the camera bump. Once you put it in the case they’re going to be the same. I would much rather see a mini with a 5.8 inch screen.

 

[TheMountainLife]

I associate glossy surfaces with cheap bling, so the look of the Air isn't for me.

The camera is more than doubling the thickness. It also makes the iPhone Air wobble on surfaces (watch The Verge video on YouTube).

The weight is pretty much the same as the 16e, so unless you specifically want a larger screen, there's no point to the Air in terms of lightness.

Fancy marketing aside I can see its uses. Since the bulk of phones I have to wear looser fitting pants and shorts so its easier to slide in and out. I miss the mini form factor and the ones before it since allowed for accessories like wallet cases for a night out or putting it in my shirt pocket to talk to someone if my hands were busy.

 

[Hajj.david]

Based on the measurements of the Beats case it would appear the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 have the same thickness at the camera bump. Once you put it in the case they’re going to be the same. I would much rather see a mini with a 5.8 inch screen.

Then obviously don't put it in a case... not complicated.

I associate glossy surfaces with cheap bling, so the look of the Air isn't for me.

The camera is more than doubling the thickness. It also makes the iPhone Air wobble on surfaces (watch The Verge video on YouTube).

The weight is pretty much the same as the 16e, so unless you specifically want a larger screen, there's no point to the Air in terms of lightness.

Thats the point a large screen while being incredibly thin and light. Not to mention its a pro phone in terms of the 120 hz screen, latest processors, etc.

 

[Hajj.david]

Fancy marketing aside I can see its uses. Since the bulk of phones I have to wear looser fitting pants and shorts so its easier to slide in and out. I miss the mini form factor and the ones before it since allowed for accessories like wallet cases for a night out or putting it in my shirt pocket to talk to someone if my hands were busy.

This guy gets it, I hate how much my 14 pro max causes my pants and shirts to sag

 

[TheMountainLife]

This guy gets it, I hate how much my 14 pro max causes my pants and shirts to sag

Yep! I was at a semi formal event last week and looking over the photos you can tell who has their phone on them. I use my back pocket and a slim wallet otherwise it gives the illusion I have wide hips lol

 

[turbineseaplane]

Fancy marketing aside I can see its uses. Since the bulk of phones I have to wear looser fitting pants and shorts so its easier to slide in and out. I miss the mini form factor and the ones before it since allowed for accessories like wallet cases for a night out or putting it in my shirt pocket to talk to someone if my hands were busy.

I loved how the SE1 just disappeared in pockets. Tiny and so light.

An excellent tool.

 

[coolkid93]

i feel like they made the pros ugly and less satisfying with colors to go for this. Plus this being titanium yeah it’s a plus but getting a pro the more expensive option should have the higher quality material where this does now, and it’s within reason lol.

 

[Westside guy]

I think that every time I put my silicone cased 16PM back in the pocket of shirts I like to wear. Thus... my consideration of a 17 Air.

You carry your phone in your shirt pocket, you say? 😁

 

[SlowCarBoost]

I guess the days of Apple coming out with something later excuse with something better is over.
The S25 EDGE beats it. 5.65mm vs 5.8mm. 163gm vs 165gms. 6.7 I inch vs 6.5 inch. One camera vs 2.
Apple is rumored to be coming out with a fold, flip, ring etc. Samsung has them. Now.
Apple is being left behind. Sad really. They used to be good.

The Air is the thinner phone.

 

[uacd]

This guy gets it, I hate how much my 14 pro max causes my pants and shirts to sag

Modern iPhones are made for geeks, not real users.

Mini form factor must come back. I don’t have many hopes it ever will, though. But online trends happen, who knows… maybe tomorrow tiktokers rediscover old iPhones and tell everyone “they are sooo convenient!!”.

Mini>Air for me personally

 

[Oblivious.Robot]

It does look better than what the renders suggested, but the camera and battery life leave a lot to be desired. Wish there was a 17 Plus, just gonna have to wait for next year I suppose.

 

[NativeMac]

it looks beautiful. i love the polished sides. but a single speaker and that unimpressive camera are misses imo. i wonder whether or not this thing is top heavy.

Woah I didn’t even realize it had only 1 speaker. No stereo speakers is a no-go for me. That is a huge step backward. I would have preferred no USB port and a second speaker instead of this setup.

 

[klasma]

Fancy marketing aside I can see its uses. Since the bulk of phones I have to wear looser fitting pants and shorts so its easier to slide in and out. I miss the mini form factor and the ones before it since allowed for accessories like wallet cases for a night out or putting it in my shirt pocket to talk to someone if my hands were busy.

I ordered an Air dummy model from China two months ago to see how it feels like compared to the mini, and despite its thinness I found it to be bulkier than the mini in pockets.

Thats the point a large screen while being incredibly thin and light.

The Air is 27% thinner and 17% lighter than the 16 Plus. Given that the latter has a larger screen, and also being used to the even thinner iPad Pro and the much lighter iPhone mini (and the much, much lighter iPhone SE 1), I find "incredibly thin and light" to be overstated. Sure, if you want a larger-screen iPhone, it's the thinnest and lightest available.

 

[rp2011]

Yeah the mock-ups didn't do it justice. This thing SCREAMS high-end. The slickest looking thing I have seen in a long time. The Pros look amazing as well. The design team knocked these out of the park.

 

[Rogifan]

I wonder why they decided to make the sides polished/shiny. Seems like a fingerprint magnet.