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

[freezelighter]

I really like the thinner design, its only 20grams less than my iPhone 15 Pro though. And its 6.1 inches and I'm a smaller phone type of guy (I came from the 13 mini).

And only 5g less than the iPhone 16.
They made both iPhone 17 and 17 Pro heavier again so people get excited when they show the weight of the Air.
It's a simple customer manipulation.

The Air could be a simple iPhone 17 if they would make it 2mm thinner.
Instead, they even increased the size which is a no go since I saw the renders for the first time.

Air should be half-weight of 17 and also smaller than 17.

 

[matt_and_187_like_this]

First iPhone to look like an iPhone in years.

 

[DanielPrice]

An iPhone 17 plus would of been more compelling tbh, Air is not worth the high price

 

[turbineseaplane]

What's so "Air" about it?
The camera bump is 9.5mm thick --- you don't just get to "not count that", Apple.

The SE1 was 123.8mm x 58.6mm and only 7.6mm thick, all the way (flat back)
...and only 113 grams of weight ..

The SE1 is and was the real "iPhone Air"


SE1 specs

 

[turbineseaplane]

To me "Air" is about weight

This is 24g heavier than a 13 Mini

Nothing "Air" about it.

 

[Apple_Robert]

To me "Air" is about weight

This is 24g heavier than a 13 Mini

Nothing "Air" about it.

Apple no longer sells the mini much less the SE1 so, using those for comparison for a new model is not equitable. The Air model is Air compared to the other models currently being offered. That is the point.

 

[ghostface147]

I want the mini back!!! Why are they so focused on thinness and not footprint?

Because sales overwhelmingly showed that no one bought enough mini models to justify R&D over and over. It’s like manual transmissions in cars. Enthusiasts want them, but the masses don’t. You’re the enthusiast.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Because sales overwhelmingly showed that no one bought enough mini models to justify R&D over and over. It’s like manual transmissions in cars. Enthusiasts want them, but the masses don’t. You’re the enthusiast.

Can we ever try again to test that thesis?

It's coming up on half a decade ago.

At some point, it's not relevant or useful to just say "nobody wants it" when it hasn't been tested anytime recently.

Also, the phones just keeping getting larger.
A "Mini" now might have a nearly 6" screen.

I find it hard to believe there is no market worth addressing for a thin and light and reasonably affordable new iPhone in the 5.5-5.8" screen size range.

 

[freezelighter]

Apple no longer sells the mini much less the SE1 so, using those for comparison for a new model is not equitable. The Air model is Air compared to the other models currently being offered. That is the point.

They made both iPhone 17 and 17 Pro heavier again so people get excited when they show the weight of the Air.
There is no iPhone Air out there.
Only a simple customer manipulation.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Apple no longer sells the mini much less the SE1 so, using those for comparison for a new model is not equitable. The Air model is Air compared to the other models currently being offered. That is the point.

That's like getting fat ... and then a few years in losing some of the weight and declaring yourself "thinnest ever!"

How Apple iPhones used to be is 100% relevant here.

 

[freezelighter]

Because sales overwhelmingly showed that no one bought enough mini models to justify R&D over and over. It’s like manual transmissions in cars. Enthusiasts want them, but the masses don’t. You’re the enthusiast.

And you really believe that sales report?
Seeing all those millions of people – myself included – who are eager for the next Mini, I seriously doubt the sales were that bad.
Bigger phones sell for bigger money.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Bigger phones sell for bigger money.

This is all it's about.

They sold plenty of Minis ... just not UBER GOBBLES of them at HUUUGELY prices and margins.

All Tim is about is maximus moneyish

 

[Abazigal]

I want the mini back!!! Why are they so focused on thinness and not footprint?

My theory is that Apple kinda marketed themselves into a corner by tying screen size and price together. Like the implication was that the larger the screen size of a device, the more "premium" it is, and the higher price it commands.

Like how the apple watch ultra is a larger and more expensive Apple Watch.

The inverse of this is that Apple has a harder time charging a higher price for a smaller device like the iPad mini or the iPhone mini. It seems like the iPhone plus doesn't seem to have done very well either, so the quest to find that ideal form factor with a price range between the base iPhone and the pro model continues, I guess. 😬

 

[Apple_Robert]

That's like getting fat ... and then a few years in losing some of the weight and declaring yourself "thinnest ever!"

How Apple iPhones used to be is 100% relevant here.

Trends change. I like a small phone but, I realize that the majority of people no longer want to use a phone the way it used to be. As such, I do my best to adapt to what is currently offered and I don't compare the size of what is to the size of what was, when what was is no longer sold.

My previous post stated that the Air is the thinnest and lightest of the current offerings. That is a fact. Whether or not a lot of people will use the Air, is a different part of the sales based puzzle.

 

[Apple_Robert]

My theory is that Apple kinda marketed themselves into a corner by tying screen size and price together. Like the implication was that the larger the screen size of a device, the more "premium" it is, and the higher price it commands.

Like how the apple watch ultra is a larger and more expensive Apple Watch.

The inverse of this is that Apple has a harder time charging a higher price for a smaller device like the iPad mini or the iPhone mini. It seems like the iPhone plus doesn't seem to have done very well either, so the quest to find that ideal form factor with a price range between the base iPhone and the pro model continues, I guess. 😬

That is a good point about screen size to cost by Apple. They have given that impression.

 

[macjaffa]

What's so "Air" about it?
The camera bump is 9.5mm thick --- you don't just get to "not count that", Apple.

> The camera bump is 9.5mm thick --- you don't just get to "not count that", Apple.

sure they do. They don't need to count it if they dont want to. That's also not the bit of the phone you hold, so the phone will seem slimmer even if you 'count that' thicker bit. It's just like the OG iphone was tapered towards the edges, and the mac book air was tapered. Yes when measured on a ruler it is 'thicker' in the middle, but when held in the hand it feels much thinner. All you guys are so paper specs focused its ridiculous.

 

[citysnaps]

> The camera bump is 9.5mm thick --- you don't just get to "not count that", Apple.

sure they do. They don't need to count it if they dont want to. That's also not the bit of the phone you hold, so the phone will seem slimmer even if you 'count that' thicker bit. It's just like the OG iphone was tapered towards the edges, and the mac book air was tapered. Yes when measured on a ruler it is 'thicker' in the middle, but when held in the hand it feels much thinner. All you guys are so paper specs focused its ridiculous.

Spot-on. I've never held my phone by the camera bump. And when my 16PM is in my shirt pocket the bump is *above* the pocket opening.

The camera bump is just another feel-good cudgel for some people to go non-linear on Apple.


"All you guys are so paper specs focused its ridiculous."

Yep.

 

[ZiBart]

I like the thin form factor but like others have said, it feels like step 1 of the transition to similar thinness across the entire lineup and a fold. Its a hard sell for me just based on thinness and weight with all the other big compromises vs the cheaper 17 and slightly more expensive 17 pro. A 0.2 screen difference is so negligible. I feel like Apple knew this and tried to throw in Titanium and a crippled A19 Pro (some saying will perform worse then the base A19) just to justify the higher pricing vs the better spec’d and cheaper 17. If they made the screen 6.7 to 6.9” (a true Plus replacement) and slightly better battery because a bigger screen, and the inclusion of Ultra-wide and Macro, would make more sense to me. While getting rid of titanium and downgrading to a base a19 chip, to save costs.

 

[mlayer]

H

Honestly, the iPhone Air should be the regular iPhone.

Solves the "gap-issue" up to the Pro's. Gives the majority of people more than they actually need anyway.

Makes the decision much easier for everyone.

That may be the trajectory. Phones should get lighter and more capable over time due to technology. While I like the 12 series forward and much of the post-Ive design work, it leaned too much towards utilitarian bulk. If the MacBook Air can become the most popular Mac, why not the iPhone Air for the iPhone?

 

[Arran]

One more camera we'd be having a totally different conversation.

That’ll be added back in the 2026 Air. LiDAR on the ‘27.

 

[Sandstorm]

Currently I’m happy with my iPhone 15 Pro Max in natural titanium. I love the design and it still works great, but the noticeably shorter battery life after two years is the main reason I’ve been considering an upgrade. Personally, I find the new 17 Pros shockingly ugly—though maybe I’ll change my mind once I see them in person. Design and thinness wise, I was also tempted by the Air, but the lack of an ultra-wide camera is a dealbreaker since I love shooting ultra-wide photos. The battery life and single speaker also don’t make the Air any more appealing.

 

[Entilzha]

I have to admit, the Air is impressive. But…I take a lot of close up photos and the lack of macro photography is genuinely a dealbreaker.

It’s a shame. I really like the concept, but this one thing makes it a no-go for me. :/

 

[Momento_Mori]

While the Air is a capable top class phone to some degree it is about “form over function”.

I love the glow of the milky white appearance. It’s reminiscent of the white iPhone 4 which was visually stunning. It’s a flagship phone without the best available camera. So, if having the best camera available on an iPhone isn’t important or necessary the Air could be the perfect alternative depending upon one’s needs.

Bathed in a milky sheen, the phone seems to glow with a spectral grace.

And let’s not forget.

“It is in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough—it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our heart sing.”

- Steve Jobs

 

[rp2011]

it looks so nice, but feels really 1st gen to me. Not sure if I should get it. Going to wait for the reviews.

Yeah the Air would give me battery life anxiety and not for me for that reason. But boy does this thing look ultra premium. I would send it straight to the Museum of Modern Art to live and be appreciated among other great design objects. It is absolutely a design instant classic.

 

[Sowelu]

Love the iPhone Air, but I hate the polished sides and putting it in a case kind of ruins it for me, even Apple's bumper case, which should have been more of a super thin Air bumper case, not a traditional one. The bumper case will still add bulk to it which kind of takes away from its selling point, the thinness of it all.

As for the polished metal sides, I think aesthetically it would've looked better (and thinner) with body color or slightly contrasting matte sides. A thin slab of titanium. However, I am wondering if they went with the polished sides for better grip as matte sides would make a very thin phone more slippery and harder to hold.

Anyone who buys an iPhone Air just to slap a case on it is kind of defeating its purpose, Apple probably knows this and may be estimating that the Air may be the iPhone that sees less case usage, and the polished sides may have been their attempt to make it less slippery to hold and to add more bling to showcase the new design for other potential customers to see.

However, I am sure most people will still put the iPhone Air in a case and still enjoy its thinness compared to the larger iPhones in cases as it will still be relatively thinner by comparison, it will just lose that 'wow' thin-factor at first glance. Even Apple's bumper case wipes out the overall thinness visually. I wish they would've made a bumper that was also super thin with just a light edge-raise all around with an accompanying and matching little silicon camera ring.

Speaking of bumper cases, I also wish Apple would've released them for the entire iPhone lineup.