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

[Christopher Kim]

I agree this looks nicer than many of the pre-renders / speculation had assumed. I'm seriously considering getting this, upgrading from my 15 Pro Max. It fits my needs, which is:

- I value the thinness / lightness of it while still having a bigger screen (in between the Pro and Pro Max screen sizes)
- You get the ProMotion (on a phone, I think it makes especially a huge difference)
- I primarily only use the Main wide camera lens anyways. In my normal life, I basically never use the 0.5x. And I'm mostly using 1x / 2x. I will miss the 5x Telephoto for certain times, but realistically that's probably <5% of my camera usage. So it's an acceptable loss
- Battery life: this will be the key thing I think for me. Apple claims that the Air has the same battery life as the previous generation 16 Pro did (27hr video / 22hr video streaming). The proof in the pudding will be whether that's also generally true for most people's typical use case throughout the day. If it is, it's still a loss in battery life over my 15PM, but over 2 years now, I rarely need the full battery life, as I charge overnight every night, and am typically at 40-50% anyways. So as long as Apple's "video streaming" estimate is pretty accurate, I think I could live with this 1 con
- Design and style look really nice. Especially in its first year debut, the "newness" of it, I'd be lying if I said it wouldn't add to the value of it...

 

[mlayer]

I'm leaning towards the Air and getting clear vinyl stickers to put on the sides when those become available. I hope that's sufficient.

 

[klasma]

And it’s likely one half of an iPhone ‘fold’

One half of the Fold would actually be nice, given its different aspect ratio and the likely shallower camera bump.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

It’s not 5.6mm thick.

 

[Sowelu]

I've always wondered (well, ever since the iPhone Air leaks surfaced) if this super thin iPhone was a product of their iPhone Fold R&D. You cannot have two thick slabs to fold together, so I don't think it's too farfetched to think that the iPhone Air was born out of the development of the slimming down tech slated to be used in iPhone fold. Since there will be two slabs, they can prob go even thinner (for each).

 

[mlayer]

I've always wondered (well, ever since the iPhone Air leaks surfaced) if this super thin iPhone was a product of their iPhone Fold R&D. You cannot have two thick slabs to fold together, so I don't think it's too farfetched to think that the iPhone Air was born out of the development of the slimming down tech slated to be used in iPhone fold. Since there will be two slabs, they can prob go even thinner (for each).

I wouldn't be surprised. The iPhone was supposedly borne of the original iPad efforts with the actual 1st gen iPad released years later. Apple loves to mine their previously developed tech to make new products, they just don't always release them.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

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.

I would guess that he meant to say that out of the 17 line of phones this year, it feels the most premium.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

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.

Don’t most use Bluetooth anyway, whether in their car or ear earbuds/headphones, or standalone Bluetooth speakers? Also, people have secondary devices like their tablet and laptop. So is it a huge step backward? Plus, that’s why there are other phones in the lineup, not just the air.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

Yes, that's a big disappointment for me, besides the huge camera and the weight being significantly heavier than rumored.

I think the weight in grams is light enough, but the real experience will be the feel in the hand and the visuals

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

I wonder how scratch-resistant it will be. Being this thin, you’d think everyone would like to use it without a case. Because adding a case or bumper mitigates the thinness of the phone and thus the whole point of the design.

Apple thought of that that’s why both sides of the phone will have the next generation ceramic shield. Time will tell.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

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

Worth is subjective and individual

 

[zkap]

This Air iPhone is quite the scam, I must say. Apple did really good work here.

On the one hand, many people are very enthusiastic about it because it brings us back to the good old days before Apple had lost its magic. I understand this, it makes sense. People are used to Apple wow-ing them and this is the only thing, by far the only thing, that could ever wow a reasonable person that watched the latest event. A very thin iPhone, as thin as the latest unreasonably thin iPad Pro, with machined shiny titanium edges.

But then you think about it. First, 999? That was the price point that, until a couple of days ago, gave you a premium iPhone, the best Apple had to offer, without compromises. Now, that price point requires you to compromise on, wait for it... battery life, camera and microphone. In a phone. Three massive compromises that gets you the iPhone that is still considerably inferior to what you could / can buy for that money if you look at the 16 series. Insane.

Apple basically took the iPhone 15/16 Pro, moved around some parts, packed a lot of tech into the upper part of the phone, slimmed down the lower part, took away a couple of lenses lol, and don't you worry about battery life we've got an accessory for that.

On the iPhone Air, Apple is selling pure aesthetics. This is what we have to look forward to. This iPhone doesn't have a shot of approaching the value of a 999 price point, and yet it's there. Tim must be masturbating all this time and I hope the sales of this model crashes.

 

[macjaffa]

This Air iPhone is quite the scam,

?? do go on.

I must say. Apple did really good work here.

On the one hand, many people are very enthusiastic about it because it brings us back to the good old days before Apple had lost its magic. I understand this, it makes sense. People are used to Apple wow-ing them and this is the only thing, by far the only thing, that could ever wow a reasonable person that watched the latest event. A very thin iPhone, as thin as the latest unreasonably thin iPad Pro, with machined shiny titanium edges.

Nice, i agree.

But then you think about it. First, 999? That was the price point that, until a couple of days ago, gave you a premium iPhone, the best Apple had to offer, without compromises. Now, that price point requires you to compromise on, wait for it... battery life, camera and microphone.

Prices of things are going up, News at 10. until a couple of days ago, yes, now a couple of days later, no. Also price doesn't really matter that much does it you just buy what you need. 999 / 1099 /899 it's all the same. Most people don't even buy their phone outright but over the course of 2 years.

You are equating the price point with the compromises of bat life camera and microphone. Bad logical argument. That is not the compromise. The compromise is size and weight.

In a phone. Three massive compromises that gets you the iPhone that is still considerably inferior to what you could / can buy for that money if you look at the 16 series. Insane.

Apple basically took the iPhone 15/16 Pro, moved around some parts, packed a lot of tech into the upper part of the phone, slimmed down the lower part, took away a couple of lenses lol, and don't you worry about battery life we've got an accessory for that.

And ?

On the iPhone Air, Apple is selling pure aesthetics. This is what we have to look forward to. This iPhone doesn't have a shot of approaching the value of a 999 price point, and yet it's there. Tim must be masturbating all this time and I hope the sales of this model crashes.

I am looking forward to getting an Air - why ? the 17 pros are brick weight like the 14 pro. Too heavy. The 17 is a decent phone for sure, but the air has a bigger screen, better chip and the bat life will not be a problem. And it weighs a somewhat semi respectable amount (less than a nokia from 1999, which is quite an acheivement for Tim Apple)

 

[bluecoast]

One half of the Fold would actually be nice, given its different aspect ratio and the likely shallower camera bump.

Hang on for a year and we’ll all find out!

 

[klasma]

Hang on for a year and we’ll all find out!

Well, I think weĺl only get the full Fold, not a half.

 

[zkap]

You are equating the price point with the compromises of bat life camera and microphone. Bad logical argument. That is not the compromise. The compromise is size and weight.

How is it a bad logical argument? You are getting less phone for the same price. Apple went from offering a no-compromise flagship for 999 to offering a phone that ticks less boxes and they charge the same money for it. Hopefully I can someday be in your position where 899, 999 and 1099 is all the same, bah whatever. Good for you.

I am not sure if you understand the meaning of the word compromise. Size and weight are the opposite of a compromise in the iPhone Air, because those are its selling points.

 

[macjaffa]

How is it a bad logical argument? You are getting less phone for the same price. Apple went from offering a no-compromise flagship for 999 to offering a phone that ticks less boxes and they charge the same money for it. Hopefully I can someday be in your position where 899, 999 and 1099 is all the same, bah whatever. Good for you.

I am not sure if you understand the meaning of the word compromise. Size and weight are the opposite of a compromise in the iPhone Air, because those are its selling points.

wow.

> Size and weight are the opposite of a compromise in the iPhone Air, because those are its selling points.

The size and weight are acheived via the compromise of removing the second cameras and speakers. So this is the compromise. Price is not a compromise, because price is independent. The device does not change if the price does. Price is what someone is willing to pay.

you say you are getting 'less phone, for same price' What does this mean ? The engineering and minituratistion which is what you are getting, costs more? Also they may sell fewer so the price is higher per unit ?

Far too many people ignore the slimness, thinnes, and weight ond dismiss it completely out of hand when in actual fact that is the MAIN POINT. Same thing happens with mac minis. Oh but you can get a <insert x86 box with 24TB and 64GB ram) for half the price. Well maybe but it it the same size?, no it's a tower. Oh ok then.

 

[Christopher Kim]

"Compromise" really depends on your use case.

Battery Life: This is a question mark for me - no question it'll be less than the base 17 & the Pros, but based on the other improvements, is it good enough for *my* use case?

Apple is claiming the "video playback battery life" of 27hrs/22hrs for the Air to be the same as last year's 16 Pro... The proof will be in the pudding here, as "video playback life" is this single point of reference stat. If in practice, for most people, the battery life is about the same as the 16 Pro, and it can get you through the day comfortably (not just when brand new, but 1-2yrs later with 90% health / 300-500+ cycles), then this isn't really a practical compromise unless you're a power-user of your phone (which I'm not). If anything, I am really trying to use my phone less / stay more present. And even ~2 years in with my 15 Pro Max, I regularly finish the day with 50%+ battery life left and charge overnight.

Speakers: I never use my iPhone's speakers, as I'm always using either my AirPods on-the-go, or playing music out of my Sonos speakers, so this isn't a compromise for me.

Camera: 95% of my photos (basically just normal stuff, family photos with kids, etc.) uses the main wide-angle lens, 1x and 2x. 5% of the time I've used my 5x Telephoto on my 15 Pro Max. 0.1% of the time I use the 0.5x. There may be a few instances where I might miss a true Telephoto (now 4x), but I think the vast majority of the time, I'll be fine with the 1x lens (and 2x crop to 12MP).

So overall, for me (and I would think a reasonable subset of users), the compromise is minimal. But you get the ultra-thin, premium feeling phone, with a screen-size in between the Pro and Pro Max (and with ProMotion). I do think "feeling will be believing" - the initial reviews seem to widely say that once you feel it in your hands, there's something about it that changes people's views from pics / specs.

 

[zkap]

> Size and weight are the opposite of a compromise in the iPhone Air, because those are its selling points.

The size and weight are acheived via the compromise of removing the second cameras and speakers. So this is the compromise. Price is not a compromise, because price is independent. The device does not change if the price does. Price is what someone is willing to pay.

you say you are getting 'less phone, for same price' What does this mean ?

Ouch.

Nevermind, carry on.

 

[oh_no_not_again]

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"

Came here to say exactly this. The last good iPhone design was the one used for the 5, 5S and SE1. It’s no coincidence that this was the last iPhone design overseen by Steve Jobs. Design wise it’s all been downhill from there.

And for those who say small phones don’t sell because the mini didn’t sell: the mini wasn’t small enough for its size to be a major selling point. Put 2025 technology in an SE1 case and you’d have a killer phone. Keep the bezel at the top so you can fit a decent camera into a 7.6mm body and extend the screen down to the bottom; there’s loads of space inside for more battery too. If they’re clever they could even make it lighter than the SE1 and claim the lightest iPhone ever.

 

[Musocat]

I'm getting an air. I have a real camera that's far better than any phone cam and I'm not pretty enough to take selfies all day. So all I use the phone camera for is food pics lol.

 

[macjaffa]

Came here to say exactly this. The last good iPhone design was the one used for the 5, 5S and SE1. It’s no coincidence that this was the last iPhone design overseen by Steve Jobs. Design wise it’s all been downhill from there.

And for those who say small phones don’t sell because the mini didn’t sell: the mini wasn’t small enough for its size to be a major selling point. Put 2025 technology in an SE1 case and you’d have a killer phone. Keep the bezel at the top so you can fit a decent camera into a 7.6mm body and extend the screen down to the bottom; there’s loads of space inside for more battery too. If they’re clever they could even make it lighter than the SE1 and claim the lightest iPhone ever.

Tim Apple clearly missed a trick or 2. He should hire you as head of iPhone development.