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iPhone Air Review: One Year With Apple's Super Thin $999 iPhone

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It's been almost 12 months since Apple launched the iPhone Air, and because MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using it daily since launch, he decided to do a one-year review covering what it's like using Apple's super-thin iPhone on a long-term basis.


The iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone Apple has released to date, and the form factor doesn't get old. It's pocketable, can be used with one hand, and it's much lighter than the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. There's not much compromise on screen size since it has a 6.5-inch OLED display.

Apple used a smaller battery in the iPhone Air, and it doesn't last as long as the iPhone 17 Pro models. Some people might be able to get through the day on a single charge, but others will need an external battery pack like the one Apple built for the iPhone Air.

There's a single camera, which is one of the compromises with Apple's super-thin iPhone. You only get the Wide lens, with no option for the Ultra Wide or Telephoto lenses that come with the other iPhone 17 models. No Ultra Wide also means no macro images.

Price was and continues to be the biggest iPhone Air issue. At $999, it's more expensive than the iPhone 17, which has two cameras and nearly the same processor, and only $100 less than the three-camera iPhone 17 Pro. The iPhone Air's price wasn't worth it to a lot of people, and rumors suggest that it didn't sell well.

Make sure to watch Dan's video to see all of his thoughts on the iPhone Air.

Article Link: iPhone Air Review: One Year With Apple's Super Thin $999 iPhone
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/01/iphone-air-one-year-review/
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Reactions: BigMcGuire
I’m ever hopeful for an Air 2 with ultrawide and telephoto. In a world where my iPhone has mainly become a camera and a Duolingo device, it’s literally only the camera deficit that stopped me buying this as my next phone.
 
I love my iphone air but I'm only getting about 4 hours and 30 minutes of SoT on iOS 27 beta. Crossing my fingers that this improves when it's released. Probably gonna try a clean install at that point.
 
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Reactions: new2iphone
To echo others, it’s by far the best iPhone I’ve ever owned:

-Super easy to hold, use and pocket
-Large screen that works for everything from browsing to reading to light work tasks
-Durable finish and materials - first iPhone I’m confident using without a case. Mine has zero scratches after a year.

The entire framing of the iPhone Air as missing “features” was wrong. It has the MOST important features in a mobile device - light weight, thin profile, fast processor and large screen. Sure, some may need a bigger battery or more cameras, but people are way too fixated on those aspects and miss the overall experience. The truth is the opposite of popular onion: iPhone Air is the PRACTICAL choice for those who want a phone that easy to use day to day, while iPhone Pro is the FLASHY choice for those who want to show off that they have the best specs. To be fair, they are both great phones - the Air just never deserved the hate it got.
 
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It’s the best current iphone, but I still think the iphone XS was peak. Hopefully the iPhone XX will be close in dimensions and feel.
 
It felt slightly too large in hand for me. I would have preferred the screen size of the iPhone 17 pro. But, a second photo lens and stereo sound would make this a little more compelling for me.
 

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best iPhone I've had. on year in not a scratch on it. its tough, lite, thin. yes ok the camera is not the best but it is still very good.
 
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While a smartphone having a lighter weight is a factor in comfortability in the hand, having a narrower width is a bigger factor in that. The iPhone Air is too wide for comfortability in the hand. That’s why the narrower-width iPhone 17e is significantly more comfortable in the hand in comparison to the iPhone Air, despite the iPhone 17e not being as light as the iPhone Air
 
I have been using it for a year. Went from 13 Pro Max to the Air. Really love it. Hope they add a second camera, but other than that, I can’t complain. I love this device. It’s perfect for me and it’s a niche product but works for me. The form factor never gets old.
 
Dan, did you pay for the phone yourself, or was the phone a business expense. I think if you are going to complain about the price, you should answer the question for the viewers.
 
If it didn't have those shortcomings I would've pulled the trigger on one. But I can't stand the mono audio (yes, I actually use the phone speakers).
 
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Simmias said:
To echo others, it’s by far the best iPhone I’ve ever owned:

-Super easy to hold, use and pocket
-Large screen that works for everything from browsing to reading to light work tasks
-Durable finish and materials - first iPhone I’m confident using without a case. Mine has zero scratches after a year.

The entire framing of the iPhone Air as missing “features” was wrong. It has the MOST important features in a mobile device - light weight, thin profile, fast processor and large screen. Sure, some may need a bigger battery or more cameras, but people are way too fixated on those aspects and miss the overall experience. The truth is the opposite of popular onion: iPhone Air is the PRACTICAL choice for those who want a phone that easy to use day to day, while iPhone Pro is the FLASHY choice for those who want to show off that they have the best specs. To be fair, they are both great phones - the Air just never deserved the hate it got.
Click to expand...
So, battery life isn’t important in a smartphone? A modern camera SYSTEM and not just a single lens with reduced features isn’t important?

I beg to differ.
 
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