If you count the lenses, you’ve misjudged the iPhone Air.
I’ve been using it for a month and it’s the first iPhone in a long time that has really changed the way I use my phone on a daily basis.
Not because of any flashy new features, but because of how it feels in your hand and how quickly you stop thinking about it.
Get the latest news with the 7NEWS app: download now
This is important because it seems like Apple is experimenting with the form factor again.
We’ve been hearing rumors of a foldable iPhone for years, and while no one knows exactly when it will arrive, the iPhone Air seems like a step in that direction.
Much of the initial criticism focused on one thing: the camera.
Rear lens. No super wide. There is no dedicated telephoto lens.
At a price like this starting at $1,799, many are wondering what Apple is thinking. And on paper, such a reaction makes sense.
Compared to the Pro model, the spec list seems simplified. But that approach misses what this phone is actually trying to do.
A warm-up for what’s to come
Before talking about the camera or performance, the iPhone Air makes the most sense when you look at where Apple is going.
We keep hearing about clean screens, fewer bezels, more AI running on the phone, and finally a foldable iPhone.
But before Apple can achieve that, it needs to prove that it can make the iPhone thinner and lighter without compromising the everyday experience.
This is where Air seems like a test. When a phone is that thin, you can’t just shrink the whole thing down.
A camera part can only go so far before image quality drops. Batteries don’t like being squeezed. Fries still need room to stay cold.
This camera shot actually explains a lot of things. Instead of shrinking the camera and making it worse, Apple kept it full size and made more efficient use of the space inside the phone. Fewer glasses, tighter backpacks and a focus on everyday things.
Design and construction: royal title
This is where the iPhone Air lives or dies.
The first time I took it out to dinner, I honestly thought I had left my phone at home.
I kept checking my pocket because it just wasn’t there like usual. As I went out to answer the message, I was caught off guard by a light sensation. At 5.6 millimeters thick and weighing 165 grams, it hardly looks like an iPhone.
This lightness changes the way of use. Typing with one hand is easy.
Taking a quick photo without moving it in your hand feels natural. It’s not so big in your pocket, you forget it’s there and you don’t feel like constantly taking it out.
I thought about durability and used a cover, but it was a bumper. I use a protective case because it protects the air from all the vibrations.
It doesn’t wrap around your back like a heavy bag, it’s mostly there to hit edges and corners when you drop it. I would still use a screen protector if you are nervous.
Despite this, it still feels thinner than what I’ve been using for years. And after a few weeks, it’s still a little crazy to take the iPhone out of your pocket and realize how light it is.
Camera: Less hardware, more philosophy
Here is the loudest Internet noise.
On the back, you have a 48-megapixel primary camera. So the rear lens. No super wide. There is no dedicated telephoto lens.
You still get Apple’s 2x optical quality option from the main camera, but it’s a different setup for the Pro model. If you’re used to clicking between lenses every time you take a photo, this might seem like a step backwards.
But after a month, the meaning became clear. This camera is simple. You aim, shoot and move. The main sensor is durable, reliable and handles the many photos most people take every day without you having to think about it.
There’s also a sneaky detail Apple talked about during the presentation that’s easy to overlook: the Center Stage front-facing camera.
The selfie camera takes wider photos than expected, and Center Stage automatically keeps you in the frame in videos. For group selfies, quick travel moments or regular clips, it covers a lot more than you think. It’s not the same as having an extra-wide rear end, but it protects you more often than you think.
If you like to zoom in, zoom out, or constantly change your lens, this is not the iPhone for you. But if you want good, no-nonsense photos and videos, it does the job just fine.
Battery life is another thing that bothers me.
Battery life is good, especially considering how thin this phone is. You’ll comfortably get through a full day of normal use without worry, which is really what you need here.
However, my biggest personal weakness is not stamina. There was an idea to add a MagSafe battery to it from Apple. Yes, it expands its use, but it also completely defeats the purpose of this challenge. You spend all that time enjoying the light, smooth air, then you stick a big battery in the back and you cancel the whole experience.
Screen and speed: nothing to think about
This is the part of the review where no one gets in the way, and that’s the point.
The screen is a 6.5-inch OLED screen with ProMotion 120Hz, which in real life means it’s big enough for videos, reading and maps, and scrolling feels smooth. It doesn’t feel bulky, it’s still easy to use with one hand, and nothing gets in your way. He’s just doing his job.
Same story with speed. It’s powered by Apple’s latest A-series chip, so apps open instantly, switching between things is easy, and nothing feels slow or clunky. You don’t think about performance, you don’t think about the screen, and that’s exactly how it should be.
Day in and day out, it all fades into the background, which sounds sad, but really lets the lightness and form factor speak for themselves.
Flip Phone: Who Won the Race?
2025 is the year when pleats stop being a party.
The Galaxy Z Fold7 is a clear sign that Samsung finally got the form factor right: thinner, lighter, cleaner hinges and a screen that feels premium. Samsung is even promoting it with a 200MP Ultra camera, which isn’t a “folding means camera damage” story.
Google’s latest model is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and its unique advantage is the first Gemini experience built into a phone, which is even better on the larger internal screen.
And the latest from Honor is the Magic V5, a relentless pursuit of something: thin (with a “world’s thinnest” claim for a certain model) while still being premium.
Samsung is also seen playing with triple prototypes and patents, which is a strong indication that the next phase of the category has been built.
Who is the iPhone Air really for?
This is not a special iPhone. It’s not about having the most cameras or the most specs.
The iPhone Air is designed for people who want their iPhone to be thin and light without leaving the Apple ecosystem. If you like the way iPhones work, use Apple services, and want something easier to carry and use every day, this makes sense.
You trade extra lenses and hardware flexibility for a phone that fits better in your pocket and hand. And after living with it, I was very impressed with how well Apple managed to fit this thin thing.
