Not going to lie. When word came that Apple was entering the slim Olympics, I figured it would half-commit and call it a day. Turns out I was dead wrong. Apple not only went all in, it actually dethroned the reigning champ of skinny, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. The new iPhone Air measures just 5.64 mm thick and tips the scale at a feathery 165 g. Wow. Apple actually took on its competition and came out on top. That’s newsworthy for the Apple of the last decade.
So, what’s hiding inside this titanium breadstick? Quite a bit. The iPhone Air packs a 6.5-inch (16.5 cm) Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion up to 120 Hz, pushing 3000 nits peak brightness outdoors—brighter than most car headlights at dawn. It is fronted by Ceramic Shield 2 with 3x better scratch resistance, while the back is also shielded for the first time, delivering 4x better crack resistance. Despite being skinny, it still manages all-day battery life, helped by the A19 Pro chip alongside Apple’s N1 wireless and C1X modem. That combo makes it the most power-efficient iPhone ever.
The camera system is no diet version either. A 48 MP Fusion Main gives you multiple focal lengths, while the Ultra Wide and 2x Telephoto bring macro shots and more detail in low light. The front gets the quirky new 18 MP square Center Stage camera that shoots in portrait or landscape without gymnastics. Video recording goes up to 4K60 Dolby Vision with Spatial Audio.
Extras include an Action button, Camera Control shortcut, eSIM-only design, IP68 water resistance (6 m for 30 minutes), and compatibility with a whole line of ultra-thin accessories like the Air Bumper and MagSafe Battery.
Pre-orders open September 12, with availability starting September 19. iPhone Air starts at 999 US dollars, which is a lot of dollars, but hey, at least this time, you’d be paying something that is actually new and could be called innovative.
The iPhone Air joins the new iPhone 17, which is running without a Plus model this time. And no, it does not have a number to it. I looked.
Images: Apple.
