Apple iPhone Air

Apple introduces the iPhone Air as its thinnest iPhone ever, with a focus on combining pro-level performance in a remarkably slim form. It joins the iPhone 17 family, and in Australia it became available for pre-order from 12 September 2025, with in-store availability from 19 September 2025. Its starting RRP in Australia is A$1,799 for the 256 GB configuration, with higher prices for 512 GB and 1 TB models.

The engineering emphasis is immediately obvious in the dimensions. The iPhone Air measures just 5.64 mm in depth, with a height of 156.2 mm and width of 74.7 mm, and a weight of 165 grams. To achieve that thinness without sacrificing rigidity or strength, Apple uses a grade-5 titanium frame paired with Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and a Ceramic Shield back. This combination aims to offer better scratch resistance than older glass designs while keeping the whole device light yet hard in daily handling. The phone carries an IP68 rating, meaning it is rated for immersion in up to 6 metres of water for 30 minutes (under controlled conditions).

The display is a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel delivering high visual quality. It supports ProMotion with adaptive refresh rates up to 120 Hz and an Always-On mode, so the screen remains partially active to show time, notifications or widgets without waking the full interface. Its resolution is 2,736 by 1,260, giving a pixel density of 460 ppi. In typical use the brightness reaches 1,000 nits, in HDR up to 1,600 nits, and in bright outdoor conditions it can peak at 3,000 nits. Apple also applies anti-reflective coatings and an oleophobic (fingerprint-resistant) surface to improve visibility under varied lighting.

Inside, the iPhone Air is powered by the A19 Pro chip — the same silicon used in the iPhone 17 Pro line, albeit tuned for efficiency in this thinner frame. Apple also incorporates its N1 chip (which handles Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Thread) and the new C1X modem for cellular connectivity. Storage options include 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB. In software, the iPhone Air supports Apple Intelligence features such as Clean Up (for photos) and other on-device machine learning enhancements.

Because of its slim profile, one notable hardware constraint is that the iPhone Air is eSIM-only — it does not include a physical nano-SIM slot. This design choice frees up internal space but means your carrier must support eSIM for activation.

The camera on the back is a 48 MP “Fusion” rear module, designed with a large sensor and fast aperture to capture detailed images even in lower light. Optical image stabilisation is included, and Apple’s computational photography features like Smart HDR, Deep Fusion and advanced image processing are supported. On the video side, the iPhone Air is capable of 4K recording up to 60 fps and includes an Action Mode to help stabilise handheld video. There’s also an 18 MP front (selfie) camera with the Center Stage functionality, allowing automatic framing and subject tracking during video calls or recordings. It also supports dual capture (front and rear simultaneously) in supported apps.

Battery life is strong for a device of this thinness. Apple quotes up to 27 hours of video playback. Because of the constrained internal volume, they redesigned the internal architecture to maximise battery space. In everyday use, this should suffice for a full day under moderate-to-heavy usage, but under intensive tasks users may find margin tighter compared to bulkier models. Charging is via USB-C for wired fast charge, and it supports MagSafe wireless charging to a maximum of 20 W (with appropriate adapter) and Qi2 wireless.

On connectivity, the iPhone Air supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread, dual-eSIM, and has Apple’s Ultra Wideband chip. It also includes safety and emergency features such as Crash Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite, and Find My via satellite messaging support. Face ID is handled through a TrueDepth module built into the front-facing camera area.

In use, its slimness will be the major draw: it feels remarkably sleek in the hand or pocket, and handling it over long sessions is less fatiguing than bulkier phones. The display’s refresh rate and brightness make scrolling, gaming and media viewing feel smooth and vivid. The camera system is solid for everyday shots, though it lacks the multi-lens flexibility of Pro models (for example, there is no ultra-wide or long telephoto lens). The trade-offs are clear: less versatility in framing, less battery headroom in extreme use, and the requirement to use eSIM exclusively. But for users who value slimness, mobility and strong performance in a compact form, the iPhone Air is an intriguing option.

This description was generated with the help of AI and last updated October 2025.