Apple iPhone Air review: A stunning smartphone | Tech News

Apple is no stranger to making an attempt out new concepts. Over the years we have seen mini iPhones together with plus-sized gadgets with giant screens. Now the company is back with a more slimline machine known as the iPhone Air. It’s not truly a new notion. Samsung has already launched its smooth Galaxy S25 Edge and Chinese producer Honor just lately launched its lusciously skinny Magic V5 which folds in half like a guide.

So, is a slender smartphone now the longer term or is that this merely one other fad that will probably be despatched to the historical past books subsequent 12 months? And with a beginning price of £999, would you pay an further £200 over the common iPhone 17 for a slimmed down machine? I’ve been testing out the Air because it was first unveiled, and I’ve to say I’m mightily impressed.

It must be seen to be believed and I guarantee this would be the machine all iPhone followers will probably be dashing to stare upon when it lands in Apple Stores throughout the nation later this week.

Open the box, carry it out of the packaging, and you’ll’t help however be wowed by the Air’s stunning design. This telephone is so skinny and lightweight, at 5.64mm and 165g, it is virtually inconceivable to fathom. It truly jogs my memory of my outdated iPod Touch—a machine that I completely beloved however may by no means match what the Air is now succesful of.

The Ceramic Shield Glass 2 on the back with a matt end and glossy titanium body all add the appeal and in addition make the telephone really feel tremendous premium within the hand.

Now, you may be nervous in regards to the sturdiness of one thing so slim. Many may keep in mind the nightmare of “bendgate”, which plagued the iPhone 6 vary back in 2014.

Thankfully, there’s no signal that Apple will endure the identical points right here.

I’ve truly seen what the firm places this machine by utilizing a torture machine for tech and it handed with flying colors.

With the machine sat on two pads, a stress take a look at was carried out in entrance of my eyes, which places a set quantity of strain proper within the center of the machine. Although I may see the Air bending barely, it did not crack, break, or smash and returned to its regular type as soon as the take a look at had completed.

It’s spectacular stuff and reveals off simply how robust the Air is regardless of its dainty look.

Along with its putting seems to be, the iPhone Air additionally packs a wonderful 6.5-inch ProMovement screen into its shell, which seems to be brilliant, clear and filled with element.

The 120Hz refresh fee additionally means scrolling and enjoying video games seem easy and completely stutter-free. Tucked underneath its wafer-thin physique is the most recent A19 Pro chip, the identical discovered within the iPhone 17 Pro, which provides ludicrous quantities of energy.

A new Apple-made C1X modem and new N1 wi-fi networking chip are additionally included for quicker web shopping and higher connectivity. All of these parts are additionally tremendous environment friendly and that is important as Apple has needed to pop a a lot smaller battery inside the Air because of its total dimension.

The firm guarantees all-day battery life from the Air, and that is not removed from the reality. I’ve been in a position to squeeze enough energy out of it with out having to pop it on the charger earlier than mattress.

Even with the screen pushed to full brightness and a video streamed by way of Disney+, I solely misplaced round 10 p.c after two hours of playback.

Spoiler alert: The Air just isn’t going to final anyplace close to as long because the new Pro fashions.

Apple is even conscious that this may trigger some issues with the firm launching a devoted battery pack that sticks to the rear case by way of MagSafe (at a value of £100 further of course!).

For the average person who may sit at a desk, charge at work or have it plugged into their car, I actually do not assume battery life will probably be a drawback. Just remember that after a long day and a night time in town, issues may be low while you attempt to order the Uber home.

If I had one gripe in regards to the battery, it will be that the battery pack accent does not function gentle indicators to let you realize what energy is left in its tank.

The solely technique to discover out is to snap it to the back of the Air, which is a little inconvenient.

So battery life is a bit of a compromise, however what in regards to the digicam?

To maximise battery space, Apple’s group has positioned the processor, modem, and different tech in a bar that runs throughout the telephone’s high. It’s a neat design, nevertheless it does imply there’s solely room for one digicam. The cheaper iPhone 17 has two lenses. Luckily, it’s a intelligent 48MP fusion snapper that has all types of tips up its sleeve.

You can zoom and snap wider-angle photographs, plus it should take portrait pictures and shoot video in 4K, however there’s no 0.5x ultra-wide option.

It may even cut back background noise when filming, and you’ll add Hollywood-style sound results after a mini film has been recorded.

It’s a first rate digicam that may take stable images day and night time. SEE OUR TEST IMAGES BELOW

However, it will probably’t match the may of the iPhone 17 Pro’s triple digicam system.

If you merely take images of pals within the pub or your children enjoying within the park you will not be upset. But these after the last word image expertise are undoubtedly higher off switching to the Pro fashions.

For instance, the Air will not snap that epic ultra-wide shot at a soccer stadium or zoom in close when the ref holds up a crimson card. It additionally struggles with excessive close-ups as there’s no macro technology.

Where the Air can match its siblings is with the new front-facing Center Stage Camera. This selfie snapper is a game-changer for my part.

It adapts the lens robotically relying on the quantity of people in your shot and widens the body with out you spinning the telephone round.

So, you’ll be able to go from a portrait selfie to a full wide-angle panorama image with out touching the settings or altering the grip on the machine.

I believe this will probably be one of the most-used new options on all of the new iPhones, particularly as it really works so seamlessly.

Another bonus is one thing known as Dual Capture, which information utilizing each the entrance and rear cameras concurrently. This lets you movie your response on the identical time as you video what is going on on on the opposite aspect of the digicam.

Just like final 12 months’s iPhones, the Air will get the Camera Control button on the aspect of the case, which launches the digicam app and acts as a shutter button.

It additionally presents instantaneous entry to new AI software Visual Intelligence, which tells you what one thing is by merely pointing the digicam lens at it.

Now, we will not end this review with out speaking about eSIMs. The Air is the very first iPhone to ship worldwide with out a bodily SIM card tray.

That could sound terrifying, nevertheless it’s not as scary because it appears. Most networks now ship out gadgets pre-loaded together with your quantity, and it is also tremendous simple to switch these digital SIMs from one telephone to a different.

By eliminating this slot, Apple says it has freed up some much-needed space for the battery. All iPhones bought within the US have already got this function, and I would not be shocked if each iPhone bought worldwide switches to eSIM tech within the coming years. So we’re all going to need to get used to it, however the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro telephones nonetheless have a bodily SIM slot within the UK.

There’s loads to love in regards to the Air, and it is undoubtedly one of probably the most thrilling updates from the design group in Cupertino in a whereas. Making it even more interesting are equipment such because the good Crossbody Strap that pairs with an Apple case so you’ll be able to comfortably put on your iPhone fingers‑free.

Is it the best iPhone ever? I believe that award nonetheless goes to the Pro iPhones.

Should you buy one?

Well, that will depend on how determined you’re for a skinny smartphone. The commonplace iPhone 17 has had one of its greatest ever upgrades this 12 months and is sort of inconceivable to not advocate. The iPhone 17 Pro continues to offer premium options, prolonged battery life, new vapour chamber technology and spectacular cameras that are powerful to beat.

The Air is a surprisingly good machine that may flip heads when pulled out of your pocket. Its dimension is mind-blowing and it nonetheless will get a great screen, super-speedy processor and hard design.

However, there are compromises, and it will probably’t match its siblings in phrases of digicam or total battery life, all at a value of £999.

Time will inform if people need a skinny telephone, however one factor is for sure: Expect loads of queues to see it when it arrives in shops this Friday.