Apple iPhone Air Review Roundup: Stunning Design, Major Trade-Offs [Video]

Apple's all-new iPhone Air has arrived, and early reviews agree on one thing: the design is its biggest achievement. The phone's ultra-thin frame is being hailed as a marvel of engineering, but trade-offs in price, camera hardware, and battery life mean it won't be the right choice for everyone.

The design is the undisputed star of the show. The Verge says the iPhone Air is "shockingly thin and light," adding that "the lighter weight is the real benefit." That sentiment was echoed by nearly every reviewer, with Tom's Guide calling it "a remarkable piece of engineering." Despite its 5.6mm profile, durability doesn't appear to be an issue. Wired notes that its titanium frame feels "strong, durable, and rigid," and that after seeing a 130-pound bend test, "you can put your pitchforks away—no #bendgate here."




The 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display also received high marks for its brightness and the long-overdue inclusion of ProMotion. TechRadar notes that the screen, paired with iOS 26's Liquid Glass design, "feels purpose-built for this form factor." Performance from the A19 Pro chip is zippy, though reviewers at Wired and Tom's Guide observed that the area around the camera "plateau" can get noticeably warm under heavy loads.

The biggest compromises, according to reviews, are the camera and battery. The iPhone Air features a single 48MP rear camera, a move that Engadget calls the phone's "biggest limitation." Reviewers universally missed having an ultrawide or telephoto lens. As CNET puts it, "I really missed having an ultrawide camera for landscapes, and I'm also bummed that the Air can't shoot Cinematic mode videos." The new 18MP Center Stage front camera, however, was praised for its clever auto-framing capabilities.

Battery life was a major concern ahead of launch, but the results were better than many expected. Wired found it was "generally able to last a full day with average use," though heavy users will "most certainly feel the limits of this phone's battery life." To address this, Apple is offering a new $99 MagSafe Battery Pack designed specifically for the Air.

Ultimately, reviewers see the iPhone Air as a niche device for a specific user. The Verge concludes it "won't be the right device for most people," while PCMag says it's "worth considering if you want a basic, competent phone experience in as small a handset as possible."


The iPhone Air is now available for pre-order directly from Apple starting at $999. Major U.S. carriers are also offering significant promotions, with deals providing up to $1,100 off the new iPhone lineup.