The iPhone Air is a major step up for the iPhone lineup. Unlike the other models that solely focus on cramming more features with every passing generation, the iPhone Air is all about making use of today’s technology to achieve a design that wants to turn heads. Taking the iPhone 6 as the inspiration, the iPhone Air claims to offer as much performance as a MacBook while having a body thickness of just 5.6mm – that’s slimmer by most smartphones. It is even slimmer than Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge.
However, Apple is asking a premium for the Air. Unlike the iPhone 16 Plus and its relatively accessible price tag, the iPhone Air starts at a whopping Rs 1,19,900. This price puts it in closer proximity to the iPhone 17 Pro, thus raising questions about whether it is worth spending this much on an experimental non-Pro iPhone.
While we are yet to get a hands-on experience with the iPhone Air, we went through the specifications sheet and brochure to give you five reasons for considering the iPhone Air over the other models.
Five reasons why you should buy the iPhone Air
Although the slim design could be the sole reason for getting the iPhone Air, we have five reasons why you should spend money on the iPhone Air instead of the iPhone 17 Pro.
1. The thinnest iPhone ever
The iPhone Air features a thin 5.6mm profile, making it the thinnest iPhone Apple has ever created. Crafted with a titanium frame, it’s not just elegant but also light at 165 grams while being strong, with IP68 certification of dust and water resistance. The entire computer bits are nestled within the pill-shaped camera hump, with the rest of the phone only having the battery and the OLED panel.
2. Pro performance
The iPhone Air boasts pro-level performance, thanks to a trio of Apple-designed chips: the powerhouse A19 Pro, the new N1 wireless networking chip, and the C1X cellular modem. The iPhone Air’s A19 Pro delivers superior performance and efficiency, ideal for demanding apps, advanced AI features, and next-level mobile gaming. The C1X modem also offers up to 2x faster cellular performance than its predecessor while using 30% less energy, ensuring a seamless and power-efficient connection. With iOS 26 onboard, this should allow for a great user experience.
3. Enhanced durability
Both models benefit from Apple’s advanced Ceramic Shield glass, but the iPhone Air takes durability to the next level. While the iPhone 17 features Ceramic Shield 2 on the front for 3x better scratch resistance, the iPhone Air extends this protection to its back panel with Ceramic Shield as well. This means the iPhone Air offers 4x better resistance to cracks on the rear compared to previous models. Along with the Titanium frame, this iPhone Air should be durable like most conventional phones while gaining the slim form factor.
4. Superior display
The iPhone Air features a large 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology, offering an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz for incredibly smooth visuals. While the iPhone 17 Pro also gets ProMotion, the iPhone Air’s larger screen provides a more immersive viewing experience for content consumption and gaming. Furthermore, it boasts 3000 nits peak outdoor brightness—the highest ever on an iPhone—and 2x better outdoor contrast, making it significantly easier to use in bright sunlight compared to the standard model. Hence, you get a slim phone without giving up on a good quality display.
5. eSIM-only
The iPhone Air’s eSIM-only design contributes to its ultra-thin form factor by saving internal space, allowing for a larger battery. Combined with the power-efficient A19 Pro chip and optimised software, the iPhone Air promises an all-day battery life. This not only enhances user convenience but also offers improved security as the eSIM cannot be physically removed if the iPhone is lost or stolen. For frequent travelers and those seeking a truly streamlined and secure mobile experience, the eSIM-only design is a forward-thinking advantage.
