Whenever Apple introduces something new in the market, it creates a big impact, whether it is the latest Macintosh, Apple Watch, or its most valuable and profitable product – the iPhone. True, there are many players, such as Samsung, Oppo, and OnePlus, that offer slim phone models, but when Apple enters the arena, others are left with no option but to take note, often catching up. The iPhone Air is the hot favourite among Apple fans and tech enthusiasts, essentially because of its thin and light design, and slick performance. Few doubts, however, rise in the minds of people: Will it bend or its screen crack in the back pocket? Will heat build up on account of its slim design? What about its battery life?
Truth be told, this is the most beautiful phone yet – stylish with eye-catching looks that is matched by smooth and racy daily running with a good battery life. Our trial unit was a 1TB variant in Sky Blue colour. Included in the box is a USB-C charge cable that supports fast charging and is compatible with USB-C power adapters and computer ports. The handset is extremely thin and light; it measures just 5.6mm at its thinnest point. The thin design also features the Action button, so users can easily access a variety of functions with just a press, and Camera Control, to quickly launch the camera or enable visual intelligence. Its single rear lens gives it a clean and neat look.
Design, Display, and Durability
There is Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and Ceramic Shield glass on the rear of iPhone Air; the handset itself comes enclosed in a titanium frame. These enhancements make it more scratch-resistant and durable, plus an anti-reflection coating to reduce glare. The phone features a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 2736 x 1260-pixel resolution, ProMotion technology (upto 120Hz adaptive refresh rate), and an Always-On display function. It offers 1,000 nits typical brightness, with 1,600 nits for HDR content, and a peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits; the phone is extremely bright with an easy-to-use display under all types of lighting conditions.
There are three Apple-designed chips inside. The A19 Pro drives everyday tasks and gaming; the N1 wireless chip enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, and improves features like AirDrop; and the C1X, a new cellular modem designed by Apple, that offers improved speed and power efficiency. An eSIM is built directly into the phone, replacing the traditional physical SIM card slot. This provides enhanced security since it can’t be physically removed. The phone is extremely fast, apps open in an instant, there is no lag whatsoever. Even the battery lasts a full day of moderate use.
iPhone Air introduces an all-new Centre Stage front camera that advances the photo and video experience. Basically, this is a major positive for selfies and calls. The front snapper offers a wide field of view and can capture photos upto 18MP. Users no longer have to rotate their iPhone to take a landscape selfie – they can take photos and videos in portrait or landscape while holding their iPhone vertically. Similarly for group shots, Centre Stage for photos uses AI to automatically expand the field of view and can rotate from portrait to landscape to include everyone in the frame.
The rear setup is a single 48MP Fusion camera system designed for high-resolution photos and impressive detail in low light, also enabling a 2x optical-quality telephoto zoom. It features sensor-shift optical image stabilisation and allows users to capture 24MP photos by default or 48MP for maximum detail. The camera delivers sharp, well-balanced photos with vibrant colours.
Key takeaways: The iPhone Air is expensive but it’s a tech marvel from Apple. Especially with its super thin and light design, very good screen, sharp cameras and good battery life. A fantastic device for everyday tasks, gaming, and most daily use, hence a strong recommendation.
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display
Processor: A19 Pro chip
Operating system: iOS 26
Memory & storage: 12GB RAM, 256/512/1TB
Cameras: 48MP (rear), 18MP front camera
Upto 27 hours video playback
Estimated street price: Rs 159,900 (1TB)