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ZDNET key takeaways
- The $999 iPhone Air<!–> is Apple’s thinnest phone yet.
- It’s ultimately for those who value form over features.
- Yes, it looks a lot like an Android, for one big (speculative) reason.
Earlier this month, Apple launched its new smartphone lineup. The new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max hit the market just in time for the upcoming fall season, securing their spots on dozens of Christmas lists.
But Apple – often criticized for its lack of significant changes to its phones each year – unveiled an odd duck that perhaps only the most dedicated fans an experts suspected was on the way: the iPhone Air–>. It’s the thinnest iPhone yet, at just 5.6mm thick and weighing 165 grams.
Also: I compared the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max: Here’s who should upgrade
Here’s the thing: I’m not an iPhone guru, I’m a casual user, too, which makes me an ideal candidate to analyze the situation critically. You see, the bulk of iPhone consumers don’t really understand the hardware and software differences from model to model. They buy the new model because their old phones need an upgrade, or they want to keep up with the Joneses.
Case in point: Three years ago, I “needed” an iPhone 14 Pro because the camera was so much better than the iPhone 14. (Spoiler: I didn’t need the Pro model.) But I bought it.
And that’s what Apple is really good at: Making the average consumer feel like every new upgrade is special and curated just for them. The iPhone Air does just that by generating fresh interest in the iPhone lineup.
Let me be clear: I’m not dunking on Apple. For many reasons, this year’s iPhone Air is a welcome surprise. For the first time in several years, Apple significantly altered the aesthetic design of a phone.
Also: iPhone 17 preorders are open: Here’s where you can find free phone deals
But who is it for? That’s where things start to get interesting. On the surface, it’s for a no-fuss Apple user who values form over function. To achieve its positively Ozempic form factor, Apple had to make some trade-offs, and they’re mostly with the camera.
The iPhone Air has a single rear camera and a 48 Fusion lens (compared to the triple 48MP camera system on the iPhone 17 Pro), allowing for photos at 28mm and 35mm focal lengths, as well as high-quality macro photos.
It also relies solely on eSIM for cellular connection, so you won’t be able to insert your old SIM card in the Air model. The iPhone Air has less battery capacity than some iPhone 17 models, but it’s still on par with previous models, like the iPhone 16 Pro. Apple even bridged the gap without being asked to by delivering a (still ridiculously priced) $99 MagSafe battery<!–> designed for the iPhone Air.
Also: Why I’m skipping the iPhone 17 this year (and it’s not just about the money)
It’s a way to ditch a larger battery when most people use MagSafe batteries or power banks anyway. It’s smart. The thinner design may be enough to entice customers to spend $200 more to purchase the Air over the base iPhone 17 model, and I may even be one of them.
With that said, I suppose Apple wants you to think that it was going for a curated blend of style and performance, but the iPhone Air is for Apple and Apple only.
Why the iPhone Air really exists
The Google Pixel 10 smartphone. Look familiar?
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
From the very first leaks of its design, the Air drew comparisons to the Pixel, and we can’t ignore the likeness. The iPhone Air could be the Pixel’s cooler cousin (complete with a massive ego), and the only reason I can muster that Apple would go down this road is because Google has already delivered something Apple hasn’t: foldable phones.
Google’s latest Pixel lineup includes the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, while Samsung has the flashy Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. And it’s neither brand’s first rodeo with either flipping or folding.
Also: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: I compared both and here’s the winner
Apple, however, has yet to enter the ring, and what’s most apparent to me about the iPhone Air (and its likeness to a Google Pixel) is that it’s a transitional model. Its thinner build, enhanced focus on aesthetics, and feature tradeoffs, suggest that Apple has something up its sleeve in the near future. Thinness, in itself, is a key design element for foldable phones, and the iPhone Air feels like Apple’s precursor — it’s first toe-dip in the water.
If a foldable were on the table, the preceding models would inch closer and closer in features and design until the dots finally connected. Apple would play the slow and steady development game by making Samsung and Google do the hard work, see where they get it wrong, and then hit the market with a better version of it.
Maybe that’s precisely what Apple has been up to, and we’re seeing the first fruits of that labor in the iPhone Air. After all, Google has been making foldable phones since 2023 and Samsung since 2019.
The iPhone Air in one of the new bumper cases that Apple is making.
Jason Hiner/ZDNET
Plus, the shift to eSIM only feels important to highlight. Of course, eSIMs can bring some added convenience, but generally, most manufacturers still incorporate SIM cards in phones. Using an eSIM creates more space within the phone unit itself, which seems to pair hand-in-hand with the drastic cuts Apple chose to make in respect to the iPhone Air’s size.
I wouldn’t be the first ZDNET expert to ponder such thoughts, either. Last month, Prakhar Khanna evaluated the likelihood that we’d see a hypothetical iPhone Fold in 2025, and five of the rumors that point towards it, too.
“… [The] Apple iPhone Fold will debut in a more mature market. I expect it to be more mature than first-generation Android foldables. However, this also means Apple will be entering a new segment that’s more competitive than ever,” Khanna says.
Also: A foldable iPhone in 2025? Probably not, but these 5 rumors bring the hype
that the first Apple foldable, code-named “V68,” will share similarities to Samsung’s competitors, like the Galaxy Z Fold series.
Alas, I have to mention that while the Air feels most like a first draft of a foldable phone, I have to wonder if there’s a link between the refinements of the Air and potential smart glasses, which have long been rumored<!–> to be a priority for the brand.
Also: I tried every iPhone 17 model, and my buying advice is different this year
So while it’s easy for Apple to sell the Air as the most innovative option for a customer right now, the iPhone Air isn’t really for you, or me, or anyone, for that matter. It’s a jumping off point. A bridge to a potentially foldable future behind a great marketing strategy.
So is Apple hinting at a foldable with the iPhone Air? Time will tell, but it seems to me that it won’t be long until Apple decides it’s finally ready to be sliced.
