iPhone Air hands-on: ultra-thin precursor to Apple’s upcoming foldable
Apple’s new iPhone Air is a bold rethink of the company’s middle-sized model: an ultra-thin 5.6mm titanium-bodied handset that looks, in many ways, like half of a future foldable. It pairs a 6.5-inch ProMotion OLED display with the A19 Pro chip, a 48MP single rear camera, and a weight of roughly 165g. The base model starts at $999.
Key specs
- Thickness: 5.6mm
- Display: 6.5″ OLED with ProMotion (120Hz)
- Chip: A19 Pro
- Rear camera: 48MP single lens (up to 4x zoom)
- Front camera: 18MP with Center Stage
- Frame: Titanium, ~165g
- Battery: Apple claims up to 27 hours continuous video playback (real-world tests pending)
- Price & Availability: Starts at $999 (256 GB). Pre-orders begin Sep 12; on sale Sep 19.
Why it matters
The Air’s extreme thinness and design choices — fewer cameras, lighter battery, polished titanium frame — make sense if Apple is iterating toward a foldable: pair two slim halves, add a hinge and flexible display, and you have a foldable that still carries Apple’s design language. Observers note similarities to Samsung’s recent S25 Edge and the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
First impressions
In-hand, the Air feels exceptionally light and premium. The camera “plateau” is subtle, the display is vivid with ProMotion, and the new Center Stage front camera makes framing for photo/video easy. The titanium frame looks shiny and durable, though it can attract fingerprints. Battery life and real-world camera performance still need extended testing.
Where to learn more / shop
Official Apple event and product details (watch the September event): Apple Events
Shop / compare on Amazon (search pages with affiliate tag):
Join the conversation
Do you prefer slimmer phones with fewer cameras or thicker phones with more features? Leave a comment below — and follow for updates and full reviews once long-term testing is complete.
Note: This summary avoids links to the original Engadget RSS review; it references primary event coverage and shopping links instead.