Apple just released the iPhone 17 lineup, including the ultra-thin iPhone Air. At only 5.6mm thick, the iPhone Air is Apple’s thinnest phone yet. The Air offers premium specs like an extra durable titanium frame and a powerful A19 Pro chipset. Plus, upgrades to the front-facing camera give you even more (single-handed) control over your selfies. The iPhone Air’s innovative design is perfect for those who want more power without the bulk.
Here’s everything you need to know about Apple’s newest member, the iPhone Air.
What is the iPhone Air?
Image: Apple
The iPhone Air is Apple’s newly unveiled, ultra-thin iPhone model. Measuring just 5.6mm thick and weighing only 165 grams, the iPhone Air is Apple’s slimmest iPhone to date. Crafted with a titanium frame, it offers exceptional durability despite its extremely slim build and weight. It also features a stunning 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with a 120Hz variable refresh rate. To top it off, the iPhone Air comes equipped with iOS 26 and Apple’s most powerful A19 Pro processor.
Starting at $999, the iPhone Air is a step up from the base iPhone 17 model and takes the place of last year’s iPhone 16 Plus. It’s available in four different colors: space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue. In addition to the Air, Apple has rolled out a new cross-body strap to take this ultra-light smartphone anywhere.
iPhone Air release date
The iPhone Air will be available for pre-order on Friday, September 12. Phones will ship and be available in stores on September 19.
iPhone Air pricing
The iPhone Air starts at $999 for 256GB of storage, with a 512GB model available for $1,199, and a 1TB model for $1,399.
iPhone Air features
Apple’s debut of the iPhone Air introduced an ultra-thin design, along with several upgrades worthy of a ground-breaking new phone.
Thinnest smartphone form factor
Image: Apple
Apple is pushing iPhone boundaries both from a design and material science standpoint. Measured at a mere 5.6mm thick, the iPhone Air is the slimmest phone on the current market (if you don't count older, foldable phones, like the Motorola Moto Z). It’s even thinner than other top competitors—again, if you don't count the thickness of the camera bump. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is 5.8mm thick, and Google’s Pixel 10 is 8.6mm thick.
A 6.5-inch display upgraded to 120Hz
Image: Apple
The iPhone Air boasts a 6.5-inch display that is brighter than ever. It has a larger screen than the iPhone 17 (6.1-inch) and the iPhone 17 Pro (6.3-inch), giving it a more premium feel. The Air also sports Apple’s Ceramic Shield, making it 3X more scratch-resistant than older iPhones. Apple also boosted display brightness on all 17-series models to 3,000 nits. But that’s not all that Apple upgraded.
The iPhone Air includes a 120Hz refresh rate for a smoother and more responsive experience. In the past, Apple usually reserved the 120Hz refresh rate for its Pro and Pro Max devices, but every model in this year’s lineup received the upgrade. With a faster refresh rate, streaming, gaming, and FaceTime will be clearer than ever. The Always-On display has also been added to the Air so you can check your notifications without actually waking the screen.
However, iPhone connoisseurs may see the Air’s screen size as a downgrade. As a general replacement for the iPhone Plus model, the Air’s display is significantly smaller. The iPhone 16 Plus had a 6.7-inch display. That said, a smaller screen makes the Air easier to handle and sits in line with its compact design.
Durable titanium frame for extra protection
The iPhone Air has a frame made of titanium for a soft, light, and sturdy finish. Titanium is crucial in the Air to prevent breakage and increase durability due to its thin design. It sports a polished finish and mirrored look inspired by light. The frame itself is also reinforced with Ceramic Shield, encasing the entire phone. This added layer of protection not only makes the front scratch-resistant, but also makes the back more resistant to cracks.
The iPhone Air is available in four different colors, each inspired by different aspects of light. Space black is the darkest shade, a complete contrast to cloud white. Light gold and sky blue offer more metallic looks among the Air’s options.
A19 Pro processor with premium power
Image: Apple
Apple dubbed its newest member the thinnest iPhone with the power of Pro inside. The A19 Pro is Apple's most powerful smartphone chip, designed to handle demanding tasks with exceptional speed and efficiency. Its power comes from a next-generation 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU. This means everything from editing high-resolution video to playing graphics-intensive games feels incredibly smooth, all while optimizing battery life. Essentially, the A19 Pro delivers desktop-level performance in the palm of your hand.
It also has Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Plus, it offers a faster and more efficient version of Apple’s 5G modem—the C1X—which is an update to the C1 modem it debuted on the iPhone 16e earlier this year.
Extra battery with MagSafe battery packs
Image: Apple
Apple claims that the new iPhone Air is its most power-efficient model yet, promising all-day battery life that stands up to real-world use. For users who need even more endurance, a new MagSafe battery pack is available to extend power on the go. When combined, the iPhone and the discreet battery pack get you up to 40 hours of video playback.
The device also introduces Adaptive Power in iOS 26, a feature that intelligently manages performance to save your battery life. Adaptive Power uses metrics based on your activity to conserve energy without sacrificing responsiveness.
48MP horizontal camera bar
Image: Apple
The ultra-thin iPhone Air only has room for a singular rear camera. It’s the same double-lens 48 megapixel and 2X telephoto main shooter found on past iPhones. That makes the iPhone Air the only iPhone in the 17 lineup with a single back-facing camera. The last iPhone with a single rear camera was the recent iPhone 16e, but all other iPhones since the 2022 SE have had at least two rear-facing cameras.
Breaking away from the traditional vertical camera stack or square-shaped triple-camera system, the iPhone Air has a horizontal camera bar.The iPhone Air is so thin that the singular rear camera now protrudes away from the device. Reminiscent of Google’s latest Pixel 10 design, the side profile camera bulge shows just how thin the rest of the Air really is.
Center Stage front lens for better selfies
Image: Apple
On the front, you’ll find Apple’s new 18-megapixel Center Stage enhanced selfie camera. Center Stage feature works in both portrait and landscape modes, so you can take selfies without needing to turn your phone. It also allows you to record on both cameras simultaneously, ideal for vloggers or sharing special moments with loved ones.
Better yet, Center Stage stabilizes every frame to keep the speaker front and center. It’s ideal for group calls, virtual meetings, or recording content hands-free, making it one of the most practical and impressive quality-of-life upgrades in the new iPhone.
Goodbye SIM slot
Apple has officially done away with the SIM card slot on the iPhone Air. It’s just too thin. That means the iPhone Air is only eSIM compatible. If you don’t already have an eSIM from your provider, you’ll have to request one or switch to an eSIM-compatible carrier. We have an eSIM guide to help you pick the best eSIM plan and easily install your eSIM.
Gone are the days of looking for a safety pin to pop open your iPhone’s SIM slot, but depending on your preferences, an eSIM-only phone may be a drawback for many iPhone users. For example, if your ultra-thin iPhone breaks, you’ll have a harder time recovering your eSIM and switching to another device.
Switch to an eSIM-compatible carrier
The iPhone Air is only eSIM compatible. That means you’ll need to download a digital SIM card to your device, but not all providers offer eSIMs. Make sure you switch to an eSIM-compatible carrier to get service on your phone as soon as possible.
Here are our top eSIM carriers to get your new iPhone Air connected.
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#1
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Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
|
#2
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Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
|
#3
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XFINITY Mobile
Mobile Select Plan
$0.00/mo
(for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter
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Get unlimited data for your new iPhone Air
Getting a new phone is the perfect time to get a new mobile plan. Nowadays, unlimited data plans are extremely affordable and are packed with perks to enrich your iPhone experience. You don’t have to pay top-tier pricing for a top-notch plan, either. Get unlimited data, blazing-fast 5G speeds, and hotspot data to use on the go for less than $50/month.
Check out our top recommendations for cheap unlimited data plans and switch to a plan that’s right for you.
|
#1
|
Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
|
#2
|
Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
|
#3
|
XFINITY Mobile
Mobile Select Plan
$0.00/mo
(for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter
|
iPhone Air: FAQs
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer
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