Apple launched four iPhones last month, including the brand new iPhone Air. I’ve been using iPhone Air for just over a month now, here’s how that’s been going.
One month in, iPhone Air has exceeded my expectations in every way
I typically buy a new iPhone every year. And normally, my choice of model is the smaller iPhone Pro.
But this year, I was excited to try something altogether different: the iPhone Air.
Apple’s iPhone Pro line has improved plenty in the last few years, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen a radical redesign.
This year though, Apple launched a very bold new iPhone 17 Pro that was tempting. But the ultra-thin iPhone Air was even more compelling for me, personally.
I bought the iPhone Air, knowing I could return it for a 17 Pro if the Air’s compromises proved too great.
Very quickly though, I found the Air exceeding my every expectation.
Here’s a quick summary:
Battery life has been fantastic, even better than my iPhone 16 Pro last year (especially on iOS 26)
has been fantastic, even better than my iPhone 16 Pro last year (especially on iOS 26) Cameras have been a non-issue, as I’ve missed the Telephoto lens less than I thought
have been a non-issue, as I’ve missed the Telephoto lens less than I thought Screen size is larger than I would normally prefer, but the ultra-thin design makes one-handed use still comfortable
is larger than I would normally prefer, but the ultra-thin design makes one-handed use still comfortable Durability is another surprise positive, as I keep the Air in my back pocket and have had zero bend issues when sitting
I know the iPhone Air’s mono speaker is a problem for some users, but I almost never use the built-in speaker so it hasn’t bothered me.
Overall, I’m very happy with the iPhone Air.
The only “bad thing” I can say is that, unsurprisingly, the ultra-thin design now just feels normal.
My expectations for its weight and size quickly adjusted accordingly. So these days I’ll occasionally pick up the Air and have to second-guess: is this the Air or my old Pro model?
That isn’t actually a negative, it’s just a reality of how our minds adapt to something new fairly quickly.
Everyone I know who has used the iPhone Air similarly loves it. Yet reporting indicates the new model isn’t selling well. Which makes me wonder if perhaps it’s fair to call the iPhone Air an “early adopter” model. Let me explain.
iPhone Air: The early adopter model
Early adopter products tend to introduce a level of risk, novelty, or compromise that can make the general consumer uncomfortable.
Such products might gain the attention or interest of the masses, but such attention doesn’t translate into sales.
However, for enthusiasts who are willing to deal with some growing pains, or limitations, early adopter products can still gain loyal followings.
Tim Cook actually used the “early adopter” term to describe Apple Vision Pro:
“At $3,500, it’s not a mass-market product,” Cook says. “Right now, it’s an early-adopter product. People who want to have tomorrow’s technology today—that’s who it’s for. Fortunately, there’s enough people who are in that camp that it’s exciting”
iPhone Air feels very much like “tomorrow’s technology today.”
After years of relatively stagnant iPhone designs, it’s a leap forward—a preview of the future.
It’s not the right iPhone for everyone. Some want even more battery life, more cameras, better speakers, and so on.
But I suspect that for many, they’re simply taking a “wait and see” approach with iPhone Air. It’s not the model for them now, but with enough positive feedback from early adopters, and perhaps some feature upgrades over time, the Air model could prove a hit.
The first iPhone, obviously, was technically an “early adopter product.” It represented something entirely new and different, a risk compared to the Blackberry-dominated, physical keypad world of smartphones at the time.
In the era of Apple selling multiple iPhone models, however, I can’t recall there ever being an “early adopter” option.
Leaks indicate Apple has even bigger iPhone changes coming in the next couple years.
Here’s hoping the iPhone Air gets the chance to truly catch on and have a bright future ahead.
What are your thoughts on the iPhone Air? Let us know in the comments.
Best iPhone accessories