"Reviewed on paper" means what it says: this page compares Apple's published specifications and prices, not our own lab tests. For the Air, the paper tells a clear story. It is a design object first: 5.64 mm thick and 165 g, with a 6.5-inch screen. Everything else follows from that.
The specs
| Spec | iPhone Air |
|---|---|
| Thickness, weight | 5.64 mm, 165 g |
| Screen | 6.5-inch OLED, ProMotion up to 120 Hz, always-on |
| Chip | A19 Pro (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU), C1X modem |
| Rear camera | One 48 MP Fusion camera, 2x optical-quality crop |
| Front camera | 18 MP Center Stage |
| Video playback | Up to 27 hours (40 with the MagSafe Battery, sold separately) |
| Charging | 50% in 30 minutes with a 20 W adapter |
| Frame | Titanium |
| Storage | 256 GB ($1,099), 512 GB ($1,299), 1 TB ($1,699) |
| Colours | Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue |
What thin costs you
Put the Air next to the iPhone 17, which is $200 cheaper:
- One camera instead of two. No ultra wide, so no wide group shots and no macro. The 2x option is a crop, as on the 17.
- Three fewer hours of battery in Apple's video test (27 against 30). Apple sells a clip-on MagSafe Battery to close the gap, which rather defeats the point.
- Slower charging: 30 minutes for half a battery, against 20 on the 17.
In return you get the A19 Pro chip, a slightly larger 6.5-inch screen, a titanium frame and 12 g less in your pocket.
The resale problem
The Air launched at $999 in September 2025. Ten weeks later, SellCell's survey of US buyback offers found the 256 GB model had already lost 40.3% of its value and the 1 TB model 47.7%, the fastest fall of the 2025 range. A September 2026 price rise to $1,099 does not change what a used Air is worth.
That has two consequences. If you buy one new, assume you will get little back. And if you simply like the design, a used or refurbished Air is the smartest way to own one: someone else has paid for the steepest part of the curve. Prices on the used and retail markets are worth checking; for France, see what the iPhone Air sells for in France.
Quick answers
How thin is the iPhone Air?
5.64 mm, and it weighs 165 g. The iPhone 17 is 7.95 mm and 177 g; the 18 Pro is 8.75 mm and 211 g.
How much is the iPhone Air?
$1,099 for 256 GB in the US since September 9, 2026 (it launched at $999), £1,099 in the UK and €1,329 in France.
Does the iPhone Air have good battery life?
Up to 27 hours of video playback according to Apple, three hours less than the iPhone 17 and one more than the 17e.
