iPhone Air Review: One Year With Apple's Super Thin $999 iPhone - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iPhone Air Review: One Year With Apple's Super Thin $999 iPhone

It's been almost 12 months since Apple launched the iPhone Air, and because MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using it daily since launch, he decided to do a one-year review covering what it's like using Apple's super-thin iPhone on a long-term basis.


The ‌iPhone Air‌ is the thinnest iPhone Apple has released to date, and the form factor doesn't get old. It's pocketable, can be used with one hand, and it's much lighter than the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. There's not much compromise on screen size since it has a 6.5-inch OLED display.

Apple used a smaller battery in the ‌iPhone Air‌, and it doesn't last as long as the ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro models. Some people might be able to get through the day on a single charge, but others will need an external battery pack like the one Apple built for the ‌iPhone Air‌.

There's a single camera, which is one of the compromises with Apple's super-thin iPhone. You only get the Wide lens, with no option for the Ultra Wide or Telephoto lenses that come with the other ‌iPhone 17‌ models. No Ultra Wide also means no macro images.

Price was and continues to be the biggest ‌iPhone Air‌ issue. At $999, it's more expensive than the ‌iPhone 17‌, which has two cameras and nearly the same processor, and only $100 less than the three-camera ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro. The ‌iPhone Air‌'s price wasn't worth it to a lot of people, and rumors suggest that it didn't sell well.

Make sure to watch Dan's video to see all of his thoughts on the ‌iPhone Air‌.

Related Roundup: iPhone Air
Buyer's Guide: iPhone Air (Neutral)

Popular Stories

iphone air thinness

iPhone Air 2 Could Be as Thin as an Unfolded iPhone Duo

Thursday October 8, 2026 4:21 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone Air 2 will be approximately 0.4mm thinner than the current model despite having a higher-capacity battery, claims the account "yeux1122" on the Korean Naver blog. Apple lists the original iPhone Air at 5.6mm thick, so a 0.4mm reduction would put its successor at approximately 5.2mm, around 7% thinner. Interestingly, that would match the thickness of the new iPhone Duo when...
M5 MacBook Pro

RIP, MacBook Ultra

Monday October 19, 2026 9:37 am PDT by
Apple today sent out invites for an experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, and the "Pro and tell" tagline on the invitation likely means that the rumored MacBook models with touch-enabled OLED displays will stick with MacBook Pro branding instead of the once-rumored "MacBook Ultra" name. The long-rumored "iPhone Ultra" ended up being named iPhone Duo, so speculation that Apple...
iPhone Duo Trio

Here's What Apple's Apps Look Like on the iPhone Duo

Tuesday October 20, 2026 11:12 am PDT by
With just three days to go until the iPhone Duo is released, Apple is getting ready for the launch. Behind the scenes, the App Store now has screenshots of Apple's built-in apps running on the Duo. We've seen some apps in marketing materials, but images of the ones we haven't seen give us an idea of what it will be like using the iPhone Duo day to day. Many apps are shown in landscape...

Top Rated Comments

7 weeks ago
To echo others, it’s by far the best iPhone I’ve ever owned:

-Super easy to hold, use and pocket
-Large screen that works for everything from browsing to reading to light work tasks
-Durable finish and materials - first iPhone I’m confident using without a case. Mine has zero scratches after a year.

The entire framing of the iPhone Air as missing “features” was wrong. It has the most IMPORTANT features in a handheld device - light weight, thin profile, fast processor and large screen. Sure, some may need a bigger battery or more cameras, but people are way too fixated on those aspects and miss the overall experience.

The truth is the opposite of popular opinion: iPhone Air is the PRACTICAL choice for those who want a phone that is easy to use day to day, while iPhone Pro is the FLASHY choice for those who want to show off that they have the best specs. To be fair, they are both great phones - the Air just never deserved the hate it got.
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7 weeks ago
Air looks great, but is too large.

Air Mini anyone?
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xxFoxtail Avatar
7 weeks ago
The Air is still up there with my favorites. I think the SE 2016 is my top, then the 12/13 mini, and Air being next. I think I’d like the Air more if it was a bit smaller.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
7 weeks ago
My favourite iphone out of every single iphone i’ve owned since 2007. Would love for it to be even thinner and lighter
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mentaluproar Avatar
7 weeks ago
TDLR: it was never a bad phone. just a bad price.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
manhattanboy Avatar
7 weeks ago

Yes, really. No macro.
Honestly, need telephoto? Crop. But nothing will get you UWA or macro if the lens isn't there.


I wish I could help you learn more about the camera. Below is shot on the air just now aimed at a Mac keyboard just like you did just now.

Attachment Image
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID
iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID
37 minutes ago
Does the iPhone Duo Run Hot? Here's What Reviews Found
Does the iPhone Duo Run Hot? Here's What Reviews Found
2 hours ago
Apple Music's New Look is Now Live on Apple's Website
Apple Music's New Look is Now Live on Apple's Website
3 hours ago
Anthropic Launches Claude Duet, a Proactive AI Agent
Anthropic Launches Claude Duet, a Proactive AI Agent
3 hours ago
What 32,000 Folds Did to the iPhone Duo's Hinge
What 32,000 Folds Did to the iPhone Duo's Hinge
4 hours ago
iPhone Duo's Hidden FaceTime Camera Takes 'Trash' Photos
iPhone Duo's Hidden FaceTime Camera Takes 'Trash' Photos
5 hours ago
iPhone Duo Has 'Edge Light' Feature That Debuted on Macs Last Year
iPhone Duo Has 'Edge Light' Feature That Debuted on Macs Last Year
6 hours ago
Apple Support App Updated for iPhone Duo's Larger Display
Apple Support App Updated for iPhone Duo's Larger Display
6 hours ago
Amazon Sweetens the Deal on Entry-Level 16-Inch MacBook Pro With $570 Off
Amazon Sweetens the Deal on Entry-Level 16-Inch MacBook Pro With $570 Off
6 hours ago
iPhone Duo Tips Over on MagSafe Stands When Unfolded
iPhone Duo Tips Over on MagSafe Stands When Unfolded
7 hours ago
Apple Music's New Look Officially Announced
Apple Music's New Look Officially Announced
8 hours ago
iPhone Duo Supports Apple Pencil Starting With iOS 27.2
iPhone Duo Supports Apple Pencil Starting With iOS 27.2
9 hours ago
iPhone Duo Accessories Roundup: Cases and Screen Protectors From OtterBox, ZAGG, and More
iPhone Duo Accessories Roundup: Cases and Screen Protectors From OtterBox, ZAGG, and More
10 hours ago
Apple Stores Will Have 'Limited' Availability of iPhone Duo for Walk-In Customers
Apple Stores Will Have 'Limited' Availability of iPhone Duo for Walk-In Customers
10 hours ago
iPhone Duo Reviews Explain Why Device is Both 'Fun' and 'Frustrating'
iPhone Duo Reviews Explain Why Device is Both 'Fun' and 'Frustrating'
10 hours ago
Apple Says 'Reachability' Feature Coming to iPhone Duo Later This Year
Apple Says 'Reachability' Feature Coming to iPhone Duo Later This Year
11 hours ago
Loop Capital Cuts Apple Rating Over iPhone Sales Outlook
Loop Capital Cuts Apple Rating Over iPhone Sales Outlook
15 hours ago
Apple Stores in Bordeaux and Lille Looted During French Protests
Apple Stores in Bordeaux and Lille Looted During French Protests
15 hours ago
Bluesound Adds Native Apple Music Support
Bluesound Adds Native Apple Music Support
16 hours ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Explains What Makes Good Product Design
Apple CEO John Ternus Explains What Makes Good Product Design
17 hours ago
UK Proposes New Ways to Help Apple Pay Rivals
UK Proposes New Ways to Help Apple Pay Rivals
19 hours ago
WhatsApp Developing In-App Browser for All Chat Links on iPhone
WhatsApp Developing In-App Browser for All Chat Links on iPhone
20 hours ago
Apple's App Store Chief Explains Its Push for Premium Games
Apple's App Store Chief Explains Its Push for Premium Games
20 hours ago
Apple Could Owe Even More After $5.7 Billion Patent Verdict
Apple Could Owe Even More After $5.7 Billion Patent Verdict
21 hours ago
Skyrim Comes to Apple Silicon Macs With New Unofficial Installer
Skyrim Comes to Apple Silicon Macs With New Unofficial Installer
21 hours ago
Apple Highlights Mac and iPad Use in Paris Design Exhibition
Apple Highlights Mac and iPad Use in Paris Design Exhibition
22 hours ago
Apple Seeks 6G Modem Engineers as It Plans for Post-5G iPhones
Apple Seeks 6G Modem Engineers as It Plans for Post-5G iPhones
1 day ago
First iPhone Duo Unboxing Video Appears Ahead of Friday Launch
First iPhone Duo Unboxing Video Appears Ahead of Friday Launch
1 day ago
Perplexity Computer Can Now Run Fully Locally on Mac
Perplexity Computer Can Now Run Fully Locally on Mac
1 day ago
Apple's Touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro: Everything We Know
Apple's Touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro: Everything We Know
1 day ago