iPhone Air: The Thinnest iPhone Ever – My 3-Day Conclusion

This is not a technical spec sheet comparison, but a personal experience report. I had three days to test the iPhone Air and its accessories in everyday life.

What I Tested

• iPhone Air 256GB White: 999 CHF / 1,199 €
• iPhone Air MagSafe Battery: 99 CHF / 115 €
• iPhone Air Bumper Light Gray: 39 CHF / 45 €
• Crossbody Band: 59 CHF / 69 €

Design & Haptics

The iPhone Air feels exceptionally thin and light. The weight is very well distributed, you don't feel any imbalance. Interesting: The USB-C port is not centered – the distances to the top and bottom are different. It's noticeable, but not annoying.

The titanium frame is robust and prevents bending very well. The device feels high-quality in the hand.

Display

The display is great:

• Excellent color calibration
• High brightness (perfect for outdoors)
• Very low minimum brightness (ideal for night)

No complaints about the screen.

Audio System: The Big Compromise

This is where it gets problematic. The iPhone Air has only the earpiece speaker. The bottom stereo speaker has been removed.

You notice it. And you really notice it.

• Massive loss of volume
• Hardly any bass
• It gets distorted above 75% volume

Anyone who listens to a lot of music, watches videos, or consumes podcasts without headphones will be disappointed here.

Battery: Okay, but not more

After three days of moderate use (calls, messaging, video conferences, music streaming, hotspot), there was 10-15% remaining charge in the evening.

That's okay, but significantly weaker than previous models. Heavy users will need a power bank or the MagSafe battery.

MagSafe Battery

The official MagSafe battery provides about 55% additional charge. It is compact and adheres well to the device.

But: It cannot reverse charge. The 2021 MagSafe battery pack could still do that – it would be technically possible, but it was disabled. A pity.

Accessories

Bumper

The bumper protects the device without destroying the slim line. It is thin but sturdy. A clear recommendation if you don't want to completely hide the design.

Crossbody Band

The crossbody band is very trendy. In cities with mobile payment, you see people without bags – just a phone around their neck. The iPhone Air is perfect for this: light, thin, comfortable to wear.

Who is the iPhone Air for?

This is primarily a Gen-Z device. It is optimized for portrait mode use:

• TikTok
• Instagram Reels
• YouTube Shorts

The single speaker at the top makes sense when you hold the phone vertically. For landscape videos (YouTube, Netflix), it's bad.

Purchase Recommendation

The iPhone Air is an emotional purchase, not a rational one.

You should buy the iPhone 17 if:

• Camera quality is important to you
• You need good speakers
• You want a strong battery
• You are looking for the best value for money

You can buy the iPhone Air if:

• Design and weight are more important to you than specs
• You mainly consume portrait content
• You see the device as a fashion statement
• You don't care about the higher price

Conclusion

The important thing is to be aware that you are technically buying a worse device for more money.

The iPhone Air is beautiful, light, and thin. But it sacrifices camera, speakers, and battery for it. Those who can live with that – and put design above all else – will be happy.

Everyone else should go for the iPhone 17.