It was over a decade in the past that Intel pushed laptop computer makers to discover ultra-slim Ultrabooks. The scale-zero section progressively turned the norm, with the thicker type issue being phased out progressively. I sense smartphone makers are getting into an analogous section of ultra-thin units. The iPhone Air may very well be the beginning of one thing huge, not as a result of it’s a trendsetter, however as a result of Apple doing one thing is all the time affirmation of a bigger development.
The iPhone Air is the slimmest telephone I’ve held in my hand. That’s not as a result of that is the slimmest telephone round, however as a result of I’ve not reviewed the opposite ultra-slim units from Samsung and Techno. The second you maintain this telephone in your hand, you realise this sense itself might make the telephone promote, particularly for individuals who are tired of heavy and thick telephones, however don’t actually see any benefit derived from this further weight.
It’s a trendy telephone too. Its metallic sides and ceramic-like again fold into the outstanding digital camera plateau, which additionally homes the processor. It’s this plateau that Apple leverages to make the telephone so skinny, as the true property under it’s used for housing the battery. There isn’t any bodily SIM right here; the opposite adjustment that has facilitated the skinny design. This additionally makes the iPhone Air the primary eSIM-only telephone from Apple.
The iPhone Air’s jaw-dropping slimness is on full show, thinner than most, but constructed to face up to real-world stress. (Picture: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Categorical)
The 6.5-inch Tremendous Retina XDR is pretty much as good as within the Professional fashions and is protected by Ceramic Defend 2. That is additionally a bit bigger than the iPhone 17 display and can be another reason that offers it an edge.
One other side struck me concerning the design. This may also be the one query most individuals contemplating the telephone will ask themselves: Why does this telephone have just one digital camera? Nicely, this has a processor higher than the iPhone, however remains to be one digital camera quick. I suppose the second digital camera was dropped to create space for the extra necessary elements of a telephone. However then value-conscious patrons will discover this a troublesome name — whether or not to go for a extra highly effective telephone, or one that provides extra choices by way of digital camera.
The daring digital camera plateau doubles as a design assertion and a wise inside structure choice, making room for a bigger battery in an ultra-thin body. (Picture: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Categorical)
Will the iPhone Air bend, or break?
The opposite huge query is how sturdy a telephone this skinny is. Let me inform you, if somebody places their thoughts to it, something could be damaged. However the truth is that Apple has put in numerous work into this side of the telephone, and with a few of the demos, I’m satisfied it’s arduous to bend or break this telephone with regular utilization, like in case you by chance sit on it. In actual fact, I put some stress to see if I might bend the telephone. It does take a curve and comes again to its authentic design. This can be one of many greatest benefits of the telephone, in opposition to different ultra-thin rivals.
I’ve used the iPhone Air for every week, all the time asking myself who the best buyer for this telephone is. However through the week, I additionally realised that numerous iPhone customers are fascinated by the skinny design coupled with the truth that this has one of the best silicon Apple can supply. In actual fact, I used to be extra shocked when a few Professional customers proclaimed this is able to be their subsequent improve, additionally as a result of for them the three-camera setup is an overkill in some ways. So now I feel numerous customers who desire a very highly effective and reliable telephone, however don’t use the digital camera too severely, will veer in direction of this telephone once they improve… perhaps sooner.
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With the A19 Professional chip and comfy grip, the iPhone Air holds its personal as a robust and moveable gaming gadget. (Picture: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Categorical)
The actual fact is that the A19 Professional chip makes this a really highly effective telephone, able to doing something a smartphone can and can be anticipated to do sooner or later, like working bespoke LLMs regionally. Apple Intelligence additionally works totally on units, and it is a very succesful gadget if you wish to run stay translations through your new AirPods Professional, which once more will do it on the telephone and never log on. Curiously, I additionally felt this was a very good gaming gadget due to its processing energy, plus the design that makes the telephone very straightforward to grip. And, sure, the telephone stays cool even if you find yourself pushing the envelope.
Is the iPhone Air digital camera a compromise?
Once we come to the digital camera, there are some positives. The iPhone Air has a 48MP rear digital camera with 2x optical zoom. Whereas within the 1X mode, you’ll be able to change the lens to 35 or 26mm, relying on the body. You can even zoom in to 10x digitally, and these pictures are first rate. However in case you are somebody upgrading from a multi-camera setup, you might discover the dearth of extra zoom and ultra-wide a bit irritating. The actual fact is that no matter digital camera you get is iPhone high quality and, in a manner, an upgraded 2025 model of what the iPhone digital camera was. I used to be impressed with the pictures I clicked, although for a consumer like me, this digital camera is limiting.
One side the place the brand new iPhones have actually accomplished nicely is with the 18MP entrance digital camera with CentreStage, which implies now you can seize a wide-angle selfie with out altering the orientation of the telephone. This works very nicely and can endear the iPhones to the selfie-obsessed.
To many customers, a skinny telephone would possibly point out a smaller battery, and because of this Apple has actually labored on the interior designs to create space for a battery that offers all-day juice. In Indian situations, with the telephone making an attempt to latch on to one of the best community, this may very well be a bit harder than it’s in different elements of the world. With common use, the telephone will present you a 20% battery stability if you attain dwelling after work. In case you are somebody on the transfer and wish extra battery, then you might spend money on Apple’s MagSafe battery pack that sticks to the again of the Air and prices it, however at an extra price of Rs 12,000. This one is made solely for the iPhone Air and doesn’t work with different fashions. I feel different Apple companions will quickly supply extra reasonably priced variations of the identical, and it would make sense to carry on for now.
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The iPhone Air with Apple’s unique MagSafe battery pack, a modern answer for further juice on the go, although it comes at a premium. (Picture: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Categorical)
The brand new iPhone Air runs iOS 26 out of the field. Whereas I just like the design aesthetics of the brand new OS, its animation and 3D really feel, there are occasions it struggles to be sensible. In some home windows, the textual content, missing background, means it’s arduous to learn; in others, you might be preventing your muscle reminiscence of over a decade as an iPhone consumer. However this isn’t a dealbreaker in any manner, and you’ll get used to it in just a few days.
Who can purchase the iPhone Air?
At Rs 1,19,900, I have a look at the iPhone Air because the MacBook Air equal within the iPhone lineup — a really highly effective gadget that brings in model and comfort, and shaves off options that cater to these with distinctive necessities. The actual fact is that numerous smartphone customers can be very happy with this gadget, which now replaces the iPhone Plus measurement, too. Purchase in order for you extra energy, extra display, extra model, and may stay with much less digital camera.