I replaced my Samsung S25 Edge with the iPhone Air – and my buying advice has changed

Apple iPhone Air

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The iPhone “Pro” label has always represented the bleeding edge of Apple’s industrial design. I’ve upgraded to the Pro model every year since it debuted six years ago, and at this point in time, Apple’s formula is so refined and polished that the investment is almost always worth it.

That’s why, going into Apple’s Awe-dropping event earlier this month, my attention was reserved for the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, both of which launched with a new vapor chamber cooling system — resolving a longstanding issue of overheating on Pro models — as well as a redesigned and improved camera system. But the keynote ended with me shifting my focus to a different iPhone.

Also: I compared the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max: Here’s who should upgrade

See, Apple did what it does best: marketing. It introduced the iPhone Air,

I expect the former of the two clauses — status symbol — to continue with the iPhone Air, with its near-invisible side profile (it’s just 5.6mm thick) and singular camera plateau representing one of the most burdenless iPhones of late. As for bendgate, I’m not too worried about that — and Apple doesn’t seem to be either. 

Following the September keynote, the company showed members of the media its durability testing facility, which included a machine that applied 130 pounds of force on the center point of the iPhone Air. It bulged but never cracked or snapped in half, and even straightened itself shortly after. That’s a testament to both the titanium frame that wraps around the phone and the Ceramic Shield layering on the front and back.

If you’re more interested in a real-world stress test, I recently sat down with the iPhone Air in my back pocket, and the device showed no signs of fragility. And I’m a six-foot guy who’s well over 130 pounds. If there’s one phone that you should use without a case, let it be this one.

A Pro phone without the branding

That carries into the battery life. This isn’t an all-day endurance phone, not without a charge or two throughout or the MagSafe battery pack that Apple is pitching the Air with. It’s still too early for me to quantify my daily battery life, but I’m definitely finding myself looking for a charger more often than when I was on my iPhone 16 Pro Max and other thicker handsets.

Also: iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: I compared the two flagship models, and here’s the winner

Part of me wishes Apple had added the same 40W wired charging rate from the iPhone 17 Pro models to the Air, but that would likely open another can of worms regarding thermals and battery degradation. With the Air’s already smaller capacity, you just can’t take that risk.

The high and low points of the iPhone Air

The iPhone Air’s cameras are both its high and low points. I’m a fan of the 18MP Center Stage front camera, as it can adaptively stretch out the field of view and give selfies a level of depth and embrace that’s long been missing on phones in general. 

For the past two months, I’ve been taking group photos and portraits with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 since the outer display serves as a viewfinder for the rear wide and ultrawide cameras. The iPhone Air and its new square sensor fundamentally achieve the same thing, but with fewer camera taps, unfolding, and other maneuvers required.

Also: I tested the iPhone 17 for 24 hours, and I’m already questioning if I need a Pro

A squared sensor also gives the selfie camera more room for electronic stabilization, meaning videos appear less stuttery and shaky, even when compared to last year’s iPhones.