Apple on Tuesday unveiled the iPhone Air, a new addition to its iPhone 17 lineup, and it’s trying to do a lot with a phone that’s thinner than most people expected. It starts at $999, measures 5.6 millimeters thick, and weighs 165 grams.
That thinness comes from a titanium frame, which is lighter than steel but just as tough. Apple covered both the front and back with its Ceramic Shield, the same material that debuted a few years ago for drop resistance.
The display is big, 6.5 inches, and it borrows a lot from the baseline iPhone 17. That means a 120Hz variable refresh rate, which feels fluid while scrolling, and an always-on display so you don’t have to wake the phone to see notifications.
Peak brightness hits 3,000 nits, which is blindingly bright, in a good way, and should make it easy to read even in full sunlight.
Under the hood, the Air runs on Apple’s A19 Pro chip. It also has the N1 chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Cellular connectivity is handled by a faster, more efficient C1X 5G modem, an upgrade to the C1 modem from earlier this year. Apple claims this is its most power-efficient iPhone ever and promises all-day battery life.
There’s a MagSafe battery option if you want more, and iOS 26 introduces Adaptive Power, which adjusts performance based on what you’re doing to conserve juice.
The camera system is solid for an iPhone that isn’t labeled “Pro.” On the back is a 48-megapixel fusion camera, which can also do 2x telephoto shots.
Up front, the new 18-megapixel Center Stage camera works in both portrait and landscape orientation, which should help with selfies and video calls that follow you around a bit more intelligently.
Preorders for the iPhone Air and the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup start Friday. The phone will be available in stores the following Friday, September 19.
