Apple iPhone Air Sky Blue 512GB 2025 Review

At 150g and 5.6mm thin, this is the most portable premium phone you can buy. Its 3000-nit display is blindingly good, but battery life is a real letdown. You're paying for the form factor, not class-leading performance.

The iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6mm, and it weighs a mere 150 grams. That's the headline, and it's a big one. You're getting a 512GB phone with a 6.5-inch display that hits a blinding 3000 nits of brightness, which puts its screen quality in the top 5% of all phones we track. It runs on the new A19 Pro chip and iPadOS 26, a combination that promises pro performance in an ultra-light frame.

Let's talk about where this phone shines and where it doesn't. That 3000-nit display is a standout, offering best-in-class visibility even in direct sunlight. Connectivity is also top of the charts, with Wi-Fi 7 and 5G support landing it in the 99th percentile. The 48MP main camera is strong, performing well above average. However, the A19 Pro chip's overall performance score sits in the 62nd percentile. That's solid, but it's not leading the pack. It's fast enough for almost everything, but you're not buying this for raw benchmark-topping speed. Battery life is a weak spot, ranking in the bottom third of phones we've tested, which makes that 'all-day' claim feel a bit optimistic for heavy users.

At $1150, you're paying a premium for the design and the Apple ecosystem. The value proposition is clear: you're trading some raw performance and battery life for an exceptionally thin and light form factor with a brilliant screen. Compared to similar ultra-premium phones like the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or Google Pixel 10 Pro, you're getting less battery and middling performance for the money, but you're getting a uniquely portable device.

Stacked against its peers, the iPhone Air carves its own niche. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will almost certainly beat it in battery life and camera versatility. The Google Pixel 10 Pro will likely offer better computational photography and a more cohesive Android experience. Even the OnePlus 15 will probably give you more performance per dollar. But none of them will come close to matching the iPhone Air's 150-gram weight or its 5.6mm profile. It's a numbers game: you choose which numbers matter most to you.

Skip this phone if battery life is a dealbreaker. Its 35th percentile ranking is a major weakness. Also, avoid it if you need a rugged device—its 22.7 score for ruggedness is one of the worst we've seen. Power users looking for the absolute fastest chip or gamers who push hardware should look at competitors with higher performance scores.

If your top priority is owning the thinnest, lightest premium phone with a stunningly bright display, the iPhone Air is your only choice. The data shows its connectivity and screen are best-in-class. But if you need all-day battery life, top-tier processing power, or a phone that can take a beating, look elsewhere. This is a specialist device for the portability-obsessed, not a do-everything champion.