Handsets like iPhone Air are trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist

Less than a month ago, Apple unveiled its latest iPhone models, which comprise the usual suspects, namely iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, along with a new entry, the iPhone Air. The last model in particular, the iPhone Air, is being marketed as Apple's thinnest iPhone ever, as it measures just 5.6mm thick. But I think that in its effort to differentiate itself enough from competitors, Apple is trying to solve a problem that doesn't really exist.

The iPhone Air's form factor is its biggest selling point as the super-thin design is supposed to make it very comfortable to hold, while not compromising on structural integrity. Apple boasted about its hardware engineering efforts when it challenged media personnel to bend the device, and it came out unscathed.

And that's great and inspires confidence in the build quality of the iPhone Air. But the Bendgate controversy honestly hasn't really been a thing since the iPhone 6 / 6 Plus, and that happened over a decade ago. There have been rare, if any, reported instances of build quality issues in the iPhone series since then. Even the touted 5.6mm thickness of the iPhone Air isn't exactly true, because if you include the camera lens bulge (sorry, camera plateau), its thickest point measures roughly 11mm. So what problem are we solving here, really?

Instead of solving a genuine problem, the iPhone Air has introduced many more in the process. Since it has a smaller body and internal volume, there is less space to house other internals. Notably, the iPhone Air has the smallest battery out of all the latest iPhone models, coming in at 3,149mAh only. In comparison, the standard iPhone 17 is powered by a 3,692mAh battery while the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max come in at 3,998mAh and 4,823mAh. This is not a surprise, really, given the difference in form factors.

The camera lens setup has seen an apparent downgrade, too, where we have just a 48MP rear camera. Apple claims that the output of this camera is "the equivalent of four lenses", but we all know that if that were actually true, then we'd be getting the same setup in the other iPhone models too.

Less internal space also means less area for thermal dissipation, which means that your phone will take longer to cool. The Cupertino firm does say that it has optimized its hardware and software to produce low heat to accommodate the design of the iPhone Air, but is the juice really worth the squeeze?

Of course, the smaller internal volume means that other accessories suffer too. It's important to note that the iPhone Air has a mono speaker for sound, while all other new iPhones have stereo sound. The only reason for this downgrade is the thin design requirements of the iPhone Air.

Now, I'm not saying that a thin form factor automatically equates to a poorer experience and that manufacturers should pursue this area at all. To me, it makes sense to apply these same engineering efforts to foldable phones, which actually are becoming uncomfortable to hold because of their gigantic displays. If rumors are to be believed, Apple is targeting this avenue with its alleged upcoming foldable handset as well.

But standard phones don't really need to compromise on battery life and camera quality just to be slightly easier to hold. Sure, it looks aesthetic, but what good is an aesthetic phone that can't get you through the day or meet your photography expectations?

Apple can rarely be credited for innovation (there are instances, but not as many as Apple would like you to believe), but the reality of the matter is that other OEMs do tend to follow in the footsteps of the Cupertino firm until a change becomes mainstream across all devices and platforms. I certainly hope that this doesn't become the case in this particular scenario, because the compromises certainly aren't worth it.

Source

Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.

Posted Monday 6 October 2025 at 5:58 pm AEST (my time).

News posts... 2023: 5,800+ | 2024: 5,700+ | 2025 (till end of September): 4,533

RIP Matrix