The iPhone Air is likely one of the uncommon phones that I maintain coming again to, regardless of what number of gadgets I exploit as a part of my job. I would like it to be my main cellphone however it will possibly’t as a result of I am torn about it.

Once I switched to the iPhone Air full-time final month, I braced myself for the compromises it makes, like the only rear digital camera and common battery life. Nevertheless, in my two weeks of testing, it fared higher than anticipated. I missed having a telephoto digital camera however the 48-megapixel primary shooter is sweet sufficient for normal pictures and even the occasional zoom.

Utilizing the Air made me understand that I did not want a flexible triple-camera setup and that I far most well-liked having a big-screen cellphone with out the massive cellphone bulk. This was a surprising revelation for me. Skinny telephones just like the Air will go well with individuals who want one thing apart from an ordinary, extra reasonably priced cellphone (suppose the iPhone 17) or a “have your cake and eat it” do-everything professional cellphone (suppose the iPhone 17 Professional Max).

Do not get me flawed, I like capturing pictures utilizing the 48-megapixel, 4x telephoto digital camera on my iPhone 17 Pro Max. However I am uninterested in utilizing telephones that give me wrist fatigue as a consequence of their weight. The iPhone Air weighs 165 grams in comparison with the iPhone 17 Professional Max which clocks in a wrist-aching 233g. Skinny telephones just like the iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge are a refreshing expertise to make use of as a result of they’re gentle and skinny, but in addition having a big display and a succesful processor. I get probably the most helpful elements of a heavier cellphone with out the added bulk and weight.

However Apple’s all-new iPhone shouldn’t be all roses. It is an important day-to-day cellphone however comes with one key compromise that caught me off guard. And whereas CNET’s Abrar Al-Heeti made point out of it in her iPhone Air review, it is one which usually takes a backseat to extra apparent points just like the Air’s single rear digital camera or the $99 exterior battery pack accent. The iPhone Air sounds horrible.

I sorely miss having stereo audio system on my iPhone Air

Apple’s iPhone Air has a single speaker, which doubles as its earpiece. It is superb as an earpiece however would not work that nicely as a speaker, not less than not for me. It sounds tinny whether or not I am listening to music, or speaking on a speaker name with family and friends. I did not anticipate the Air to have such poor audio high quality. However after a few weeks with it, I miss having a bottom-firing speaker a lot.

I do not watch motion pictures and TV exhibits on my cellphone, and after I view Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, I have a tendency to make use of earbuds. The issue arises when I’m on video calls, which I want taking on a cellphone’s audio system — or within the case of the Air, speaker.

I reside with my dad and mom and not less than as soon as a day, I am on a WhatsApp video name with my sister or younger children and toddlers in our prolonged household. My dad and mom and I wish to discuss to them collectively, so utilizing my earbuds is not an choice. As a substitute, we simply use one cellphone collectively.

However every little thing sounds muffled on the iPhone Air: From the thrill of my niece telling us about her day to the responsible chuckle from my sister after I make a dad joke. I do not like that moments like these are being restrained by a less-than-average cellphone speaker. I do know this would possibly simply be me, however I exploit my cellphone’s audio system greater than its cameras. So, the shortage of stereo audio system on the iPhone Air has affected me greater than its lack of tertiary cameras.

Compromising on the audio system is very jarring when you think about how typically Apple pushes its iPhone line as a approach of utilizing Apple Music and Apple TV Plus providers — each of that are affected by the only speaker. And it isn’t misplaced on me how ubiquitous FaceTime video calls are within the US.

I do not wish to hand over on the iPhone Air

I like the iPhone Air for its light-weight design. I like having a 6.5-inch display in an iPhone that weighs as a lot because the 2020 iPhone 12. The Air’s show measurement sits within the candy spot — proper between the baseline 6.3-inch iPhone 17 and the 6.9-inch iPhone 17 Professional Max.

The iPhone Air’s design additionally makes a big-screen cellphone accessible to individuals who need a 6.5-inch show in a light-weight design. It is one of many uncommon telephones that does not compromise on processing prowess or show high quality and continues to be capable of weigh solely 165 grams. For context, that is 12 grams lighter than the usual iPhone 17 and 41 grams lower than the iPhone 17 Professional. It is even lighter than the extra reasonably priced but less-powerful iPhone 16E (167 grams).

It will nonetheless be my day by day cellphone, if solely it had devoted stereo audio system. Its battery life held up higher than I anticipated, relying on my utilization (reasonable to intense). The truth is, in CNET’s 45-minute battery endurance take a look at, which incorporates streaming, scrolling via social media, becoming a member of a video name and enjoying video games, the iPhone Air’s battery went from full to 95%, which is on par with different telephones similar to Oppo’s book-style foldable, the Find N5, the Google Pixel 9A and Motorola’s 2025 Razr Ultra. General, its battery life hasn’t bothered me as a lot as the shortage of a second speaker.
Samsung proves that it’s potential to have stereo audio system in a skinny, light-weight physique. The Galaxy S25 Edge has a stereo speaker setup (and there is even an ultrawide digital camera as nicely). I hope Apple makes the following iPhone Air as versatile because the S25 Edge and that it would not drive iPhone house owners to sacrifice primary options that they are used to having on a $999 flagship cellphone. For now, I wish to maintain utilizing the iPhone Air however I am unable to.