Apple has announced the iPhone Air, featuring the thinnest and lightest design in the company’s smartphone range to date, constructed with a titanium frame and enhanced durability features.
The new iPhone Air is 5.6mm thick and utilises grade 5 titanium, supporting a high-gloss mirror finish. The device incorporates an innovative internal layout, which has been precision-milled to house cameras, speakers and advanced Apple silicon. This design approach aims to maximise battery space and contribute to what Apple describes as “remarkable all-day battery life”. Both the front and back of the device are protected with Ceramic Shield materials, with Apple stating there is 3x better scratch resistance for the display and 4x improved resistance to cracks on the back compared to previous iPhones.
Display and design
The device is equipped with a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology, offering an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother navigation and graphics. The display also features an Always-On mode, which can reduce its refresh rate to 1Hz to conserve power when inactive. Peak outdoor brightness is listed at 3,000 nits, and Apple claims the device delivers twice the contrast of previous iterations for outdoor use.
Ceramic Shield 2 is used on the front display and a new coating is designed to further improve scratch resistance and reduce glare. For the first time, Ceramic Shield is also used to protect the back of the device. Apple says the device exceeds its own bend strength requirements, aiming to offer greater durability than prior models.
The iPhone Air is available in four finishes: space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue.
“The all-new iPhone Air is so powerful, yet impossibly thin and light, that you really have to hold it to believe it’s real. This huge leap in design and engineering is only made possible through Apple innovation, especially Apple silicon,” said John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. “iPhone Air is a brand-new member of the iPhone family that delivers advanced features our users will love, like pro performance, a versatile 48MP Fusion camera system, our innovative Centre Stage front camera, and great all-day battery life – all in a breakthrough design that feels like you’re holding the future.”
Camera features
The iPhone Air introduces a new 48MP Fusion main camera system, which combines multiple focal lengths through software, providing the effect of four lenses. A revised Photonic Engine, along with a large 2.0μm quad-pixel sensor and sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, is designed to improve image quality, especially in low light. The 2x Telephoto option also receives updates for enhanced detail and colour reproduction.
The front-facing camera system, referred to as Centre Stage, uses an 18MP sensor in a square format, providing a wider field of view for selfies and video calls. The feature incorporates AI to track and automatically adjust for group shots, and the camera can now record in either portrait or landscape mode regardless of device orientation. Dual Capture mode allows simultaneous shooting with both front and rear cameras. Video recording is supported at up to 4K 60 fps with Dolby Vision and features enhancements such as Spatial Audio, Action mode, wind noise reduction, and Audio Mix for post-capture sound adjustments.
Additional photographic features include Focus Control for creating portraits after the fact, an updated set of Photographic Styles including a new Bright style, and broader support for computational photography adjustments through software.
Performance and power
The device runs on the A19 Pro, N1, and C1X chips. The A19 Pro is a new 6-core CPU, with an upgraded GPU and on-device neural accelerators for AI-driven features, including running generative AI models locally. The N1 chip supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread protocols, aiming to enhance wireless performance and reliability. The C1X modem, developed in-house by Apple, improves data rates and is designed to consume 30 per cent less energy than its predecessor.
These efficiency gains, alongside a redesigned internal architecture and iOS 26 software optimisations, underpin what Apple claims is an all-day battery life. A newly introduced Adaptive Power Mode analyses typical user patterns to conserve battery life before charge runs critically low.
Connectivity and iOS 26
The iPhone Air uses an eSIM-only design, aiming to save internal space and provide more secure, flexible, and convenient connectivity. Apple notes that eSIM cannot be removed if the device is lost or stolen. The worldwide support of eSIM allows both home and travel connectivity through over 500 carriers, including international roaming and local plans in more than 200 regions.
The device ships with iOS 26, which brings interface updates with the Liquid Glass design, new Apple Intelligence capabilities, and improvements to core apps. Features include Live Translation for both text and audio, enhanced screenshot capture and search, privacy-focused intelligent features, and an expanded CarPlay, Apple Music, Maps, Wallet, and Apple Games app suite. Developers also gain access to the on-device AI foundation model for their apps, aiming to provide intelligent features with privacy safeguards, even when offline.
Accessories and environmental considerations
Complementary accessories launching with iPhone Air include the iPhone Air Case with MagSafe in frost and shadow, the matching-colour Air Bumper, a Crossbody Strap in ten colours made from recycled yarns, and the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery for portable charging, as well as new MagSafe certified chargers and wallets.
Apple reiterates its commitment to the Apple 2030 environmental plan, highlighting that iPhone Air uses 35 per cent recycled content, 80 per cent recycled titanium, and 100 per cent recycled cobalt in the battery. The device is produced using 45 per cent renewable electricity and its packaging is entirely fibre-based for easier recycling. Other measures include a 3D-printed titanium USB-C port that uses less material.
Availability and pricing
The iPhone Air is offered in storage options of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Pricing starts at AUD $1,799, with trade-in options providing up to AUD $1,205 credit for eligible existing devices. Pre-orders are available in over 63 markets, and the phone will be released in additional countries the following week. Satellite-based Roadside Assistance will be expanded to Australia, with an additional year of free access for users of iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 in regions where satellite services are supported.