Iphone Air
Apple Air in Sky Blue – 256GB Review: A Photographer’s Perspective
I’ve been spending some time with the Apple Air in Sky Blue (256GB), and I’ll admit, I came to it with a few reservations. On paper, the 3,149 mAh battery looks underwhelming compared to the iPhone 17 Pro’s, though it’s actually not far off my 14 Pro’s capacity. Add the single lens and single speaker, and it’s easy to assume this is a stripped-down iPhone experience. But in reality, it’s more nuanced than that.
Battery – Better Than Expected
Yes, the battery is technically smaller, but Apple’s optimisations and new adaptive power features may help smooth things out. Once it settles into daily use, I’ve found the battery holds up surprisingly well. For messaging, browsing, and the occasional photo, I don’t feel short-changed
The real test will be longevity. Will it still feel solid after 24 months of daily use? Apple’s paid battery replacement program is reassuring, but with a £1,000+ phone, it shouldn’t even be part of the equation.
Then there’s the additional £99 battery pack. Honestly, I’m baffled. Its very existence feels like Apple admitting the Air might not be enough on its own. Worse still, once you factor in the price, the Air drifts dangerously close to the 17 Pro’s bracket — so why wouldn’t you just buy the Pro? And aesthetically, the battery pack feels clumsy, breaking the seamless Apple experience we’ve come to expect.
For most people, though, it’s a non-issue. Unless you’re truly off-grid, charging is everywhere, at home, at work, even in coffee shops on every high street.
I ran two battery tests on the iPhone Air. The first test began with the battery charged to 87% and placed in low-power mode. I unplugged it at 3:30 PM, used it normally, and left it off the charger overnight. By 3:00 PM the next day, the battery had dropped to 5%. That’s nearly 24 hours of use on a single charge, although 6hrs was in standby mode whilst I slept.
For the second test, I charged the Air to 100% overnight and began using it as usual at 6:00 AM. By 9:00 PM, the battery had dropped to 5%, giving me a solid baseline of real-world performance without low-power mode enabled. The phone delivered 9 hours and 47 minutes of screen-on time, lasting a total of 15 hours overall.
However, I’ve noticed an unexpected downside with the iPhone Air: charge anxiety. Much like the range anxiety experienced by electric vehicle owners, there’s a creeping unease once the battery dips below a certain threshold, even if you know it will technically last the day. It creates a subtle pressure that can change how freely you use the device, regardless of how capable the battery actually is.
What’s interesting is that this wasn’t something I really experienced with previous iPhones, unless the battery had aged and was clearly in need of replacement. But with this latest model, that anxious feeling seems to kick in sooner. I suspect part of the reason is Apple’s own messaging. The release of the MagSafe battery pack, for example, subtly suggested that the built-in battery might not be enough for everyone. On top of that, ongoing comparisons to the Pro models, which often have slightly better battery endurance, can leave you second guessing whether your device is truly built for a full day of use. So even when the battery life performs well in real-world use, the perception of needing to top up “just in case” tends to linger
Camera – For Those Everyday Memories
As a photographer, I see the iPhone differently. When I want to make pictures, I reach for my Sony A9's, a camera designed for storytelling with light and detail. The iPhone, for me, is for memories, the spontaneous, imperfect, everyday moments that matter.
Yes, I’ll miss the wide-angle lens from the Pro series. But walking forward or back to frame a shot feels more like shooting with prime lenses, a return to basics rather than a deal-breaker.
Sensor Size – Apple Stop Chasing the Megapixel Race?
The iPhone Air's 48-megapixel sensor sounds impressive, but megapixels aren’t everything. Higher counts can mean smaller pixels, more noise in low light, and heavier reliance on computational tricks to clean things up. Bigger files also fill storage faster, which conveniently pushes users toward pricier models or iCloud subscriptions. Call me cynical, but the “pixel race” feels more about shareholders than consumers.
Design – A Genuine Breath of Fresh Air
This is where the Air shines. The Sky Blue finish is subtle and refreshing, light, and unlike anything Apple has offered in years. It’s just a joy to hold.
This feels like the first truly iconic design statement since the Steve Jobs era. Tim, if you happen to be reading this (I can only wish), keep driving innovation at this level.
Sound – Simple but Sufficient
The single speaker isn’t going to win any awards, but it does the job for most everyday uses, podcasts, social media, and phone calls. For anything more immersive, most people will naturally turn to headphones.
Still, it’s disappointing. For a phone priced just under £1,000, Apple really should have found a way to include a second speaker. You’d think the marketing team would have raised concerns about how this could impact sales
The Bigger Picture – Phones Have Become Boring!
Here’s the truth, phones have plateaued. They’re all powerful, all polished, all broadly the same. The Air doesn’t try to be “Pro.” It’s lighter, simpler, and genuinely a joy to hold.
Final Thoughts
If you’re chasing the latest camera array, the Air won’t impress you. I appreciate that not everyone wants to carry camera gear around, and the Apple 17 Pro has made travel photography a whole lot more impressive and easier to achieve. That said, I just find taking pictures with Apple’s point-and-shoot camera unchallenging and boring. But if, like me, you carry a proper camera for creative work, the Air is more than enough for everything else. It captures memories, keeps you connected, and looks fantastic doing it.
However, the iPhone Air is sleek, light, and could be a style icon for what’s around the corner. The phone initially feels fragile at first, but Apple’s online bend test videos prove it’s surprisingly tough. So, if you’re not into photography and mostly listen to music through your earphones, you might really enjoy this. I’m just not sure if the wow factor will wear off over time, or if the constant worry about battery life will spoil the fun.
I've been using the iPhone 17 Pro and the Air, and honestly, the Air is a breath of fresh air, light, refreshing, and simply a joy to use. The truth is, phones have become such an integral part of daily life that we hardly stop to think about how much we really need from them.
I’d been upgrading through the iPhone lineup and was using the 14 Pro until I dropped it and smashed the back glass. When I saw the £565 repair cost, I decided to go back to my old iPhone 11, and quickly got used to its weight again.
After spending time with both the hefty 17 Pro and the sleek Air, I realised something: it’s just a phone, and I don’t need all the extra stuff. Honestly, I don’t think most people do either. So, I’m sticking with the Air, and here’s hoping the era of thin, simple phones continues to grow.