Originally published at: Overlooked Details of the iPhone Air - TidBITS
Apple’s product announcements are grand, cinematic events that often barely touch on, gloss over, or overlook interesting details that might impact our lives. Here are a few details about the new iPhone Air that weren’t entirely clear from the announcement.
It’s iPhone Air, Not iPhone 17 Air
I completely missed this while Apple presenters were talking about the iPhones, to the point where, after drafting my article, I had to search for “iPhone 17 Air” and replace it with just “iPhone Air.” Why did Apple avoid the version number?
The most likely answer is that Apple considers the iPhone Air a separate model that it doesn’t plan to update on the same schedule as the flagship iPhone and iPhone Pro models. There is precedent for this, such as the entry-level iPhone SE, which Apple updated every few years independently of the main lineup.
But Apple has just discontinued the iPhone SE in favor of the iPhone 16e (see “Apple Replaces iPhone SE with Larger, More Expensive iPhone 16e,” 20 February 2025), which remains for sale at the low end of the lineup. How long will the iPhone 16e stay on the market? It’s unlikely that the iPhone Air will replace the iPhone 16e as the budget-friendly option.
It might seem fitting to compare the iPhone Air with the iPad Air, but the iPad Air sits cleanly between the iPad and iPad Pro in every metric. In contrast, the iPhone Air’s position is mainly due to its screen size and price, while the less expensive iPhone 17 outperforms it in terms of camera capabilities and battery life.
The best comparison might be with the 12-inch MacBook, which, despite being extremely thin and light, suffered from underwhelming performance, only one USB-C port, and a high price (see “New 12-inch MacBook Joins Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro,” 9 March 2015). Although it was an evolutionary dead end as a product line, the 12-inch MacBook was successful as a technology testbed, debuting as the thinnest Mac ever and introducing USB-C, a fanless design, and the Force Touch trackpad. We won’t mention the butterfly keyboard. Perhaps the iPhone Air is best thought of as half of a future folding iPhone?
The iPhone Air Uses a Binned A19 Pro
Although the iPhone Air is powered by an A19 Pro chip, like the iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone Air’s A19 Pro has only five GPU cores compared to six in the iPhone 17 Pro. Benchmarks suggest that the A19 Pro with the 5-core GPU might perform 10–15% worse on graphics-related tasks, which is unlikely to be noticeable during everyday use.
This practice, known as “binning,” helps Apple save money and maintain distinct product tiers. Apple pays TSMC for a silicon wafer that contains hundreds of dies (individual rectangular regions where the processor design is etched). After manufacturing, each die undergoes electrical testing. If a GPU core on a die consistently fails, TSMC uses microscopic fuses in the silicon to permanently disable the faulty core, allowing the chip to be sold with one fewer GPU core. Although there’s no way to know exactly how much money Apple saves through improved yield via binning, it could easily amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, given the scale at which Apple purchases chips.
The iPhone Air’s Battery Life Isn’t Bad
While I have my reservations about the iPhone Air, criticisms of its battery life seem unwarranted. Although the iPhone Air may not match the battery life of the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro, it surpasses the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 and is identical to the iPhone 16 Pro. We weren’t complaining about battery life in a big way last year.
| Model | Video Playback | Streaming Video |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16e | 20 hours | 16 hours |
| iPhone 16 | 22 hours | 18 hours |
| iPhone 16 Plus | 27 hours | 24 hours |
| iPhone 16 Pro | 27 hours | 22 hours |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | 33 hours | 29 hours |
| iPhone 17 | 30 hours | 27 hours |
| iPhone Air | 27 hours | 22 hours |
| iPhone 17 Pro | 33 hours | 30 hours |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | 39 hours | 35 hours |
The New MagSafe Battery Pack Is Specific to the iPhone Air
Apple may have sparked criticism about battery life with the release of the new $99 iPhone Air MagSafe Battery. It’s a MagSafe accessory that attaches to the back of the iPhone Air and increases battery life by up to 65%. Apple claims a video playback time of 40 hours, up from the standard 27 hours. It’s not compatible with any other iPhone models.
Those who want to maximize the iPhone Air battery life can keep it attached at all times, but that may defeat the purpose of the iPhone Air’s slim design. Apple says that the integrated system will select optimal times to recharge. Alternatively, you can attach it for up to 12W of charging when you need a quick boost.
I don’t understand what’s going on when Apple says, “For even faster charging of your iPhone Air, attach the MagSafe Battery and connect it to a 20W or higher power adapter at the same time.” Wouldn’t charging the iPhone Air directly using a USB-C cable connected to a high-power adapter be faster than anything that runs through the MagSafe Battery? Or does Apple mean using two USB-C cables?
New iPhone Air Cases and Straps
For the past few years, I have been using the Smartish iPhone cases, which are highly functional and allow me to customize them with an image of my choice. If you prefer to stick with Apple cases for the iPhone Air, however, the company has introduced some new options that highlight how thin it is:
- iPhone Air Bumper: For the most minimal protection, the $39 iPhone Air Bumper features a slim polycarbonate frame that protects the edges while preserving the phone’s thin profile. It includes redesigned button covers, supports Camera Control through a sapphire-crystal conductive layer, and has two strap connectors for use with the Crossbody Strap.
- iPhone Air Case with MagSafe: This translucent polycarbonate case is less than 1 mm thick and has a frosted interior and glossy exterior. Apple says it has a redesigned button cover for crisp feedback, supports Camera Control through a sapphire-crystal conductive layer, and includes two connection points for attaching a Crossbody Strap. It costs $49.
- Crossbody Strap: Apple’s new $59 Crossbody Strap attaches to compatible cases to allow hands-free carrying of an iPhone. (How long before third-party makers copy it?) It features magnetic stainless steel sliders for easy length adjustments that range from 42.5 inches (1080 mm) to 81.9 inches (2080 mm). Since Tonya’s iPhone 16 fits into her pockets even worse than her old iPhone SE, she now sometimes carries it in an old conference badge holder with a long strap and a large pocket; I could see her investigating the crossbody strap idea in the future.
Apple also introduced a new TechWoven material for its iPhone 17 Pro cases, replacing the FineWoven cases that were notable for showing wear. Oddly, the TechWoven cases aren’t available for the iPhone 17 or the iPhone Air. Apple continues to sell FineWoven MagSafe wallets; perhaps it’s just trying to clear out stock? It will be amusing to see how journalists abuse the TechWoven cases to see how they hold up.
