9 features missing on the thin new iPhone Air

Apple announced a super-thin iPhone, named iPhone Air, at its September 9 event, and while the device is impressive, it comes with a handful of compromises, which we’ll list and talk about here.

But first, some good things about iPhone Air…

Just like Elon Musk loves the letter ‘X,’ Apple loves the word ‘Air.’ You can find it in iPad Air, MacBook Air, AirPods, AirPlay, AirDrop, AirPrint, AirPort, and now, finally, the most revenue-generating device in Apple’s device portfolio gets a new ‘Air’ line.

The razor-thin iPhone Air is not the most powerful device announced in Apple’s September 9 ‘Awe Dropping’ event, as that title will go to iPhone 17 Pro Max. But this new Air device is undoubtedly the freshest and most eye-catching piece of hardware yet.

Coming in at just 5.6 mm thickness, iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever, edging the previous title holder, iPhone 6 (6.9 mm) by a decent margin.

However, unlike the iPhone 6 that led to the famous ‘bend gate’ where it was easy to snap the device with two hands, the new iPhone Air has a Grade 5 titanium frame, and Apple even called it “more durable than any previous iPhone.”

While the actual strength test results will come when people start getting iPhone Air in their hands on 19th September, it’s safe to say the iPhone 6 saga won’t repeat.

Apple didn’t compromise on the chip either and has used the same powerful A19 Pro silicon that’s in iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. In comparison, iPhone 17 has the regular A19 chip, without the ‘Pro’ suffix. Apple said that the new iPhone Air has MacBook Pro-levels of computing power for artificial intelligence tasks.

Based on launch pictures and videos, the Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White, and Space Black finishes of the iPhone Air are eye-catching and, in my opinion, the best color options for this year. Additionally, this year’s Pro models drop the black color option, so if you’re a fan of that shade, you’ll have to pick the new iPhone Air or the regular iPhone 17.

And that’s about all the highlights of the thin and light iPhone Air. Of course, it also has the 120Hz Pro Motion display, IP68 water and dust resistance, tough Ceramic Shield back, 18MP Center Stage front camera, dual video recording, satellite connectivity, and 3000 nits of peak outdoor brightness.

Now, let’s focus on the drawbacks or the compromises, and there are plenty to talk about.

1. Not the best battery life

Apple has advertised up to 27 hours of offline video playback for the new iPhone Air, which is the same as last year’s iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro. However, its rated battery use time falls short of the new iPhone 17 by 3 hours and the 17 Pro Max by a whopping 12 hours!

Now, in the first few months or even the first year of usage, you should be able to get through the day on a single charge. However, once the battery health of the iPhone Air declines, you’ll need to carry a power bank or connect it to a power outlet more than once every day.

I believe Apple has sensed that people may have difficulty ending their day on a single charge, and thus they have introduced a MagSafe battery pack for iPhone Air, which gives a total run time of 40 hours, but in turn defeats the purpose of having a thin and light phone! Nevertheless, it’s good to have the option, if you don’t mind carrying the extra bulk.

2. No ultra-wide camera, no macro photography, no spatial photos and videos

iPhone Air has a single 48MP Fusion rear camera that can take super-high-resolution photos, including portraits. However, the lack of ultra-wide camera hardware means you don’t have the 0.5x zoom option or the ability for macro photography. So, no more taking super close-ups of food, plants, pets, or anything else. In comparison, even the regular iPhone 17 has macro photography.

Additionally, if you want to take immersive spatial photos and videos for viewing them in 3D on your Apple Vision Pro, then you’ll have to get the iPhone 17 or the Pro variants, as the lack of a second rear camera also means the thinnest iPhone can’t capture 3D spatial images or record spatial videos.

3. No Cinematic or ProRes video recording

Unlike the iPhone 13 mini and newer, the iPhone Air doesn’t have Cinematic video recording mode. And ProRes is limited to just the Pro models, and the iPhone Air this year is no exception to this tradition.

4. Slower MagSafe charging

The iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max support up to 25W of wireless MagSafe charging when using a 30-watt adapter; the new iPhone Air is limited to 20W. In contrast, last year’s iPhone 16 charges wirelessly at 22W. Space constraints and thermal concerns are likely the main reasons for slightly slower MagSafe charging, but it shouldn’t be a deal breaker for nearly anybody.

5. Slower wired fast charging

Apple has stated that iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max can fast charge to 50% in 20 minutes when using a 40W adapter. In contrast, iPhone Air takes 30 minutes to reach the same battery level.

However, one notable advantage is that the iPhone Air can fast charge to 50% in 30 minutes, even with a 20W adapter. So, if you’ve a 20W Apple adapter from your iPad or HomePod mini purchase, you can use that to quickly top up your new iPhone Air.

6. Slow USB-C port

Although the iPhone Air starts at $999 and the 1TB version costs $1399, its USB-C port still adheres to the USB 2.0 standard, with a maximum theoretical speed of just 480 Mbps. In comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro and all newer Pro and Pro Max models feature USB 3, which supports transfer speeds 20 times faster than those of USB 2.

If you frequently transfer photos, videos, music, movies, and large files between your computer, external drive, and your phone, it’s going to be a time-consuming affair on the new iPhone Air.

7. eSIM only

Apple has switched to an eSIM-only variant for iPhone Air worldwide to make space for battery and other components in a thin chassis. As always, you can use two eSIM lines simultaneously and store eight or more eSIMs on the device.

Now, iPhone 14 and later models sold in the United States already have no slot for a physical SIM. But the rest of the market still gets a physical SIM slot for iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max, with iPhone Air being the only exception. If you’re someone like me who must have a physical SIM slot, then the iPhone Air is not for you.

8. No 5G mmWave support

Unlike the iPhone 12, 12 mini, and later models, the iPhone Air doesn’t support 5G mmWave, which means you may not get the best 5G speeds. But dropping mmWave does mean less battery consumption, so that may have been Apple’s rationale behind this decision. Plus, for the most part, the lack of mmWave should not be a deal breaker, irrespective of which part of the world you’re in.

9. No LiDAR scanner

Even though the iPhone Air features a massive camera bump (called the plateau), it still lacks a LiDAR sensor. As it has been for a while, LiDAR remains limited to just the Pro iPhones and iPads.

My thoughts about the new iPhone Air…

The iPhone Air comes with compromises, most notable being a shorter battery life. But I still think this is an exciting device.

If you’re someone who doesn’t use a case with their phone, doesn’t care about macro or ultra wide photos, and has a habit of plugging in your phone for charging every night, the iPhone Air will be a great device for you.

But for everyone else, this year’s regular iPhone 17 with 120Hz display, good battery life, and 256 GB base storage, is the phone to consider.

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