iPhone Air: Apple’s Slimmest Phone Takes on the Galaxy S25 Edge

Apple’s latest release, the iPhone Air, is more than just another addition to the lineup—it feels like a carefully aimed strike at Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge. The message is clear: this phone is slimmer, it’s cheaper, and it still carries Apple’s most advanced chip. That mix could make it the quiet star of this year’s smartphone season.

At only 5.6 millimeters thick, the Air earns the title of Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever, undercutting Samsung’s Edge by a hair. It’s not just about looks, though. The $999 price point puts it a step below Samsung’s $1,099 model, which matters at a time when buyers are thinking twice about spending over a thousand dollars on a phone.

Inside, the A19 Pro processor runs the show. Apple designed it with artificial intelligence tasks in mind, a sign of where mobile performance is heading. The titanium frame and ceramic shield glass also signal durability—something slim phones often struggle with. At launch, the reaction in Cupertino was unusually loud; attendees described the Air as sharp, refined, and instantly recognizable as “something new.”

Still, no phone comes without trade-offs. Making the device this thin meant scaling back on the battery. Apple insists the Air will last all day, but only real-world use will show whether that’s true. The single rear camera is another talking point. Compared to the two lenses on the iPhone 17 and the triple system on the Pro models, it feels like a compromise. Apple will rely heavily on software and chip efficiency to keep image quality strong.

Despite those concerns, analysts believe the iPhone Air has the potential to become a bestseller. It replaces the iPhone Plus, which had steady demand, and could draw in both long-time users and price-sensitive buyers. In markets like China—where ultra-thin designs have gained popularity—the Air could help Apple reclaim ground.

Some have even compared its unveiling to the original MacBook Air moment, when Apple showed that portable didn’t have to mean weak. This iPhone carries a similar spirit: slim, purposeful, and designed to shift perceptions. Whether the smaller battery holds up or not, the Air feels like a statement that Apple isn’t done surprising us.