Tech news — Apple has unveiled the iPhone Air, a $999 ultra-thin phone measuring just 5.6 millimetres thick that replaces the underperforming iPhone Plus, and it is the boldest redesign gamble the company has taken since the original MacBook Air redefined laptops in 2008.
By Maplestime Tech Desk | Toronto, Ontario | September 2025
Sources: TechCrunch, Bloomberg (Mark Gurman) | Last updated: September 19, 2026
Key Takeaways
- The iPhone Air is Apple’s thinnest and lightest iPhone ever at just 5.6mm thick, with a titanium frame and a 6.6-inch 120Hz ProMotion display.
- It replaces the iPhone Plus in the 2025 lineup after the iPhone 16 Plus underperformed, based on data from research firm DSCC.
- The $999 iPhone Air runs on the A19 Pro chip and features a new 48-megapixel fusion camera system, eSIM-only design, and all-day battery life with iOS 26’s Adaptive Power Mode.
- Apple is selling a slim MagSafe battery accessory for the Air that delivers up to 40 hours of video playback — a quiet admission that thin phones and battery anxiety go together.
- Available in space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue, with custom 1mm cases and a new cross-body strap.
Move Over, iPhone Plus — The iPhone Air Is Here
During Apple’s hardware event, the company unveiled the iPhone Air, its thinnest and lightest model to date. This replaces the Plus model in the company’s 2025 lineup, following the underperformance of the iPhone 16 Plus last year, based on data from research firm DSCC.
The star of the event draws inspiration from Apple’s MacBook Air strategy, which debuted in 2008 as the thinnest laptop available, positioned between the more affordable MacBook and the higher-quality MacBook Pro. Now Apple is applying the “Air” concept to the iPhone, emphasizing thinness and lightness as the main selling points.
How Thin Is the iPhone Air, Really?
The “airiness” feel comes from its titanium frame, and it measures at just 5.6 millimeters thick. That makes it about 0.08 inches — slightly over 2 mm — thinner than current iPhones, and thinner than Samsung’s 5.8 mm Galaxy S25 Edge.
For a better idea of how thin it is: four stacked dimes total about 5.4 mm. The iPhone Air is barely thicker than that. It is the kind of phone that makes you check twice that you actually put it in your pocket.
The phone features a large 6.6-inch display, sporting the same 120 Hz ProMotion setup found on the Pro models. It runs on the A19 Pro chip — the same silicon as the new Pro and Pro Max models — giving it a performance boost over the base iPhone 17.
The iPhone Air’s eSIM-Only Design and 48MP Camera
Another interesting detail: the iPhone Air is an eSIM-only device. Dropping the physical SIM card slot helps keep the phone looking sleek, and it also offers more security than regular SIM cards, since an eSIM can’t be easily removed from a lost or stolen phone. For Canadian carriers — Bell, Rogers, and Telus all support eSIM — this is a non-issue.
When rumours began circulating about the iPhone Air, the two big concerns were battery life and the absence of the two rear cameras that the Plus model had. Apple addressed both head-on with a new 48-megapixel fusion camera system, which functions as multiple advanced cameras in one, and a promise of all-day battery life.
With the iOS 26 update, users also get Adaptive Power Mode, which uses Apple Intelligence to make intelligent adjustments throughout the day and help extend battery life.
Related: Newfoundland Wind Storm 2026 — Weekend Gusts Knock Out Power Across the Island
Related: MADD PEI Memorial Monument 2026 — 12 Impaired-Driving Victims Honoured in Charlottetown
Related: African Nova Scotian Communities 2026 — Legislature Backs Highway Signs for 52 Historic Towns
The Battery Question Apple Won’t Fully Answer
Despite being thinner, Apple insists the iPhone Air offers all-day battery life. But the company appeared to acknowledge the lingering battery concerns by unveiling a new line of accessories exclusive to the Air — including a slim MagSafe battery compact enough to fit in your pocket. When using this additional battery, users can enjoy up to 40 hours of video playback.
Read between the lines: if the battery were truly a non-issue, Apple wouldn’t be selling you a second one on day one.
Additionally, two custom cases are available for the iPhone Air. One is a translucent case that is just 1 mm thick and comes in frost and shadow colours, while the other is a lightweight bumper available in four matching colours. Notably, the iPhone Air can also be paired with a new cross-body strap — a first for the iPhone line, and a clear play for the fashion crowd.
Colour options: space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue.
Should Canadians Buy the iPhone Air or Wait?
Rumours of a new ultra-thin iPhone, potentially named “Air,” first surfaced in 2024 from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who recently argued that the thinner design will set the standard for all future iPhone models — similar to how the MacBook Air influenced Apple’s laptop lineup.
History is instructive here. When the MacBook Air first came out, it was praised for being ultraportable at a time when most laptops were heavy and bulky. But it also received heavy criticism for being too expensive and having real shortcomings, like poor connectivity and a slow, small hard drive. Still, the original set the stage for the 2010 version, which was revamped with improved processors and a more affordable starting price of $999. Since then, the MacBook Air has been Apple’s top seller for more than a decade.
With that said, anyone thinking about buying the iPhone Air should consider whether holding off for later versions with upgrades and better features is the smarter move. First-generation Apple hardware always carries a premium — in price and in compromise. Or, for die-hard Apple fans, maybe it’s worth owning the original for bragging rights.
The slimmer phone could also pave the way for a future iPhone that folds, a concept that has been rumoured and is predicted to launch around the same time next year. A foldable device would help Apple compete with Samsung and Google, while helping it regain market share in China, where it has been struggling recently.
At US$999, the iPhone Air sits in premium territory. Canadian buyers should check apple.ca for local pricing and carrier offers before deciding — and ask themselves one honest question: am I buying this phone, or am I buying the idea of thinness?
Maplestime will provide updates on the iPhone Air as Canadian pricing and availability are announced.
Have a tip about the iPhone Air? Email [email protected]
Have a correction? Email [email protected]
Do you think the iPhone Air is a genuine leap forward — or a $999 fashion statement that will look outdated the moment the second generation fixes its compromises? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Canadian due for a phone upgrade this fall.
Enjoying Maplestime? Support independent Canadian journalism — no paywall, no corporate owners.
