Apple’s new iPhone Air is thinner than three stacked American quarters, and company executives say that’s no accident. In interviews with The Wall Street Journal, Apple design leaders explained why they pushed for such a dramatic new look.
“It’s something that we dreamed about for a long time, to make just an incredibly, shockingly thin iPhone,” said Molly Anderson, Apple’s vice president of industrial design. She added that Apple deliberately made the decision between the Air and the sturdier Pro lineup tougher for buyers, noting, “I like that it’s a hard choice.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook joked about just how slim the new iPhone Air feels: “It does seem like it’s going to fly away when you’re holding it.” He also said Apple’s approach to design as a reflection of personal style, telling the Journal, “When something becomes so much a part of you, it needs to reflect your style. We’re saying this product is so personal that it needs to reflect you. And you are the best person to decide what that means.” Cook is always so insightful when it comes to opening your wallet.
Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of human interface design, described the iPhone Air as another step toward Steve Jobs’ original dream of an iPhone that looked like a single piece of glass. Anderson echoed that idea, saying the glossy, reflective surface of the Air helps it feel more like something you wear than just a device.
Apple executives acknowledged trade-offs, too. At 36% thinner than the iPhone 17 Pro, the Air doesn’t offer the same battery life or camera power. Still, Cook said he sometimes chooses which phone to use based on mood: “It will depend on how I feel,” adding he might pick up the Air if he wants to “float through the air.”
He’s lucky enough to get to choose from any new iPhone he wants. 2025 and we’re still getting an iPhone with a single rear camera–that starts at a hefty $1,449 CAD. Who’s buying one?
Pre-orders for the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 series kicks off on Friday, September 12, at 5am PT/8am ET. Click here to learn how to set up your new iPhone 17 or Air pre-order in Canada.
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I keep going back and forth between the air and the pro. I worry about the battery life more than anything. Could probably get by with a single rear camera as long as it’s good.