Although this was a fantastic year for phones, the Apple iPhone Air will be remembered as the trailblazer that permanently altered the phone industry in 2025. Every other phone manufacturer will unavoidably imitate this model. Apple has altered the game with the iPhone Air, demonstrating to us why our preconceived notions were incorrect, much like it did with the MacBook Air (and iPod nano).
I would have pleaded for the exact opposite of what the iPhone Air offers if you had asked me what I wanted in a new iPhone before I used it, and I would have been mistaken. I believed I wanted more features, more cameras, and longer battery life. None of that is what I desire. All I want is air. For this reason, it won the Damjlaga.site Choice Awards 2025's Phone of the Year title.
Before you can comprehend the Air, you must grasp it in your own hands and spin it around. The reason is that you were unaware of how exhausted your fingers were. Your pockets are getting stretched and your knuckles are getting tired from your heavy iPhone 16 Pro Max or Galaxy S25 Ultra. You have forgiven the bulk because you are so pleased with what these huge bricks can accomplish.
When you first take up the iPhone Air, it will seem novel, unexpected, and enjoyable. You will be captivated as soon as it makes you grin. How often do you feel happy when you pick up the phone? Were you aware that a phone is capable of doing that? Check out the iPhone Air if you want to make people smile.
The iPhone Air raises the bar rather than lowers it.
What about the concessions? I say, pshaw! The iPhone Air is a thrill, not a compromise. The iPhone Air's tiny battery is not a compromise; rather, it is the result of making phones heavier with large, heavy cells. In order to get a couple extra hours of screen time, we sacrifice comfort. That offer is rejected by the iPhone Air.
Since Apple now utilizes the same USB-C charging socket as your laptop, earphones, and everything else, charging your phone throughout the day is simple and the iPhone Air really has a fairly good battery life.
Does the single camera represent a compromise? Let’s be real – smartphone cameras are good but even the best camera phones haven’t replaced a dedicated camera with a big sensor and long lens. The iPhone Air captures high-quality images that are ideal for all of your phone's functions. Invest in a Fujifilm if you want to display pictures on your wall.
The most erratic phone of 2025 was the iPhone Air.
Our initial choice for phone of the year was not the iPhone Air. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 was named the top phone of 2025 by the majority of my fellow editors. You have to hold that phone in order to believe it.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 appears to be incredibly light and thin, much like the iPhone Air. It can be mistaken for a regular flat phone when it is closed. It feels so light in your hand that you might not even realize it can unfold into a tablet the size of an iPad mini.
The camera and battery of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 are not going to be compromised. Despite being far thinner than the iPhone Air when open, it boasts the same 200MP camera sensor as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is a significant accomplishment. Because to its dual-battery design and the highly efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset within, it also has a long battery life.
However, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 appears to be unavoidable. Despite its incredible qualities, it is not all that different from the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Samsung phones get a bit slimmer and come with a bit more features every year. The Fold 7 feels like an improved version of last year's model rather than a completely new one. It will be even better next year.
Phones will continue to get thinner.
There is nothing like the iPhone Air. It is enjoyable to hold and eases aches and pains you were unaware were troubling you. If they have not already, all other phone manufacturers will soon be imitating this model. It is easy to envision a world where smartphones value portability and thinness over strength and durability.
I do not think a new iPhone Air will be released in 2026; I believe it will take another year for Apple to make any significant changes. I also do not think we will have any iPhone Air in the future. The iPhone Air will have achieved its goal, and all phones will be slimmer.
