I used the iPhone Air for six months, and here’s the one thing I miss.

      I have always had a preference for small phones. The last iPhone that I truly adored was the iPhone 13 mini, but since it didn’t perform well in sales, Apple discontinued it. Since then, I have had to settle for the Pro iPhones, as they were the smallest option available.

      When Apple introduced the iPhone Air, I suddenly found another choice. Although it features a large 6.5-inch display, it only weighs 165 grams, making it lighter than the standard iPhone 17 and considerably less heavy than the iPhone 17 Pro. Its sleek design makes it more comfortable to hold than its size might imply, which convinced me to purchase it.

      Now, six months later, here are my thoughts on the iPhone Air.

      What do I appreciate about the iPhone Air?

      The first thing that stands out when you pick up the iPhone Air is how comfortable it feels to hold. Despite the large screen, its weight allows me to use it one-handed for most tasks, which I couldn't manage with the Pro models.

      The large display also has its advantages. It has become my secondary reading device, following the Supernote Nomad. I utilize Apple Books and Readwise Reader as my reading applications, and the larger screen makes reading a much more enjoyable experience. It is also excellent for web browsing, photo viewing, and watching content while on the move.

      While the single-speaker system is a downgrade from the Pro versions, it hasn’t been an issue for me since I primarily use my AirPods Pro 2.

      Did the battery perform adequately?

      My main concern prior to purchasing the iPhone Air was the battery life. A 3,149 mAh battery might seem small on paper, and many reviews highlighted it as a drawback. I was bracing myself for disappointment.

      However, surprisingly, the battery life has not been problematic. The iPhone Air consistently provides around four hours of screen-on time, comfortably meeting my daily needs. I don’t frequently use social media apps and prefer to watch content on my iPad or MacBook.

      My usage of the iPhone mainly involves communication through chats and calls, reading, listening to music and podcasts, and some light browsing. For this type of usage, the phone lasts a full day without any issues.

      I might feel a slight strain on travel days, but Apple’s MagSafe battery pack easily alleviates that. It provides an additional 70% charge, which is more than sufficient even for days with heavier usage.

      The one thing I genuinely miss

      Here’s the unexpected part. After six months, what I truly miss is the telephoto camera. The main sensor is excellent and takes beautiful photographs, and the 2x crop feature captures everyday shots effectively. However, it simply falls short for telephoto photography.

      Whether at an event trying to capture a candid shot or taking landscape photos, the absence of a dedicated telephoto lens is a significant drawback. Just last week, while I was traveling, I noticed a tree I wanted to photograph, but I couldn't get close enough to the subject to make the shot work. A telephoto lens would have resolved that issue right away.

      Over six months, this has been the one limitation I keep experiencing. There are rumors that the next iPhone Air may come with a secondary camera. I sincerely hope it is a telephoto and not an ultrawide lens. While an ultrawide would be nice, a telephoto would make the iPhone Air an almost complete package for me.

      If you can do without a telephoto camera, the iPhone Air is an excellent phone. For most users, it likely is. For me, it’s the one aspect I wish Apple hadn’t overlooked.