iPhone Air Hong Kong Review: Truly Crippled, Truly Beautiful
iPhone Air Review — A Bold but Specialized Leap in Design
Overview
This year’s iPhone 17 standard and iPhone 17 Pro series both deliver major upgrades. Yet aluminum alloy — despite its excellent thermal properties — cannot match the tactile and visual allure of polished titanium, a finish Apple has already trialed with the Apple Watch.
In 2024, if you want titanium inside the iPhone lineup, your only option is the iPhone Air.
From certain angles, the iPhone Air recalls the iPhone X:
- Both mark an all-new hardware design on the eve of major hardware transitions.
- Both give early adopters a glimpse of the future — with some uncertainty in everyday experience.
> Note: The model reviewed here is the Hong Kong retail version.
> The Mainland China version launches later, so details on local network bands, carrier SIM policies, and other region-specific features will be covered in a future review.
> This article is not a purchase recommendation, but an account of real-world usage.
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First Impressions — Light, Light, Light, Light, Light
Apple’s charger-free packaging has been widely criticized — but with the slim, refined box of the iPhone Air, it suddenly makes sense.
While initial impressions were shared at the September 10 keynote, certain aspects only emerge when holding the device in hand:
Polished Titanium Frame
- Warmer to the touch than aluminum (due to lower heat conductivity).
- Visually more premium — light flows across its polished surface like a concept car.
- Drawback: smudges easily, and fingerprints instantly dull its elegant finish.
Lightweight Large Form Factor
- Weight: Only 165g despite its 6.5-inch display.
- Represents the growing strategy: thin and light > small screen sizes.
- Large, lightweight designs like iPhone Air and S25 Edge are redefining usability trends.
Even among foldables or tablet-style hybrids, the Air feels like “holding a pure sheet of display” — truly futuristic.
In contrast, devices like the S25 Edge feel heavier due to vertical, armored aluminum frames.
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Usage — Crippled, Crippled, Crippled
Battery Life
- Capacity: 3,149 mAh ultra-thin steel shell battery.
- Performance: Comparable to a one-year-old iPhone 16 Pro in normal use, thanks to A19 Pro chipset efficiency and LTPO variable refresh rate.
Past Pro series capacities for comparison:
- iPhone 12 Pro: 2,815 mAh
- iPhone 13 Pro: 3,095 mAh
- iPhone 14 Pro: 3,200 mAh
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App Compatibility
- As the Air has yet to launch in Mainland China, many apps haven’t adapted to its relocated Dynamic Island.
- Issues: cropped search bars, misaligned banners, stray Easter eggs in UIs.
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Audio Limitations
- Single loudspeaker in top plateau section, with no traditional openings — output via thin earpiece slit.
- Low frequencies lose richness.
- Best used with external speakers or headphones.
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Heat Management
- Compact titanium body + high component density → noticeable warmth.
- Positive: Heats quickly but also cools fast thanks to reduced thermal mass.
- SoC placement means hands rarely touch the hottest area, often feeling cooler than a 16 Pro in normal grip.
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eSIM — Difficult, Difficult, Difficult
Hong Kong Version eSIM Reality
- Hong Kong iPhone 17 series → single physical SIM + eSIM (like global editions).
- Hong Kong iPhone Air (A3517):
- Supports adding ~8–9 eSIM profiles.
- Does not support Mainland China carrier eSIMs.
- Mainland Air (A3518) required for local eSIM.
Implications
- Need an eSIM from HK/Macau/Taiwan/intl provider with roaming in Mainland China.
- Without it → essentially functions as a large iPod Touch.
- Roaming costs + transfer fees can be high.
- Example: HKD 28 fee + ID re-registration = 40 min downtime during switch.
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Conclusion — Symbol Over Substance
The iPhone Air is a bold form experiment — more a statement than a utilitarian device.
Its specialized nature means:
- Not suited for 95% of users.
- Ideal for minimalists: short daily screen time, offline-rich lifestyle, reliance on external audio/camera gear.
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For Creators
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Perfect for niche reviews and pushing boundaries — just like the iPhone Air itself.
