I returned my iPhone Air, but now it's on sale for £699, and that's a no-brainer purchase

iPhone Air shown in hand
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

When the iPhone Air came out in September last year, I had to try it. I'd wanted a new iPhone form factor for years. After testing it for two weeks, I reluctantly decided to return it to my local Apple Store — not because I didn't like it, but because for £999 it just didn't seem right.

Fast forward to today, and I've just spotted an absolutely crazy £300 discount on Amazon UK that makes a 256GB iPhone Air in Sky Blue or Black cheaper than an iPhone 17; And at that price, I genuinely think I'm going to go back to the thinnest iPhone ever.

If that massive 30% discount on the latest iPhone with the latest A19 Pro chip isn't enough to tempt you to upgrade, you can also get the iPhone Air MagSafe battery and an official Apple MagSafe case heavily discounted — all three products are less than £800!

Over the last few months, I've been using an iPhone 13 mini, after giving my iPhone 16 Pro Max to my wife. My reason for a mini is purely because of form factor and my lack of interest in the current iPhone 17 range.

Back in September, I tested both the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone Air, and there was just something about the Air that felt like the most exciting iPhone I had used in years. Reluctantly, with bills to pay, a new mortgage, and plenty of smartphones scattered around my house, I decided to return my Air, purely because I didn't think it warranted such a premium price tag.

To see my favourite iPhone on the market with such a heavy discount, really does make me ponder upgrading to the thin and light form factor that I feel is a spiritual successor to the iPhone 13 mini. And considering the price, I think anybody who's been wondering about upgrading a while should just bite the bullet, pick up the Air and Apple's battery, and enjoy one of the best smartphone experiences available right now.

Update: I bought one

iPhone Air purchase

(Image credit: Future)

In case you thought I was hyping up the Air but wouldn't back up my words, here's proof that I decided this was too good a price to miss. I opted for the black model just to change from the Sky Blue I used to own. Did I make the right choice?


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John-Anthony Disotto
Collections Editor

John-Anthony Disotto is the Collections Editor at Tom's Guide, curating advice on the best products to spend your hard-earned cash on. An award-winning journalist and longtime Apple expert, he previously covered AI at TechRadar and served as How To Editor at iMore. When he isn't at his desk, he's probably trying to stop his French Bulldog Kermit from destroying his newest tech product.

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