Apple is making bold promises with its newly unveiled iPhone Air, which measures just 5.6 mm thick—the thinnest iPhone ever produced. The announcement has already sparked a familiar question among consumers: can a phone this slim withstand the pressures of daily use?
According to Apple executives, the answer is yes. In an interview with Tom’s Guide, Senior Vice President of Marketing Greg “Joz” Joswiak and hardware chief John Ternus assured that the iPhone Air is “more durable than any iPhone before it.”
Their confidence is backed by engineering choices. The frame is built from grade 5 titanium, the front is protected by the upgraded Ceramic Shield 2, and the internal layout is carefully designed to balance thinness with strength. Key components such as the cameras, processor, and speaker sit on a reinforced “plateau,” while the battery takes up most of the remaining space. A metal plate above the battery helps prevent bending under pressure.
Skeptics were quick to recall the infamous “Bendgate” controversy that plagued the iPhone 6. To address those concerns directly, Joswiak handed a review unit to reporters and invited them to try bending it. The phone flexed slightly but quickly returned to its original form. Ternus likened the design to earthquake-resistant buildings, which are engineered to absorb stress and then snap back into place.
The ultimate durability test, however, will come once the device reaches consumers. Pre-orders for the iPhone Air open on September 12 across 63 countries and regions. Pricing starts at $999 for the 256 GB model, $1,399 for the 1 TB version, and goes as high as $2,000 for the most premium configuration in Apple’s 2025 lineup.
