Tim Cook and Apple’s Design Team Explain the ‘Shockingly Thin’ iPhone Air

A new era of slim design
Apple has once again redefined smartphone design with the launch of the iPhone Air, the company’s thinnest and lightest device yet. At just 5.6mm front to back, the Air is slimmer than a Cartier “Love” bracelet in its classic size and only slightly thicker than three quarters stacked together. It’s a bold design move that reflects Apple’s obsession with blending beauty, utility, and performance into a single, breathtaking device.
The design philosophy behind the Air
Molly Anderson, Apple’s vice president of industrial design, admitted she wants to make it hard for customers to pick their next phone. Naturally, she hopes it’s an iPhone but she also wants the choice to be about more than simply upgrading. With the Air, Apple isn’t just releasing another model; it’s pushing the limits of what a smartphone can look and feel like in 2025.
Tim Cook on Apple’s pursuit of thinness
Speaking about the launch, Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized that thinness is more than just an aesthetic decision it’s about engineering innovation and the company’s relentless pursuit of simplicity. Cook explained that the iPhone Air required breakthroughs in materials, battery design, and internal architecture to maintain performance while delivering a feather-light profile.
Why thin matters
In a world where most smartphones look and feel the same, Apple is betting on thinness to stand out. The iPhone Air embodies a kind of elegance that feels almost unreal in hand designed for users who value sleekness without compromising capability. For Apple, it’s a statement: innovation is not just about adding features, but also about refining form until it feels inevitable.
A phone for the modern era
At a time when minimalism and efficiency are cultural touchpoints, the iPhone Air feels perfectly timed. Some are even calling it the “iPhone for the Ozempic era” lean, refined, and engineered to shed every unnecessary millimeter. It’s more than a device; it’s a conversation starter, a status symbol, and a testament to Apple’s vision of the future.