iPhone Air vs iPhone 17e

170g

Source

Width

74.7mm

Source

71.5mm

Source

Thickness

5.64mm

Source

7.8mm

Source

Screen size

6.5″

Nominal diagonal; actual viewable area is smaller.

Source

6.1″

Nominal diagonal; actual viewable area is smaller.

Source

Published peak brightnessManufacturer peak claims use different test conditions.

3000 nits

Published outdoor peak · Outdoor peak claim.

Source

1200 nits

Published HDR peak · HDR peak claim; not an outdoor or full-screen measurement.

Source

Pixel density

460 ppi

Source

460 ppi

Source

Maximum refresh rate

120HzAdaptive ProMotion.

Source

Not verifiedMaximum refresh is not stated in the checked Apple specification.

Source

Native telephoto reach

No dedicated lensDedicated telephoto reach · The 2× mode crops the main sensor; there is no dedicated telephoto module.

Source

No dedicated lensDedicated telephoto reach · The 2× mode crops the main sensor; there is no dedicated telephoto module.

Source

Rear camera modules

Source

Source

8K video recording

NoThe complete recording-mode list reaches 4K at 60 fps.

Source

NoThe complete recording-mode list reaches 4K at 60 fps.

Source

Claimed video playbackUp-to manufacturer claims. Playback protocols differ.

27 hours

Claimed local video playback · Apple UK up-to claim, without an external battery; not mixed-use battery life.

Source

26 hours

Claimed local video playback · Apple UK up-to claim, without an external battery; not mixed-use battery life.

Source

Wireless charging

Yes

Source

Yes

Source

Published support term

Not verifiedUpdate policy

Source

Not verifiedUpdate policy

Source

Display specification

6.5-inch OLED; 2736 × 1260; 460 ppi; adaptive refresh up to 120 Hz

Source

6.1-inch OLED; 2532 × 1170; 460 ppi; maximum refresh rate not stated in the checked specification

Source

Chipset

Apple A19 Pro · 6 CPU cores · 5 GPU cores · 16-core Neural Engine

Source

Apple A19 · 6 CPU cores · 4 GPU cores · 16-core Neural Engine

Source

RAM and storage configuration

256 GB fixed storage; RAM capacity is not stated in the checked Apple specification.

Source

256 GB fixed storage; RAM capacity is not stated in the checked Apple specification.

Source

Camera system

48 MP main, f/1.6; 12 MP 2× crop mode from the main sensor; 18 MP front camera. There is one rear camera module.

Source

48 MP main, f/1.6; 12 MP 2× crop mode from the main sensor; 12 MP front camera. There is one rear camera module.

Source

Battery and charging

Apple claim: up to 27 h local video or 22 h streaming; up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with a separately sold 20W or higher USB-C adapter. MagSafe / Qi2 charging up to 20W. Battery capacity in mAh is not stated.

Source

Apple claim: up to 26 h local video or 21 h streaming; up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with a separately sold 20W or higher USB-C adapter. MagSafe / Qi2 charging up to 15W. Battery capacity in mAh is not stated.

Source

Dimensions

156.2 × 74.7 × 5.64 mm (height × width × thickness)

Source

146.7 × 71.5 × 7.8 mm (height × width × thickness)

Source

Regional SIM / network configuration

UK A3517; eSIM only, with two active eSIMs; no physical SIM slot. 5G sub-6 GHz; carrier services need separate confirmation.

Source

UK A3634; nano-SIM and eSIM; dual eSIM also supported. 5G sub-6 GHz; carrier services need separate confirmation.

Source

Storage

256 GB

Source

256 GB

Source

RAM

Not verifiedNot stated in the checked manufacturer specification; not treated as zero or absent.

Source

Not verifiedNot stated in the checked manufacturer specification; not treated as zero or absent.

Source

Panel technology

OLED

Source

OLED

Source

Display resolution

2736 × 1260

Source

2532 × 1170

Source

Height

156.2 mm

Source

146.7 mm

Source

Form factor

slab

Source

slab

Source

Colour

Space Black

Source

Black

Source

Claimed streamed video

22 hoursApple UK up-to claim.

Source

21 hoursApple UK up-to claim.

Source

Time to 50% wired charge

30 minutesApple claim using a separately sold 20W or higher USB-C adapter.

Source

30 minutesApple claim using a separately sold 20W or higher USB-C adapter.

Source

MagSafe / Qi2 power

20 WCompatible charger and adapter required.

Source

15 WCompatible charger and adapter required.

Source

eSIM only

Yes

Source

Source

Ingress protection

IP68Apple laboratory condition: 6 m for 30 minutes. Resistance is not permanent.

Source

IP68Apple laboratory condition: 6 m for 30 minutes. Resistance is not permanent.

Source

Optical-quality crop reach

2 ×Main-sensor crop mode, not a separate telephoto lens.

Source

2 ×Main-sensor crop mode, not a separate telephoto lens.

Source

Front camera

18 MP, f/1.9; autofocus; Center Stage

Source

12 MP, f/1.9; autofocus

Source

Published professional camera workflows

0The model counts RAW stills, professional codecs, log capture and external production tools. The checked capture formats list HEIF/JPEG and HEVC/H.264; none of these four workflows is listed.

Source

0The model counts RAW stills, professional codecs, log capture and external production tools. The checked capture formats list HEIF/JPEG and HEVC/H.264; none of these four workflows is listed.

Source

USB connection

USB-C; USB 2 data up to 480 Mb/s

Source

USB-C; USB 2 data up to 480 Mb/s

Source

Wireless connectivity

Wi-Fi 7 · Bluetooth 6 · Thread · second-generation UWB

Source

Wi-Fi 6 · Bluetooth 5.3 · NFC

Source

Device unlock

Face ID

Source

Face ID

Source

Listed operating system

iOS 26

Source

iOS 26

Source

Apple UK reference price

£1,099Exact 256 GB configuration price checked on 10 September 2026; not a current retailer quote.

Source

£699Exact 256 GB configuration price checked on 10 September 2026; not a current retailer quote.

Source

Exact variants · Manufacturer specificationsView sources

GO BEYOND THE SPECS

A little perspective. A better decision.

Make this comparison yours.

THE PRICE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

What price changes your mind?

A great phone. An even better deal. Find the point where the value flips.

iPhone 17e matches value at£1,074.04

vs iPhone Air
£1,099.00 reference MSRP

MORE SCORE PER £ ↑

iPhone 17eiPhone Air reference

Try a iPhone 17e price£699.00

iPhone 17e offers more score per £ at this price.

A score-per-price simulation, not an objective buying verdict. Starts from reference MSRP; no live retailer offers.

Good comparisons start with good sources.6 cited sources for this pair. Every number has a story.See the evidence

Your selected categories: Camera, Battery. Scores reflect published capabilities, not hands-on testing. Manufacturer battery claims can use different test conditions. Verified specifications remain visible even where a category cannot be scored.

How we calculate scores

Apple iPhone Air

256 GB · checked 10 Sept 2026

Your weighted score40.7 / 100Selected categories: Camera, Battery.

(93.00 × 0 + 8.00 × 1 + 73.47 × 1) ÷ 2

Display93.0 / 100

Published brightness, pixel density and maximum refresh under the existing capability model. This is not a laboratory display rating.

Not included in your current weighted score.

medium confidence · 100% model coverage

Published peak brightnessSource value: 3000

100.00 × 40% = 40.00

Manufacturer-published peak figure; not an independent measurement.

Pixel densitySource value: 460

80.00 × 35% = 28.00

Published or explicitly calculated pixel density.

Maximum adaptive refresh rateSource value: 120

100.00 × 25% = 25.00Apple

Category score = 40.00 + 28.00 + 25.00 = 93.00

Camera8.0 / 100

The existing camera-capability model uses lens reach, modules and published recording workflows. It does not measure photo quality.

Selected weight: 1.

medium confidence · 100% model coverage

Native telephoto reachSource value: 0

0.00 × 25% = 0.00

Main-sensor crop mode, not a separate telephoto lens.

Published optical-quality reachSource value: 2

20.00 × 15% = 3.00

Main-sensor crop mode, not a separate telephoto lens.

Published pro workflowsSource value: 0

0.00 × 35% = 0.00

The model counts RAW stills, professional codecs, log capture and external production tools. The checked capture formats list HEIF/JPEG and HEVC/H.264; none of these four workflows is listed.

8K recording availableSource value: 0

0.00 × 5% = 0.00Apple

Native rear camera modulesSource value: 1

25.00 × 20% = 5.00Apple

Category score = 0.00 + 3.00 + 0.00 + 0.00 + 5.00 = 8.00

Battery73.5 / 100

Uses the listed playback mode and short charging claim. Manufacturer protocols differ; this is not measured endurance.

Selected weight: 1.

low confidence · 100% model coverage

Manufacturer-claimed local video playbackSource value: 27

77.14 × 65% = 50.14

Apple UK up-to claim, without an external battery; not mixed-use battery life.

Manufacturer-claimed charging rateSource value: 1.67

66.67 × 35% = 23.33

Apple claim using a separately sold 20W or higher USB-C adapter. 50 divided by 30 minutes; not a sustained charging rate.

Category score = 50.14 + 23.33 = 73.47

PerformanceNot scored

Comparable independent CPU, GPU and sustained-performance measurements are not available here.

Not included in your current weighted score.

Missing: Independent benchmarks.

LongevityNot scored

The published update policy is listed separately; remaining support is not converted into a quality score.

Not included in your current weighted score.

Missing: Comparable remaining-support scoring methodology.

Specifications & verification

Weight165 gmanufacturer · high confidenceApple

Width74.7 mmmanufacturer · high confidenceApple

Thickness5.64 mmmanufacturer · high confidenceApple

Display size6.5 inchesmanufacturer · high confidence

Nominal diagonal; actual viewable area is smaller.

Peak brightness3000 nitsmanufacturer · high confidence

Outdoor peak claim.

Claimed video playback27 hoursmanufacturer · high confidence

Apple UK up-to claim, without an external battery; not mixed-use battery life.

Claimed charging rate1.6666666666666667% per minutecalculated · low confidence

Apple claim using a separately sold 20W or higher USB-C adapter. 50 divided by 30 minutes; not a sustained charging rate.

Published total supportNot verified

not published

Wireless chargingYesmanufacturer · high confidenceApple

Reverse wireless chargingNot verified

not published

Headphone jackNot verified

not published

Expandable storageNot verified

not published

eSIM onlyYesmanufacturer · high confidenceApple

IP ratingIP68manufacturer · high confidence

Apple laboratory condition: 6 m for 30 minutes. Resistance is not permanent.

RAMNot verified

not published

Pixel density460 ppimanufacturer · high confidenceApple

Maximum refresh rate120 Hzmanufacturer · high confidence

Adaptive ProMotion.

Native telephoto reach0×manufacturer · high confidence

The 2× mode crops the main sensor; there is no dedicated telephoto module.

Claimed optical-quality reach2×manufacturer · high confidence

Main-sensor crop mode, not a separate telephoto lens.

Rear camera modules1manufacturer · high confidenceApple

8K recordingNomanufacturer · high confidence

The complete recording-mode list reaches 4K at 60 fps.

Reference MSRP£1,099.00Apple

All sources3

Apple UK iPhone Air technical specificationsApple · accessed 2026-09-10
Apple UK iPhone Air configurationsApple · accessed 2026-09-10
iPhone Air exact UK configurationApple · accessed 2026-09-10

Apple iPhone 17e

256 GB · checked 10 Sept 2026

Your weighted score39.8 / 100Selected categories: Camera, Battery.

(8.00 × 1 + 71.62 × 1) ÷ 2

DisplayNot scored

Required display inputs are incomplete.

Not included in your current weighted score.

Missing: Comparable display specifications.

Camera8.0 / 100

The existing camera-capability model uses lens reach, modules and published recording workflows. It does not measure photo quality.

Selected weight: 1.

medium confidence · 100% model coverage

Native telephoto reachSource value: 0

0.00 × 25% = 0.00

Main-sensor crop mode, not a separate telephoto lens.

Published optical-quality reachSource value: 2

20.00 × 15% = 3.00

Main-sensor crop mode, not a separate telephoto lens.

Published pro workflowsSource value: 0

0.00 × 35% = 0.00

The model counts RAW stills, professional codecs, log capture and external production tools. The checked capture formats list HEIF/JPEG and HEVC/H.264; none of these four workflows is listed.

8K recording availableSource value: 0

0.00 × 5% = 0.00Apple

Native rear camera modulesSource value: 1

25.00 × 20% = 5.00Apple

Category score = 0.00 + 3.00 + 0.00 + 0.00 + 5.00 = 8.00

Battery71.6 / 100

Uses the listed playback mode and short charging claim. Manufacturer protocols differ; this is not measured endurance.

Selected weight: 1.

low confidence · 100% model coverage

Manufacturer-claimed local video playbackSource value: 26

74.29 × 65% = 48.29

Apple UK up-to claim, without an external battery; not mixed-use battery life.

Manufacturer-claimed charging rateSource value: 1.67

66.67 × 35% = 23.33

Apple claim using a separately sold 20W or higher USB-C adapter. 50 divided by 30 minutes; not a sustained charging rate.

Category score = 48.29 + 23.33 = 71.62

PerformanceNot scored

Comparable independent CPU, GPU and sustained-performance measurements are not available here.

Not included in your current weighted score.

Missing: Independent benchmarks.

LongevityNot scored

The published update policy is listed separately; remaining support is not converted into a quality score.

Not included in your current weighted score.

Missing: Comparable remaining-support scoring methodology.

Specifications & verification

Weight170 gmanufacturer · high confidenceApple

Width71.5 mmmanufacturer · high confidenceApple

Thickness7.8 mmmanufacturer · high confidenceApple

Display size6.1 inchesmanufacturer · high confidence

Nominal diagonal; actual viewable area is smaller.

Peak brightness1200 nitsmanufacturer · high confidence

HDR peak claim; not an outdoor or full-screen measurement.

Claimed video playback26 hoursmanufacturer · high confidence

Apple UK up-to claim, without an external battery; not mixed-use battery life.

Claimed charging rate1.6666666666666667% per minutecalculated · low confidence

Apple claim using a separately sold 20W or higher USB-C adapter. 50 divided by 30 minutes; not a sustained charging rate.

Published total supportNot verified

not published

Wireless chargingYesmanufacturer · high confidenceApple

Reverse wireless chargingNot verified

not published

Headphone jackNot verified

not published

Expandable storageNot verified

not published

eSIM onlyNomanufacturer · high confidenceApple

IP ratingIP68manufacturer · high confidence

Apple laboratory condition: 6 m for 30 minutes. Resistance is not permanent.

RAMNot verified

not published

Pixel density460 ppimanufacturer · high confidenceApple

Maximum refresh rateNot verified

not published

Native telephoto reach0×manufacturer · high confidence

The 2× mode crops the main sensor; there is no dedicated telephoto module.

Claimed optical-quality reach2×manufacturer · high confidence

Main-sensor crop mode, not a separate telephoto lens.

Rear camera modules1manufacturer · high confidenceApple

8K recordingNomanufacturer · high confidence

The complete recording-mode list reaches 4K at 60 fps.