iPhone 16e vs iPhone Air
3.2 mm wider, 9.5 mm taller and 2 g lighter.
Quick answer
iPhone Air provides a larger 6.5-inch display while remaining slightly lighter at 165 g, compared to iPhone 16e at 167 g with a 6.1-inch screen. However, iPhone Air is noticeably taller at 156.2 mm and wider at 74.7 mm, requiring more thumb reach across its surface than the 146.7 mm height and 71.5 mm width of iPhone 16e. The most distinct physical change is thickness, where iPhone Air measures 5.64 mm deep against 7.8 mm on iPhone 16e. Both fit median men's jeans pockets but neither fits median women's pockets. iPhone 16e costs 599 USD, while iPhone Air sells for 999 USD.
- iPhone Air is 5.64 mm thin, making iPhone 16e feel notably thicker at 7.8 mm.
- iPhone 16e is narrower at 71.5 mm, allowing easier one-handed reach than iPhone Air at 74.7 mm.
- iPhone Air gives you a 6.5-inch screen without extra weight, weighing 165 g versus 167 g.
- Both fit median men's pockets, but neither device fits median women's jeans pockets.
TRUE SCALE · 1.6 PX/MM
TRUE SCALE · 2.1 PX/MM
Hand: US Army ANSUR II, 2012 (sex-balanced median). Pockets: The Pudding, 2018. Card: ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1.
iPhone 16e: 146.7 by 71.5 by 7.8 millimetres, 167 grams. iPhone Air: 156.2 by 74.7 by 5.64 millimetres, 165 grams.
16e, Air shown at 2.1 pixels per millimetre.
Height: 16e 146.7 millimetres, Air 156.2 millimetres.Height: 16e 5.78 inches, Air 6.15 inches.Width: 16e 71.5 millimetres, Air 74.7 millimetres.Width: 16e 2.81 inches, Air 2.94 inches.Depth: 16e 7.80 millimetres, Air 5.64 millimetres.Depth: 16e 0.31 inches, Air 0.22 inches.Weight: 16e 167 grams, Air 165 grams.Weight: 16e 5.89 ounces, Air 5.82 ounces.
Specifications
| Specification | 16e | Air |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 146.7 millimetres5.78 inches | 156.2 millimetres, 9.5 millimetres more6.15 inches, 0.37 inches more |
| Width | 71.5 millimetres2.81 inches | 74.7 millimetres, 3.2 millimetres more2.94 inches, 0.13 inches more |
| Depth | 7.80 millimetres0.31 inches | 5.64 millimetres, 2.16 millimetres less0.22 inches, 0.09 inches less |
| Weight | 167 grams5.89 ounces | 165 grams, 2 grams less5.82 ounces, 0.07 ounces less |
| Volume | 81.8 cubic centimetres4.99 cubic inches | 65.8 cubic centimetres, 16.0 cubic centimetres less4.02 cubic inches, 0.98 cubic inches less |
| Screen-to-body — Active display area over body area. Our own estimate, not an Apple figure. | 86 percent | 90 percent, 4 percent more |
| Display size — Screen size is always quoted in inches. | 6.1 inches | 6.5 inches, 0.4 inches more |
| Resolution | 1170 × 2532 | 1260 × 2736 |
| Pixel density | 457 pixels per inch | 463 pixels per inch, 6 pixels per inch more |
| Cutout | Notch | Dynamic Island |
| Rear main | 48MP | 48MP |
| Rear ultra-wide | — | — |
| Rear telephoto | — | — |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Chip | A18 | A19 Pro |
| Video playback — Apple's rated hours of video playback. Apple does not publish battery capacity. | 26 hrs | 27 hrs |
| Port | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless | 5G · Wi-Fi · Bluetooth | 5G · Wi-Fi · Bluetooth |
| Water resistance | IP68 (6m for 30 min) | IP68 (6m for 30 min) |
| Storage | 128 – 512 GB | 256 GB – 1 TB |
| Launch price — Base configuration at launch, in US dollars. | 599 dollars | 999 dollars, 400 dollars more |
| Released | Feb 2025 | Sep 2025 |
| Status | Current | Current |
Also compared with iPhone 16e
Questions about these phones
Which phone is easier to handle with one hand?
iPhone 16e is easier for one-handed use because it measures 71.5 mm wide and 146.7 mm tall, compared to the 74.7 mm width and 156.2 mm height of iPhone Air.
Is iPhone Air heavier than iPhone 16e?
No, iPhone Air weighs 165 g, making it slightly lighter than iPhone 16e at 167 g.
How do the screen sizes compare between these phones?
iPhone Air features a 6.5-inch screen, providing more viewing area than the 6.1-inch screen on iPhone 16e.
Do iPhone 16e and iPhone Air fit in standard pockets?
Both phones fit into median men's jeans pockets, but neither phone fits inside median women's jeans pockets.
How much thinner is iPhone Air than iPhone 16e?
iPhone Air has a depth of 5.64 mm, which is thinner than iPhone 16e at 7.8 mm.
What is the launch price difference between iPhone 16e and iPhone Air?
iPhone 16e launched at 599 USD, while iPhone Air launched at 999 USD.