Apple took an unusual step to demonstrate the durability of its thinnest iPhone ever. During a filmed interview, Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, handed over his own iPhone Air and told a reporter to try bending it. At just 5.64mm thin, the iPhone Air is the slimmest iPhone Apple has ever produced, and Joswiak’s confidence in the device became clear the moment he said, “Try to bend it. It’s on me.”
The live moment was first reported by Tom’s Guide, where the journalist applied as much pressure as possible in front of Joswiak and Apple’s hardware engineering chief John Ternus. The iPhone Air bent slightly under strain but did not break, proving Apple’s claim that the new design balances thinness and strength. It was also a direct reminder of the bendgate controversy from 2014, when the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were criticized for bending far too easily.
A new approach to thinness and structure
The iPhone Air relies on a titanium frame for rigidity, Ceramic Shield 2 on the display that is three times more scratch resistant, and a Ceramic Shield back that is four times stronger than standard glass. Internally, most of the components are housed in what Apple calls the “plateau,” the top section that also contains the camera system. Apple has used this word internally for years instead of “camera bump,” and it reflects a deliberate structural choice. By concentrating the hardware there, Apple could keep the rest of the phone incredibly thin while still maintaining strength.
Tim Cook described the thin design of iPhone Air as a way to make the device disappear in your hand so that you are only aware of the content on screen. That ambition also means the Air is significantly lighter than other large-screen iPhones, something highlighted in the iPhone Air weight comparison.
More than just durability
Ternus stressed that the iPhone Air not only meets Apple’s expectations for bend strength but also exceeds its toughest internal metrics for drop performance. Joswiak noted that these metrics are “really high,” reinforcing Apple’s belief that the Air can handle daily use. With durability concerns addressed in such a public way, Apple positioned the Air as a thin iPhone that does not compromise toughness.
Camera trade-offs
The design also meant some trade-offs. The iPhone Air includes a single 48MP wide camera, without the ultrawide or telephoto lenses found on the Pro models. Joswiak defended this choice, pointing out that it still supports four focal lengths, including a 2x telephoto crop with optical quality. Apple believes this versatility is enough for the Air’s audience, while the iPhone 17 Pro lineup remains the choice for users who want the most advanced camera system.
Hardware inside the Air
Apple’s latest silicon made the Air possible. The A19 Pro chip delivers performance and efficiency improvements, while the new C1X modem integrates 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth, and Thread in a smaller footprint. These advances were critical for fitting everything into such a slim design. Battery life remains a challenge for a device this thin, and the iPhone Air battery capacity show how Apple balanced endurance with size. For extended use, the MagSafe Battery for iPhone Air is available alongside other iPhone Air accessories like cases and straps.
Could this lead to a foldable iPhone?
When asked whether the iPhone Air might be a precursor to a foldable device, Joswiak declined to speculate, but Ternus noted that material science and miniaturization work done for the Air could influence other products in the future. Reports have already suggested Apple is working on a foldable for 2026, making the Air’s design a potential stepping stone.
Why no 100x zoom?
The interview also touched on the iPhone 17 Pro, with Joswiak explaining why Apple avoids marketing “fake” 100x zooms like Samsung’s Space Zoom or Google’s ProRes Zoom. He said Apple prefers “real” photography, avoiding AI tricks such as adding painted details into photos. This fits with Apple’s broader stance of keeping computational photography grounded in authentic image quality.
The bigger picture
With iPhone 17 preorders already open, the Air is positioned as the model that redefines what an ultra-thin phone can be. The announcement of iPhone Air highlighted its design, specs, and pricing, but it was the live bend test with Joswiak’s own phone that captured the spotlight. By daring reporters to try and break it, Apple showed just how confident it is that the thinnest iPhone yet is also one of the toughest.
Here’s the full video of the live bend test:
