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iPhone 16 Pro Max Any Pro owners contemplating the 17 Air this year?

C7 POWER

C7 POWER

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 10, 2015
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Charlotte, NC
As someone who upgrades annually in the 1UP program, always going with the Pro Max, I am wondering if the 17 Air will be a worthwhile change this year. Anyone else giving it thought?

The camera downgrade, the rumored one speaker seem like some big things coming from the Pro, but if the air gains AOD, etc it might be a cool phone to get this year.
 
Me! I’m getting tired of a heavy phone. The main reason I choose the Pro Max iPhone is battery life. If the Air has similar battery life to my 14 Pro Max it’s an instant buy for me.

I don’t take enough photos to care about the camera. It could have an LCD screen and I also wouldn’t care.
 
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For Americans the 17 Air might be a good option if the tariffs take effect and prices go up. In general though the Promotion display and new design will attract a lot of former Pro owners for sure, even with only one camera and inferior speakers. Ill personally be considering the 17 Air or 17 Pro.
 
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I have the 15 pro and I’ll most likely be getting the 17 air as long as the battery life is close to the standard 17/17pro. The only thing that really keeps me getting a pro is promotion but since all the 17s will have 120hz I see no reason to get another pro. There hasn’t been any new iPhones to really get excited about recently so the 17 air is the first time I’ve really felt like we are getting something new in a long time.
 
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I am considering it, the biggest thing for me is the promotion. I want the variable refresh rate even if it is a slight battery hit. I have noticed over the last several years using my camera less and less on the iPhone as I do not like how the photos are turning out so much and if I am going to shoot RAWs I would rather just use my Sony.

If the battery is at least similar to the PM and has Promotion...it is a easy decision for me
 
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I had iPhone 11 Pro, and 5.8” was perfect for me. When iPhone 12 was released, I decided that was too big for me, so I went with the mini(partly so my Series 6 Watch and my phone would match.) I stuck with 13 mini, too. When the mini went away, I decided if I’m gonna go big, I might as well go pro. Plus I loved the Deep Purple i14P. This year, I will most likely choose the Air, just because it’s new.
 
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The standard 17 interests me more, 16 Pro is a bit heavy but if they bring the better display to the 17 it could be just as good. I like the fuller sound of the speakers and wouldn't want to downgrade them with the Air.
 
Paddle1 said:
I like the fuller sound of the speakers and wouldn't want to downgrade them with the Air.
Click to expand...
Full sound and stereo for a very small animal, like an ant.

Use AirPods or something if you want ”fuller sound” from the Air, you already have them.
 
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C7 POWER said:
As someone who upgrades annually in the 1UP program, always going with the Pro Max, I am wondering if the 17 Air will be a worthwhile change this year. Anyone else giving it thought?

The camera downgrade, the rumored one speaker seem like some big things coming from the Pro, but if the air gains AOD, etc it might be a cool phone to get this year.
Click to expand...
16 Pro Max user here. I will be pre-ordering the Air. I hate the weight and size of my PM.
 
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Snørrbjørg said:
Full sound and stereo for a very small animal, like an ant.

Use AirPods or something if you want ”fuller sound” from the Air, you already have them.
Click to expand...
I already have several headphones, this is of interest specifically when not using them. One of the most surprising things upgrading from my previous 12 to the 16 Pro is how much better the speakers sound. When quickly watching a video the speech and bass are much more prominent. Alerts and alarms don't sound tinny like before.

Anyway, not needing to use headphones for half decent sound is a plus for me, I'm sure most people don't care.
 
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No 17 Air for me. Just because they can make it thin………

After reading the iPhone 18 is going to be the best bang for the buck. The 17 is hardly an upgrade. I have updated every single year but new features are not worth it. The 17 might be my first skipped iPhone.
 
Paddle1 said:
Anyway, not needing to use headphones for half decent sound is a plus for me, I'm sure most people don't care.
Click to expand...
I agree with you. While I use my AirPods a lot there are times when it’s not necessary. Having good sound from the speakers is important.
 
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Jackbequickly said:
No 17 Air for me. Just because they can make it thin………

After reading the iPhone 18 is going to be the best bang for the buck. The 17 is hardly an upgrade. I have updated every single year but new features are not worth it. The 17 might be my first skipped iPhone.
Click to expand...

Upgrading yearly hasn't really been needed for a long time now. Like you I can't see what would drive me to upgrade again this year but I will probably do so
 
Does anyone know how the bezels on air are expected to compare to the pros?
 
C7 POWER said:
Battery life is supposed to be as good as the Pro.
Click to expand...
The regular Pro doesn't have good battery life either—it's usually on par with the base model, and sometimes even worse. The 17 Air will have worse hardware than the base model (only one camera, missing features that even the iPhone 7 had, like stereo speakers), a higher risk of bending, and a higher price tag. I think the only reason it exists is as a beta test for a future foldable iPhone in 2–3 years.
 
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It’s a no from me, I have never been a fan of incredibly thin phones, this goes back to the 2000s with the RAZR V3, never understood their appeal as these super thin devices almost always come with a lot of compromises including smaller batteries, lesser camera hardware, poorer screens and other things e.g. the less powerful speaker arrangement that may possibly happen with 17 Air as you mentioned.

I am looking forward to the 17 Air though as my hope is that it is a test bed for Apple of higher density batteries in smaller packs e.g. they are possibly testing how to fit the likes of a 4000mAh battery in a significantly smaller package as that will be great news for a possible future Pro Max coming with a +5000mAh battery that takes about as much space as the current 4600mAh battery in the 16 Pro Max.
 
Smittywerben said:
The regular Pro doesn't have good battery life either—it's usually on par with the base model, and sometimes even worse. The 17 Air will have worse hardware than the base model (only one camera, missing features that even the iPhone 7 had, like stereo speakers), a higher risk of bending, and a higher price tag. I think the only reason it exists is as a beta test for a future foldable iPhone in 2–3 years.
Click to expand...
Apple's comparison tool does say the Pro has longer battery life than the base, likely from its ability to go as low as 1Hz. It really depends on what your usage is.

Sounds like the Air may have poor battery life: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/03/iphone-17-air-battery-case-report/
 
Smittywerben said:
The regular Pro doesn't have good battery life either—it's usually on par with the base model, and sometimes even worse. The 17 Air will have worse hardware than the base model (only one camera, missing features that even the iPhone 7 had, like stereo speakers), a higher risk of bending, and a higher price tag. I think the only reason it exists is as a beta test for a future foldable iPhone in 2–3 years.
Click to expand...
My 16 Pro has excellent battery life depending how you measure it. Easily through a day for me.
 
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