iPhone 17 Anyone got both iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max?

[AVBeatMan]

I bought the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Loved them both but ended up returning the Pro Max. I just felt that after getting all the bigger iPhones in the past I'd try something different which the Air indeed is. As I say I love the Air but also loved the PM and now miss it.

Am seriously thinking of reordering the Pro Max and using both, then keeping the Air as a "burner phone" when it comes to July/August 2026 and the iPhone 18's will be due in September. Then I'll sell the PM for maximum price.

Anyway, is this a crazy idea or is there anyone else who has bought both or are considering doing so?

 

[pdauser92]

I also have both

 

[danpass]

Air, returned
17 Pro, returned

Second Air bought … happy.

Kept my 16 Pro

-

 

[denisej]

I have both too

 

[AVBeatMan]

I have both too

Great! How do you plan on using? Just swop every now and again?

 

[denisej]

Great! How do you plan on using? Just swop every now and again?

Yes, that's exactly what I plan to do. I enjoy using them both. The air actually last me all day without a problem but I do miss the cameras on the pro Max when using it. However, it is so refreshing to carry the Air because it's so light!

 

[AVBeatMan]

Yes, that's exactly what I plan to do. I enjoy using them both. The air actually last me all day without a problem but I do miss the cameras on the pro Max when using it. However, it is so refreshing to carry the Air because it's so light!

Totally agree. I had the PM and was certain I'd stick with it but then the Air is so good to use in the hand. I don't take a load of photos and know the Air is enough for me, but.....I miss the Pro Max and love to know I'll have the best current iPhone there is. The way I can justify it is to plan to keep the Air for years while I upgrade to the Pro Max's every year.

 

[rui no onna]

I returned my Air but I ordered a base 17 to replace it. The plan is base 17 for daily use and 17 Pro when I need better cameras and longer battery life.

If the 17 Pro had been the same weight (187g) and dimensions as the 15 Pro, I could’ve gone with that alone. Alas, it’s too heavy and chunky for my liking. I paid for the 17 but I’m getting the 17 Pro for “free” (carrier trade-in deal).

 

[JoeG4]

If you want a better camera, at the cost of a pro max you could probably think about getting a proper camera. I mean for a grand you might find a bargain basement full frame, or an aps-c/micro 4:3 with a nice lens. Or one of those neat Fuji cameras. IDK.

 

[4sallypat]

17 Air + 14PM (work).

After all my co workers saw and touched the Air, we are trying to get our boss to upgrade the work phones to the Air.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you want to get the 17PM again because you want to use the features every day the Air doesn't have, then get it. If that is not the case, then you are just having anxiety over missing something you didn't really need and that doesn't make sense.

I truly don't get why so many adults on here struggler over something so simple as a phone. It makes me question how the rest of life is dealt with if buying a phone is filled with such angst. You shouldn't need forum approval.

 

[rui no onna]

If you want a better camera, at the cost of a pro max you could probably think about getting a proper camera. I mean for a grand you might find a bargain basement full frame, or an aps-c/micro 4:3 with a nice lens. Or one of those neat Fuji cameras. IDK.

I do have a mirrorless APS-C that I spent $1000+ on (camera w/stock lens + 18-150mm zoom + 22mm prime). I never use it because it’s never with me. I thought I was gonna use it on vacation but most of the time, it was left in the hotel room because it’s too big and fiddly.

Plus the phone has the instant gratification factor. The family pretty much wants the photos uploaded to a shared album asap. Harder to do that with a proper camera. To be honest, I only transferred our vacation pics from 2 years ago from proper camera to PC a week ago. 🙈

 

[The Game 161]

tempted to get the air too and would use it as a 2nd device for at work and a beta device. plus yes i could use it as a device to use for a month and sell my iphone a month or 2 before to get more value from my device. i sold my 16 pro max for £620 if i sold it in august or july i could get maybe 800 or more

 

[AVBeatMan]

tempted to get the air too and would use it as a 2nd device for at work and a beta device. plus yes i could use it as a device to use for a month and sell my iphone a month or 2 before to get more value from my device. i sold my 16 pro max for £620 if i sold it in august or july i could get maybe 800 or more

I'm pretty certain I'm going to get a Pro Max and keep my Air as well. I sold my 16 Pro Max to Music Magpie for £700. For the first time I took it to a drop off point and the money was in my account before I left the shop. Will be doing the same next year.

 

[JoeG4]

I truly don't get why so many adults on here struggler over something so simple as a phone. It makes me question how the rest of life is dealt with if buying a phone is filled with such angst. You shouldn't need forum approval.

If you use a carrier trade-in promotion (in the US) they have a 2-3 year commitment and it's a pain in the butt to change the phone even if it's in the return period. If you get a carrier promotion through an apple store it's impossible to return the phone and have the promotion transfer over to the new phone. So committing to an air or a pro max is a one time deal you're stuck with for 2-3 years, on a device that a lot of people use more than anything else they have.

I usually buy mine cash, but this time I went with carrier financing because I needed to replace my mom's iphone as well, and it ended up being a fair bit cheaper, even accounting for the more expensive service.

Still, I can see people looking at this and having a dilemma. I ordered an air initially and then canceled and replaced it with a pro max. It has been most excellent.

 

[CaféPicasso]

For those who have both:
How are you using them? Are you transferring the eSIM everytime you change phones or are you using two different numbers? Or a multi-SIM?
My carrier offers a multiSIM (same number on different devices). Calls work but not SMS. They can only be received on the main device...

 

[jntdroid]

For those who have both:
How are you using them? Are you transferring the eSIM everytime you change phones or are you using two different numbers? Or a multi-SIM?
My carrier offers a multiSIM (same number on different devices). Calls work but not SMS. They can only be received on the main device...

I restored my backup of one to the other, and just sync my iMessage to iCloud on both then transfer my eSIM back and forth (rarely more than once per day or so). That said, I'm about out of time and one is about to have to be returned...

 

[Petey07]

15PM + Air.

I love the air lightweight and thinnest. My pinky appreciates it haha.

Kept the 15PM because as back-up.

Today, in the process of returning the Air. Just couldn’t justify the price ($999+$99(battery MagSafe)=$1,098
Also couldn’t justify compromising the battery, camera and speaker for just the thinnest and lightweight.

So back to 15PM solo.

 

[adam1080]

I hate how the 17 Pro/ProMax look. Like they are super ugly to me and I am a titanium junky. I have titanium everything after 2 years of titanium phones. (AWU2, AWE S7, titanium Yacht-Master, fountain pens, machined pens, rings, knives, you name it.)

My current 16PM has 2 lines/dual esims, 1 with AT&T and 1 with Xfinity/Verizon because my natural historic district neighborhood hates cell towers and it helps to have both. My M4 iPP is on my AT&T cell plan and I find myself using my phone less and less and reaching for the iPad when traveling, in an uber, at the airport, customer offices, etc. Just not using the phone nearly as much. Buuuuut, I want the camera's and battery of the 16PM for long days or trips/events when I want to take photos.

Using my Xfinity account/line, I can get the 1tb 17 Air for like $1100 with tax and no trade in for that existing line. I'm tempted to do that and make the 17 Air my DD alongside my 11" M4 1TB w/cellular and have the 16 PM as my backup or in my bag for when I might want or need it... Might be little bit of best worlds with 2 titanium phones and a good iPad and wait until the 18's come out...

If I don't get the 17 P/PM or Air, this would be the 2nd or 3rd time since 2008 that I don't upgrade. I usually do get the new phone each year, but damn are the phones and colors ugly this year. (I always have various battery banks from NiteCore (lightest per wH anywhere) plus a 99.98 wH 250W Anker charger, so not super worried about battery with all those and the iPad, plus my AWU2 w/cellular(and possibly the 16PM if I have a bag). I will be connected in an emergency if needed.

Feels slightly excessive having 2 phones when I don't really need them, but that can be said for lots of my ****...

 

[Bako-MacAddict]

I bought the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Loved them both but ended up returning the Pro Max. I just felt that after getting all the bigger iPhones in the past I'd try something different which the Air indeed is. As I say I love the Air but also loved the PM and now miss it.

Am seriously thinking of reordering the Pro Max and using both, then keeping the Air as a "burner phone" when it comes to July/August 2026 and the iPhone 18's will be due in September. Then I'll sell the PM for maximum price.

Anyway, is this a crazy idea or is there anyone else who has bought both or are considering doing so?

Not a crazy idea, I was rocking both at one point , but couldn’t justify spending 1k for the air at the end of two weeks. Kept my iPhone 17 pro max in cosmic orange , no regrets.

 

[clabern]

Luckily I have both a work and personal phone, which in the past I divided up with Android/iPhone, but now it's Air and 17 PM. Air is every day carry and 17 PM is for if/when I need cameras/battery.

If I had to choose between the two, I'd probably end up with just the Air. It's just so much more comfortable.