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Apple Announces iPhone Air With Ultra-Thin Design

I like it a lot, but the biggest downside for me is the lack of an ultra-wide camera. Not just for ultra-wide angle shots, but primarily because of the macro functionality.

I have other complaints, but they are minor:

  • USB-C port limited to USB 2.0 speeds
  • Binned A19 Pro - not that I need the performance of the 6th GPU core, but more GPU cores at lower clocks are actually more efficient than fewer cores that then have to clock higher to achieve the same performance (or vice versa: 6 GPU cores can achieve the same performance as 5 while clocking lower and consuming less power)
  • No orange color like the Pro model, I really like that one
 
Moukee said:
I like it a lot, but the biggest downside for me is the lack of an ultra-wide camera. Not just for ultra-wide angle shots, but primarily because of the macro functionality.

I have other complaints, but they are minor:

  • USB-C port limited to USB 2.0 speeds
  • Binned A19 Pro - not that I need the performance of the 6th GPU core, but more GPU cores at lower clocks are actually more efficient than fewer cores that then have to clock higher to achieve the same performance (or vice versa: 6 GPU cores can achieve the same performance as 5 while clocking lower and consuming less power)
  • No orange color like the Pro model, I really like that one
Click to expand...
Do we really need a USB 3.0 port? Personally I never use cable to exchange data with my MacBook. I use the cloud because a have a very good fiber at home.
 
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*UPDATE* The Air looks like it's is not a global product - it's eSIM only in the US and EU (Whereas the 17 and 17 Pro have physical SIMs)

Understanding the C1X, can someone let me know if I get the phone from the US, would it be working 100% in EU considering the 4/5G band frequency differences vs US and EU?

Looks like the US version supports mode bands - so this shoudl work in EU as intended.

1757494709279.png
 
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Moukee said:
  • Binned A19 Pro - not that I need the performance of the 6th GPU core, but more GPU cores at lower clocks are actually more efficient than fewer cores that then have to clock higher to achieve the same performance (or vice versa: 6 GPU cores can achieve the same performance as 5 while clocking lower and consuming less power.
Click to expand...
Might be true to some degree but not entirely accurate for the whole bunch of scenarios of the usage of the phone.

the 6-core GPU will consume more on idle or low usage scenarios, but might consume less on full power of the 5-GPU version since it's not maxed out in terms of performance.

However the Air will throttle way before that.

I think they stuck the Pro chip here to make sure the larger screen size would benefit form the extra RAM and for the fact that Air is positioned to be a lightweight pro model, not a larger standard 17.
 
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MCKLMT said:
Do we really need a USB 3.0 port? Personally I never use cable to exchange data with my MacBook. I use the cloud because a have a very good fiber at home.
Click to expand...
I take local backups of my iPhone from time to time in addition to iCloud. It's not a big deal as I said but definitely nice to have and it's a bit surprising that the air - that has the "Pro" variant of the A19 that should have the USB 3 controller - doesn't include that functionality.
Anaxarxes said:
However the Air will throttle way before that.
Click to expand...
Same thing still applies though. If it throttles the GPU to, say, 2 watts, it'd likely perform better with 6 cores (that clock slightly lower) than with 5.
 
Moukee said:
I take local backups of my iPhone from time to time in addition to iCloud. It's not a big deal as I said but definitely nice to have and it's a bit surprising that the air - that has the "Pro" variant of the A19 that should have the USB 3 controller - doesn't include that functionality.

Same thing still applies though. If it throttles the GPU to, say, 2 watts, it'd likely perform better with 6 cores (that clock slightly lower) than with 5.
Click to expand...
Not necessarily. It's not linear like you mention it.

However Apple might also though of using the lower quantity/binned chips and mae them available for the Air to get better overhead costs for mfc.
 
bluespark said:
Read up on what’s in that bump.
Click to expand...
Yes I saw that the bump has the phone in it, ultimately. I was sort of hopeful early on that the Air model would have a simpler camera and no bump. It’s clear they’ve gone a different direction and I do approved that I’m probably in the minority by not really caring about very advanced cameras (on the basis that when I look back over old photos from the last decade, I’m not even aware of the differences in images usually, despite the huge advances in tech, but if I see a photo from an old SLR, even 15 years ago, it’s immediately obvious).
 
attila said:
Except they made the iPhone thinner instead.
Click to expand...
Thinner than what? Thinner than some imaginary iPhone Air that's less thin? Thinner than the iPhone 17 Pro? Thinner than 50 5.25" floppy disks? Apple made a thinner phone that's mostly battery, with the cameras, speaker, and Apple Silicon moved to the one part that is thicker. That's creative engineering that's good use of space. I'm not sure what the problem is.

Apple's goal was to have a thinner and lighter phone with a large screen. This is years after gradually increasing phone thickness from the iPhone 7. A thinner and lighter phone gives many people what they want -- a thinner and lighter phone. The only phone missing is a "mini" sized one now.
 
attila said:
Except they made the iPhone thinner instead.
Click to expand...
They probably did a similar thing with the Pro models though (?), which have significantly larger batteries than their predecessors.

The Air is made with the primary goal to be as thin as possible while still being usable.
 
It will work for those who have very average demands on their phone but, in truth, these people would be better off in every way buying a regular 17.
Additionally, if it's about the visuals, and with these new straps, the gangs on the streets will have a great time.
 
c84216 said:
Is that bump so much thicker than the phone that it’s going to interfere with wireless chargers that are flat and not of the MagSafe ilk (I.e. ones in cars?)
Click to expand...
Very possible. My 15Pro already has issues in my 2022 Tucson
 
cardfan said:
Looks dumb as heck. Who would want this. Too thin. Would bend or break. And in a case then what’s the point. Stupid.
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"Thinnest ever". No, it's not. Same as a chain is only as strong as it's weekest link, a phone is only as thin as it's thickest part. And that camera sub-continent ain't thin.
Then you need to add the thinckness of the case. Because given Apple's track record, it will be slippery, and the part you hold is thin. Not much to grip.
 
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lk400 said:
Yes I saw that the bump has the phone in it, ultimately. I was sort of hopeful early on that the Air model would have a simpler camera and no bump. It’s clear they’ve gone a different direction and I do approved that I’m probably in the minority by not really caring about very advanced cameras (on the basis that when I look back over old photos from the last decade, I’m not even aware of the differences in images usually, despite the huge advances in tech, but if I see a photo from an old SLR, even 15 years ago, it’s immediately obvious).
Click to expand...
That all makes sense, of course. Aesthetically, I think most of us love the idea of a completely flat slab in theory. But I think Apple correctly factored in the camera and battery-life expectations of most potential Air customers.

When the phone’s design was first rumored, I couldn’t understand why the wide bump was needed, but it all makes sense now. Moving the phone’s critical circuitry to the bump is an incredible technical achievement, and was necessary for them to obtain a battery big enough to hit battery-life goals.

For me, the camera is where I’m really surprised (assuming it works as well as advertised), and this is what pushes me into the “buy” column. But I realize not everyone needs that.
 
kp98077 said:
Am i correct in assuming that the regular iphone 17 camera will be better than the Air?
Click to expand...
It depends on what you mean, the main 48MP module should be the same, the air just loses the ultrawide and the features associated with the ultrawide.
 
James6s said:
It’s insane that the whole computing brains of the Air, including front & rear cameras are all in this new camera bar or ‘plateau’

View attachment 2545692
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Marvel of engineering but certainly not impressive to the average MacRumors reader, who repeatedly and angrily type on the chunkiest device they can find "who's this for????!!!!", and in total denial this is the direction for most phones moving forward, just like the Air was for laptops.
 
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