Apple's iPhone Air Experiment Fails as Supply Chain Cuts Production by 80%

[MRM95]

I guess I'm the exception. It's my favourite iPhone to date. I hardly take photos and I mostly use headphones for podcasts/music. Battery hasn't been an issue for me, albeit I definitely understand the concern people have if they don't get to charge it at a desk every now and then.

So, by and large I probably just don't have the highest demands for a mobile phone and the Air is probably overpriced for what it delivers. I still prefer it over the Pro, but would certainly take it at a lower price point. I absolutely love the slim form factor, so will definitely be saddened to see it go. If future iPhones Pro's adapt this form factor, so much the better.

If the world is moving in the direction that everyone sees themselves as an influencer and is vlogging all the time, the Air probably doesn't cut the mustard, but I mostly only need it for messaging, podcasts, looking up things and phone calls. You really don't need much of a phone to cover all that, and for me the gorgeous design is a plus. I have honestly not experienced any setbacks from "downgrading" from a Pro iPhone to the Air.

 

[onthebuses]

The air is way too expensive. They could have made a lower spec, cheaper thin phone and had better sales.

 

[ZipZap]

I think it's a nice product but the price killed it. It's a pity, I was waiting for the next generation of the Air but it seems that it may not arrive unfortunately

I think it will. Pulling back now does not mean no improved product later. Why produce when number don't support current levels. All they have to do is beat the battery complaints and that's it. Price is the price for such a marvel of technology.

 

[ijordano]

Yeah because its the worst iPhone 17 in every way??

 

[Phonzoxd]

This case argument we’ve heard repeatedly is so frustrating. A thin phone with a case is still that much thinner than a thick phone with a case!

A thin phone has the same battery life as a thick phone when connected to a cord full time.

 

[darngooddesign]

The internet: Apple sucks because they don't take any chances.
Also the internet: Apple sucks because they took chance.

 

[qnssekr]

Doesn't this seem to be a reoccurring theme? They try a mid-range option that doesn't gain traction. I wonder what next years phone will be.

Mid range?

 

[zenmacx]

Consumers will regret not supporting the Air.

Consumers that bought the Air find themselves in a precarious position.

It’s not a bad phone, in fact there are certainly some positives.

Yet unfortunately Apple was quick to abandon any marketing efforts, quick to cut production and quick to reveal how fickle they can be.

 

[joshwithachance]

I would certainly purchase an Air Pro. Provided it had multiple cameras. Might be tough to pull off, though.

You can't have both. Which is why there's an Air line and a Pro line.

The most we can hope for is a slightly thinner and lighter, perhaps marginally larger, Pro.

 

[Innovati0n]

Mid range?

they were probably looking at the specs

 

[darngooddesign]

The air is way too expensive. They could have made a lower spec, cheaper thin phone and had better sales.

They tried that with the Plus vs the Pro Max but it didn't sell in the numbers Apple wanted. A silicon battery would have fixed most of the compromises.

 

[bellnen]

...

Best selling iPhone Air color on Amazon Germany. (the other colors are even less with white not even reaching 200)

vs best selling iPhone 17 Pro Color

and before you say the Air was not available, it was available every single day

 

[Pez555]

Too expensive for the compromises, and not enough features to justify most people upgrading from the 16 pro line.

Extra camera and stereo speakers and I would have bitten (I’m 16 pro max).

 

[DownUnderDan]

Consumers will regret not supporting the Air.

Regret is irrelevant. The Empire does not rely on the whims of consumers. The Air serves the Empire’s design, not public approval. Those who fail to support Imperial innovation will simply be… left behind. Progress will proceed—with or without them. The rebels will not stop our progress Apple-achian.

 

[DownUnderDan]

If it gets any less popular, they are going to have to bundle it free with Vision Pro.

 

[Robert.Walter]

It is not a failure.

It is a mass produced prototype in the wild proving that thin isn’t a durability concern.

Because it is 1/2 of a foldable iPhone.

 

[MrSkoTA]

A LOT of people didnt like the MBA when it first came out and hated the people that did and called them stupid. A couple iterations later and it became the most popular Mac ‘for the people’

I was a MBA originalist and now an iPhone Air owner and dont regret it. I get great battery life for what i use it for and LOVE the design!

You Pro-sumers have a tendency to be a bit stuck up. Personally im a Heavy user of all Apple devices.

 

[MRM95]

...

Thanks, but I get it. Back in the day the Apple boards were almost only pro Apple. It's good for there to be more varied opinions. I'm not actually a newbie in that sense. I just didn't register here. I've been in such message boards fairly early on from the first iPod. Used to be a moderator on ipodlounge.com. That might be quite the blast from the past for some here. That was even before university for me. Time flies.

 

[joshwithachance]

Yeah because its the worst iPhone 17 in every way??

It's not though. It may have marginally less battery life, a single speaker, and one less camera compared to the base 17 but it also has a much more durable and premium build and design, more powerful AND efficient A19 Pro chip, 50% more RAM, a bigger display size that many prefer as it's the sweet spot between the smaller and larger Pros, the N1 chip, a 1TB storage option, etc.

The Air has its faults and shortcomings for sure, while also seemingly being a bit of a sales failure currently, but it's not nearly AS compromised as the internet is trying to make it out to seem. And it's certainly not a "worse" phone than the 17. But it's definitely a much more "niche" product...

 

[Robert.Walter]

Also Apple is wealthy enough to be able to test markets and demand elasticity.

Gold Apple Watch (mostly a marketing exercise to drive influencer buzz for launch and to show the wealthy would drop the Rolex etc. for a gadget watch).

iPhone mini. Testing a market segment. iPhone air same.

Also not all markets are homogenous, so a flop in the west with a hit in China is still success hat can drive future product decisions.

 

[bmark]

...

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-iphone-air-receives-muted-042552371.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANEgPYDgYRmX1KXwkwVgv7Ft5184RunQXWEOjxY9fJUG0USu1G3ioFpMzhZqp4OsZLHXZvbkynIMUowARtMZI7P7tHIhE8W0txKNj7LtJxIHr6TyHR0Qzo4Ol6WrcMZdtkzgMvkWo7DfJBKwMt5o44ziU0mCSygEiq7Z0Fz2jYQZ

At Beijing’s Sanlitun store, more customers were coming in to pick up iPhone 17 Pro models, with the iPhone Air initially available to order and receive on the same day. Over in Shanghai, there was no queue for the iPhone Air and people could purchase one immediately, though a couple of colorways were sold out by mid-morning, Bloomberg News found. The common refrain among consumers was that the thinness and new colors of the iPhone Air were intriguing, but most people were trying rather than buying the new handset.

*YAWN*

 

[rchaser]

No one needs anything but a flip phone if that's the argument.

A foldable phone has many practical benefits just due to a potentially ipad-mini sized screen and possible use of ipad apps to enhance functionality of mobile professionals, and even just the average Joe. I do think a foldable phone will be reasonably popular given its practical improvement as a new form factor for Apple. whereas a lighter weight and thinness, while nice, aren't worth the tradeoffs as it provides no new benefits as a tool.

It’s not the argument.

What we have now is peak mobile phone. Make it thicker so that it can unfold thinner is a gimmick it’s not a real world solution. People carry iPads and notebooks and there’s no problem. Acting like paying 50% more for a folding device is a solution will not be supported by the industry.

“Mobile professionals” is not a consumer market worthy of its own line. Yes, Apple will try and it will fail. Just like the air. Just like the mini. And it will fail because it’s not a value add to fold your devices. You need an iPad mini, get an iPad mini.

I love all the fake necessity outrage. “We have to have the thinnest and smallest and they must fold!!!” 🙄🙄🙄

 

[bellnen]

...

I am saying it is selling badly in Europe. (I am right on that 😉)

Amazon Germany Sales Numbers
iPhone 17 - 1400
iPhone Air - 600 (without the white not listed)
iPhone Pro - 3400
iPhone Pro Max - the most popular not even available for purchase right now so no numbers

That‘s only ONE retailer but one of the biggest and enough to see trends.
You can check other European Amazon Sites they also list how many were sold.

It might very well be a hit in China but it only recently launched so we will see in the future.
But let me phrase it differently. Can you provide a source that it is a hit? Or are you the one only stating feelings compared to source backed facts?

 

[Innovati0n]

The internet: Apple sucks because they don't take any chances.
Also the internet: Apple sucks because they took chance.

Ah the old "make up what the other side said to try and enhance my argument" move.

Nobody here that I noticed said Apple sucks or shouldn't take chances. Just that the Air is overpriced.

 

[DDustiNN]

We need whole day battery life not thinner phone. Almost everyone use phone cases which it counter all the effort of making phone thinner

The iPhone Air literally has the same battery life as the 16 Pro.

Did everyone whine about that one last year like it was the end of the world?

I’ll take the thinner form factor any day of the week. I’m tired of these big brick phones.