I guarantee you: Pixels will bore you too. Or Samsungs. It's a mature product that you replace when your old one needs expensive repairs or doesn't work anymore. 😊
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Other Dear Apple,
- Thread starter roland.g
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The iPhone 17 Pro is not a variant of the iPhone 12 Pro, it’s a drastic change compared to previous models.
First of all: the iPhone Pro is critical product for Apple. With any change, Apple is taking a big risk. If they re-think the Mac mini and end up messing it up, nothing happens. That’s not the case with the iPhone. I think some people cannot really grasp this when they suggest some wild ideas.
That said, Apple did take a big risk this time. The iPhone 16 Pro was a sleek, classic prosumer-oriented smartphone. The iPhone 17 Pro is a very functional phone, with a bulkier design. It’s very obvious if you check Apple’s marketing material. Or i.e., based on the bold colors Apple has used — there’s not even a black one! The concept / target customer is quite different compared to its predecessor. It’s different even compared to its competitors. I think it’s very similar to the conceptual change that happened with the 2021 MacBook Pro, with the difference that a) in that case, it seemed like a more clear and natural change, and b) as mentioned before, the iPhone is much more critical than the MacBook Pro.
Now Apple seems to think that the split between people who want a sleek phone and people who want a functional phone is quite clear, and having two distinctive, very focused devices, is the best way to cover those customers. But this might not be true: maybe the market for a very functional and bulky phone is very small, while the iPhone Air is not “functional enough” for people who want a high-end phone.
First of all: the iPhone Pro is critical product for Apple. With any change, Apple is taking a big risk. If they re-think the Mac mini and end up messing it up, nothing happens. That’s not the case with the iPhone. I think some people cannot really grasp this when they suggest some wild ideas.
That said, Apple did take a big risk this time. The iPhone 16 Pro was a sleek, classic prosumer-oriented smartphone. The iPhone 17 Pro is a very functional phone, with a bulkier design. It’s very obvious if you check Apple’s marketing material. Or i.e., based on the bold colors Apple has used — there’s not even a black one! The concept / target customer is quite different compared to its predecessor. It’s different even compared to its competitors. I think it’s very similar to the conceptual change that happened with the 2021 MacBook Pro, with the difference that a) in that case, it seemed like a more clear and natural change, and b) as mentioned before, the iPhone is much more critical than the MacBook Pro.
Now Apple seems to think that the split between people who want a sleek phone and people who want a functional phone is quite clear, and having two distinctive, very focused devices, is the best way to cover those customers. But this might not be true: maybe the market for a very functional and bulky phone is very small, while the iPhone Air is not “functional enough” for people who want a high-end phone.
Yes, it's a bit of a shame- I'm becoming a father this fall and even the ability of filming spatial videos for the vision pro for down the line is too important to miss in this special case :/ Also I use the wide angle lens for filming way too often to lose it
Couldn’t disagree more. The iPhone 17 lineup is less of an iteration. Get what you fancy, need or want. I can’t wait to update to iOS 26.
How about option number 3: pissed off by Apple not innovating anymore and not bringing something really good to the table?
I can afford even 17 Pro Max 2TB, but do I need or want to? NOPE.
Currently the only reason why I would consider upgrading my 2019 11 Pro is PWM switch so my eye strain will finally go away, otherwise event and iPhones were BLAND and BORING!
- No 8K30 video
- No Pro Camera app
- More ugly computational photographs
- WORSE 4x zoom where they outward lying it is "8x", just "optical quality"
Other features don't really interest me. My iPhone is fast snapper, mobile browser and caller. When I get a new camera, iPhone probably gonna be simply browsing device and calling device, and for this the new 17 pro didn't bring anything revolutionary
I agree, the Air looks beautiful. But the price vs the trade-offs kind of turn me off from it. For $100 more, you can get the Pro, or $200 less is the standard 17. The standard 17 checks all of my boxes for a potential upgrade aside from missing the telephoto camera.While I mostly agree with you guys, the AIR woke something inside me that reminded me of the old days when I looked at a new iphone and felt a want to own this beautiful object- the pros since the 13 just look so boring and outright ugly, that you don't really want one- the air though... But the tradeoff in battery and lack of an ultra wide camera are probably gonna keep me away from it
I wasn't in the market for a new iPhone this year but its a nice feeling seeing that the 17 Pro/Pro Max is rather underwhelming. I think my 16 Pro Max is a nicer looking phone too overall and not in any way lacking. My wife is getting the 17 Pro in Silver, so I will be interested to get some hands-on with it when she finally buys it. She's not in any rush and doesn't get the pre-order buzz, as shes not really into phones on the whole.
It seems the only advantage the Air has over the 17 is the A19 Pro chip, but I am not sure I really get any benefit from that anyway? The 17 looks like a decent iPhone and now that it has ProMotion, it is an even better deal.
the only advantage the air has over the regular 17 is its stunning design
I think the Air is just one half of next year's foldable which will be just as thing and gorgeous but with great battery life and two cameras... so I'm a little bit hesitant to upgrade to the 17p right now and then be stuck with it for another two years (cause of a 24 month contract.)
The design doesn't do it for me I am afraid, looks too much like an XR or SE with a shiny edge. I can see how it could be a tester for a foldable next year, but again this is not a product for me. I will avoid foldables like the plague and have zero interest or need for one. I'd imagine it will be close to £2k too.the only advantage the air has over the regular 17 is its stunning design
Like it or not, the iPhone 17 Pro Max marks a major departure from the 16 Pro Max. With a redesigned chassis, fresh internals, Apple’s own modem, a vapor chamber for cooling, and upgraded cameras, it’s a bold evolution. If you're coming from a five year old 12 Pro Max, the leap in performance and features is substantial; no question about it.
I asked ChatGPT for a list of iPhones and the major iteration between each model.
It may surprise you but it's never been that game changing. Except for maybe the FaceTime at iPhone 4. Other than that they really have always been iterative. If a 14 Pro Max is good enough for you then great. Honestly there's not much more you need from a phone otherwise you would have upgraded.
2007 — iPhone (original) — introduced the multi-touch smartphone with a capacitive touchscreen, mobile Safari and an integrated iPod experience (the launch that created the modern smartphone category).
2008 — iPhone 3G — added 3G cellular data and (crucially) the App Store ecosystem (major platform shift).
2009 — iPhone 3GS — performance and camera improvements plus video recording; marketed as the faster “S” update.
2010 — iPhone 4 — new glass-and-stainless design and the high-resolution “Retina” display; front-facing camera introduced FaceTime.
2011 — iPhone 4s — introduced Siri (voice assistant) and internal performance upgrades (A5 chip).
2012 — iPhone 5 — taller 4-inch screen and introduction of the Lightning connector (replaced 30-pin).
2013 — iPhone 5s — 5s introduced Touch ID fingerprint sensor and the first 64-bit A7 chip; 5c was a lower-cost colourful plastic variant.
2014 — iPhone 6 — moved to much larger screen sizes (4.7” and 5.5”) and introduced NFC for Apple Pay.
2015 — iPhone 6s — introduced 3D Touch (pressure sensitivity) and Live Photos; big CPU/GPU improvements.
2016 — iPhone 7 — SE brought high performance in a smaller 4” body; iPhone 7 removed the headphone jack and introduced a dual-camera on the Plus model.
2017 — iPhone 8 — 8 added wireless charging; iPhone X introduced the OLED edge-to-edge display, Face ID (replacing Touch ID) and the notch — a major UI/hardware shift.
2018 — iPhone X — expanded OLED sizes (XS Max) and offered the XR as a lower-cost LCD option with many X features; further camera and performance refinements.
2019 — iPhone 11 — Pro models introduced the triple-camera system (wide/ultra-wide/telephoto) and Night mode for low-light photography.
2020 — iPhone 12 — iPhone 12 generation added 5G connectivity across the lineup and reintroduced flat-edge design + MagSafe accessories.
2021 — iPhone 13 — smaller notch, larger batteries, Pro models gained ProMotion 120Hz displays (on Pro) and Sensor-shift optical image stabilization (across some models).
2022 — iPhone 14 — Pro models replaced the notch with the Dynamic Island (a new interactive status area) and introduced on-device Crash Detection and car-crash satellite SOS (Emergency SOS via satellite).
2023 — iPhone 15 — moved to USB-C across the line (and introduced an Action button on Pro models; Pro models emphasized a new titanium build and A17 Pro chip).
2024 — iPhone 16 — iterative improvements with a new A18 family chip, Camera Button continued camera and battery improvements; Apple Intelligence
2025 — iPhone 17 — ultra-thin “iPhone Air” variant, Plateau , newer A19/A19 Pro chips, Wi-Fi 7 support, and improved camera/video features (dual filming modes).
The Air is a refreshing throwback to the golden Apple days. Reminds me of a Steve Jobs product. Form over function and not caring what the competition are doing - as in 'we don't need a great camera because this is a piece of art and people will buy it anyway'. The coming together of the arts and technology like what Apple used to be great at. Now they just copy everyone else for fear of missing out.
I just wish they would innovate again and get rid of the camera bump altogether (on all models) as it's hideous and I hate how my phone sits on a table all wonky and uneven like lol. We don't even need more than 10 or 12mp anyway. How many of us are printing A3 photos? Most of the photos taken just get uploaded to Instagram and are 72dpi. Complete waste of time making the camera bigger and better when no one uses its full potential.
I just wish they would innovate again and get rid of the camera bump altogether (on all models) as it's hideous and I hate how my phone sits on a table all wonky and uneven like lol. We don't even need more than 10 or 12mp anyway. How many of us are printing A3 photos? Most of the photos taken just get uploaded to Instagram and are 72dpi. Complete waste of time making the camera bigger and better when no one uses its full potential.
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Your iPhone 11 Pro is not a fast snapper. I have one right next to me on my desk as a spare (giving it to my nephew today); it's a dog.
I have a Canon DSLR, and it's just a pain to lug that around all the time. It takes up space on trips and is an easy target for getting stolen. I can't remember the last time I took it on a trip with me. The best camera to have is the one you have at the time you need one.
It is. I bet next year will have a lot more features.
A new mini with a flush camera.
An OS with a nice terminal.
And none of that Apple Intelligence / Action Button / Camera Control / Computational Photography nonsense.
EDIT: Let's go for broke, I also would like the Home Button back.
Idk about Canon but Nikon DSLR shoots quite fast. And I mean, iPhone shoots fast too – zero perceivable shutter lag. Meanwhile on newer iPhones like my gf’s 16 I’ve had few moments when photo was not exactly what I was shooting, so with more computations shutter lag increases too.
I use it with iOS 17 though, I’ve heard it is pretty bad on 18 and awful on 26, so I would probably not be updating it unless I actually get a new phone
Completely agree. When I saw the air reveal video I dunno something just happened with my nipples or something. I think it will sell really well! I think you’re right though, the trade offs would wash some of the amazement away. If I was a proper photographer with no need for a camera then I may have jumped on it but I fear something similar would happen like the 12 mini drew me in because of nostalgia. I was then was frustrated by the battery and lack of telephoto (I know, it’s my own fault)While I mostly agree with you guys, the AIR woke something inside me that reminded me of the old days when I looked at a new iphone and felt a want to own this beautiful object- the pros since the 13 just look so boring and outright ugly, that you don't really want one- the air though... But the tradeoff in battery and lack of an ultra wide camera are probably gonna keep me away from it
$800 Trade in, for a little new tech and nicer screen, I'm doing it. It's totally not necessary, nor will it drastically change my user experience.
What I will say is, considering how much I am on my phone, which is a lot less than many people, its worth it to me to have the latest and greatest. People spend time on their phones more than just about anything, so why not have the bestest!
What I will say is, considering how much I am on my phone, which is a lot less than many people, its worth it to me to have the latest and greatest. People spend time on their phones more than just about anything, so why not have the bestest!
I bought a 2023 M3 Pro MacBook. I rarely listened to music through the speaker, but after 3-4 months I noticed a loud noise, like interference when I turned up the volume. Sometimes it just happens. Sometimes the problem goes away for a couple of weeks and then suddenly reappears. great...
Cool.
I guess.
I'm not sure why anyone here needed to know this or why people feel the need to explain. If you don't want to buy it, cool, but irrelevant to anyone else. If you don't think the 17 Pro Max has serious extensive advantage over the 14 Pro Max you didn't pay attention, cannot afford to upgrade, or just want to cause a fuss here.