iPhone Air From Air to 17PM to Air to 17 Pro..

[kp98077]

Awesome can’t wait to see what you think. Part of me thinks the promax is more practical in today’s world, but then carrying it around as a different story it is winter basically so just put in pocket or whatever.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I feel bad if I have to return something. Yeah I'm one of those people. I avoid returning if I can help it - unless it has an obvious flaw.

I couldn't imagine doing what some people here on the forums do. Apple does have a generous return policy - just like Costco, but with abuse, those things change over time and has an impact on everyone.

Apple doesn't "lose out" entirely - I'm sure they clean the phone up and re-sell it for less of a profit.

My wife and I went to a 17 Pro after owning + phones since the 6+ (last phone: 15 Pro Max). It has been eye opening to slightly reduce the weight and have something significantly more enjoyable to hold. Days later and we're still amazed how nice it is. Held the 17 Pro Max in the store and immediately said nope.

Indecision is something that can be controlled - this site can definitely make it worse. I think people put too much weight into other's opinions (yes I know this is an opinion). I spent weeks and weeks watching hundreds of YouTube reviews, reading Macrumor posts - and ... until I put a 17 Pro in my hands - MOST of it didn't help. After owning the 17 Pro for several days - quite a few of the YouTube videos I watched were either outright lying or just feeding clicks.

 

[whattodo11]

I feel like a schmuck.

Bought Air... liked it, but poor battery was my experience. SO... bought the 17Pro Max... HUGE!!! Heavy!! so....returned to Air... now, back to the office from 2 weeks off. One aspect of my work is (occasionally, 2-3X week) scan drivers license, where the app does OCR (no different than addling a drivers license to Apple Wallet). massive fail. Cannot get it to focus properly. Thought it was the app, so I tried to just add mine to Apple Wallet. Nope. The Air camera can'f focus close up (DUH!! Should have read the specs)

Anyhow, picking it up later today.

Ordered Midnight Blue, local store is showing all three colors Pro in stock. May do a pivot and go silver.

Now to the ball ache of transferring everything yet again. No matter what scheme I use, it's still a ball ache. 🫤

Edit to add: Yes, I realize "screen size" and I felt the Air was perfect. I want "Pro" but PM is a bit too heavy. I'll miss the screen size, but I'll lean more into my iPad Pro.

I feel like if the air had a good battery and killer camera it would be the best selling device. It feels sooooooooooooo good in your hand

 

[fatTribble]

Most people aren’t going to return their iPhones so we are only talking about a very small percentage.

There are some weird eccentrics on this forum who have been banned from purchasing in person as they’ve made 5+ returns because they’re looking for a specific OLED panel.

These people require medical assistance and should speak with a shrink.

Have you seen the posts where people order multiple colors so they can compare them at home and decide which they like best? Unbelievable in my book. As you say, the OLED crowd also needs help.

 

[Lacos]

Hi everyone,

I currently have a 15 Pro Max and am considering switching to the 17 Pro because the 17 Pro Max has become even bigger. But I'm also wondering whether the difference in size between the 17 Pro and Pro Max is that significant. Purely in terms of dimensions, that's not the case. Does the 17 Pro Max feel that much bigger and more unwieldy?

 

[LouisPiper]

Hi everyone,

I currently have a 15 Pro Max and am considering switching to the 17 Pro because the 17 Pro Max has become even bigger. But I'm also wondering whether the difference in size between the 17 Pro and Pro Max is that significant. Purely in terms of dimensions, that's not the case. Does the 17 Pro Max feel that much bigger and more unwieldy?

I went from 15 PM to Air to 17 PM (couldn't hack the speaker and single lens like I thought I could. Battery was fine). The 17 PM is significantly more comfortable to hold than the 15 PM. If you are okay with the 15 PM you’ll like the 17 PM. If not, the 17 Pro is fine if you can handle losing 0.6” screen real estate.

 

[crouch]

Awesome can’t wait to see what you think. Part of me thinks the promax is more practical in today’s world, but then carrying it around as a different story it is winter basically so just put in pocket or whatever.

So I've only had the 17 Pro Max for about 12 hours now, upgrading from the 16 Pro, but here's my initial thoughts:

• I've tried twice in the past several years to own a Pro Max phone, but always gave up and returned it, exchanging it for the smaller Pro version instead. No amount of spec reading or Apple Store time ultimately helped in making the decision -- these need to be used and experienced and pocketed and carried to truly know how they fit into your life (especially as an urban boy who walks around the city to get around)
• That said, I can't imagine returning my new 17 Pro Max -- I love this thing 😁 It fits so much better in the hand then the past Maxes!
• What surprised me: Just how noticeable the performance improvement is from the 16 Pro to the 17 Pro Max. I wasn't expecting that
• What bothers me (but this is nitpicking): Just how noticeable the bezels are on the Pro Max while using an Apple Silicon case. I always use these cases on my phones, and comparing the 16 Pro to the 17 Pro Max, the bezel effect is noticeably larger on the Max. Totally not a dealbreaker though
• Not an issue, but shockingly noticeable: my 16 Pro screen, from a color perspective or white-balance perspective, looks much better than the 17 Pro Max. Same display settings on both phones. I've read posts claiming these coloration issues sort themselves out over time, so 🤞
• Pocket-ability wise, I was surprised that carrying the 17 Pro Max in my back pocket (where I usually carry my Pro) wasn't annoying or problematic. Past Maxes bothered me way more! Can't explain this one though

Long-story short (and this is the reason I posted initially): if Apple didn't offer the security blanket of the 14-day return, I wouldn't have considered buying this phone. Apple knows what they're doing here, and I applaud them for it.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[kp98077]

Good to know keep us updated! You haven’t tried 16 pro though?

 

[maika1305]

Hi everyone,

I currently have a 15 Pro Max and am considering switching to the 17 Pro because the 17 Pro Max has become even bigger. But I'm also wondering whether the difference in size between the 17 Pro and Pro Max is that significant. Purely in terms of dimensions, that's not the case. Does the 17 Pro Max feel that much bigger and more unwieldy?

Speaking as someone (I'm a mobile developer btw) who has switched from a 15PM to a base 17, it feels better to have a more manageable device in your hand while having a relatively same (slightly better) battery life and heat dissipation.

 

[kp98077]

Size is not that different. Battery pro is amazing.

Hi everyone,

I currently have a 15 Pro Max and am considering switching to the 17 Pro because the 17 Pro Max has become even bigger. But I'm also wondering whether the difference in size between the 17 Pro and Pro Max is that significant. Purely in terms of dimensions, that's not the case. Does the 17 Pro Max feel that much bigger and more unwieldy

 

[Aneef]

Not an AAPL shareholder here, nor do I plan to be one anytime soon. Bought a $49 grey Beats silicone case with my Silver 17 Pro Max, liked it but didn’t use it for the first 10 days. Returned it on day 11.

Just wondering if Apple’s shareholder community has recovered from the devastating impact of my return yet.

 

[TracerAnalog]

I view the return as a consumer privilege, it keeps me happy with my Apple products, if I kept the iPhone Air, I may have dissatisfaction 12 months from now or sooner and switche something different like Samsung

*Apple Shareholder since 2000

Plus, you'd be a fool to think that Apple hasn't priced in the returns.

Some people... 😏

 

[thismarkjohnson]

I feel like a schmuck.

Bought Air... liked it, but poor battery was my experience. SO... bought the 17Pro Max... HUGE!!! Heavy!! so....returned to Air... now, back to the office from 2 weeks off. One aspect of my work is (occasionally, 2-3X week) scan drivers license, where the app does OCR (no different than addling a drivers license to Apple Wallet). massive fail. Cannot get it to focus properly. Thought it was the app, so I tried to just add mine to Apple Wallet. Nope. The Air camera can'f focus close up (DUH!! Should have read the specs)

Anyhow, picking it up later today.

Ordered Midnight Blue, local store is showing all three colors Pro in stock. May do a pivot and go silver.

Now to the ball ache of transferring everything yet again. No matter what scheme I use, it's still a ball ache. 🫤

Edit to add: Yes, I realize "screen size" and I felt the Air was perfect. I want "Pro" but PM is a bit too heavy. I'll miss the screen size, but I'll lean more into my iPad Pro.

Sounds familiar! If close-up OCR is important, the Air’s camera struggles compared to the Pro. Since you want a balance between portability and performance, the iPad Pro 11” is usually the sweet spot — lighter than the 17” Pro Max but still powerful. Midnight Blue is a nice choice, but Silver keeps resale value strong.

 

[max2]

You can try the new iPhone series, in your own hand, easily without going to the actual Apple Store or any Authorized Apple Retailer or buying it online. People do it all the time.

 

[denisej]

Have you seen the posts where people order multiple colors so they can compare them at home and decide which they like best? Unbelievable in my book. As you say, the OLED crowd also needs help.

Some of that could possibly be prevented if they would display them in the stores ahead of pre-order time so that you could actually see and feel what you're ordering for your hard earned $1000+ dollars.

 

[max2]

500 miles for now

 

[subjonas]

Some of that could possibly be prevented if they would display them in the stores ahead of pre-order time so that you could actually see and feel what you're ordering for your hard earned $1000+ dollars.

Might be confusing and irritating for customers if there are products on display that they can't buy 😆

 

[fatTribble]

Some of that could possibly be prevented if they would display them in the stores ahead of pre-order time so that you could actually see and feel what you're ordering for your hard earned $1000+ dollars.

I agree. Still, if you’re on the fence about the choice why not just wait.

 

[denisej]

I agree. Still, if you’re on the fence about the choice why not just wait.

I understand why some may not want to wait....Because they are afraid that if they wait they may have to wait a longgggg...... time...because the color/size they want is now backordered.....Lol

 

[denisej]

I understand why some may not want to wait....Because they are afraid that if they wait they may have to wait a longgggg...... time...because the color/size they want is now backordered.....Lol

Well people are probably concerned that if they wait...they will have to wait a longggggg...... time because the color/size that they want will be on backorder. And I'm sure that part of the reason for THAT is because some people order multiple colors...Lol...so I get it but I get both sides...

 

[Tikatika]

Hi everyone,

I currently have a 15 Pro Max and am considering switching to the 17 Pro because the 17 Pro Max has become even bigger. But I'm also wondering whether the difference in size between the 17 Pro and Pro Max is that significant. Purely in terms of dimensions, that's not the case. Does the 17 Pro Max feel that much bigger and more unwieldy?

I went from my 15 Pro Max to the Air and now to the 17 Pro Max. The Air is a lovely phone but after using all the larger iPhones for so long, it just felt too small in my hand. I’m a “she” and have larger hands I guess.

To answer your question, it feels no different in my hand than the 15. It’s not unwieldy at all. There is a significant difference in size between the Pro and the PM. The Air is in the middle of those two, size-wise and it felt too small to me. The Pro is small. I’m loving the Pro Max. Feels great, so much faster than the 15, bright. Nice…except it gets very warm. But that’s for another thread.

 

[SoYoung]

Thanks to OP, that's because this kind of abuse returns that we pay more for our devices.

 

[GDF]

Thanks to OP, that's because this kind of abuse returns that we pay more for our devices.

Total false statement. Apple had 93.7 billion in profits in 2024 results. Returns mean absolutely nothing when factoring that in.

The return police commenters should exit these threads on the actual phones. This discussion is about Air/Pros and not returns. Annoying when you open up a thread to read about Air/Pros and read comments not even related to the subject.

Mods should start deleting these types of return posts.

 

[joshwithachance]

Total false statement. Apple had 93.7 billion in profits in 2024 results. Returns mean absolutely nothing when factoring that in.

The return police commenters should exit these threads on the actual phones. This discussion is about Air/Pros and not returns. Annoying when you open up a thread to read about Air/Pros and read comments not even related to the subject.

Mods should start deleting these types of return posts.

You kinda just confirmed their point…

 

[A1423]

You can

• the perfect phone does not exist
• figure out your set of compromises you're willing to deal with
• buy that phone
• run with it

this is how most people buy phones. They don't change their mind 4 times in the space of a 14 day return window. They spend more than 35 seconds considering their options, pick one and buy it.

Agonising like this over a phone when anything on sale today is 100x better than what we were using a decade ago is.... insane.

I'm not an apple shareholder but this sort of mass return abuse (which is well and truly beyond the scope of the SPIRIT of the policy) just annoys me because that cost isn't passed onto you directly, but at scale it means we all pay more for our devices to cover this stuff.

I never really understood this either.

I’m a pro max buyer, but I was looking pretty heavily at the air. Comparing the specs to the air and PM. Add in some rumblings about apples cellular modem not functioning as expected on t-mobiles network, I decided to stick with my scheme of always getting the PM(or whatever the highest spec’ed phone is”

It took me about 6-10 hours of broken up time to read and think about it. Ordered the pm. Happy with the pm.

I did have though have a chance to hold the air and it’s a dream to hold. I just wasn’t willing to compromise on the battery, modem, and camera system.