I think the iPhone Air is a brilliant design, with a few noticeable compromises. Though the compromises do not bother me. In fact, had I not purchased the 16e this past February, I would have certainly purchased the Air this go around.
Anyway, I know it's a ways off down the road. But I have started thinking whether Apple will be releasing a new Air next year. After all, they did not name it the iPhone 17 Air, so it's at least worth wondering if the Air will be updated every year going forward. However, assuming Apple does have plans to update it, then it's worth noting that they would already be well into the preliminary design phase right now.
With that in mind, I have to wonder if Apple has painted themselves into a bit of a corner here. In other words, where can they go with the design.
It cannot really get much thinner I wouldn't think. After all, Apple really just barely had enough room for the battery in the body of the current Air. Making it thinner next go around would mean a smaller battery, which would compromise on the already somewhat poor battery performance it has now. I mean I suppose they could stretch the Air length and width wise to accommodate another battery, but that would make the device heavier, which again defeats one of its major selling points. Besides it's hard to believe they would release an Air 2.0 that is heavier than the current one.
The next Air could add an additional camera, as that is another compromise on this current version, but again how? If you believe Apple, there was absolutely no room to put a second camera in the current Air. Which means again, we are back to having to stretch the phone in order to get another camera in it. If Apple does add another camera without making the next Air bigger, it's kinda going to look like they lied by omitting it on this current version.
Yes camera and sensor technology improve each year, and I suppose Apple could make the one-single fusion camera more versatile, but I believe it would still draw many of the same criticisms that this current Air is facing. A lot of people again found the one camera to be a deal breaker.
It's really hard to imagine what else Apple could do with the Air design, without compromising its two biggest selling points, thinness and weight. Apple really can't improve to much, in terms of hardware, on the next Air, without making it bigger and somewhat bulkier. Which again would defeat the purpose of the Air's original concepts. Which is why I wonder if we will see another Air.
I don't believe that we will. It's just hard to see where Apple can go with the design. Almost anything they add or change, hardware wise, is going to compromise on its form. And that is its major selling point.
I am not bashing Apple's engineers at all. I am just intrigued to see where they can go with the design.
Anyway, I know it's a ways off down the road. But I have started thinking whether Apple will be releasing a new Air next year. After all, they did not name it the iPhone 17 Air, so it's at least worth wondering if the Air will be updated every year going forward. However, assuming Apple does have plans to update it, then it's worth noting that they would already be well into the preliminary design phase right now.
With that in mind, I have to wonder if Apple has painted themselves into a bit of a corner here. In other words, where can they go with the design.
It cannot really get much thinner I wouldn't think. After all, Apple really just barely had enough room for the battery in the body of the current Air. Making it thinner next go around would mean a smaller battery, which would compromise on the already somewhat poor battery performance it has now. I mean I suppose they could stretch the Air length and width wise to accommodate another battery, but that would make the device heavier, which again defeats one of its major selling points. Besides it's hard to believe they would release an Air 2.0 that is heavier than the current one.
The next Air could add an additional camera, as that is another compromise on this current version, but again how? If you believe Apple, there was absolutely no room to put a second camera in the current Air. Which means again, we are back to having to stretch the phone in order to get another camera in it. If Apple does add another camera without making the next Air bigger, it's kinda going to look like they lied by omitting it on this current version.
Yes camera and sensor technology improve each year, and I suppose Apple could make the one-single fusion camera more versatile, but I believe it would still draw many of the same criticisms that this current Air is facing. A lot of people again found the one camera to be a deal breaker.
It's really hard to imagine what else Apple could do with the Air design, without compromising its two biggest selling points, thinness and weight. Apple really can't improve to much, in terms of hardware, on the next Air, without making it bigger and somewhat bulkier. Which again would defeat the purpose of the Air's original concepts. Which is why I wonder if we will see another Air.
I don't believe that we will. It's just hard to see where Apple can go with the design. Almost anything they add or change, hardware wise, is going to compromise on its form. And that is its major selling point.
I am not bashing Apple's engineers at all. I am just intrigued to see where they can go with the design.
