iPhone Air How well will the Air sell without advertising?

[code-m]

Nah, the iPhone Air has better battery life than the 12 & 13 mini. I'm a light user and the minis do last the entire day but the 12 was usually ~20% and the 13 ~30-40% at the end of the day. Meanwhile, the Air usually still has ~50-60% at the end of the day and that's with a 90% charging limit.

The Air has almost the same size battery as the iPhone 13 and from what I can tell, battery life is pretty similar to the base iPhone models.

The Air is only bad when compared to previous Pro Max models or Apple's 16 and 17 series. Also bad when compared to Android. Even my cheap Androids all seem to have 5000mAh batteries.

I've already returned the Air because it's too big for my comfort but battery life was surprisingly good despite its thinness. Definitely way better than the iPhone minis.

As you describe you are a “light user”, there are times when people are not light users when diverting from their normal daily routine such as vacations or a hiking trip or some out of the blue emergency. In those cases ones does not want to worry and have range anxiety like EV’s on certain trips. Plus it has happened where some iOS updates drain battery life faster than other but later get addressed with an update in those cases again I don’t want to worry about the usability and longevity of a phone just so it’s thin, light and shiny. I usually put a case so shiny and thin are remove and to a certain degree lightness as well, so what is the point other.

 

[code-m]

Fair enough.

I know I’m only one use case but my air far outlasts my 12 or 13 mini. If anyone says they’re comparable I’d take it with a pinch of salt as it seems quite a stretch from my experience.

Try running some third party apps from business’ that don’t optimize for mobile devices and it drains battery like crazy along with using some map apps.

At to is point the old commercials from Samsung about iPhone users hovering and parking near an electrical outlet will resurface for the iPhone Air but ah Apple has no issue selling you a MagSafe battery pack thus increasing the operating cost. Value wise then iPhone Air does not compare to other models, it’s just the new shiny toy on the block this year hence the oh and ah’s, eventuality daily practicality wins for the majority.

 

[jntdroid]

Good point I should have mentioned.

In my case, I’ve gone from ending the day with 35-50% with a Pro Max to 15-30% with the Air. Usually around 5-6 hours of screen on time. If you’re on your phone more than that then yes, charging (or a different phone) will be required.

Just get annoyed with people who clearly haven’t used the device talking about how awful the battery is.

I heard a reviewer say it well the other day, something to the effect of... "With my Pro, I make it to the end of the day and have to charge it over night. With the Air, I make it to the end of the day and have to charge it over night. Sure, the Air has less, but the result is the same behavior most days."

 

[jntdroid]

...there are times when people are not light users when diverting from their normal daily routine such as vacations or a hiking trip or some out of the blue emergency...

This is a good point. Most people on most days won't need more than what the Air provides, but there will be outlier times when having that extra battery life comes in handy for sure.

 

[surferfb]

This is a good point. Most people on most days won't need more than what the Air provides, but there will be outlier times when having that extra battery life comes in handy for sure.

Personally speaking, I’d rather have a phone that feels great in hand 100% of the time I use it and attach a magnetic battery (or charge mid-day) once or twice a month, but I totally understand different people have different thought processes, even with my usage pattern.

I’m glad both options exist, but I really like this phone, and if you had told me in June I’d get it over the Pro Max I probably would have laughed at you.

 

[FeliApple]

So you went from a device with very weak battery life to one that is comparable but lost one camera and speaker but gained a larger screen, higher refresh rate and thinness. I don’t think you even know what you want but permitting Apple to entice you with RDF. I was a iPhone 13 mini owner and it was a great phone minus battery life, it was usable with one hand and that cannot be said for the iPhone Air for most normal hand sized people.

Granted the mini didn’t have ProMotion but it wasn’t missed. iPhone 12 mini was one of the worst phones produced by Apple.

The Air’s battery life is infinitely better than either Mini.

With light, very efficient use, the Minis likely barely scraped 10 hours of SOT. The Air should be almost twice as good. There’s no competition.

 

[turbineseaplane]

People are claiming the Air doesn't get better battery life than a Mini?

I love my Mini, but it sure ain't because of the battery life - lmao

 

[rui no onna]

As you describe you are a “light user”, there are times when people are not light users when diverting from their normal daily routine such as vacations or a hiking trip or some out of the blue emergency. In those cases ones does not want to worry and have range anxiety like EV’s on certain trips. Plus it has happened where some iOS updates drain battery life faster than other but later get addressed with an update in those cases again I don’t want to worry about the usability and longevity of a phone just so it’s thin, light and shiny. I usually put a case so shiny and thin are remove and to a certain degree lightness as well, so what is the point other.

In that case, those customers probably know to go with the Pro Max. I don't think the base iPhones deliver significantly longer battery life compared to the Air.

Besides, the Air still has 50-60% remaining during my typical daily use (70+% if there's wifi) so it should be fine for me even with heavier use. The 13 mini would definitely need a power bank for heavier use.

If it's something like a long day hiking or vacation, a power bank will likely be needed regardless of model.

 

[ArchEtech]

The Air is considerably better than the Mini.

I can have screen time easily 14-16 hours with 40-50% youtube use, some gaming, lots of email, text and typical things and still have plenty left at the end of the day. I've been letting it sit at 20-30% overnight to check standby drain and its fine. The Mini would visibly drain with video, email, and especially using the camera.

I don't know what is considered a heavy vs. light user these days.

 

[ArchEtech]

As you describe you are a “light user”, there are times when people are not light users when diverting from their normal daily routine such as vacations or a hiking trip or some out of the blue emergency. In those cases ones does not want to worry and have range anxiety like EV’s on certain trips. Plus it has happened where some iOS updates drain battery life faster than other but later get addressed with an update in those cases again I don’t want to worry about the usability and longevity of a phone just so it’s thin, light and shiny. I usually put a case so shiny and thin are remove and to a certain degree lightness as well, so what is the point other.

I don't think too many people are going to get range anxiety. The Air last way long than the mini. If you are hiking or remote, why wouldn't you have a battery pack anyway.

Unless you do heavy gaming, heavy business presentation use, or maybe do a ton of video recording, i don't think the Air is going to be short on battery. I'm easily at 30-40% at the end of the day with streaming through 13-16 hours of screen time.

 

[SmugMaverick]

Way way too many people mouthing off about a phone they’ve never even touched, doing their best “tech YouTuber” impressions by just reading some specs sheet.

I have bought every single iPhone pro model and I can say without a doubt the air is the most exciting, futuristic and amazing model since the iPhone X.

The air is releasing in china soon so I’ll expect some ads going out worldwide soon.

 

[code-m]

I don't think too many people are going to get range anxiety. The Air last way long than the mini. If you are hiking or remote, why wouldn't you have a battery pack anyway.

Unless you do heavy gaming, heavy business presentation use, or maybe do a ton of video recording, i don't think the Air is going to be short on battery. I'm easily at 30-40% at the end of the day with streaming through 13-16 hours of screen time.

I use my device as a mobile hot spot that causes a bit of temp rise, even with my 16 Pro I am good throughout the day. The lack of stereo speakers and cameras along with the increased price does not bode well considering people here have spent more to use AirPods or other wireless headsets.

The total cost to make an iPhone Air comparable is a lot more, not worth it to most but glad you are enjoying your shiny new device. Only time will tell if the resale value is even there on an iPhone Air.

 

[B.A.T]

I use my phones for years long after there is any worthwhile resale value left in the phone. Every point you've attempted to make here (battery life, camera or lack of, one handed use of the Air) may apply to you but they don't apply to everyone else. Meanwhile we all have 12 GBs of ram so enjoy IOS 27 🤣🤣🤣

 

[zenmacx]

It’s early in the annual sales cycle. Apple has plenty of time and opportunities to advertise this new form factor.

That said I find it interesting that in the huge circle of tech enthusiasts I'm around, Air models are few and far between. A non scientific guess reveals less than 2% have purchased one.

It would be good to see Apple promote and keep this model in the lineup. With some improvements added to the second generation it could be an excellent choice for some buyers.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Why would Apple not give the ‘17’ name to the Air? Probably because there’s a good chance it’s going to be a one-and-done model.

You ask "Why would Apple not give the ‘17’ name to the Air?" Easy. Because only a marketing moron would call it that. Do you also wonder why Apple did not call the first iPhone the iPhone 2007?

Later generations of users may call today's iPhone Air the iPhone 17 Air or the Air 2025 or whatever for future identification purposes. The Air name is not "because there’s a good chance it’s going to be a one-and-done model." Sheesh.

 

[Petey07]

Probably just the algorithm but … I’m seeing a lot of Air reviews on YouTube and they’re nearly all positive.

Flossy has a negative one, which is highly amusing, yet also totally correct lol.

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I having feelings that these vloggers are getting paid to all sudden make positive Air review because of originally there were a lot of videos were not positive.