iPhone Air How well will the Air sell without advertising?

[Bethanie21]

Such a small percentage of iPhone users know that the Air even exists. I really think sales will increase as the months go on.

Once you hold and use an Air you lose interest in the fat heavy phones that hopefully will be the phones of the past soon.

I really don’t think simply holding an Air makes people choose it over the Pro. People want decent battery life, decent cameras and a good set of speakers, none of which the Air has and no amount of ‘but it’s so thin!’ makes up for those shortcomings.

 

[nepalisherpa]

I really don’t think simply holding an Air makes people choose it over the Pro. People want decent battery life, decent cameras and a good set of speakers, none of which the Air has and no amount of ‘but it’s so thin!’ makes up for those shortcomings.

It's a niche device. People who want it for what it is will buy one. For others, 17/Pro/Pro-Max exist. Choices for everyone. No one is right or wrong for buying the device they want. After all, they are spending their own money, not someone else's.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The iPhone Air is a test run for Apple’s first foldable next year. They wanted to see how thin they could go. Next year they’ll sandwich two Airs together to make the iPhone Fold(or whatever they’ll call it).

If Air sales are less than Apple had hoped for (perhaps dramatically so), it might portend bad things for the future of an Apple Fold.

 

[ab2c4]

I really don’t think simply holding an Air makes people choose it over the Pro. People want decent battery life, decent cameras and a good set of speakers, none of which the Air has and no amount of ‘but it’s so thin!’ makes up for those shortcomings.

Holding it was enough to convince me it was the best phone for me so I got it. Now that I have had it for awhile I can say it has really good battery life same as my 16 Pro had, the single speaker is surprisingly loud and clear, and the camera is really good. It literally has no short comings at all. You are a victim of hearing the misinformation and flat out lies being spread online about the phone so its not your fault, you just didn't know the truth.

Oh, and holding and using the Air is soooooooooooo much better than the other iphones, its amazing. The longer I have the Air the more wowed I am by it. I feel bad for the people who got the now old fashioned Pro models. It's like when the Iphone X came out, most people were still choosing the 8 and 8 Plus because they didn't know any better or they thought the old design was better.

 

[surferfb]

If Air sales are less than Apple had hoped for (perhaps dramatically so), it might portend bad things for the future of an Apple Fold.

I think the type of people who buy the foldable are likely to be very different buyers than those buying the Air. (Saying this as someone who loves my Air and would be definitely interested in a foldable depending on specs, but think I am the exception, not the rule). I suspect the foldable will be aimed/marketed at "power users" and the Air most certainly isn't. Lots of people buy the ProMax not because they necessarily need the features but because "it's the best" and I suspect a foldable "iPhone Ultra" will attract a significant portion of those buyers.

I know everyone thinks the Air is the test run for the fold, and I am sure they will take some of what they learned from the Air when making the foldable, but my hot take isn't that it's it's the test run for the foldable, but it's a test run for the Air form factor becoming the "standard" phone (like the MacBook Air is the "standard" MacBook). They're going to add a second speaker, and an ultra wide camera, do further battery optimization, and release it with the Pros/Foldable as the "standard" model, with the "base" model coming out in the spring (as currently rumored) replacing the "e" line. That allows Apple to effectively raise prices without raising prices (and I'd argue get an objectively better phone as the "standard" model in the fall - although I suspect people here will disagree with that)

 

[Cyberguycpt]

Holding it was enough to convince me it was the best phone for me so I got it. Now that I have had it for awhile I can say it has really good battery life same as my 16 Pro had, the single speaker is surprisingly loud and clear, and the camera is really good. It literally has no short comings at all. You are a victim of hearing the misinformation and flat out lies being spread online about the phone so its not your fault, you just didn't know the truth.

Oh, and holding and using the Air is soooooooooooo much better than the other iphones, its amazing. The longer I have the Air the more wowed I am by it. I feel bad for the people who got the now old fashioned Pro models. It's like when the Iphone X came out, most people were still choosing the 8 and 8 Plus because they didn't know any better or they thought the old design was better.

Lmao. You feel bad for people that made a decision to buy the device that best suited them. Most of us early adopters knew the Air existed and still chose our Pros. I’m sorry but I’m someone who bought the First Galaxy Note, IPhone Plus, Pro Max etc. I will always pick the phone with the biggest display, it’s the thing I use the most on my phone literally.

 

[JPack]

I really don’t think simply holding an Air makes people choose it over the Pro. People want decent battery life, decent cameras and a good set of speakers, none of which the Air has and no amount of ‘but it’s so thin!’ makes up for those shortcomings.

Yup, people who are rational enough to not pre-order sight unseen are also rational enough to recognize the compromises on the Air. The “love at first sight” theory works in a romcom or teen flick, but not in real life when dollars and functionality are at stake.

 

[ab2c4]

Yup, people who are rational enough to not pre-order sight unseen are also rational enough to recognize the compromises on the Air. The “love at first sight” theory works in a romcom or teen flick, but not in real life when dollars and functionality are at stake.

Lmao. You feel bad for people that made a decision to buy the device that best suited them. Most of us early adopters knew the Air existed and still chose our Pros. I’m sorry but I’m someone who bought the First Galaxy Note, IPhone Plus, Pro Max etc. I will always pick the phone with the biggest display, it’s the thing I use the most on my phone literally.

Did the iphone Air hurt either of your families or something? Why the meltdowns over a phone neither of you own?

 

[JPack]

Did the iphone Air hurt either of your families or something? Why the meltdowns over a phone neither of you own?

A rational discussion is a "meltdown"? Because I didn't nod my head in absolute agreement?

I bought my wife an Air after seeing one at the store. But I'm rational enough to recognize very few people would accept these feature compromises.

 

[ab2c4]

A rational discussion is a "meltdown"? Because I didn't nod my head in absolute agreement?

I bought my wife an Air after seeing one at the store. But I'm rational enough to recognize very few people would accept these feature compromises.

Clearly you assumed wrong. Plus, I haven’t found any compromises on my Air yet and I doubt I will.

You sound like you are struggling to justify the phone you have and aren't happy about the compromises that came with yours, so why attack a phone you don't use or the people that use them?

 

[mjpearce023]

I think the type of people who buy the foldable are likely to be very different buyers than those buying the Air. (Saying this as someone who loves my Air and would be definitely interested in a foldable depending on specs, but think I am the exception, not the rule). I suspect the foldable will be aimed/marketed at "power users" and the Air most certainly isn't. Lots of people buy the ProMax not because they necessarily need the features but because "it's the best" and I suspect a foldable "iPhone Ultra" will attract a significant portion of those buyers.

I know everyone thinks the Air is the test run for the fold, and I am sure they will take some of what they learned from the Air when making the foldable, but my hot take isn't that it's it's the test run for the foldable, but it's a test run for the Air form factor becoming the "standard" phone (like the MacBook Air is the "standard" MacBook). They're going to add a second speaker, and an ultra wide camera, do further battery optimization, and release it with the Pros/Foldable as the "standard" model, with the "base" model coming out in the spring (as currently rumored) replacing the "e" line. That allows Apple to effectively raise prices without raising prices (and I'd argue get an objectively better phone as the "standard" model in the fall - although I suspect people here will disagree with that)

I agree, I see no reason why the air would be a test run for the fold. There are plenty of foldables out now, its not anything new so no reason apple would need put R&D into a whole new device just to test it out before the fold. There was no test device for the iPad or the iPhone X. The new device is the test run and they always make improvements the following years.

 

[JPack]

Clearly you assumed wrong. Plus, I haven’t found any compromises on my Air yet and I doubt I will.

You sound like you are struggling to justify the phone you have and aren't happy about the compromises that came with yours, so why attack a phone you don't use or the people that use them?

Many people have found compromises, which is probably why the sales numbers are what are they are.

If you can't take criticism about a phone, feel free to not to read these threads.

 

[ab2c4]

Many people have found compromises, which is probably why the sales numbers are what are they are.

If you can't take criticism about a phone, feel free to not to read these threads.

Why as a non Air owner are you going out of your way to come into a topic about the Air for the sole reason to bash it and its users? Are you that threatened by the Air? Its just a phone, get over it and yourself. Nobody is making you carry around your brick with its compromises, you are choosing to do so, so stop taking it out on us.

 

[mjpearce023]

Its funny how apple only sends the sales numbers to people that post negatively about the air in every air thread.
I wish they would send them to me too, Id like to see them.
I guess that makes sense that brand new model that has an advertising budget of 0 hasn't been doing great. I've seen 6 million pro commercials even though the pro has been around since the 11 series with no mention of the air, not even a 2 second clip letting people know about the new Air. Most of the people that see my phone have never even heard of the Air or know it exists. As long apple lets everybody know there's an orange phone now that's all that really matters.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

Did the iphone Air hurt either of your families or something? Why the meltdowns over a phone neither of you own?

So now an opinion is considered a meltdown . You said you don’t feel the air has any compromises to you, great for you but doesn’t mean there aren’t any. Why are y’all crashing out over a phone?

 

[Cyberguycpt]

Why as a non Air owner are you going out of your way to come into a topic about the Air for the sole reason to bash it and its users? Are you that threatened by the Air? Its just a phone, get over it and yourself. Nobody is making you carry around your brick with its compromises, you are choosing to do so, so stop taking it out on us.

I mean, aren’t these forums for us to discuss Apple devices? I’m just here to see how many times you guys have to justify your purchase by calling my phone a brick.

 

[ab2c4]

So now an opinion is considered a meltdown . You said you don’t feel the air has any compromises to you, great for you but doesn’t mean there aren’t any. Why are y’all crashing out over a phone?

Soon enough the PM will probably have the same thin light weight design too so you can finally experience it and be gushing all over it lol. You’ll just be late to the party.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

Soon enough the PM will probably have the same thin light weight design too so you can finally experience it and be gushing all over it lol. You’ll just be late to the party.

Hey fine by me, as long as they’re not taking anything out of it to get it there I’m good. Don’t matter how much the software is optimized a bigger battery is always better. But hopefully this time next year I’ll be carrying my new foldable iPhone.

 

[super chimp]

I think the Air is great. But I can't justify it just for the feel of it, and that's literally the only defining thing about it (and I'm not saying it's not cool, or that's not worth something). But it's 25% more expensive than the regular 17, and only 9% less expensive than the 17 Pro, and both of those have significant "function over form" factors vs. the Air. To some, the feel and novelty of the Air might be enough - and that's great. But I have a feeling that's not a large segment of the population, including sales people in carrier stores, Best Buy, etc. So the Air is likely going to remain a low seller unless Apple really starts pushing some marketing $$ towards it; and even then I don't think it will sway the general population. But I do still think it's cool...

What do people consistently seem to ignore the fact that it’s also the most durable iPhone this year. And arguably the most ergonomic iPhone in years. That counts for a fair bit.

 

[jntdroid]

What do people consistently seem to ignore the fact that it’s also the most durable iPhone this year. And arguably the most ergonomic iPhone in years. That counts for a fair bit.

That's a fair point for sure. Personally, I'm used to smaller footprints. So the ergonomics of how light it is are offset by one-handed use, for me. It's still a pleasure to hold and use, especially two-handed. But I still have to do finger gymnastics on it at times, moreso than smaller screened phones.

I also put any phone in a case - even the Air (I have a thin/lightweight case) when I'm out and about. So while the durability is absolutely a factor, it doesn't move the needle much for me. But that absolutely should be factored into the cost question as well.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

What do people consistently seem to ignore the fact that it’s also the most durable iPhone this year. And arguably the most ergonomic iPhone in years. That counts for a fair bit.

While I won’t discount durability who has said the Airs are the most durable. One could argue the 17s are the most durable as they don’t suffer from scratch-gate like the Pros or the Airs do. Also many people find the 17s smaller size more comfortable for holding. Just like people say we do know sales figures to know what phone is the best selling, let’s also not assume we know what phones more durable just because we want it to be.

 

[super chimp]

While I won’t discount durability who has said the Airs are the most durable. One could argue the 17s are the most durable as they don’t suffer from scratch-gate like the Pros or the Airs do. Also many people find the 17s smaller size more comfortable for holding. Just like people say we do know sales figures to know what phone is the best selling, let’s also not assume we know what phones more durable just because we want it to be.

I’ve seen no evidence of scratches on the Airs from the longer term reviews. I’m extremely dubious that this year’s Pros will hold up as well in this respect as recent Pros. My iPhone 13 Pro is in pretty good shape for its age, and a put a lot of that down to its stainless steel frame.