iPhone Air Impressions after Apple Store Visit (all new iPhone models)

[dantay]

As a true tech lover, enthusiast of smartphones, tablets, laptops et al, it was my intention to buy an iPhone Air even though I have an S25 Edge.

Working in a cross platform Windows - Mac - Linux - Android - iOS environment affords me the enjoyment of staying current with those platforms.

Because the days of easily swapping physical sims are over, I now maintain multiple lines for my various smartphones. Thus I wanted to have both the Air and my current Edge to compare side by side.

I wanted to like the Air but frankly I was taken aback at more than just the poor speaker performance. Before even seeing the phone I was fully aware it had just one monotone speaker. Much like I was willing to compromise on battery life. There is no perfect device, and it’s the variety and differences I celebrate. It’s why I buy multiple devices.

Make no mistake I am not criticizing the Air, just sharing my thoughts and in-store experience as well as my preferences. It’s encouraging that Apple has created the Air and I fully expect the next generation to be significantly improved. Decades as a loyal, satisfied Apple customer proves that to be true.

I’m surprised you didn’t join MacRumors sooner than this year as a decades loyal Apple customer, I’ve found it a fantastic resource over the last 19 years. Welcome, I hope you find the discord informative and educational.

 

[ab2c4]

My wife and I just got back from the Apple store checking out the phones.

Air- without a doubt the best feeling in the hand by a lot. So superior in hand feel. Disappointed in the color choices: black and three versions of white basically lol. I plan to get the light gold Air.

Pro Max- I never liked the PM but this was my second favorite. It felt fairly good in the hand and I could notice the slightly more rounded edges. It actually felt lighter than the Pro, my wife said the same thing. Orange and silver weren’t appealing to us but the dark blue was amazing. Too big of a phone for me.

Pro- best way I could describe it, my wife too, was it felt like a thick smaller brick in your hand. Not impressed at all, my least favorite.

17- very similar to the 15 and 16 in the hand, it felt “ok”. Colors where ok I guess.

Today sold me on the Air. It was the only phone I really liked, in a class by itself. My wife was always the smaller Pro phone user but she hated the 17 Pro and to both of our surprise she loved the PM. She plans to get the PM in dark blue, her first big phone after never liking the previous PM’s.

 

[dantay]

My wife and I just got back from the Apple store checking out the phones.

Air- without a doubt the best feeling in the hand by a lot. So superior in hand feel. Disappointed in the color choices: black and three versions of white basically lol. I plan to get the light gold Air.

Pro Max- I never liked the PM but this was my second favorite. It felt fairly good in the hand and I could notice the slightly more rounded edges. It actually felt lighter than the Pro, my wife said the same thing. Orange and silver weren’t appealing to us but the dark blue was amazing. Too big of a phone for me.

Pro- best way I could describe it, my wife too, was it felt like a thick smaller brick in your hand. Not impressed at all, my least favorite.

17- very similar to the 15 and 16 in the hand, it felt “ok”. Colors where ok I guess.

Today sold me on the Air. It was the only phone I really liked, in a class by itself. My wife was always the smaller Pro phone user but she hated the 17 Pro and to both of our surprise she loved the PM. She plans to get the PM in dark blue, her first big phone after never liking the previous PM’s.

Totally agree, it’s the most desirable phone on the market at the moment, much more so than something like the Galaxy Edge which really doesn’t look or feel like anyone cared about the design.

 

[zenmacx]

I’ve had a lot of anodized aluminium products in my life and it usually takes quite a bit to create scratches that are obvious.. what is it about apples process that apparently makes this more of a a problem?

Yes it does take a lot to scratch a high quality anodized aluminum finish.

One can only surmise based on Apples relentless quest for maximum profits, may have driven a decision to use less than premium materials and finish.

Smoke and mirrors marketing screams premium, desire to please the shareholders screams something else.

 

[zenmacx]

I’m surprised you didn’t join MacRumors sooner than this year as a decades loyal Apple customer, I’ve found it a fantastic resource over the last 19 years. Welcome, I hope you find the discord informative and educational.

I concur, MacRumors is indeed a fabulous resource.

In years past while attending to the demands of business, I monitored this site without direct participation. Joining recently I've enjoyed participating if only on a somewhat limited basis.

Thank You for the welcome.

 

[dantay]

I concur, MacRumors is indeed a fabulous resource.

In years past while attending to the demands of business, I monitored this site without direct participation. Joining recently I've enjoyed participating if only on a somewhat limited basis.

Thank You for the welcome.

And yet now your “limited” participation seems to geared towards negative comments whilst singing the praises of a rival manufacturer’s product. Very unusual behaviour, but yes……welcome.

Must be a nice to get some well deserved relief from “attending to the demands of business” and take time out of your busy schedule to post on here.

We really are grateful for your clear depth of knowledge and input, we salute you Sir.

 

[zenmacx]

And yet now your “limited” participation seems to geared towards negative comments whilst singing the praises of a rival manufacturer’s product. Very unusual behaviour, but yes……welcome.

Must be a nice to get some well deserved relief from “attending to the demands of business” and take time out of your busy schedule to post on here.

We really are grateful for your clear depth of knowledge and input, we salute you Sir.

Sounds like my comments were misinterpreted. I've simply reported my personal experience. Owning a vast number of smartphones over the years gives me a solid base from which to evaluate new models.

I don't advocate for any manufacturer, yet that said I do have a strong preference for both MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, which have been my computer's of choice for years.

 

[dantay]

Sounds like my comments were misinterpreted. I've simply reported my personal experience. Owning a vast number of smartphones over the years gives me a solid base from which to evaluate new models.

I don't advocate for any manufacturer, yet that said I do have a strong preference for both MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, which have been my computer's of choice for years.

No misinterpretation here.

Thank you for your input.

Have a great day.

 

[fatTribble]

My wife was always the smaller Pro phone user but she hated the 17 Pro and to both of our surprise she loved the PM.

I definitely understand having a preference between the two sizes, but loving one and hating the other sounds exaggerated.

 

[Nom4d]

Okay so today I also saw all the new iphones for real today. First up they all look really nice. Apart from the iPhone 17 which looks like the iPhone 16.

The air now this iPhone is beautiful to look at and hold and the blue is definitely not blue it’s more white but then changes depending on the lighting.

I compared the air to holding my 16 pro and man I am tempted but it does feel a little too wide for me in how I hold my iPhone. So I think I will give it a miss but overall design wise it’s beautifu and so light.

Now this leads me on to the iPhone 17 pro. Man that is a nice iPhone too and looked at the orange blue silver colours. I am so tempted to get the pro range again but then I am struggling on colour. Should I get the orange is the new black colour and go with orange.

Or should I get the silver which also looks good. I know it’s personal preference. Orange is the one where everyone knows you got the iPhone 17 pro and not that I care what people think haha

But the silver one looks really classy too. Not too bothered about the blue. I am more leaning towards silver now. Man I didn’t even plan to upgrade this year but I just like a shiny new iPhone hahah

Okay I admit I don’t use all the camera functions on my current iPhone but will most likely attend the free camera workshops they hold at Apple stores and learn more online and start making the best use out of my camera. 🙂

 

[ab2c4]

I definitely understand having a preference between the two sizes, but loving one and hating the other sounds exaggerated.

Oh she did. She said there was no way she would ever buy the 17 Pro after comparing the 17's in person. I was surprised as she has never had that type of strong negative opinion about the smaller Pro's before (she has owned two of them in fact). The weight of the 17 Pro resulted in an instant strong reaction in her.