iPhone 17 Air's Ultra-Thin Design Will Result in These 3 Missing Features

[Jeeve Stubbs]

In my opinion, the thinnest devices should also be the cheapest because they have less room to include several features. In this regard, it makes little sense that the iPad Pro is thinner than the other iPads, the iPhone 17 Air thinner than the 16e/17e, the Watch Series 10 thinner than the SE, etc. Imagine the Mac Studio becoming smaller than the Mac Mini. Hello?
It's also logical that a casual consumer who wants a lightweight device will better accept a compromise on some advanced features than a geek who needs a powerful machine. Don't get me wrong though: I think it's great that Apple managed to make the 2024 iPad Pro thinner, but it doesn't make sense that the less powerful 2024 iPad Air wasn't as thin, if not more. These are all marketing decisions if you ask me.

 

[bassanoclapper]

The single camera isn’t an issue for many, just like the eSIM is the future for everyone. But the single speaker on an expensive device is something puzzling me a lot. Audio quality has always been quite good on iPhone. Would they accept a sub-par solution?

Because AirPods exist if you want better audio fidelity, especially for music or video

And the thinness comes with compromises, which some people will accept if it’s important to them

 

[Sippincider]

The thin and light design of Apple's rumored "iPhone 17 Air" will require some compromises.

Is Ive back at Apple?

 

[jayducharme]

I wonder if they'll get rid of the charging port and have it charge wirelessly. So they'll have one phone with no wireless charging and one phone with only wireless charging.

 

[bmark]

Apple dumbing down their iPhones is a joke!

 

[idahoidahoidaho]

Must Have: MagSafe, 120hz, satellite & decent battery
As long as we have those, will be a contender for best iPhone in over a decade

 

[Radeon85]

What a waste of time and resources. Just too many bloody products these days.

 

[SSDGUY]

This model is intriguing to me. I'd really like something lighter and thinner. My 14pro still feels heavy and brick-ish such that I've never learned to love it. I seldom use ultra-wide as it badly distorts the image, esp photos of people … those on the edges gaining 10+ lbs. I'd miss UW occasionally, but the trade off? And no second speaker? Probably not a deal breaker for me. That said, I hope this phone doesn't cause Apple to pay less attention to weight and size for pro models in the future.

 

[SSDGUY]

Must Have: MagSafe, 120hz, satellite & decent battery
As long as we have those, will be a contender for best iPhone in over a decade

Agreed. Though I'd be fine with just 1 and 4 if the price isn't too crazy.

 

[mrr]

I would like to see support for the Apple Pencil.

 

[ThailandToo]

Uh, no. You'll have exactly the same options you have always had for carriers, but via eSIM.

This actually makes switching carriers (if desired) almost effortless.

Try traveling to developing countries or China and live there for any amount of time. Rather than paying $5 to $10 USD per month for unlimited 5G with free calls and texts, pay a Western carrier hundreds or thousands to make those calls and $25 per day for internet. It’s a scam. Apple is catering to the carriers which is what makes them the most money. They don’t care about money.

 

[FlyingDutch]

Because AirPods exist if you want better audio fidelity, especially for music or video

And the thinness comes with compromises, which some people will accept if it’s important to them

They are still going to ask a lot of money for it. It won’t be another iPhone 16e (not so cheaper by the way). So the compromise must be reasonable

 

[Jumpthesnark]

Imagine if Apple just decided not to release this thing after all this anticipatory hubbub. 😂

Imagine if they don't release a device that they never said they would, that was only rumors and speculation, and people here remain calm. That would be an even bigger surprise. 🤣

 

[thefrost]

Are people willing to buy such a device just for thinness and lose other features in return?

 

[kevine]

While there are lots of options in Japan for eSIM data service, the only way to get an actual phone number is with a physical SIM. And the only way to get a physical SIM is from an established carrier … and all the carriers require proof of residency — a long-stay visa at a minimum, if not permanent residency or citizenship.

This isn't true anymore. NTT Docomo, SoftBank, and au now support eSIM in Japan and if you need residency registration for the phone number, the process is the same. You just don't have to wait for the physical card as the eSIM can be activated remotely.

As far as Apple abandoning any country where physical SIMs are required...

There's no rumor I've seen that Apple intends to do this anytime soon. In fact, the just released 16e has a physical SIM slot for other countries.

It makes perfect sense for Apple to not compromise on the airness of the Air when there are other models available and when those still holding on to physical SIM technology may be persuaded by the model/demand to evolve. This isn't abandoning a market, this is influencing markets while serving other markets.

 

[sunapple]

I know thinness is seen as unimportant, but this could be the first special new iPhone design since the X came out. Something to marvel at. Really curious to see the final product in store and to see if it'll be a success commercially.

 

[cdsapplefan]

How will Apple differentiate the iPhone 17 Air from the base iPhone 17 besides being super lightweight? Will they be able to fit magsafe in that razor thin of a design?

 

[Nozuka]

Likely the next short lived iPhone after the Mini and the "normal"-Max

 

[Salty Pirate]

I'm weird, I play music all the time on my iPhone 15 pro as I am hanging out or whatever.

I have a super nice B&W portable bluetooth speaker, but then you gotta go get it, turn it on, sometimes re-pair it.....

I'm wondering how big a deal it would be to not have stereo sound? I mean, it is pretty limited sound from iPhone speakers, but there are times when I am in a large ambient room and my iPhone music sounds great.

My biggest peeve is how much the new iPhones weigh. I returned my 16 pro and went back to my 15 pro because the weight.

It I just too much weight banging around in my short pocket or joggers front pocket.

 

[t0rqx]

I wonder how big a market there will be for an iPhone whose main USP seems to be that:

- It's thin (and light?) but...
- With less features than the regular 17 is likely to have.

Guess we'll find out this fall.

It feels very different from when we last had a unique vision of the iPhone of the future - the iPhone X - which was the best iPhone that you could get in 2017and a quantum leap compared to the 8 and 8 plus.

All of the new product categories failed since Airpower. This will too.

 

[Tagbert]

Too many compromises.

and I was just thinking that these are things I wouldn't miss at all.

- single speaker: I mostly listen on AirPods. If I'm listening via the speakers, minimally separated stereo sound is not a concern.
- no SIM card: I have a US phone which is already fully eSIM so no change there.
- wide angle lens: I would miss this one a little as I like to take macro photos but its not a deal killer. The other camera with 1x and 2x would cover all my other photo needs. If I wanted more cameras, I would be getting the Pro phone anyway.

 

[nathansz]

Too many compromises.

I don't need any of those things

now make it < 6" and you have a near perfect phone

 

[Rayansb]

Don't worry instead of a speaker they're switching to sign language. Now that's courage!

 

[Joshuaorange]

Who cares if thin? Welcome to Bendgate 2.0.

The thickness is misleading anyway as it seems the cameras protroude out by like another 50% anyway on my 16 Pro. I'd rather have the entire phone a little thicker so the camera lenses are more flush with the back and use the depth for an even longer lasting battery. iPhone 3G was 12.3mm at the middle of the back. I don't remember anyone bitching about its thickness.

It won’t bend if it’s titanium. Also, you and maybe 3 other people would buy a 15mm thick phone and Apple can’t live off 4 annual iPhone sales.

 

[marinersaptcomplex]

I still am confused who this phone is for? The Apple/tech evangelist probably would still chose the Pro models. The average consumer would chose the regular 17, as it will be cheaper. Who is really complaining their current iPhones are "too thick"?

What need is this phone addressing?