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Correction: 8x does a digital crop, leaving "just" 12-megapixels, ie: around the same resolution as a Rebel XSi (so, typical DSLR circa 2008)
But poorer image quality than a 2008 DSLR due to sensor size and lens quality/light-gathering ability.
Still, I use my iPhone’s camera most every day, whilst my Canon EOS sits in a case.
 
I got the iPhone 17 Pro Blue, thank gos not the silver which may be the ugliest iPhone ever.

Air looks great, only one that looks premium or flagship like, but two specs I value most are battery life and camera.

I think this is a huge miss by Apple, it’s been a while since a phone maker has created such an ugly “flagship” phone.

I’d probably keep my 16 Pro if I hadn’t already told my son he could have it.
What do you mean ugliest ? This color for iPhone maybe older then you are
 
Well I got the Air in the end and I'm quite loving it. The size is perfect I actually think 6.5 inch is the right size especially when it comes to the width of the phone for me to hold comfortably in one hand. the weight is a welcome
 
Quite a lot of buyers' remorse here! Meanwhile, I found that iOS26 perked up my iPhone 13 considerably so I will just wait until it fails to serve my needs.
If it did die I would simply grab the standard 17. I'm not using ProRes RAW much at the moment (!) and nor do I need bragging rights by flaunting a caseless Air. Orange will look so last year by next year - a nice 256Gb light blue 17 will do all that's needed for most people, including me.
 
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Picked up my blueish 17 Pro. Feels great. Doesn’t feel less premium than my 16 Pro. I will say it got very hot during its serptup. I hate Apple’s clear case with the big white rectangle on the back. It’s not clear!
 
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I would love to see an Air Mini. I miss small phones. I should have bought the SE's before but I was in a bigger-is-better phase that I've since grown out of. I just want something that can fit in my pocket without it looking like I have an angular armadillo in my trousers.
Mini-sized phones would not need to be overly thin. Longtime 13 mini user here, and thickness is no issue at all, and helps boost battery in a phone with a smaller area. My phone is much lighter than iPhone Air. It's small and easily pocketable. The issue with the mini is Apple named it wrong by using the term "mini". I know from several conversations with people they assumed the iPhone 13 mini was much smaller than it was. They could go from 5.4" to 5.6" and drop the "mini" naming.

iPhone and iPhone Ultra, dropping all numbers, sub-names, and release both phones in several sizes—at least three screen sizes. Further, get rid of the touch layer on camera control and make it simply and fast way to enter the camera and snap photos and videos, with a half-press to preview the viewer from within any app. QuickShot with QuickView.

iPhone (5.6", 6.2", 6.8")
iPhone Ultra (5.6", 6.2", 6.8")
iPhone Air (6.2", 6.8")

The reason why the Air cannot have a "small" display is the battery needs to cover a large area to compensate for its thinness.

2025/2026: Apple Fold (part iPhone, part iPad mini)
2028/2029/2030: Apple Fold Ultra (part iPhone Ultra, part iPad)
 
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Tom’s Guide recently demonstrated on its YouTube channel that the iPhone 17 lasted only about 50 minutes longer than the iPhone Air.

One key distinction is that the iPhone Air uses Apple’s custom-designed cellular chip, while the rest of the iPhone lineup still relies on Qualcomm chips.

Looking ahead, we can expect a significant boost in battery performance once Apple gains more confidence in the capabilities of its in-house cellular chip.

While impressive, 50 minutes is a huge amount of time. It can mean the phone lasting the entire day, or having to charge it.

Did they happen to compare the pro and pro max?
 
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Doesn't matter, it's the 17 Air, and I guarantee next year they will actually call it the 18 Air.
Or there won’t be an air next year, and items it will be replaced by the Fold.

Right now Apple are offering 5 phone options.

16e
17
air
17 pro
17 pro max

If they treat the air as a standard yearly updated phone, in the next cycle we’re going to have:

17e
18
18 Air
18 pro
18 pro max
Fold

The following cycle we’ll see

18e
19
19 air
19 pro
19 pro max
19 fold
Anniversary

Theo’s an obvious problem here, constantly adding too many options.

It is much more likely that:

The. Non-numbered air is replaced by the non-numbered fold. The anniversary obviously will be a limited edition ( it can’t be an anniversary model if it is not a once-off.)


Features the non-numbered air and anniversary that are popular will be handed down to the ruda or iPhone, pro and max

Will end up with yearly releases of:

Budget
Deafault
Pro / pro max
Fold ( if successful, if not it will be a once-off or like the iPad mini, a much longer cycle)
Yearly “limited edition”

This keeps the ranges manageable
 
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Thankfully it is way too expensive to own any of these aluminium unibody ones! I am fine with continue using my 15 pro Max 512 GB until iPhone 19 comes!
 
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Don’t know why majority of media and YouTube reviewers keep comparing the Air to the Pro. The closest in dimensions, specs and performance is the base. I applaud Apple for finally drawing a clear line between a “Pro” phone and the rest. Pro camera users care less about looks and more about specs, utility and performance. The design of the Air and the inclusion of 120hz in the base, will finally segregate the past Pro buyers that never really cared for most “Pro” features. For me it was the 120hz screen. And 120hz screen is not a Pro feature as much as Apple said it was but rather a comfort one. The Pro is now a tool for ceators. The Air is for the form over function, most interesting design and premium material buyers. And the base is for everyone else accept perhaps the 16/16e shoppers that are more price conscious.
 
I would love to see an Air Mini. I miss small phones. I should have bought the SE's before but I was in a bigger-is-better phase that I've since grown out of. I just want something that can fit in my pocket without it looking like I have an angular armadillo in my trousers.
Yeah I used to have a 12 mini. Was looking forward to trying out the Air, but found it too difficult to use with one hand in store. The Pro I found too heavy. I’d love an Air Mini too.
 
Don’t know why majority of media and YouTube reviewers keep comparing the Air to the Pro. The closest in dimensions, specs and performance is the base.

It’s not just media and YouTube it’s people on here as well. It’s ass if people just ignore the fact that the base option exists.
 
Apple will retro actively refer to it as the 17 air next year the same way as they retro actively started calling the og iPhone the iPhone 2g or the og Apple Watch series 0
Or they simply won’t upgrade it - à la the iPad mini, and instead put the focus on the Fold as the next “shiny new thing”.
 
I've never once found these stories to be credible. I remember how people were saying how easily "chipped" the M2 MacBook Air in the midnight color was, yet after years of constantly plugging peripherals in and out I still have yet to see any of that. Same goes for my MBP, same goes for my titanium banded phone...

I think some people just are super careless with their stuff and blow it up online so that they can try and get apple on their side for an exchange.
I’m generally skeptical too. But out of curiosity I went to my local store and absolutely there are large scratches on the back of the blue and black models. The similar colour ones from prior models that have been there for a year had no damage whatsoever.

I really believe that Apple wouldn’t launch a phone that prone to damage, so I’m interested to understand what the full story is.
 
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I’m generally skeptical too. But out of curiosity I went to my local store and absolutely there are large scratches on the back of the blue and black models. The similar colour ones from prior models that have been there for a year had no damage whatsoever.

I really believe that Apple wouldn’t launch a phone that prone to damage, so I’m interested to understand what the full story is.

Interesting! I didn't see any at my local store but it also doesn't have a lot of traffic. Maybe these issues are for real this time.
 
I went to pick up my 17 Pro during my assigned time at my nearby Apple Store and was told that they were having issues with Verizon. They said I had to cancel my order and place another one. Fortunately, they still had ones in stock (for some reason, they couldn’t let me buy the one I had preordered, which was sitting right there). They had trouble with the new one as well (probably not surprising) and I have to go back today.
 
Got the 17 Pro today for my other half in silver (I have a 17 Pro Max on order arrives 24-29 September) and I have to admit that I think they do not look as premium as the titanium iPhones. Kinda makes the Pro models look like the normal iPhone models with them made of aluminium.

I understand the reason for their aluminium construction, but it cheapens the look of the Pro model for sure. I suppose I'll get used to it as I expect Apple to stick with aluminium for a while.
I was here to make a similar post. I am not experiencing "buyers remorse" the phone is truly a "powerhouse". I upgraded from a 14 Pro Max. In comparison, this new phone doesn't feel (or look) as premium on the surface. I went with orange and honestly it looks rather "toyetic".

Back to the "powerhouse" assessment: the battery is worth the hype - 4% used in 3.5 hours of doom scrolling and texting. The still and video cameras capture stunning images with high-quality sound.

I refuse to put a case on my phones. Although orange is my favorite color, I may have gone with silver if given another chance.

 
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Just been to the Apple Store to check these new phones out, the Air looks amazing it’s a step forward with thinness then a few steps back on specs, 17 Pro & Max do not look high end products anymore plus orange and navy had scratches and it only came out yesterday?, I’ve been apple since day 1 iPhone and the first matte black MacBook they brought out many many many years ago and had many apple products since, But recently the last few years of products have left me feeling underwhelmed to the point these Samsung products are really starting to take my eye due to innovation and slick looking phones. Maybe time for change until something a little more exciting comes even if it’s for a short while 🤷‍♂️
 
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