iPhone 17 Lineup Hands On: Air's Thinness vs Pro's Power

[fathergll]

I absolutely would buy an Air Mini. It’s so annoying that Apple sells 4 or 5 different kinds of phones and they all have to be big as hell. I’m waiting with my 13 Mini (running great on iOS 26 with a new battery) to see how the foldable turns out.

Agreed. I have a 13 Mini as well. There is a rising surge in Japan for used models(not surprised Japan is awesome). Hopefully there is some traction so that the idea of everyone walking around with Orange iPad Minis as phones is frowned upon.



"Phone demand for older, smaller models has surged in Japan and on the online platform operated by Belong, a subsidiary of Itochu. The reason given is that consumers are seeking smaller phones that the new iPhone 14 and new 15 does not fill.


Japanese consumers are reaching for iPhone 12 or 13 minis, which have 5.4-inch screens that are easier to use with one hand, leading to the sales volume doubling of the models during the week of the iPhone 15’s debut."

channelnews : Pre-Used iPhone Minis In Demand Over New iPhones

iPhone demand for older, smaller models has surged in Japan and on the online platform operated by Belong, a subsidiary of Itochu. The reason given is that consumers are seeking smaller phones that the new iPhone 14 and new 15 does not fill. Japanese consumers are reaching for iPhone 12 or 13...

www.channelnews.com.au

 

[cgs1xx]

Huge fail on Apple's part. Only two out of these three should exist. Either make the flagship the thinnest/lightest or incorporate that into the base model. And do away with the camera warts!

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

 

[darngooddesign]

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

Or

17e
18
18 Air
18 Pro
18 Pro Max
18 iPhoneBook (Folding)

18e
19
19 Air (Depends on sales, just like the Mini and Plus were two year models)
19 Pro (Anniversary)
19 Pro Max (Anniversary)
19 iPhoneBook (Folding)

Apple may also jump 19 and go straight to XX (20), just like they did with the 9.

The X (10) was their anniversary phone and it was just a regular model so the Pro and ProMax can be XX Anniversary phones without being limited.

 

[markgpearse]

Any scratches yet?

Not yet, but I have the case on, so only the "plateau" is exposed

 

[Cheffy Dave]

I think Apple should’ve gone more extreme with the iPhone Air. I wish the display size had been smaller so it wouldn’t only be even lighter but also easier to cary. I wish they’d removed the USB-C port and made a portless phone (Apple can find a wireless solution for DFU mode). Right now the Air is lighter than the other phones, but not by much.

I loved the 2015 12” MacBook, and I think it was a more extreme version of the MacBook than the iPhone Air is in the iPhone line-up. Should’ve been more like that.

I would’ve been interested in the Air if it had been more extreme like this, and without shiny borders.

I bought 2, 12” Black MacBook Refurbs for my wife and I. We LOVED THEM! We still have them, both running UBUNTU!
I wish Apple would re-release a 12” Perfect travel size!

 

[ImSoSad]

C'mon now .. it's objectively a downgrade on the photography front.

Let's love on the Air for what it is, but let's be honest while doing it.

A downgrade from what? The improvements to the front camera are major compared to previous models and the back camera has all the same improvements they've been making over the years. You consider not having a wide-angle lens 'objectively a downgrade' despite upgrading the other lenses and software?

Also, the person I responded to claimed there were "WAYYYYYY too many drawbacks" which yes I think is just self-gaslighting for no reason.

It's a premium 2025 device and they've convinced themselves it has a black and white display and a 2 hour battery life.

 

[macjaffa]

I just want something that can fit in my pocket without it looking like I have an angular armadillo in my trousers.

Don’t we all. +1 for angular armadillo. Indeed.

 

[Act3]

You’re overthinking this for no reason.

There are no drawbacks, it’s the best phone i’ve ever owned.

Going from stereo speakers to a single speaker? Giving up photography capabilities? Lower battery capacity?

All drawbacks if you have already had those.

 

[hutzi20]

Everyone is trying to sugarcoat the fact that the new iPhone Pro is now made of aluminum instead of titanium. They keep pointing to the marketing talk that it supposedly dissipates heat better. But in reality, it’s only about cutting costs. If the aluminum housing was really about improving cooling, then why doesn’t the chip even have contact with the housing? The vapor chamber doesn’t either. It’s sandwiched between the battery and the display.

 

[tuncer]

I've owned every iPhone since the very first one. Here's why I switched from the iPhone 16 Pro Max to the Air.

1) Weight. Feels amazing in your pocket, when holding it, etc.
2) I don't obsess over taking photos. I use the camera from time to time. The Air's camera is fine for my needs.
3) If I want to watch videos, music, I use AirPods. One speaker is ok for me.
4) I often find the size of the Pro Max a bit too big. The 6.5 in the Air seems to be a nice manageable size. Will I upgrade to the fold iPhone? Probably.
5) I don't obsess over battery. Going to work, at work, I'll put my phone on the charger. I don't carry my phone everywhere, I don't
6) Did I mention the weight?

 

[RoadWarrior56]

I played with the new iPhones at the Apple Store this morning. I am a die hard iphone 13 Mini user, but I loved the iPhone Air, the first iPhone I liked since the Mini was discontinued. The others did nothing for me. The light weight and beautiful screen of the air won me over. I plan to keep my Mini another year, but if I had to replace it, it would be the iPhone Air.

 

[darngooddesign]

Everyone is trying to sugarcoat the fact that the new iPhone Pro is now made of aluminum instead of titanium. They keep pointing to the marketing talk that it supposedly dissipates heat better. But in reality, it’s only about cutting costs. If the aluminum housing was really about improving cooling, then why doesn’t the chip even have contact with the housing? The vapor chamber doesn’t either. It’s sandwiched between the battery and the display.

The 15 and 16 Pros were not made from Titanium; they had regular Aluminum frames with a 1mm Titanium coating.

 

[Mazda 3s]

Got my iPhone Air today. Some observations:

1) I can’t believe how thin it is. Coming from a 16 Pro, this thing is amazing — even with my low-profile case on it

2) Mono speaker is fine. I’m listening to YouTube Music as I type this on my phone and I don’t see what all the fuss is over the lack of stereo speakers. I’m at 30% volume and it’s plenty loud and sound good. I use my AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Max most of the time anyway.

3) It got very warm when I was doing the data transfer from my iPhone 16 Pro to the Air. The Air was at 62% when I took it out of the box and I immediately put it on my 60W USB-C charger. In the middle of the transfer when the battery got to 82% it threw up a warning that charging would be disabled until the phone cooled down. It wouldn’t charge for about 15 mins, then it started back to charging once the file transfer was winding down. My iPhone 16 Pro gives this message EVERY TIME I attempt to charge it on our Teslas’ wireless charging pads.

I haven’t really messed with the camera or cellular connectivity yet, but I don’t foresee having any issues.

As a follow up to this. Today was my first full day of using the Air. I took it off the charger at 7:30am this morning and have purposefully not plugged it back in to get an idea of real world usage. It is now 6pm and I’m down to 42%.

During the day I’ve used it to:

• Made several phone calls in the car going to the grocery store
• Took photos of my wife’s old iPhone 15 to put on eBay (got her a base 17)
• Phone spent about 40 mins serving as a personal hotspot for my son’s iPad in the car
• Piddled around on safari for about about 45 mins and Facebook/Instagram doomscrolling for an hour
• Watched about an half hour of YouTube
• Spent 45 mins cutting the grass and doing some weed spraying with my AirPods Pro 2 in while listening to YouTube Music.
• Random other crap

And this is a Saturday. I’m using the phone more today than I would on a typical work week. So down to 42% is excellent for me.

 

[whitby]

I have both the Pro Max and Air and they are very different phones. The Air is designed for the person who needs a light in the pocket easily accessible internet access with phone functions phone that is the very epitome of the glass slab.The Pro (and Max) is the nerd phone who wants everything that a portable device can give. I am in between. I sometimes need the cameras of the Pro Max but when I am out and about the Air is more than enough. The occasional shot, the phone that works, the email and messages device I need is the Air. For my camera replacement and possible editing applications, the Pro is needed. I love the Air, but feel I cannot give up the Pro for when I think I might need it. But like my visit to the vineyard today, the Air would have been perfect. Indeed we have a dichotomy when to take the Pro and when to take the Air. The Air is beginning to win. We are very close to the perfect device and the Air/Pro dichotomy is the very issue we are all dealing with. Neither is perfect but we are close. Come on V2.

 

[applefan8254]

Sony did that like 10 years ago.

Although it's gotten a bit more refined by xiaomi right? Apple could probably refine it even more yes ?

 

[joloriquelme]

At this point I will probably get the 16 Pro Max 512 GB at a VERY big discount.

I am ugly and I don't need the selfie cam.

 

[MysteriousStain]

Went to the local Apple Store today. The base model is the exact same weight as my XS but wow, what a difference otherwise! The screen is so nice. Green is the colour to get, the blue is ok but lacklustre. The black already had scratches all over the back after just a day! Avoid the black. The Air felt nice in the hand…but not special. Pro is horribly heavy.

I’ll pick up a base once iOS stabilises.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Judging from the scratches, it look like iPhone case manufacturers are going to be doing more business than in prior years, and Apple might be seeing a lot of returns shortly claiming manufacturing defects (otherwise Apple won't do returns for scratches).

The image in the video from "AppleDrop" shows scratches in the Deep Blue color on the back of the Pro not just in the area made of aluminum, but also in the adjacent area covered by glass. So the problem doesn't seem to be just the fact that the 17 non-Air housings are aluminum. But aluminum might still be partly responsible in the areas where it's located.

With the 17 non-Air models, some of the rear is colored aluminum compared to prior models, all the way back through the iPhone 8 where the back is nearly all glass with its color applied to the inside surface of the glass, not the exterior, since applying color to the inside surface naturally prevents these kinds of exterior scratches from showing nearly as much. With the rear glass on the 17 models, it looks like their color was applied to the exterior surface instead. Not sure why Apple thought that was a good idea.

The scratches in the color on the aluminum parts of the non-Air 17 models might be that the Deep Blue color (and Cosmic Orange, as well as Silver, since it's not bare aluminum?) might have been applied using simpler processes than in prior models. Applying color to aluminum involves anodization, and the same is almost certainly true in the 17, so maybe a less-rugged anodization process was used that resulted in the oxide layer being thinner, or made the dye more surface-exposed than on previous anodized frames.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

If the aluminum housing was really about improving cooling, then why doesn’t the chip even have contact with the housing? The vapor chamber doesn’t either. It’s sandwiched between the battery and the display.

If the hot internal components made contact with the housing, they would create uncomfortable hot spots. The heat needs to be distributed more evenly across the housing.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

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[johnsawyercjs]

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[UnjustifiedBot]

You’re overthinking this for no reason.

There are no drawbacks, it’s the best phone i’ve ever owned.

Are you coming from a flip phone?

 

[johnsawyercjs]

The 15 and 16 Pros were not made from Titanium; they had regular Aluminum frames with a 1mm Titanium coating.

It's more of a titanium band bonded to the aluminum frame, but yeah, a lot of people seem to think the whole frame/housing is made of titanium.

 

[fathergll]

I played with the new iPhones at the Apple Store this morning. I am a die hard iphone 13 Mini user, but I loved the iPhone Air, the first iPhone I liked since the Mini was discontinued. The others did nothing for me. The light weight and beautiful screen of the air won me over. I plan to keep my Mini another year, but if I had to replace it, it would be the iPhone Air.

Wouldn't the 16e be a better choice if you are a die hard Mini user? The massive benefit of the Mini is besides weight is the height/width dimensions and the 16e and Air are basically the same weight but the 16e is smaller in the height and width which is really key. If they would have had made the Air the same height width as the 16e that would have been a real difference maker for something sleek.

 

[ethanwa79]

Again, please, STOP calling the 2x (and now the 8x) "optical". They are NOT optical zoom, they are literally crops. It's literally the same thing that taking a photo and crop it, just with some extra software steps. It is NOT optical, it never was.

Good luck with getting people to stop.