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iPhone 17 Outselling Every Other Phone Worldwide So Far This Year
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Paul1964
macrumors 6502
Yep - people are done with 'form over function'. Pretty but only the one camera camera and a weak battery.
It does have durability in its favour though. Zack from JerryRigEverything had to use an engine hoist to break it. That this is strong AF.
It’s the cheapest phone samsung offers that’s why it doesn’t offer 5g to reduce the cost even more
jdawgnoonan
macrumors 65816
Cheap phones are the majority of Android phones globally. I have owned high end Samsung phones myself and they are nice, but they do not outsell the iPhone as a single product line.
the 256gb starting storage was the tipping point for me, effectively a $150 AUD discount vs the old 256gb iphone 16
But also because work paid for it 😆
But also because work paid for it 😆
The_Interloper
macrumors 6502a
A few people have mentioned the Air is missing, but no 16e or 17e in this list either. At mid to lower prices, people seem to be choosing Samsung/Android.
ProbablyDylan
macrumors 68040
Are we supposed to be surprised? If you make a meaningful upgrade and price it right it'll probably sell well.
RashyIsBack2
macrumors newbie
The 17 is a killer overall package. Minus the telephoto lens and (maybe) USB 3.0 there is nothing the average to prosumer buyer would ever miss. 8GB is also plenty, as the regular 15/14 only had 6GB and prior models even less RAM, and still worked fine, if you don't need Apple 'Intelligence' (any web-based service like Gemini or ChatGPT exist anyway).
- Larger screen, 6.3" is the perfect sweetspot imho, minimal bezels
- Brighter screen combined with improved anti-reflecivity (noticeable)
- Finally 120Hz ProMotion *and* Always On Display
- Improved Selfie Camera (same as Pro)
- Improved UW camera with 48MP (same as Pro)
- A19 is stronger than A18 Pro
- Solid to great battery life
- Pleasant size and weight (177g)
- Least 'controversial' design, looks sleek
- Usually benefits stronger from price discounts
- 256GB as new standard for the same price
The last fact was the tipping point for me, as it made the prior 16 and even 16 Pro even more unattractive to me, considering the small price difference. And while I was expecting 120Hz, AOD was a nice bonus and the larger 6.3" screen with improved brightness *and* better coating were certainly NOT on my bingo-card. Which makes the base 17 screen better than the last year's Pro screen. In Germany, the MSRP including tax is 949€ which isn't cheap, but still much cheaper than the Pro models. Also I waited some months and could snatch it for 720€ brand-new.
Super happy, I can absolutely recommend. Coming from a vanilla 14, this was a significant update! Also I can bet that the 18 will be a much smaller upgrade again, similar to the 14 vs 13 (which was really lame).
As for the Air, my predictions were right - it doesn't sell well, saw a massive value loss, many people are fed up with Jony Ive thinness obsession productions. Single camera and mono speaker in 2026 for around $1000? Hell, no thanks.
- Larger screen, 6.3" is the perfect sweetspot imho, minimal bezels
- Brighter screen combined with improved anti-reflecivity (noticeable)
- Finally 120Hz ProMotion *and* Always On Display
- Improved Selfie Camera (same as Pro)
- Improved UW camera with 48MP (same as Pro)
- A19 is stronger than A18 Pro
- Solid to great battery life
- Pleasant size and weight (177g)
- Least 'controversial' design, looks sleek
- Usually benefits stronger from price discounts
- 256GB as new standard for the same price
The last fact was the tipping point for me, as it made the prior 16 and even 16 Pro even more unattractive to me, considering the small price difference. And while I was expecting 120Hz, AOD was a nice bonus and the larger 6.3" screen with improved brightness *and* better coating were certainly NOT on my bingo-card. Which makes the base 17 screen better than the last year's Pro screen. In Germany, the MSRP including tax is 949€ which isn't cheap, but still much cheaper than the Pro models. Also I waited some months and could snatch it for 720€ brand-new.
Super happy, I can absolutely recommend. Coming from a vanilla 14, this was a significant update! Also I can bet that the 18 will be a much smaller upgrade again, similar to the 14 vs 13 (which was really lame).
As for the Air, my predictions were right - it doesn't sell well, saw a massive value loss, many people are fed up with Jony Ive thinness obsession productions. Single camera and mono speaker in 2026 for around $1000? Hell, no thanks.
Bones402
macrumors regular
Going with the standard iPhone was the best decision I ever made. Some may need or want the pro features. I do not.
Paul1964
macrumors 6502
Jony Ive wasn't involved this time round but I think someone might have been trying to copy his form over function style. Most people don't want that - from Jony or anyone else.
RashyIsBack2
macrumors newbie
I am well-aware, it just resembles the obsession for thinness above everything which was rampant during his era (iPhone 6, MBP 2016). At least without structural compromises this time, but still enough others (single cam, less recording features, mono speaker, binned GPU, smaller battery, worst thermals, UBS 2.0) while giving minimal in return. The chunky camera plateu defeats the entire "look I am so thin" purpose while the weight saving compared to the regular 17 is just 12g, barely any noticeable. Oh, and those glossy frame sides attract smudges and fingerprints.
Nice style-focused phone, but that's mostly it.
But then again, the regular 17 also has 'style', just a bit less shiny and spectacular. *shrugs*
Nice style-focused phone, but that's mostly it.
But then again, the regular 17 also has 'style', just a bit less shiny and spectacular. *shrugs*
antonrg
macrumors 6502a
Absolutely not. iPhone 11 was nowhere near the spec bump 17 is for the time. 11 had a horrible display, the body was the Xr that was bulky and heavy too.
Happy_John
macrumors 65816
Yep. In the vast majority of cases, and removing the “show off” factor, the main reason to go for a 17 pro over the base 17 are the cameras.
I went for a base model because I don’t need the higher spec camera array. That’s pretty much all there is to it.
It's not even the price. People just don't want it.
Right now the Air is discounted to $100 AUD lower than the 17 and it's still not selling. ($1297 AUD for the Air, $1397 AUD for the 17)
iPhone Air 256GB Space Black
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iPhone 17 256GB Black
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Work paid for my 17, and at the time the air was discounted to the exact same price and i still chose the 17. Main reason for me was the camera and battery
nah, the foldable will cannibalise the pro sales. Notably the pro max is 2nd on that ranking list.
I believe a substantial amount of those sales are to people who just buy the "most expensive, therefore the best one"
I'm pretty sure it's not about the screen size either; because back when the 16 plus existed; it never outsold the base 16.
Once the ultra comes out, that'll become the most expensive one, and therefore it'll eat into that pro max share.
Paul1964
macrumors 6502
In the UK the iPhone Air has a £200 discount on Amazon UK...and that's from Apple's own Amazon UK Store Front.It's not even the price. People just don't want it.
Right now the Air is discounted to $100 AUD lower than the 17 and it's still not selling. ($1297 AUD for the Air, $1397 AUD for the 17)
iPhone Air 256GB Space Black
Officeworks won't be beaten on iPhone Air 256GB Space Black prices with our Price Beat Guarantee, 2-hour Click & Collect, and fast delivery options.www.officeworks.com.au
iPhone 17 256GB Black
Officeworks won't be beaten on iPhone 17 256GB Black prices with our Price Beat Guarantee, 2-hour Click & Collect, and fast delivery options.
Work paid for my 17, and at the time the air was discounted to the exact same price and i still chose the 17. Main reason for me was the camera and battery
If you want to pay full price, you can. Just get it from the Apple UK site directly...if you're stupid.
The thinness-yet-rigidness of the Air form factor is going to be the basis for the Fold phone.
Whether it's called a "flop" isn't the point. The R&D is the basis for something bigger.
Paul1964
macrumors 6502
SactoGuy18
macrumors 603
I think the VERY strong sales of the iPhone 17 "regular" model in China contributed to its dominance. It proves that the Chinese are not exactly trusting of buying Huawei or Xiaomi phones.
As far as I can find, the one and only current generation phone officially sold in the US with a zoom lens at the same price is the base Galaxy S25. I can't find any current generation phone for cheaper with an actual zoom lens.
I agree though, cropping is a scam. It's like when photographers try to sell you a set of pictures with a per picture cost, and some of them are just crops of others. A lot of people really don't seem to realize what's happening.
I also agree on USB-2 but sad fact is, 99% of base iPhone 17 buyers will never plug it into anything but a charger.
edubfromktown
macrumors 65816
I don't care much about titanium even though I've got it in Samsung flavor mobile. Same "downgrade" occurred between S25U and S26U.
S25 Ultra pre-order ~15 months ago was one heck of a deal.
<$500 for the 512 GB model + Buds 3 Pro including trade-in, discounts and incentives both from the manufacturer and 3rd parties.
one more
macrumors 603
And yet Apple are still rumoured to gimp this best-selling model next year? 🤷🏻♂️
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