iPhone 17 iPhone Air a Flop, 17 Pro a Massive Hit

[Macdctr]

You mean you have a secondary phone that you use quite often to complement your 'Air'? 😉

Yes. I cycle thru my collection of iPhone 13’s (Pro Max, Pro, 13 and 13 minis), my 15 Pro Max and 15 Pro, and my 17 Pro so I have plenty of options ☺️

 

[Contact_Feanor]

It's so strange how people love to give money to Apple at any price, rather than pushing the company to sell its devices at more affordable rates for consumers! They even seem happy when Apple gets excessively rich from consumers' money. Stockholm syndrome?

Who sais I'm happy about it? I'm talking about it being a successful for apple. I couldn't care less if they sold a million or a hundred million, as long as they keep producing the device I want.

 

[chmania]

Yes. I cycle thru my collection of iPhone 13’s (Pro Max, Pro, 13 and 13 minis), my 15 Pro Max and 15 Pro, and my 17 Pro so I have plenty of options ☺️

You mean you're just a collector of iPhones, not a user of one? By the way, you don't have 8 SIM cards for your 8 phones? 😉

 

[JPack]

the air wasn't available in several countries (e.g. china) from release due to regulatory hurdles, several countries require a physical sim slot and the air had to get special approval first. So we're not comparing equal timespans here.

On top of that, the Air doesn't need to sell so much to still be a great money-maker. The Air is more expensive than the 16 plus was, AND that allows for the Pro's to get even more expensive. Every Air sold makes more money than a plus sold, and every pro now makes more money because the Air fills the old Pro slot price-wise.

This survey only surveys U.S. customers in December 2025, so your point about China timeline is irrelevant. Besides, it became available in China by October.

Air’s selling price is 10% more than Plus, but volumes are 25% lower. The numbers don’t work in your favor. And that’s just in the U.S. In China, this thing had to be discounted to $750, but Apple still couldn’t move it.

 

[TracerAnalog]

First quarter sales are in from CIRP.

My main takeaways:

Base model iPhone 17 on par with 16. I thought it would be higher (versus last year) given the numerous strong sales reports since its release.

The 17 Pro has far succeeded the 16 Pro. Not sure why that would be. Very surprising.

The Air is selling worse than the 16 Plus in the same time frame. Not a surprise given its limitations and premium price.

View attachment 2600095

Do you know how many iPhone Airs have been sold? 6% of the total is low in percentages, but that's still millions of units sold. I believe Apple sold more Airs than the Samsung Fold 6. Was that considered a flop? Just saying...

 

[Apple_Robert]

and this is why I will be getting a 1TB Cloud White Air and keep this device sealed in my collection . . .

I might do the same although I would use the device. My current Cloud White is 256GB while my black Air is 512GB.

 

[Apple_Robert]

It always strikes me as odd when so many Pro / Pro Max users constantly go out of their way to put down the Air, as if no one should or could be happy using the Air. There is a reason Apple makes different type iPhones. There is no perfect one size fits all iPhone.

 

[blairh]

the air wasn't available in several countries (e.g. china) from release due to regulatory hurdles, several countries require a physical sim slot and the air had to get special approval first. So we're not comparing equal timespans here.

On top of that, the Air doesn't need to sell so much to still be a great money-maker. The Air is more expensive than the 16 plus was, AND that allows for the Pro's to get even more expensive. Every Air sold makes more money than a plus sold, and every pro now makes more money because the Air fills the old Pro slot price-wise.

There have been multiple reports that the Air is not selling well in China. Regardless of a delay.

Poor sales are poor sales. Regardless if it retails for more than $100 more than the 16 Plus.

Either Apple is or is not happy with Air sales. Nothing more.

Personally, I think Air sales will be much improved once they potentially add a second camera and speaker. The first generation Air did not sell well in its first quarter. Perhaps Apple anticipated this. Or perhaps they did not.

 

[blairh]

Do you know how many iPhone Airs have been sold? 6% of the total is low in percentages, but that's still millions of units sold. I believe Apple sold more Airs than the Samsung Fold 6. Was that considered a flop? Just saying...

The mini and Plus did not sell well and they were discontinued. The Air is not selling well.

I personally don't think the Air will be discontinued, as long as Apple makes serious hardware strides in future generations.

 

[Macdctr]

You mean you're just a collector of iPhones, not a user of one? By the way, you don't have 8 SIM cards for your 8 phones? 😉

Yep . . . . I use my iPhones and I also collect them. Love the sarcasm . . .

 

[Macdctr]

I might do the same although I would use the device. My current Cloud White is 256GB while my black Air is 512GB.

I'm using my 1TB Space Black Air right now so I would add the 1TB Cloud White as a collection piece only . . .

 

[bevsb2]

The important thing is that you like it. What does it matter if the masses don't care? You have to buy it and use it yourself.

Agree, but what concerns me is that if the Air isn't selling well, Apple will discontinue it. I love the Air and hope to see an Air 2.

 

[Abydos]

it is the bottom line baby, the rest is fluff

 

[Macdctr]

You mean you have a secondary phone that you use quite often to complement your 'Air'? 😉

I have access to several iPhones in my collection to use as a backup to my Air, yes. I have the luxury to switch between my Air, 17 Pro, 15 Pro Max and 15 Pro as my primary iPhone and use one of my minis as my backup iPhone.

With my 17 and 15 Pros I really don’t need a backup iPhone but damn . . . I really love just how small and compact the mini form factor is. Such a cool iPhone to rock . . .

Most of the time though I find myself grabbing my Air to use as I really love how thin and light this iPhone is.

 

[klasma]

6% is still around 5 million units sold. I wouldn’t consider that a TOTAL failure…

Neither was the mini.

 

[Wahlstrm]

I always seem to prefer the least popular models..

Some of my favourites so far is the 5C, SE, Mini and now the Air 🙂

 

[Allen_Wentz]

It's so strange how people love to give money to Apple at any price, rather than pushing the company to sell its devices at more affordable rates for consumers! They even seem happy when Apple gets excessively rich from consumers' money. Stockholm syndrome?

What do you suggest? How do you think folks should be "pushing the company to sell its devices at more affordable rates for consumers!" It seems to me that for better or for worse, we have a capitalistic world where people buy what they want. Imagine if it was Ford, and tell us how you would have folks be "pushing the company to sell its F-150 pickups at more affordable rates for consumers!"

There are plenty of choices. Buy something else if Apple is too pricey for you.

 

[Marvin_nz]

I see piles of iPhone Air devices around in public. It's my personal fav iPhone I have ever had. But what was the point of this this thread exactly ? It's not news to anyone that sales are low. just like the plus. the mini etc Samsung's attempt at a thin phone has be bad too, their fold and flip phones are still a tiny part of the market too, all these devices show from manufacturers is they are filling a part of the market for XZY user that likes/ wants something like that, and that they are trying things.

 

[Bungaree.Chubbins]

Ah, we’re at this part of the cycle. CIPR releases some profoundly inaccurate numbers, the forum spins a narrative of doom and gloom off them, until eventually more accurate numbers are found that disprove all of this. Then the cycle starts again.

 

[Marvin_nz]

Ah, we’re at this part of the cycle. CIPR releases some profoundly inaccurate numbers, the forum spins a narrative of doom and gloom off them, until eventually more accurate numbers are found that disprove all of this. Then the cycle starts again.

Exactly that. It's just like all the "angry person waves fist at the clouds" posts on these forums. Because they don't like xzy thing that apple is doing that has not been personally designed to fit their needs and preferences, but have zero understanding what is involved in the design of a product that works for so many other people.

 

[TechnoMonk]

6% of Air if it is revenue share is almost revenue of iPad line and close to mac line. Apple wouldn’t mind 20 odd billion a year from Air.

 

[klasma]

6% of Air if it is revenue share is almost revenue of iPad line and close to mac line. Apple wouldn’t mind 20 odd billion a year from Air.

They did mind the billions of revenue from the iPhone mini.

 

[maerz001]

The Air unfortunately will be a lesson for Apple, if they strip features they must lower pricing, hoping to see at least a 4000mAh battery, Stereo Speakers and dual camera setup in the Air 2. It being Titanium doesn’t help if there are major compromises, they would be better off putting a standard chip in the Air 2 and not a watered down Pro chip.

I guess then it needs to have a body similar the size of the normal 17

 

[jerry78]

A lot of 16 Pro owners skipped last year, while the 17 Pro brought more tangible upgrades that justify a jump.
Base model buyers tend to be more price-sensitive and less influenced by early reviews,The AIR series is overpriced.

 

[MGrayson3]

Anyone remember the first MacBook Air? Slow, expensive, and poor sales. I hope Apple doesn't abandon the Air. After a decade of "biggest best iPhone", it's a great relief to go to "not a brick". If they never update it, I'll keep mine until the OS doesn't support it anymore.