iPhone Air iPhone Air cheap build quality?

[super chimp]

First time I’ve seen this issue mentioned in any review about the Air.

More worrying is that we found the build quality to be less than perfect and the overall feel somewhat cheap, despite the premium materials. There's a bit of subjectivity to that so we would suggest you try it yourselves instead of blindly trusting us on this one. But if you are on the same page that's certainly going to be a deal-breaker for a design-first premium smartphone.

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But while the engineering side of it is downright impressive, the actual in-hand feeling of the Air left us puzzled. We can't quite put our finger on it, but the side frame's finish feels cheap, almost plastic-like. The gaps where the side frame meets the front and back glass really don't befit a design-first product. And that glossy element on the camera bump just looks and feels off.

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All in all, the body is impressive, but the design decisions are a bit polarizing. The chosen materials are excellent, but they are not put together as well as they could and overall the Air just doesn't feel as premium as one would expect. On the other hand, there aren't that many premium, lightweight options available right now, and it's the thinnest iPhone ever made (excluding the camera bump), so that will surely count for something.

All quotes from this review.

Apple iPhone Air review

The popular Air series finally reached iPhoneland. A momentous occasion that Apple deemed worthy of a one-off naming and omitted the "17." After two less...

m.gsmarena.com

 

[MaxVerstappen]

First time and only time. You know the good old saying: “there’s always one”

The majority disagrees with him and I’m one of them. It’s hands down the most premium feeling and looking iPhone of all time.

 

[Motionblurrr]

I played with this phone and looked at it closely

It is very premium lol. Maybe they think it feels cheap because they're one of those OCD people that prefers matte sides instead of polished sides because of it being a "fingerprint magnet" 🙄 Everything we touch is a fingerprint magnet because we leave fingerprints lol

 

[gwang73]

To me, it's premium and probably the most premium model in the 17 line.I prefer the look of the brush finished frame like on the 15 Pro, but will admit that the polished sides on the Air does make it look more premium and doesn't bother me that much because it's so thin, lol.

 

[Jetcat3]

First time I’ve seen this issue mentioned in any review about the Air.



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All quotes from this review.

Apple iPhone Air review

The popular Air series finally reached iPhoneland. A momentous occasion that Apple deemed worthy of a one-off naming and omitted the "17." After two less...

m.gsmarena.com

I felt the same way unfortunately. I was disappointed in how cheap it felt and the green tint LG display the majority of them are using.

 

[xmonkey]

Felt like an Apple product of old to me, major polish and attention to detail in the feel and build.

 

[kepler20b]

people need to cope with the reality that the pro models will probably never see titanium/stainless/glass back again

 

[Ericdjensen]

From the reviews I’ve seen, the build quality is one of the biggest highlights

 

[techspin]

Say what you will about the Air, but the build and materials are top notch. The titanium feels like plastic? Someone take this noob's keyboard away. There are no gaps on any of the units at the store nor the one in my hand. The camera bump is too glossy? How long did he have to think to come up with that nonsense. Don't give him any more clicks. Feed him to a rabid orangutan.

 

[zenmacx]

Upon looking at and handling the iPhone Air in the Apple Store, I found exceptional build quality. A fine example of what Apple is capable of. Beautifully designed it’s a terrific example of the thin and light form factor.

My intention was to buy one, however there were characteristics of this model that caused me to change my mind. As much as I wanted to like it, I will wait and see what the next generation Air is like.

 

[AL2TEACH]

From the reviews I’ve seen

Guys hooked it up to some device and as he pulled down on the chain the pressure was increased, it took 210 pounds and bent and still worked lol. That phone is an A+ quality build.

 

[digimc]

Yeah this is a nonsense statement in that review. The way the Air feels in your hand is definitely the first thing your remember after picking one up and holding it for awhile. I think this reviewer is looking for some extra clickbait.

 

[NotApplicable]

I’m incredibly perplexed. Were they Handling a Chinese knockoff of the air or something? Plastic? Gaps? There are no perceivable gaps on mine and build quality is among the best iPhone I’ve had in recent years

 

[kerrikins]

First time I’ve seen this issue mentioned in any review about the Air.



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All quotes from this review.

Apple iPhone Air review

The popular Air series finally reached iPhoneland. A momentous occasion that Apple deemed worthy of a one-off naming and omitted the "17." After two less...

m.gsmarena.com

Quoi? What a surprising evaluation - taste is subjective, of course, but mine feels very sleek and premium. I wonder if the lightness of the phone is throwing them, as sometimes we mentally associate 'light' with 'plastic' and 'cheap'.

 

[4sallypat]

Air is amazing - very premium feel - titanium frame makes it so.

Light weight and thin probably makes it feel "cheaper" ?

 

[TechnoMonk]

Every one is expert on premium and cheap this year.

 

[gwang73]

Every one is expert on premium and cheap this year.

I love seeing all the tech reviewers and alike be so wrong in their predictions of the Air before it came out.

Bending, crappy battery, yeah not so much. Battery is on par with the previous non-Max phones so in my book, it's a win for the Air.