Coming from SE1, every phone is a heavy brick. 🤷♂️
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone Air Flop Sparks Industry Retreat From Ultra-Thin Phones
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Coming from SE1, every phone is a heavy brick. 🤷♂️
It wouldn’t have been a flop if it didn’t have a single camera and speaker. Plain and simple. The fact that no one at Apple could foresee something so obvious reveals the current state of the company.
fatTribble
macrumors 68030
While I understand that the price and sacrifices are real issues, I honestly thought this would be a big hit with some.
I know of people who look at their iPhone as a fashion or wealth statement so I thought that group would love the sleek new iPhone. 🤷🏻♂️
I know of people who look at their iPhone as a fashion or wealth statement so I thought that group would love the sleek new iPhone. 🤷🏻♂️
I don't want an ultra thin phone. I don't even want a big phone anymore. I originally got the first available "Max" iPhone because I thought I'd be watching loads of Youtube videos on it, but I never watch videos on the phone anymore and it just takes up tons of room in my pocket and strains my hand to use one-handed. Next time round I'm getting the smallest phone they offer. Might even buy a 2nd hand iPhone 13 mini.
It's the price.
Apple were probably thinking because it looks new and different, people will jump on it no matter the cost and whilst that might apply for a small set of people, it's not something that will ring true for the general public.
Price it around the cost of the base model, might get more people opting for it.
Apple were probably thinking because it looks new and different, people will jump on it no matter the cost and whilst that might apply for a small set of people, it's not something that will ring true for the general public.
Price it around the cost of the base model, might get more people opting for it.
SnowPenguin
macrumors 6502
Are they? Many of the phones I see are thin enough. I have been seeing companies going for thinness more in the last 10 years or so, even when they can give us larger batteries instead.
SnowPenguin
macrumors 6502
Well, it worked in a way, because many of the people who have it seem to love it. Those who didn’t like it returned it.
The Air is a really niche market. It is slower than the base 17 iPhone CPU wise. Single camera lens and smaller battery life. This does not make it a bad phone just not one the masses are going to want because I think few actually need or care about it just being thinner. It is literally the only reason to get the air as you go down in spec on everything else.
The problem isn't being thin, it's offering poor value.
If Apple (and others) don't find it feasible to offer more (besides thinness) at that price point then dropping it is the best choice.
If Apple (and others) don't find it feasible to offer more (besides thinness) at that price point then dropping it is the best choice.
johntherazz
macrumors member
It’s the Mac Cube all over again. If they’d priced it as an SE model it would have flown off the shelves despite its basic specs. Sadly that price means it won’t be flying anywhere. Also, have Apple forgotten that many of us will have bought similarly thin iPhones from them several years ago (before they all chonked up), but paid half the current price?
Scott6666
macrumors 68000
The problem is there are enough weaknesses that any potential buyer will find ONE of them to be a dealbreaker. So no purchase.
Either they need another camera, or
They need another speaker, or
They need a bigger battery.
Only takes one to kill the purchase.
In my case it was camera.
Either they need another camera, or
They need another speaker, or
They need a bigger battery.
Only takes one to kill the purchase.
In my case it was camera.
iMac The Knife
macrumors 65816
I knew the iPhone Air was going to flop from the moment I read the (actual) specs. On a side note, all I can say is bring the Mini back! Oh wait, this article has nothing to do with the Mini. Oh well, if I want to insert my petty gripes regarding the Mini over and over and over and over again into every MR article, I will do so. I'm not crazy though, I promise! I kid, I kid! You all know I like to throw jibes at the Mini Clan from time to time. It's all in good fun! 🙂
Last edited:
wanha
macrumors 68030
it never seizes to astound me how most tech companies don't have any vision of their own, they just chase whatever is popular, which is why we're in the incremental wars of today where everyone is competing on specs.
Vision, of course, cannot be come to by using management consultants, which is why it's so rare
Vision, of course, cannot be come to by using management consultants, which is why it's so rare
wanha
macrumors 68030
Companies went from selling $100 phones to $1000 to (next step) $2000 phones while making no changes in the last 6 years and then they tried to take features away and sell it at the price of last years flagship devices. Then they cry why people "hoarding" devices and don’t upgrade every year.
Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever and it's costing the economy
Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever before, and while it may be consumer smart, it comes at a cost to work productivity and the U.S. economy.www.cnbc.com
This is actually FANTASTIC NEWS for the environment
Taq'aix
macrumors 6502
Give us a phone with 7 days of battery life. That’s it. That’s all we want.
iMac The Knife
macrumors 65816
Companies are already selling phones for over $2,000 and have been for years. They're called foldables. I buy them all the time, although I've never paid MSRP.Companies went from selling $100 phones to $1000 to (next step) $2000 phones while making no changes in the last 6 years and then they tried to take features away and sell it at the price of last years flagship devices. Then they cry why people "hoarding" devices and don’t upgrade every year.
Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever and it's costing the economy
Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever before, and while it may be consumer smart, it comes at a cost to work productivity and the U.S. economy.
It was certainly a good thing that Apple moved to thicker MacBook Pros with ports again. I just bought my mom an M4 MacBook Air and that is the same size now as the MacBook Pros at the end of the intel era. I have a 2017 MacBook Pro with a dead HD so compared the size with the new Air and was surprised that the air was as thick as that. I do believe the Air's were even thinner before with intel if memory serves me.
iMac The Knife
macrumors 65816
Right!? There are still functioning RTGs on Voyager and it was launched back in 1977 (and it's been in freaking space since then, millions of miles away)! You're telling me I can't get 48-72 hours (at least) out of a cell phone in 2025, with moderate usage?