iPhone Air iPhone Air Lack of Popularity

[Lioness~]

Uhm, they did: https://support.apple.com/en-us/111857

It was compatible with all MagSafe iPhones, but was sized for the mini and was most useful with it in terms of capacity boost. I still use it occasionally.

I missed that, probably because I bought the mini fairly late 2022, it will be 3 in 2025/12 🎉
I appreciate however the Wallet that I bought with it.
It would be difficult to have both the Wallet and the Magsafe Battery, at least simultaneously.
I’m doing fine with a Power bank, that gives the mini the extra juice at times.

 

[Webcat86]

If you add a case and the MagSafe battery then you've essentially removed any advantage the Air has and now you've got an underpowered thick phone with a subpar camera and speaker. I think any Air owner would need to skip the case and probably the screen protector entirely and just use the MagSafe battery on vacation.

I think the Air might make a nice secondary phone that people use in certain contexts but I'd want a more powerful device with better cameras if I'm traveling. It's too bad it's not easier to swap service between devices like it used to be in the physical sim days.

This is very hyperbolic. People won’t need that battery pack all day every day as this post suggests.

It’s also thin enough that a thin case is still an overall slim package, unlike the Pro which starts thick and gets thicker.

Most of all, let’s stop speculating and start listening to the people who have been putting them through their paces. By and large, I’m seeing lots of comments that the battery is not an issue.

 

[Thats_Not_Marcus]

I don’t see the appeal of the iPhone Air. It recycles an old design with the only real change being that it’s thinner. The tradeoff is worse battery life, which is why Apple released a battery pack accessory. It’s also missing a speaker and a camera. And with its relatively large footprint, the thinness hardly feels like an advantage. I’m not surprised that no one is talking about it.

What's old is new again. On paper you are talking specs verses real life usage. Add in that not everyone cares about every spec or what each phone offers. When people see what they like they will purchase it. The things you list matter to you, but not to everyone.

No one is talking about it?! Ok bro, whatever you say.

I feel like there is more discussion about the Air than the other models. I barely see anything on the base 17, and if I see anything on the Pro series, its about the scratches or the cameras.

I feel that most of the "negative" post about the air are from people who went with the Pro series and are justifying their purchase. The Air is a beautiful device and while it is lacking compared to the other models, it's a perfect fit for someone like me who wants a lighter phone with a bigger screen. Coming from a 15PM it will be interesting if my opinion changes in time but we shall see. My phone arrives later today.

I just dont understand why those arguing against the Air have not used it and are so obsessed over specs that are on paper. Real world usage > specs on paper as thats Apples view, or a influencers view verses how someone will use it in a real world setting.

I don't know whether it's the Apple modem, software optimizations, or what, but the Air definitely punches way above its mAh rating. (I hope it is in fact the Apple modem, because if it is I suspect the pro phones could get significantly thinner and maintain current battery life, which would be the best of both worlds for me as someone who is missing the Pro cameras).

I'm firmly of the belief that the battery pack isn't needed for day-to-day use for most people (obviously you may have different needs, in which case this isn't the phone for you).

Personally speaking, I'd much rather have a skinny phone that can get big the one or two days a month I need it than always carrying around a bunch of extra battery I don't need. But I'm also the type who would rather rent a truck for the one day a year I'm buying furniture or a TV. I have friends who feel the opposite and so drive huge SUVs or pickups every day. I'm glad options exist for both sets of people, both for cars and phones.

I am intrigued with how the battery will last for myself. Somedays I am a heavy user and others not so much. I am debating on the apple MagSafe battery pack for those days where I am away from a charger, but I got an Anker battery pack so that should be more then enough.

My thoughts are that we are years away from apple being apple to make the Pro series thinner and if they can achieve it, I imagine they have hit that sweet spot. I think the Air is the beginning of their achievements in changing the size but we have time before it's a true reality for the Pro series. I personally would rather have an Air thats thinner with a bigger screen then a brick like the 15PM for example.

 

[Webcat86]

I just dont understand why those arguing against the Air have not used it and are so obsessed over specs that are on paper. Real world usage > specs on paper as thats Apples view, or an influencers view verses how someone will use it in a real world setting.

Exactly. It’s a strange stance for Apple users considering Windows (computer, not phone) and Android fans insist they’re lacking in specs and we all know that they’re optimised so well they don’t need the bigger numbers to make up for inferior software demands.

 

[MaxVerstappen]

I feel that most of the "negative" post about the air are from people who went with the Pro series and are justifying their purchase.

Bingo. You’ve hit nail on head.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Is there some reason folks can't just be happy with their purchase (Pro, Air, Vision Pro or other) no matter what strangers on a forum are saying?

It's incredible how much energy gets expended arguing with people who aren't saying what people want about the device they bought.

 

[Webcat86]

Is there some reason folks can't just be happy with their purchase (Pro, Air, Vision Pro or other) no matter what strangers on a forum are saying?

It's incredible how much energy gets expended arguing with people who aren't saying what people want about the device they bought.

I think a lot of it here is some people being adamant about the performance of a phone they haven’t used, and people who use the phone saying that they’re wrong.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I think a lot of it here is some people being adamant about the performance of a phone they haven’t used, and people who use the phone saying that they’re wrong.

Yeah, I hear ya ... Just like ... ignore it I guess?
Cracks me up a little how much effort folks put into defending their purchase.

Does it matter if people on the internet are wrong? lol

Reminds me of this classic

 

[Webcat86]

Yeah, I hear ya ... Just like ... ignore it I guess?
Cracks me up a little how much effort folks put into defending their purchase.

Does it matter if people on the internet are wrong? lol

Reminds me of this classic

View attachment 2557047

Yeah I don’t disagree, except that there are a lot of people on the fence about even trying the Air, and false assumptions from people who haven’t even seen one in person are making it far more complicated for them

 

[Thats_Not_Marcus]

Is there some reason folks can't just be happy with their purchase (Pro, Air, Vision Pro or other) no matter what strangers on a forum are saying?

It's incredible how much energy gets expended arguing with people who aren't saying what people want about the device they bought.

I think that those who purchased the Air are on the defense as people are making false assumptions about the device didn't purchase it and are following influencers or tech specs blindly with proof that its as bad as they assume. Assumption is the problem.. People believe that benchmarks and specs are the be all end all, but the truth is that the way a tech influencer uses they iPhone is going to be completely different from the typical person who uses it for leisure activities like doom scrolling reels, socials like Facebook or Instagram and playing games that arent graphically demanding, same with shooting and editing pictures/videos.

$999.99 is expensive for any device, as is $1099, and $1199 and while they can argue it, it was not their purchase to make. Now if someone wants to argue with me over my Air purchase, then please buy me a PRO MAX in Blue and I will gladly send my Air back! Please and thank you!

Yeah I don’t disagree, except that there are a lot of people on the fence about even trying the Air, and false assumptions from people who haven’t even seen one in person are making it far more complicated for them

This. When I was trying to figure out the base series 17 or Air, I had to really deep dive because tech influencers on YT and here made me believe it was a trash device until I really started to see what worked for me, and what I was willing to sacrifice as there's trade offs naturally coming from a 15PM.


I think its sad people are clouding judgment of the unsure buyer because of their ignorance of how the phone functions in real world environment verses what a sheet of paper of a tech influencer says.

Just because X needs the newest and best with the best camera system doesnt mean its the same fit for Y who prefers a bigger screen while having a slimmer device,

 

[newellj]

I really, really wanted to buy the Air. The lack of a telephoto camera (lens) was a complete show-stopper. I could have lived with everything else, including the mini mono onboard sound and the slower charging.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Man the X was a Game Changer.

I couldn't resist the excitement of the iPhone X, paid too much money for bigger and heavier, and eagerly switched to a mini when they came out. Fool me once...

Just for grins, I used the lidar on my iPad to show the virtual iPhone Air standing next to my mini on my table and any possible thoughts I had about trying one were quickly dismissed.

 

[4sallypat]

And the importance of this is? If the run time is sufficient, do we care what the capacity is? Sure, more can mean longer, but it's not linear as I have pointed out to you in the past, but it also means bigger. Apple has always targeted size of the battery to hit their target run time.

but ok. you are accurate.

Exactly - well said.

Runtime is all I use to measure battery life.

I don't care if its running on 1 microgram of nuclear power - all I look for is the % charge remaining.

So far my Air has a huge run time - more than the 16 Pro based on the same location, same use, during the work week.

Air must have more power saving technology (in house C1X modem, A19Pro, integrated neural GPU and CPU processes....)

Love my new Air!

 

[Thor_9]

I’ve been using my space black Air since Saturday and I’m so loving it and the experience. It’s incredible to hold and look at, with the big screen & super thin body just hits different.

Performance is blazing fast, battery life is better than expected & the basic camera system is very capable and can deliver excellent photos.

IMO it’s the most premium looking and feeling device since the stainless steel frames on older iPhones.

Superb bit of designed tech and the most exciting iPhone in years for me ❤️

Yet apple sells a magsafe battery specifically for the Air. They are anticipating battery issues.

 

[Thats_Not_Marcus]

Yet apple sells a magsafe battery specifically for the Air. They are anticipating battery issues.

and in the past Apple has offered MagSafe batteries for the base/pro models. I think your argument is invalid personally.

Again an OPTIONAL addition if you choose but not required. Apple is giving the option since the battery is smaller and they didnt hide it. You all act like Apple kept it hidden and such.

Food for thought. What if Apple did a PRO MagSafe battery only? Would you be arguing for or against? It's all perception. People who own the air and use it as a daily driver will be able to tell if they will need it or not. I just feel the Pro defenders need to let the battery aspect die. We heard it, we made the choice. Let it go.

What if I wanted to argue users only upgraded to a 17PM from a 16PM to flaunt/clout?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Air must have more power saving technology (in house C1X modem, A19Pro, integrated neural GPU and CPU processes....)

It's probably CPU throttling 😉

 

[ctbear]

and in the past Apple has offered MagSafe batteries for the base/pro models. I think your argument is invalid personally.

Again an OPTIONAL addition if you choose but not required. Apple is giving the option since the battery is smaller and they didnt hide it. You all act like Apple kept it hidden and such.

Food for thought. What if Apple did a PRO MagSafe battery only? Would you be arguing for or against? It's all perception. People who own the air and use it as a daily driver will be able to tell if they will need it or not. I just feel the Pro defenders need to let the battery aspect die. We heard it, we made the choice. Let it go.

What if I wanted to argue users only upgraded to a 17PM from a 16PM to flaunt/clout?

That's a bad argument. FWIW I think the Air's battery life is fine, but prominently announcing the Air's battery life WITH the battery pack in the Keynote sounds a little "cope" to me. I think Apple is anticipating some concerns about battery life given how the Pro models gained so much this year.

 

[Thats_Not_Marcus]

That's a bad argument. FWIW I think the Air's battery life is fine, but prominently announcing the Air's battery life WITH the battery pack in the Keynote sounds a little "cope" to me. I think Apple is anticipating some concerns about battery life given how the Pro models gained so much this year.

Valid argument there. While yes, I think with any iPhone there could be a concern. No one had concerns when they originally sold a MagSafe battery pack. We know the Air battery isnt great and is the small to begin with.

The reality is the batteries will degrade in all models as time goes on. Some faster than others pending on usage. A PM user may have worse battery than an Air user due to usage. At the end of the day its the simple reality of it.

At the end of the day battery will be fine until the next iOS update. Then all the models will begin suffering. Happens every year, and this round won't be any different.

 

[ctbear]

Valid argument there. While yes, I think with any iPhone there could be a concern. No one had concerns when they originally sold a MagSafe battery pack. We know the Air battery isnt great and is the small to begin with.

The reality is the batteries will degrade in all models as time goes on. Some faster than others pending on usage. A PM user may have worse battery than an Air user due to usage. At the end of the day its the simple reality of it.

At the end of the day battery will be fine until the next iOS update. Then all the models will begin suffering. Happens every year, and this round won't be any different.

Edit: nevermind I can't read, ignore

 

[4sallypat]

That's a bad argument. FWIW I think the Air's battery life is fine, but prominently announcing the Air's battery life WITH the battery pack in the Keynote sounds a little "cope" to me. I think Apple is anticipating some concerns about battery life given how the Pro models gained so much this year.

Based on how well the charge remains on my Air, I'd say the Magsafe Air battery is more of a travel use or going to places where chargers are not available.

Even though I never need the Magsafe battery pack anytime I am at home or work; I am keeping it for travel and it can also charge my family's iPhones (albeit, rotated 90 degrees sticking out the sides)....

 

[C. Robert]

Every time I pick mine up, I smile. It's sexy, svelte, light, and beautiful. It's the phone I needed apple to make for years. its the Porsche of smartphones

 

[Webcat86]

Every time I pick mine up, I smile. It's sexy, svelte, light, and beautiful. It's the phone I needed apple to make for years. its the Porsche of smartphones

I agree. Took my Pro to the office today as the air hasn’t been set up with eSIM yet and I’ve been on the air all evening. It’s just so much nicer. A lot easier to type on too.

 

[GioGiusi]

Cope harder. It's extremely popular.

 

[4sallypat]

Every time I pick mine up, I smile. It's sexy, svelte, light, and beautiful. It's the phone I needed apple to make for years. its the Porsche of smartphones

Oh yes, my co-workers really love the thin light design.

I think they are going to get theirs now that they have saw it in person!

 

[C. Robert]

I agree. Took my Pro to the office today as the air hasn’t been set up with eSIM yet and I’ve been on the air all evening. It’s just so much nicer. A lot easier to type on too.

I forget to mention how holding it while typing is easy. We've drifted far from usability for features that arent worth it.