iPhone Air iPhone Air Lack of Popularity

[Webcat86]

Technologies have moved forward and consumer's baseline expectations have changed. For a $1000 phone, we've come to expect a well-rounded camera system, (for me) a modern USB interface and whatnot. To pay the same price (or higher vs the base 17) and have downgrades in multiple areas is absolutely compromising. You can choose to accept them and gain the improved form factor, and that's fine if it matters that much or if the downgrades are ok for you. But they are still objectively downgrades and should be considered when making purchase decisions.

I see the same thing in MR when discussing the Pro models. After two full upgrade cycles we've come to expect the stronger and better feeling titanium, and the material used this year is a downgrade in that regard. Is that worth the (supposedly) better thermal performance? Maybe it is, maybe it's not.

It would be a certain downgrade and compromise if all else was equal, but it’s not.

What’s happened is consumers have been given a choice that they didn’t have before. For lots of people, hefty sizes and weights were a compromise.

 

[ab2c4]

Not sure what your point is, I said they are not absolute deal breakers for most people. The people that say they would rather keep the XR over Air because of these issues are trolls and not worth the attention.

I will say that the four compromises (battery, camera, speaker, usb port) by themselves are not the end of the world, but when combined they present a different value proposition. The phone costs USD1000, the same price as the flagship from last year. Is the form factor worth all of these drawbacks at the same price point? Maybe it is, maybe it's not. I have both Air and 17PM and I still can't decide between the two.

Battery: all reports are showing it has average battery life for a phone. Is average a compromise now?

Camera: many people don't even use the Ultra Wide camera. I know from the time I had a phone with one (Iphone 11) until now I don't think I ever used that lens.

Speaker: if someone listens to a phone call or video in mono versus stereo, will the world end suddenly over it? This isn't a big deal.

USB port: I am sure there are people pushing data through the USB port I just don't know any (average users) in real life. They use that port to charge their phone and plug in earbuds.

This isn't directed at you ctbear, its in response to the many people on here and reddit that keep listing these points over and over and I honestly don't see any of them as compromises. I'm guessing that they aren't compromises to probably the majority of iphone users. The average iphone user has no clue about any hardware specs on the phone they use. Yet this phone does something, a feature of its own that only it has, so well that none of the existing iphones can come close to: an awesome in the hand experience and that more than makes up for the price.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Technologies have moved forward and consumer's baseline expectations have changed. For a $1000 phone, we've come to expect a well-rounded camera system, (for me) a modern USB interface and whatnot. To pay the same price (or higher vs the base 17) and have downgrades in multiple areas is absolutely compromising. You can choose to accept them and gain the improved form factor, and that's fine if it matters that much or if the downgrades are ok for you. But they are still objectively downgrades and should be considered when making purchase decisions.

I see the same thing in MR when discussing the Pro models. After two full upgrade cycles we've come to expect the stronger and better feeling titanium, and the material used this year is a downgrade in that regard. Is that worth the (supposedly) better thermal performance? Maybe it is, maybe it's not.

Exceptions need to be readjusted especially with tech and tech companies which seek to cut corners and expenses everywhere they can.

When people place upgrade expectations for a future release on a company who never made promises in that regard, is a recipe for frustration and blame, in my opinion.

When it comes to Apple (for instance) I don't have future product expectations and then get mad at Apple because they didn't read my mind and acquiesce to what I wanted. I have desires of what I hope will come to fruition. If the desires aren't met, I evaluate whether or not I need or want the new product, regardless of what others might say.

 

[4sallypat]

The same reason the Air people are calling the Pros Bricks, hideous, ugly, and cheap. Have you looked at many of the forums on here. There is way more hate for the Pros than the Airs.

It all started even before Apple's presentation - without a single device in hand - all done by keyboard jockeys where members here got on the bandwagon about how bad the Air was with the case material used, single speaker, low battery life because it needs a MagSafe battery option, single lens camera, etc...

If the dafamatory statements, hate mongering, and disparaging comments weren't so bad for the Air, and if everyone just accepted that different models are to fit different uses, then I'd think this type of thread would not exist.

In my view, I see more hate for Airs than Pros.

Why can't we all get along ???

 

[ctbear]

It would be a certain downgrade and compromise if all else was equal, but it’s not.

What’s happened is consumers have been given a choice that they didn’t have before. For lots of people, hefty sizes and weights were a compromise.

They are compromises if it got heavier (it did). So is that weight (and the worse material) worth whatever the Pro models provide this year? You might be ok with them because you love the performance or new cameras etc., and I'd have the same opinion that they are downgrades just like the camera/speaker/etc. are downgrades in the Air.

 

[ctbear]

Exceptions need to be readjusted especially with tech and tech companies which seek to cut corners and expenses everywhere they can.

When people place upgrade expectations for a future release on a company who never made promises in that regard, is a recipe for frustration and blame, in my opinion.

When it comes to Apple (for instance) I don't have future product expectations and then get mad at Apple because they didn't read my mind and acquiesce to what I wanted. I have desires of what I hope will come to fruition. If the desires aren't met, I evaluate whether or not I need or want the new product, regardless of what others might say.

I'm just a random dude yapping on the internet. The market will speak for itself and it might totally reset the expectations where cameras don't have to be that good anymore and form factor is king.

 

[rui no onna]

Why can't we all get along ???

Because both sides want to prove their choice is the perfect one.

In reality, there’s no one single perfect phone, just one that’s perfect for you (or as close to one as you can get given current technological limitations).

Meanwhile, it seems regular iPhone 17 buyers are quietly enjoying their phones unaware of all the Air vs Pro drama.

 

[4sallypat]

.....
I will say that the four compromises (battery, camera, speaker, usb port) by themselves are not the end of the world, but when combined they present a different value proposition. The phone costs USD1000, the same price as the flagship from last year. Is the form factor worth all of these drawbacks at the same price point? Maybe it is, maybe it's not. I have both Air and 17PM and I still can't decide between the two.

No compromise for me having traded in my 16 Pro for the Air.

Unlike Pro users that need all those camera lenses, dual speakers, massive batteries, USB3, etc - there are many people who never need nor use them.

That's why the Air was created - Apple saw the base 17 users and a gap between the Pro users and thus a need to design a new form factor with some components of the Air encased in a shiny titanium frame and be able to charge $999.

I for one coming from the Pro, consider the Air a nice price point reduction, shed some weight, and the thin design for the light tasks I use.

I even bought the MagSafe Air battery after all the Pro folks saying that I would run out of charge - they were wrong - my battery life so far in a week of use gets me 2 days of charge. Compare that to my 16 Pro that needed to be charged every day.

Air top - Pro bottom:

 

[ctbear]

Battery: all reports are showing it has average battery life for a phone. Is average a compromise now?

Camera: many people don't even use the Ultra Wide camera. I know from the time I had a phone with one (Iphone 11) until now I don't think I ever used that lens.

Speaker: if someone listens to a phone call or video in mono versus stereo, will the world end suddenly over it? This isn't a big deal.

USB port: I am sure there are people pushing data through the USB port I just don't know any (average users) in real life. They use that port to charge their phone and plug in earbuds.

This isn't directed at you ctbear, its in response to the many people on here and reddit that keep listing these points over and over and I honestly don't see any of them as compromises. I'm guessing that they aren't compromises to probably the majority of iphone users. The average iphone user has no clue about any hardware specs on the phone they use. Yet this phone does something, a feature of its own that only it has, so well that none of the existing iphones can come close to: an awesome in the hand experience and that more than makes up for the price.

I will say a lot of the complaints about the Air (especially the battery part like you said) seem to be from people that don't actually have the Air in hand, just re-iterating content creators that have very specific use cases. It is average and it won't survive a full heavy day, and that doesn't affect me because I don't have heavy use cases and I've personally tested it over a few days.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I'm just a random dude yapping on the internet. The market will speak for itself and it might totally reset the expectations where cameras don't have to be that good anymore and form factor is king.

That makes at least 2 yappers on here. lol

 

[4sallypat]

Battery: all reports are showing it has average battery life for a phone. Is average a compromise now?

Camera: many people don't even use the Ultra Wide camera. I know from the time I had a phone with one (Iphone 11) until now I don't think I ever used that lens.

Speaker: if someone listens to a phone call or video in mono versus stereo, will the world end suddenly over it? This isn't a big deal.

USB port: I am sure there are people pushing data through the USB port I just don't know any (average users) in real life. They use that port to charge their phone and plug in earbuds.

.... Yet this phone does something, a feature of its own that only it has, so well that none of the existing iphones can come close to: an awesome in the hand experience and that more than makes up for the price.

Well said and agree!

Battery is ABOVE average for me - I get 2 days of use with a single charge.

Camera - never use it.

Speaker - perfect for what I use: speaker phone, FaceTime, and messaging.

USB port - never use it for data or video - except for charging.

 

[LordArchie]

No compromise for me having traded in my 16 Pro for the Air.

Unlike Pro users that need all those camera lenses, dual speakers, massive batteries, USB3, etc - there are many people who never need nor use them.

That's why the Air was created - Apple saw the base 17 users and a gap between the Pro users and thus a need to design a new form factor with some components of the Air encased in a shiny titanium frame and be able to charge $999.

I for one coming from the Pro, consider the Air a nice price point reduction, shed some weight, and the thin design for the light tasks I use.

I even bought the MagSafe Air battery after all the Pro folks saying that I would run out of charge - they were wrong - my battery life so far in a week of use gets me 2 days of charge. Compare that to my 16 Pro that needed to be charged every day.

Air top - Pro bottom:
View attachment 2558721

Same experience, was always a "Pro Max" user since it became an option and could not be happier with the Air. Perfect size and weight for me, battery life has been fine. For my use case, it's perfect.

Actually stopped at the Apple Store yesterday when I was in the mall. picked up the 17 Pro Max and it immediately confirmed my choice.

Pro Max felt like this

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Same experience, was always a "Pro Max" user since it became an option and could not be happier with the Air. Perfect size and weight for me, battery life has been fine. For my use case, it's perfect.

Actually stopped at the Apple Store yesterday when I was in the mall. picked up the 17 Pro Max and it immediately confirmed my choice.

Pro Max felt like this

MacBrick Pro

 

[Webcat86]

They are compromises if it got heavier (it did). So is that weight (and the worse material) worth whatever the Pro models provide this year? You might be ok with them because you love the performance or new cameras etc., and I'd have the same opinion that they are downgrades just like the camera/speaker/etc. are downgrades in the Air.

I think we can argue about particular semantics but are broadly making the same point.

I just wish there was more honesty in the discussions across the forum. It’s “a compromise” to drop a lens but not at all a compromise to have a phone that’s uncomfortable to hold for prolonged periods because those extra features add weight and bulk.

Like, both options are perfectly valid for whichever person chose them for that feature.

 

[MaxVerstappen]

My comment was regarding Air to Pro not Max. It’s obviously if you want the Max you’re not worried about size as much.

Air :165
Pro:206

1.45 ounces.

Or even the 17 which is even less of a difference at 177

Even at 41 grams is a huge difference

 

[super chimp]

D’oh I’ve been fretting about the Air’s size and I just compared it to my OnePlus 6 on GSM Arena, that I also use, and it’s virtually identical in size and I’ve used that for over seven years. So that’s one worry removed.

 

[uller6]

I am very happy with my new, lightweight air. The camera takes great pictures. The battery life is better than my old iPhone 15. The screen is great. What's not to like?