iPhone Air iPhone Air Lack of Popularity

[Macdctr]

I have read so many different reviews and takes on the iPhone AIR, for me personally this is a niche device and no, it's not for everyone. If your a heavy user, play games, shoot videos and take lots of pictures, go with the 17 Pro and you will be much happier. I use my device for emails, social media, watching an occasional YouTube video and most importantly, a phone and the Air is what I have been waiting for.

I have had the device for two weeks and I couldn't be happier coming for my iPhone 15 Pro, the screen is big, bright and at 70, makes it easier to read my emails and social media post, the battery gets me thru a typical day and when I am working on my iMac Pro, I keep the device plugged in.

The camera is more then adequate for the pictures I take and being I was a professional photographer, if I want images I will print to 20x24, I will use my full frame digital SLR. Last, but most important to me is the phone itself, the calls are clear, the speaker phone works fine and I can hear the ring tone with the volume up. I can hold the device on a long call without my hand getting tired like it did on my 15 Pro because the Air is so light.

If feel if you are a typical user like myself who uses their device for emails, social media and most importantly a phone, the Air is what I have been waiting for and was worth upgrading from my 15 Pro.

THIS is exactly why for some iPhone users, the Air is the perfect iPhone. My reason for ditching my pro series iPhone for the iPhone Air has been outlined here in bakron1’s comment above. I couldn’t agree more. The iPhone is a phone, not a replacement for serious photography/video equipment. Yes, it is not the perfect iPhone but for my use case and others who have similar use cases, is THE PERFECT iPHONE.

 

[CaféPicasso]

Question: Was there a dedicated iPhone Air table at your local store?
I missed one here. It would have been great if the new iPhone Air had a special display to celebrate this new product with it's special feeling and vibe. And to promote it even more. Now it's just in a row with the other iPhones.
But maybe that's just in my store and others are different...

 

[Thor_9]

Who cares? It’s the missing capabilities area ones many people like me don’t need. I happily trade in some extra cameras I barely use for the amazing design.

Your comment reads a bit like a hater. Just accept people have different priorities.

If the phone was so good so many people wouldn’t be trying to justify the purchase. People act like it weighs nothing. It’s 3 ounces less than the pro max. It has less features than the base model.

Buy what you want. It’s your money.

 

[chmania]

The iPhone Air is likely to be the 12" MacBook of 2016; it may become obsolete within a year.

 

[Webcat86]

I returned my Air after a week and I bought another one today. After having the air, I realised how uncomfortable the 16 Pro is.

 

[thadoggfather]

Apple just plainly has trouble with selling models that aren't the regular (cheapest / fine for most people) or the two Pro sizes people splurge for every time. There are market conditions, perceptions, and poor pricing on the sliding scale / unfortunate timing factored in though. Every time.

Mini, and Plus suffered same fate.

I think both were bad value props even though I enjoyed both: mini was 'only' $100 less than the regular model, and the market moved onto bigger phones. I was craving a mini phone myself, but I splurged for SE2020 earlier that year before 12 mini, and just decided 'screw it' and went iPhone 12 Pro with an irresistible carrier deal at the time (and ironically, I haven't opted to lock myself in for 3 years again, even though I'm still with the same one. Just for peace of mind)

I always wished I went iPhone 12 though that year (not 12 mini, the battery life would've bothered me coming off bad SE2020 battery life), for one less camera to have much better weight to handle. SS looks nice but the weight trade off isn't worth it. IMO. At that time, 60hz was still all there was on Pro as well as 120hz 'ProMotion' didn't come until 13Pro.

I later got an iPhone 13 mini refurbished last year a few months before iPhone 16 models came out, as a backup device and 'in between' and just for the novelty. So once the price got tempting enough, and the fact they weren't making smaller devices anymore, I went for it as a total novelty.

Too little too late, since they were already discontinued in terms of 'voting with my wallet' to Apple I want them to make another more modern, small device.

--

..You'd think Plus model would succeed given that (that the market has moved onto larger screen phones), but it was too closely priced to the regular Pro, and then at that point, a lot of people figured 'screw it' and went with Pro Max and paid more to get it if they didn't want the regular Pro or settled for the regular iPhone 16, which significantly outsold 16+.

I loved my 16+ because I got sick of Pro Max weight after 14PM and SS and the battery life was terrific. 14PM was the most annoying phone to handle out of any iPhone. For me. And I thought it was a great phone, despite that but it got annoying after having it for 2 years.

I wish it wasn't $1000 for the 256gb and 60hz only on the 16+ but I really enjoyed it despite that.
The regular didn't feel for me at the time after trying 16Pro, but I would've gotten on with it, and I didn't like the battery life of 16 pro so I returned that. Plus trading in my 14Pm offset the burn.

--

IMO even though Air is priced cheaper than I was expecting, it's still 'only' $100 away from Pro and that has 3 cameras and better sensors for the main one, vapor cooling, all the Pro hype, etc. etc.

And for $200 less you'd get a thicker phone but two cameras.

And then there's the general assumption people have of thin phones: poor battery life, and fragile. This device is extremely durable, but you wouldn't know if you didn't follow YouTube stuff. and I can't comment on battery life, it left something to be desired in my limited testing but at the same time was much better than I was expecting. Thanks to software optimization, hardware magic, and C1x modem power efficiency. But regular 17 still has better battery life and its cheaper.

 

[Webcat86]

Apple just plainly has trouble with selling models that aren't the regular (cheapest / fine for most people) or the two Pro sizes people splurge for every time. There are market conditions, perceptions, and poor pricing on the sliding scale / unfortunate timing factored in though. Every time.

Mini, and Plus suffered same fate.

I think both were bad value props even though I enjoyed both: mini was 'only' $100 less than the regular model, and the market moved onto bigger phones. I was craving a mini phone myself, but I splurged for SE2020 earlier that year before 12 mini, and just decided 'screw it' and went iPhone 12 Pro with an irresistible carrier deal at the time (and ironically, I haven't opted to lock myself in for 3 years again, even though I'm still with the same one. Just for peace of mind)

I always wished I went iPhone 12 though that year (not 12 mini, the battery life would've bothered me coming off bad SE2020 battery life), for one less camera to have much better weight to handle. SS looks nice but the weight trade off isn't worth it. IMO. At that time, 60hz was still all there was on Pro as well as 120hz 'ProMotion' didn't come until 13Pro.

I later got an iPhone 13 mini refurbished last year a few months before iPhone 16 models came out, as a backup device and 'in between' and just for the novelty. So once the price got tempting enough, and the fact they weren't making smaller devices anymore, I went for it as a total novelty.

Too little too late, since they were already discontinued in terms of 'voting with my wallet' to Apple I want them to make another more modern, small device.

--

..You'd think Plus model would succeed given that (that the market has moved onto larger screen phones), but it was too closely priced to the regular Pro, and then at that point, a lot of people figured 'screw it' and went with Pro Max and paid more to get it if they didn't want the regular Pro or settled for the regular iPhone 16, which significantly outsold 16+.

I loved my 16+ because I got sick of Pro Max weight after 14PM and SS and the battery life was terrific. 14PM was the most annoying phone to handle out of any iPhone. For me. And I thought it was a great phone, despite that but it got annoying after having it for 2 years.

I wish it wasn't $1000 for the 256gb and 60hz only on the 16+ but I really enjoyed it despite that.
The regular didn't feel for me at the time after trying 16Pro, but I would've gotten on with it, and I didn't like the battery life of 16 pro so I returned that. Plus trading in my 14Pm offset the burn.

--

IMO even though Air is priced cheaper than I was expecting, it's still 'only' $100 away from Pro and that has 3 cameras and better sensors for the main one, vapor cooling, all the Pro hype, etc. etc.

And for $200 less you'd get a thicker phone but two cameras.

And then there's the general assumption people have of thin phones: poor battery life, and fragile. This device is extremely durable, but you wouldn't know if you didn't follow YouTube stuff. and I can't comment on battery life, it left something to be desired in my limited testing but at the same time was much better than I was expecting. Thanks to software optimization, hardware magic, and C1x modem power efficiency. But regular 17 still has better battery life and its cheaper.

This is a good assessment. My 2c is that after I returned my Air and kept my 16 Pro, it became even more apparent how uncomfortable the 16 is. It’s heavy and has sharp edges, digging into my pinky. The battery is poor and it gets hot when it shouldn’t.

When I was deciding today whether to get the Air again or the 17 Pro, I think the 17 feels nicer than the 16 but with the same size and shape it’s going to give me the same problems with comfort. As the battery was at 20%+ by the time I went to bed, and the speaker was no issue at all, I decided it’s a solid choice for me.

 

[ab2c4]

While at work I have been casually bringing up the topic of the new iPhone release. Not a single person I talked to knew that the Air even existed. They were basically all like…..” IPhone Air? never heard of it. It just came out, really? Tell me about this phone “.

I’m thinking this is why it’s not selling well. Apple isn’t advertising it so the average iPhone user has no clue that it exists.

 

[turbineseaplane]

While at work I have been casually bringing up the topic of the new iPhone release. Not a single person I talked to knew that the Air even existed. They were basically all like…..” IPhone Air? never heard of it. It just came out, really? Tell me about this phone “.

I’m thinking this is why it’s not selling well. Apple isn’t advertising it so the average iPhone user has no clue that it exists.

Mini had a similar issue, but more related to COVID and folks not being able to go into stores

 

[rui no onna]

While at work I have been casually bringing up the topic of the new iPhone release. Not a single person I talked to knew that the Air even existed. They were basically all like…..” IPhone Air? never heard of it. It just came out, really? Tell me about this phone “.

I’m thinking this is why it’s not selling well. Apple isn’t advertising it so the average iPhone user has no clue that it exists.

I reckon the average person isn't running to the store immediately upon release. They'll visit the carrier stores once they finish their 2-3 year contract and are due for an upgrade.

 

[rui no onna]

Mini had a similar issue, but more related to COVID and folks not being able to go into stores

There was also a smallish phone alternative in the form of the less expensive iPhone SE which had the benefit of TouchID at a time when face masks suddenly became a must.

Mind, I bought the 12 mini close to release but I much prefer the LCD-based iPhone SE (no PWM).

 

[Webcat86]

I reckon the average person isn't running to the store immediately upon release. They'll visit the carrier stores once they finish their 2-3 year contract and are due for an upgrade.

I’ve been surprised this last week to find all of my colleagues and family members are using iPhones 13-15, and a former colleague has an XR. The average person definitely isn’t rushing to buy a new phone if theirs is working fine. And, evidently, nor are they desperate to have the latest and greatest camera tech.

 

[teh_hunterer]

I have been a Pro Max user ever since the 11 Pro Max and have enjoyed using my Pro series iPhones until this year. Looking at Apple’s current offering for the Pro line, I realized they were far too bulky and had aluminum frames that dented and scratched easily. For me the current Pro line was a hard pass and this time around I got an iPhone Air because of the titanium frame and because of how thin and light the new iPhone is. Also having the A19 Pro processor, for me, was the clincher.

Precisely my experience, except I started with the 13PM. I was on a 15PM and would have just stuck with that this year if they didn't release the Air.

I just didn't have it in me to go from titanium to aluminium for such a minor upgrade otherwise.

The camera was my main worry with the Air, but I'm seeing something that truly surprised me. Taking photos side by side between the main cameras from the 15PM and the Air, I preferred the Air photos 100% of the time.

The 15PM main camera by all measures should be a physically better camera, bigger sensor, but the shots from the Air just look better. They have nicer colours and they don't have that really sharp digital obviously shot on a phone look to them. Must be something to do with the 'photonic engine' in this year's lineup.

 

[Moreplease]

The 15PM main camera by all measures should be a physically better camera, bigger sensor, but the shots from the Air just look better.

The Pro main camera has a slightly bigger sensor, but the lens is slower (dimmer) by nearly the same amount. The net difference in signal-to-noise ratio is negligible, especially in anything other than bright sunlight (in bright sunlight – base ISO – the Pro has a slightly better quality, though no-one cares in those conditions because they all look great).

They have nicer colours and they don't have that really sharp digital obviously shot on a phone look to them.

Yes, Apple has been toning down the hyper-sharp, hyper-vibrant digital look as the market has moved away from that preference. The cool kids buying antique point-and-shoots, film cameras, etc. – all that has had an influence on customer preferences.

But this is a processing thing, not camera hardware. The new Pros also have this new, more subtle rendering.

One significant benefit of the Air and regular main cameras is a much closer minimum focus distance than the Pro main.

 

[chmania]

I have a feeling that the iPhone Air was introduced as a prelude to a foldable phone. Apple already has three highly marketable iPhones, and adding another model to compete with the "base" and Pro versions wouldn't be very business-savvy. However, introducing a foldable phone to the lineup would be a strategic move. That said, these foldable phones are not in high demand among consumers.

 

[rui no onna]

I’ve been surprised this last week to find all of my colleagues and family members are using iPhones 13-15, and a former colleague has an XR. The average person definitely isn’t rushing to buy a new phone if theirs is working fine. And, evidently, nor are they desperate to have the latest and greatest camera tech.

Exactly. If it still works, they won't replace it. Heck, I see far too many phones at work with cracked displays that folks just continue using.