Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
And no case lol.

I’m comfortable running phones naked. Peak case was the Apple leather one for the iPhone X/XS anyway ….

I have the Moft Tripod stand that I sometimes MagSafe onto the back. It’s thick enough when folded so it gives enough height to keep the lens off the surface.

I also have the Moft Wallet Stand. That one is thinner so the lens does touch the surface it’s laying on.
This will be the first one I try to run naked, usually I have a case but no screen protector. Have you ever dropped them? I’m very tempted to do AC+ on this.
 
This will be the first one I try to run naked, usually I have a case but no screen protector. Have you ever dropped them? I’m very tempted to do AC+ on this.
Twice-ish.

One phone had an apple silicon case, no issues.

My iPhone X was knocked off the nightstand by the cat. No case on that one at the time and it developed a hairline crack over the flash.

With the Air I’m back to my two favorite iPhones, the 6 Plus series and the X series.

-
 
When X was out, it did virtually everything the 8 did and A LOT more. FaceID, OLED, edge to edge display, dual lense on a “small phone”, and more. The 8 and even the 8 plus felt so pointlessly outdated side by side.

This is not at all what’s happening with the Air, they have to gimp way too many things to achieve the form factor.
A little bit of battery life, a telephoto lens, a speaker and a GPU core. Hardly ‘way too many things’.
 
Even the battery life is debatable, it’s lower in the 17 range but it’s on par with last year’s Pro and will be identical or an upgrade for anyone who isn’t coming from a Pro Max.
Absolutely. There’s been no discernible, practical difference for me so far coming from a 15 Pro Max. But I’m just using my new Air as a phone and not out there sweating it with a timer running whilst playing video loops on 75% brightness.
 
I think the Issue is a lot of potential buyers are coming from a Pro Max so even if it’s on par with the Pro it still may not feel like enough.
I will not trade my pro max for Air, that’s not the target market for Air. Apple may eventually have Air/Pro line(including Pro Max) and an Economy E model. If you need pro max don’t get Air, I don’t get the whining. Air is not replacement for Pro max if you want screen size , camera and battery life.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Webcat86
I will not trade my pro max for Air, that’s not the target market for Air. Apple may eventually have Air/Pro line(including Pro Max) and an Economy E model. If you need pro max don’t get Air, I don’t get the whining. Air is not replacement for Pro max if you want screen size , camera and battery life.

Agreed and I think you bring up a good point of who is the Airs intended audience. Arguably more than any other year the base 7 is very well specked out. So why pay $200 more for a thinner phone. Likewise many’s Pro users wont want to give up features or battery for a slimmer phone. So what audience is it supplying?
 
Yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s mediocre. People talk about it like it’s appalling, when 3 days ago 27 hours was Apple’s pro-device battery life.
I don't think it really is to be honest. It is a smaller battery powering a bigger, brighter screen. The battery health will also likely deplete quicker because of it being physically smaller. Apple can't beat physics even if the Air matched last year's Pro in one specific test.
 
what audience is it supplying?
Early adopters, tech fans that want something different/new (and be able to show it off). And people who want a “small” and/or lightweight phone.

It could do without a “Pro” chip and sell well at $649.

As it is today, I consider it a bit of tech preview of future designs, manufacturing methods and tools to come.
 
Early adopters, tech fans that want something different/new (and be able to show it off). And people who want a “small” and/or lightweight phone.

It could do without a “Pro” chip and sell well at $649.

As it is today, I consider it a bit of tech preview of future designs, manufacturing methods and tools to come.
So the other phones are the past? It's obvious apple put no engineering or care in the new pros.
 
It’s very difficult to have an opinion as everybody says everything and their opposite.

Worst are people who haven’t tried it and still manage to have an opinion.

I will try it but for now I think the most important criteria above all is battery life.

By principle I wouldn’t sacrifice it for a better design and by definition a better design should always prioritize a better battery life.

I rest my case.
 
  • Like
Reactions: aperfectcircle
Now if you are an iPhone Air enthusiast this topic may not be for you so you may just want to scroll on.

But as someone who initially thought the Air would be the show stopper this year and sell out for months why do we think this is not the case.

I know the phone it replaced essentially the Plus was already the most unpopular but was it on this level. Meaning during the launch and preorder week was it just readily available. I was a previous Plus buyer until the Pros came out so in my day it was pretty popular.

I know many people are saying how luxurious it feels and looks and all and in my personal opinion I don’t really see it but I thought I was more of an outlier.

So what say you all. What do you think Apple missed with this phone, and do you think it will have a dramatic turnaround and become a best seller?

If it's sold out for months that's a miscalculation on the part of Apple's marketing team, it's not an indicator of popularity necessarily.
 
First, let me say that I am a very particular iPhone buyer so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I. Screen size: I know that the air is 6.5 and the promax is 6.9 but just knowing that there’s a phone out there with a bigger screen would annoy me every time I looked at my phone

2. Battery: I know many people on here are saying that the air and the pro are similar when it comes to battery, but for someone coming from a promax, my battery life would be sacrificed. I have lived with battery anxiety before and I wouldn’t want to go back.

3. Design: I know many people believe the air is the best looking of the pair but for me, I appreciate the design of the pros. Like my Apple Watch Ultra, I much more like the industrial design.

But again, I may not have to same concerns. Pick the phone that serves you best.

you do realize he is asking for a technical reason on a performance basis, i.e. can it run the apps as well? you reiterate cosmetic issues and presumed battery performance. He has apparently accepted these already, he wants to know if it runs as well. And only someone who now owns the air and owned the 16 pro can answer that. Which admittedly is not me. I am holding on to my 16 PM for now.

Your original premise on popularity is also flawed. As has been pointed out we dont know manufacturing numbers.

You seem to think it's an expensive phone. And you're right. But is it worth it? That's up to the individual.

And I would add, who cares about popularity? really. I buy the phone that works for me, not for the majority. Sometimes there is overlap. Often there is not.

The bottom line is most if not all other phone manufacturers wish they had the selling numbers of Apple's lowest sold phones.

The difference between the Air and the Mini, is it is apparent that the Air is the future. Apple wants to go thinner. They will go thinner. Last year they tested their new modem chip on a limited subset of phones. Now it is in more. Same with the Air. Dip the toe in first. See what works, what doesn't. Next year no doubt we will get two cameras to lure in those on the fence. This year they will get their target beta test audience. And I say that with absolute respect. It's fun to be on the bleeding edge. I would be there but this year I decided to buy a very expensive lens for my real camera. A full framer mirrorless Sony A7 RV. And that's the thing, for me even this years Air is enough, I actually like the simplicity of one lens for quick snaps. For any real pictures I use a real camera. Sorry all those that want to believe phone cameras are good enough for pros. For instagram maybe. For pictures on the wall. No. And yes, I do often carry my Sony around if there is any possibility of a picture. It's in a nice leather carrier bag with a 28-70 zoom and a 16 prime. Or sometimes I substitute in a 70-200 depending on landscape or portrait.

so yeah, could care less about popularity. Don't need a phone to validate my status. I do care if the line is going to stick around, and I believe it will. It is the future.
 
What about instead of the Air we had an Ultra instead with same cameras as the Pros, maybe battery between the Pro and Pro Max, 7.0 inch screen but and still super thin but priced $100 more that the base Pro Max, do you think it would have sold better.

OP you are in good company here at MR. A lot of Sunday morning armchair engineers pontificating on 'but what about, or why didn't they' and then go on to describe something totally beyond current technology. As a marketing exercise, okay, speculate I suppose, but while it is interesting to dream of the future, I want a real product today.

But sure, if said hypothetical did exist, I would probably buy it. Because why not?

But it doesnt and can't exist today.
 
It’s very difficult to have an opinion as everybody says everything and their opposite.

Worst are people who haven’t tried it and still manage to have an opinion.

I will try it but for now I think the most important criteria above all is battery life.

By principle I wouldn’t sacrifice it for a better design and by definition a better design should always prioritize a better battery life.

I rest my case.
To a point, sure. But I also think if Apple introduced a phone that got two-three weeks of battery life but weighed two pounds and was an inch thick, I think very few people would be saying that phone was a better design. I have no doubt it would be the right phone for some people though.

But on the other hand, if the phone gets you to the end of the day, what’s the point of extra battery life? The way I look at it, I’m going to charge overnight regardless, so finishing with 50% doesn’t actually do me any good. If the choice is “finish day with 50% vs finish day with 20%” I personally would rather have a sleeker phone. (Obviously everyone’s preferences and comfort vary - for example the Air is a non-starter for my wife because of battery life concerns). And if my Air was hitting 20% at 5-6pm then it’d be going back. (It may be going back regardless, but only because of the cameras).

For what it’s worth, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the Air’s battery. I took my Air off the charger at 6:30am this morning and haven’t charged it since. It’s now 7:40pm, and I’m at 40%. I was generally finishing my day (11pm) with 30-40% on my Pro Max, I will finish the day with probably 20-30% on the Air. Today was a very typical weekend day for me, which are the days I’m away from power longest. For me, that’s good enough.

I can’t overstate how much of a brick my ProMax feels like now, and I’ve always gone with the biggest iPhone I can get. I haven’t tried the new ones, so maybe the design makes it feel better (but, I will say my wife’s 17 Pro feels way too heavy). But if I do return the Air for the cameras, I’m going to be really annoyed about the weight for a few days. I’m sure it’ll feel “normal” pretty quickly. But as of right now, I don’t want to go back to that form factor.
 
This will be the first one I try to run naked, usually I have a case but no screen protector. Have you ever dropped them? I’m very tempted to do AC+ on this.
I don't know about where you live but, here, it is illegal to run around naked. However, with the new Air I just can't help myself. I am naked outside of the screen protector. I did purchase AC+ in case I drop the Air and or it suffers from a hardware malfunction. If that happens, I will get an express replacement, which I can initiate over iMessage.
 
you do realize he is asking for a technical reason on a performance basis, i.e. can it run the apps as well? you reiterate cosmetic issues and presumed battery performance. He has apparently accepted these already, he wants to know if it runs as well. And only someone who now owns the air and owned the 16 pro can answer that. Which admittedly is not me. I am holding on to my 16 PM for now.

Your original premise on popularity is also flawed. As has been pointed out we dont know manufacturing numbers.

You seem to think it's an expensive phone. And you're right. But is it worth it? That's up to the individual.

And I would add, who cares about popularity? really. I buy the phone that works for me, not for the majority. Sometimes there is overlap. Often there is not.

The bottom line is most if not all other phone manufacturers wish they had the selling numbers of Apple's lowest sold phones.

The difference between the Air and the Mini, is it is apparent that the Air is the future. Apple wants to go thinner. They will go thinner. Last year they tested their new modem chip on a limited subset of phones. Now it is in more. Same with the Air. Dip the toe in first. See what works, what doesn't. Next year no doubt we will get two cameras to lure in those on the fence. This year they will get their target beta test audience. And I say that with absolute respect. It's fun to be on the bleeding edge. I would be there but this year I decided to buy a very expensive lens for my real camera. A full framer mirrorless Sony A7 RV. And that's the thing, for me even this years Air is enough, I actually like the simplicity of one lens for quick snaps. For any real pictures I use a real camera. Sorry all those that want to believe phone cameras are good enough for pros. For instagram maybe. For pictures on the wall. No. And yes, I do often carry my Sony around if there is any possibility of a picture. It's in a nice leather carrier bag with a 28-70 zoom and a 16 prime. Or sometimes I substitute in a 70-200 depending on landscape or portrait.

so yeah, could care less about popularity. Don't need a phone to validate my status. I do care if the line is going to stick around, and I believe it will. It is the future.

How do you know what he was asking me? In my interpretation I was asked why didn’t I get the Air and as you can see I stated in the beginning that this is my reasoning and in another post we shared I said try it out for yourself and see if it works for you. I would never want to discourage someone based on my personal preference.

Secondly you are right about not caring about popularity. I picked the Pro Max thinking the Air would be extremely popular and sell out. Looking at reviews The Air is all YouTubers could seem to talk about, never would I have thought the Orange Pro no less would be as popular although I picked the Blue.

And third, no we can’t say for sure how any phone did and you are right I was assuming people would go crazy over the Air and inventory would just go but sure there could have just been so much supply that demand didn’t out pace it but it just is interesting to note.
 
I don't know about where you live but, here, it is illegal to run around naked. However, with the new Air I just can't help myself. I am naked outside of the screen protector. I did purchase AC+ in case I drop the Air and or it suffers from a hardware malfunction. If that happens, I will get an express replacement, which I can initiate over iMessage.

Well obviously you haven’t been to San Fran during Pride. have you ever seen a bunch of dudes riding bikes, uhhh never mind.
 
Now if you are an iPhone Air enthusiast this topic may not be for you so you may just want to scroll on.

But as someone who initially thought the Air would be the show stopper this year and sell out for months why do we think this is not the case.

I know the phone it replaced essentially the Plus was already the most unpopular but was it on this level. Meaning during the launch and preorder week was it just readily available. I was a previous Plus buyer until the Pros came out so in my day it was pretty popular.

I know many people are saying how luxurious it feels and looks and all and in my personal opinion I don’t really see it but I thought I was more of an outlier.

So what say you all. What do you think Apple missed with this phone, and do you think it will have a dramatic turnaround and become a best seller?
It will take time for the Air to take off. I don't think it will be the first generation. It has a single camera and speaker and costs $200 more than the vanilla 17. The value isn't there. The selling point is the form factor. Unless you must have that thin and light form factor, the 17 is a much better decision this year.

By version 2.0, I think the Air will mature greatly. Potentially dual cameras and stereo speakers. And if the rumors are true, it will be on the market for six months without the vanilla 18 alongside it. That will help its sales.

I think Apple will play the long-game with the Air. They see the form factor as the future of their slab devices. Right now it's pretty gimped and quite expensive for what it has to offer.
 
Now if you are an iPhone Air enthusiast this topic may not be for you so you may just want to scroll on.

But as someone who initially thought the Air would be the show stopper this year and sell out for months why do we think this is not the case.

I know the phone it replaced essentially the Plus was already the most unpopular but was it on this level. Meaning during the launch and preorder week was it just readily available. I was a previous Plus buyer until the Pros came out so in my day it was pretty popular.

I know many people are saying how luxurious it feels and looks and all and in my personal opinion I don’t really see it but I thought I was more of an outlier.

So what say you all. What do you think Apple missed with this phone, and do you think it will have a dramatic turnaround and become a best seller?
I believe the Air will be like the AirPods were at first. Nobody wanted them as they weren’t cool. On paper, seems like a trade off, but in reality it’s the perfect iPhone for the non all-day user. Most people are not tech enthusiasts. I read something one time that 97% of photos come from the main camera. Tells me most people don’t care about the others or don’t think about them. Battery life, mine works great for my usage. I don’t spend 7 hours per day on the iPhone. I think people will gradually gravitate towards the iPhone Air. I think eight months from now the Air will be a much larger percentage of sales. Early adopters are usually searching for the best but the Pro Max and Pro come with a lot of trade offs. Aluminum is great for heat but the simple fact is aluminum is not great for a phone and is cheaper to make than plastic! Everyone wants to say it’s premium but that’s just not a fact. I saw a review were the iPhone fell off a tripod and the damage was severe. The Pro has to be in a case from minute one. I know a lot of people will only use a case but I pay for AC+ with theft and loss. The last thing I am going to do is put a case on my iPhone. So I went with the Air and the camera situation could be better but the Air is more durable and practical for many users.

To me it’s a true futuristic picture of the iPhone that’s available today. In five years, the phone will be far less of a feature to people due to AI devices replacing the smartphones. If you’re a pro photographer, get a camera. I have Canon cameras for photos, and damned if I ever thought I could get good enough with an iPhone. I get it it’s easier to just have a camera in the pocket, but the Air is good enough for most photos. It’s not going to have range for soccer parents but that’s where a dedicated camera shines. Not to mention, the camera sensors in the iPhones are all tiny compared to full-frame cameras that let in so much more light with much better optical quality lenses.

It’s like Gretzky used to say “skate where the puck is headed” … that’s what the iPhone Air is doing. In time, I think it will become the best selling iPhone. Do I wish it cost less? I don’t care it’s a great value proposition for myself anyway. And it’s a launchpad for the durability question of next years iPhone Unfoldable iPad.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.