iPhone Air iPhone Air Lack of Popularity

[davidjearly]

My comment that you are replying to was making a point on how the Air cannot be compared to what the X did. The X made advances over the 7 and 8 while virtually not losing anything, then achieving the form factor that it had. The only thing that people could complain about was losing TouchID to FaceID. Remember the X was released along with the 8 in the same year.

Whilst the Air is the reverse, Apple had to shave away features for it to become this thin. Even if it only lose one feature it is already backwards, and we are able to make a list.

It's not really comparable. The X didn't strive to achieve a new, ultra thin form factor with the same or improved tech as the previous generation. It was all about a full screen display more than anything else, which isn't remotely as difficult to implement whilst keeping on adding more tech.

The Air has a few compromises, granted. But they are just so minuscule in comparison to what they have achieved with the overall form factor. I would totally understand if the device was woefully underpowered with a previous generation A-series chip or if it had significantly less RAM or something. But really, a telephoto camera, a GPU core and a shoddy built in speaker? I just don't get it.

 

[danny842003]

I’m currently trying to decide between 17 pro blue and cloud white air and I’m 50/50 the air as well as the pro is sold out in all colours and all but 1tb in local stores around me and online it’s October delivery

Why have you chosen to ignore the base model?
I’m genuinely interested to know why people are picking between the two when there’s a great middle ground.

 

[Webcat86]

It's not really comparable. The X didn't strive to achieve a new, ultra thin form factor with the same or improved tech as the previous generation. It was all about a full screen display more than anything else, which isn't remotely as difficult to implement whilst keeping on adding more tech.

The Air has a few compromises, granted. But they are just so minuscule in comparison to what they have achieved with the overall form factor. I would totally understand if the device was woefully underpowered with a previous generation A-series chip or if it had significantly less RAM or something. But really, a telephoto camera, a GPU core and a shoddy built in speaker? I just don't get it.

This, 100%.

People are so myopically focused on the specs that they’re overlooking the form factor and its appeal.

If you find a heavier and thicker phone harder to hold comfortably, uncomfortable in your pockets, etc then a device that solves that issue is going to be immensely appealing.

The comments here are quick to label the missing features as a compromise, but compromise works both ways. If I want the cameras of a Pro then I’m compromising on comfort and form factor. Having the large imprint in my jeans pocket is a compromise. The fatigue in my pinky from watching a video for a while is a compromise.

For these discussions to be more useful, I think it’s important that we all start to be more mindful of our words and our descriptions. It is simply untrue that the Air is a device of compromises with no intrinsic merit while the Pro is all merit with no compromises.

 

[one more]

Fair enough, I can at least see an argument with the camera for those who depend on an iPhone for photography - it will never be more than a convenient snap taking device to me. The speaker argument, I just don't understand. I can never imagine the speakers being so important to affect a buying decision as I wouldn't use them for anything that the Air can't comfortably handle.

The speakers come handy for me when I want to share something with a person next to me or just listen to something, like an audio-book, while running errands around the house.

 

[Chancha]

It's not really comparable.

This is exactly what I meant. I was replying to someone else on how the Air cannot be compared to the X. lol.

 

[Webcat86]

The speakers come handy for me when I want to share something with a person next to me or just listen to something, like an audio-book, while running errands around the house.

Air’s speaker is perfectly adequate for this. I’ve just had my Pro and Air on either side of playing the same song and the Air was fine. The Pro sounded a little fuller after pausing the Air, but the Air didn’t sound bad at all.

 

[teh_hunterer]

Why have you chosen to ignore the base model?
I’m genuinely interested to know why people are picking between the two when there’s a great middle ground.

Many people buy the Pro because they want the best iPhone. Now there is the Air and the Pro and both are vying for the title of "best".

It's no surprise that people who want the base model get the base model, and a whole bunch of people who used to get the Pro are now having an existential crisis trying to pick between the Pro and Air.

 

[Webcat86]

Many people buy the Pro because they want the best iPhone. Now there is the Air and the Pro and both are vying for the title of "best".

It's no surprise that people who want the base model get the base model, and a whole bunch of people who used to get the Pro are now having an existential crisis trying to pick between the Pro and Air.

Can confirm! This is literally me. And I’m aware of the irony in not considering the base 17 when it has superior camera options over the air.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I’m not a big gamer either, just the occasional basic game and it’s coped fine with that so far. What are the other limitations you referred to? I’m not trying to be argumentative, I want to try as much as possible while I’m still able to return the phone.

No, not at all . For me it is mainly the camera limitations mre than anything else. I don't like the price of the Pro Max, but its the one I opt for as I enjoy taking photo's and the ProRes options that come with that model. I think for basic users, the Air is a decent enough phone and offers the same experence on the whole as other iPhones. I do think the 17 is the bes deal this year though for what it offers and a lot of the reviews I have watched, suggest this. The main selling point of the Air is how thin it is, and some will be attracted by that no doubt.

 

[Webcat86]

No, not at all . For me it is mainly the camera limitations mre than anything else. I don't like the price of the Pro Max, but its the one I opt for as I enjoy taking photo's and the ProRes options that come with that model. I think for basic users, the Air is a decent enough phone and offers the same experence on the whole as other iPhones. I do think the 17 is the bes deal this year though for what it offers and a lot of the reviews I have watched, suggest this. The main selling point of the Air is how thin it is, and some will be attracted by that no doubt.

Yes for sure. I’m on the fence between keeping my 16 Pro or the Air.

The front camera and dual capture are really nice upgrades. Comfort is off the scale.

But my 16 Pro is cheaper per month, the Air will cost me about £10 more a month plus I’ll want AppleCare on it to avoid using a case.

I do feel like the Pro has more peace of mind in the sense that I know the camera options are sufficient for me and it doesn’t throttle under my uses. And I am very confident next year will see an Air with improvements.

So essentially my dilemma is do I pay more for a phone that feels more pleasant to hold, but *might* have downsides that don’t become apparent until my return window is closed. And for that reason I’m quite tempted to keep my 16 Pro for another year.

 

[aperfectcircle]

Can confirm! This is literally me. And I’m aware of the irony in not considering the base 17 when it has superior camera options over the air.

Same here, it was a choice between sticking with the Pro Max (from a 14PM) or going to the Air. I would never have considered the Pro or base 17 as I like a bigger screen and if I’m upgrading I’m getting the most RAM I can. ProMotion was the defining feature for me and I would have stuck with the Pro Max if the Air didn’t have it. I couldn’t care less about the single camera as I have a real camera for when it matters and the main iPhone camera is perfectly adequate for casual use.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Many people buy the Pro because they want the best iPhone. Now there is the Air and the Pro and both are vying for the title of "best".

It's no surprise that people who want the base model get the base model, and a whole bunch of people who used to get the Pro are now having an existential crisis trying to pick between the Pro and Air.

I don't think there is any contest there as 'best' is defined by the features the phone offers, and the Pro models don't really have any competition in that regard within the iPhone line-up. Aesthetics seem to be more of a factor for some people and subjectively, some appear to think the Air is the better looking iPhone. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, for sure.

I have never seen people try and claim the iPad Air or MacBook Air is better than the Pro models in those categories, so do not understand why this is now a consideration with the iPhone. The Air clearly offers 'enough' of what some people want and need, but being the 'best' is not really up for debate.

 

[arc of the universe]

Iphone pro's= Mustang with a turbo, 560 HP, a big trunk, but built on the cheap and is orange
Iphone air= Ferrari, 450 HP, small trunk, naturally aspirated, we got it at a bargain price and it's not orange. 😜

@C. Robert

being one of the champions of this forum i hesitate to second guess you...

but if you are referring to what was probably the most famous Mustang color, which happens to look orange, it was actually called Poppy Red. (there was also a another famous-ish orang-ish-red called Rangoon Red. )
the photo from the web is the orange one (Poppy Red).

we are both already agreed that the Air, however, in white, is pure bliss.

 

[Meedoss]

This, 100%.

People are so myopically focused on the specs that they’re overlooking the form factor and its appeal.

If you find a heavier and thicker phone harder to hold comfortably, uncomfortable in your pockets, etc then a device that solves that issue is going to be immensely appealing.

The comments here are quick to label the missing features as a compromise, but compromise works both ways. If I want the cameras of a Pro then I’m compromising on comfort and form factor. Having the large imprint in my jeans pocket is a compromise. The fatigue in my pinky from watching a video for a while is a compromise.

For these discussions to be more useful, I think it’s important that we all start to be more mindful of our words and our descriptions. It is simply untrue that the Air is a device of compromises with no intrinsic merit while the Pro is all merit with no compromises.

The air is taller and wider than the 17 pro that has it all for few hundred more, Air is previous 15 max size that is compromised.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Yes for sure. I’m on the fence between keeping my 16 Pro or the Air.

The front camera and dual capture are really nice upgrades. Comfort is off the scale.

But my 16 Pro is cheaper per month, the Air will cost me about £10 more a month plus I’ll want AppleCare on it to avoid using a case.

I do feel like the Pro has more peace of mind in the sense that I know the camera options are sufficient for me and it doesn’t throttle under my uses. And I am very confident next year will see an Air with improvements.

So essentially my dilemma is do I pay more for a phone that feels more pleasant to hold, but *might* have downsides that don’t become apparent until my return window is closed. And for that reason I’m quite tempted to keep my 16 Pro for another year.

If it was me, I'd be keeping the 16 Pro another year as its still an amazing iPhone. I use a 16 Pro Max and I generally upgrade every 2 years. I do use cases on my iPhones though as I drop them a lot more than I care to admit. The Air next year may well come with improvements, although I did read an article that said they are unsure its an annually updated phone, so that part is unknown. It could be the precursor to a folding iPhone and a tester, not something I would be interested in tbh, but again, unknown.

Personally I think a 16 Pro to an Air is a downgrade, but it depends what you value most, camera or thin design.

 

[danny842003]

Many people buy the Pro because they want the best iPhone. Now there is the Air and the Pro and both are vying for the title of "best".

It's no surprise that people who want the base model get the base model, and a whole bunch of people who used to get the Pro are now having an existential crisis trying to pick between the Pro and Air.

By this logic why isn't the 17 vying to be the best? I genuinely don't understand this line of thinking.
I want the best camera set up or the worst camera set up.
I want the most weight or the least weight.

It's illogical to me at least.

 

[Webcat86]

The air is taller and wider than the 17 pro that has it all for few hundred more, Air is previous 15 max size that is compromised.

But significantly thinner and lighter, which are essential factors. Your comment reads as though Air and Max are the same size so the Max is the better choice.

 

[Webcat86]

If it was me, I'd be keeping the 16 Pro another year as its still an amazing iPhone. I use a 16 Pro Max and I generally upgrade every 2 years. I do use cases on my iPhones though as I drop them a lot more than I care to admit. The Air next year may well come with improvements, although I did read an article that said they are unsure its an annually updated phone, so that part is unknown. It could be the precursor to a folding iPhone and a tester, not something I would be interested in tbh, but again, unknown.

Personally I think a 16 Pro to an Air is a downgrade, but it depends what you value most, camera or thin design.

yes for me it’s coming down to the Air has more of what I need day to day (comfort difference is enormous, the front camera is a significant upgrade), but the Pro is the winner on specs.

 

[teh_hunterer]

By this logic why isn't the 17 vying to be the best? I genuinely don't understand this line of thinking.

Because the 17 is the cheapest.

You genuinely don't understand why some people go for the more premium device?

 

[Webcat86]

Because the 17 is the cheapest.

You genuinely don't understand why some people go for the more premium device?

In fairness I do see the logic to questioning the Air’s placement. The base phone does have better battery and the better camera system, so in some regards is only second to the Pro models. The Air is more in a category of one.

 

[danny842003]

Because the 17 is the cheapest.

You genuinely don't understand why some people go for the more premium device?

I don’t understand why people would be choosing between the two.
If you want a light phone and don’t care about camera options then I don’t know why you would be considering a pro.
If you want the camera options of a pro I don’t understand why you would be considering an air.
If you’re thinking these phones are getting a bit heavy but I like the features I do understand why you would get a 17.
If you’re just buying a phone as some kind of status symbol then no I don’t understand.

 

[lybentius]

I was the opposite. Af first I was like, meh… but now I'm leaning more towards the air because of how premium it looks and how ugly the pro is.

 

[teh_hunterer]

I don’t understand why people would be choosing between the two.

Because you had the base model, and the Pro.

The Pro pulled double duty as the premium phone and the pro phone.

Now the Air is the premium phone and the Pro is the pro phone. People who wanted the base model will still get the base model. People who wanted to pay extra for something more special are picking been the two. It's that simple.

 

[MaxVerstappen]

In fairness I do see the logic to questioning the Air’s placement. The base phone does have better battery and the better camera system, so in some regards is only second to the Pro models. The Air is more in a category of one.

The regular model has less ram, has slower and less efficient A19 chip, weighs more, and is bulky compared to the Air. It all depends what you are after. Simple as that. And when it comes to build quality the Air walks all over the regular iPhone and the Pro’s. No question about it.

 

[Meedoss]

But significantly thinner and lighter, which are essential factors. Your comment reads as though Air and Max are the same size so the Max is the better choice.

Not if you want smaller, I would rather smaller and bit heavier than bigger and bit lighter, you get it?