100% this. I’ve gotten used to it but Pro body size would have been perfect. I’ve heard that battery size is one reason for the larger size.
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iPhone Air Review: One Year With Apple's Super Thin $999 iPhone
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DDustiNN
macrumors 68030
iPhone Air has the same battery life rating as the 16 Pro. How did you survive before that?
iPhones had a single camera up to the iPhone X. How did you survive before that?
Contrary to your belief, not everyone needs to pretend they’re a professional photographer every day, and practically nobody needs to have a phone that lasts 2 days.
Meanwhile, the lightweight and amazingly thin form factor is a feature you will use every single time you pick up your phone. That has value in itself, significantly more so than the massive heavy brick that is the 17 Pro.
mattopotamus
macrumors P6
I don't care what the "rated" battery life states. It's iphone 12 mini bad.
DDustiNN
macrumors 68030
This is false. Like every other iPhone I’ve had, it balances perfectly on its back using just one finger (where the Apple logo is). I just tried it right now. It looks very centered.
I think what people are failing to appreciate is that this was the first iPhone generation with real choices and tradeoffs to be made. No one model truly had everything.
For people who are constantly holding the phone and on the go and don't need the upgraded cameras and longer battery life, Air is ideal.
Smaller size, more cameras and battery but more weight, Pro.
Don't need anything fancy but do want a little more camera and battery, standard.
Don't have to actually handle it that often (lots of stands) but do want full cameras and screen size, Pro Max. Basically the opposite of the Air.
I think it was the best lineup they've ever done. And if they do just add the second camera and a little more battery, the Air basically becomes the standard model, which is what I think they're eventually going toward.
DDustiNN
macrumors 68030
Unfortunately for you, facts don’t care about your feelings. You should watch some battery test videos before deciding what you believe. It is indeed on par with the 16 Pro.
Minuteman3
macrumors regular
I'm several months in on the Air and it's working quite well for me. Traded in a 16 Pro, and don't miss much at all. Have not noticed any problems with battery life but I'll admit I'm not much of a "power user"!! In particular, I do not mind the camera ... it's perfect for the kinds of photos I take with my phone ... and I have a bag full of Nikon gear that takes care of the rest!! I do occasionally use it as the GPS with my real cameras through an app and have not had any power issues when connected for several hours.
It’s funny isn’t it, nobody last year was saying how poor the 16 pro’s battery was, yet the air with approximately the same battery life is considered bad by almost everyone that doesn’t own/never used one.
On an infographic with all other iPhones it would be sitting right at the top just under the 17 pros and a few of the past pro max generations.
mattopotamus
macrumors P6
Real world vs simulated test = not the same. It has terrible stadby battery. I pretty much leave low power mode on 24/7 or I would never get through an entire day, even with light usage.
i have pro max. yeah it's big. i have battery anxiety.
multiple family members went from mini > air.
Same comments as above re: it should be smaller (target market).
it's been by far the most durable phone for people who never use a case.
multiple family members went from mini > air.
Same comments as above re: it should be smaller (target market).
it's been by far the most durable phone for people who never use a case.
nkgmd
macrumors regular
Good review, I love the Air, it's my favorite iPhone and I've had almost every single one through the years. I have a busy practice and use the phone constantly for personal and business throughout my usually 10 hour day on the phone, messaging, emailing, using live transcription with AI processing, nav and music in the car, etc...battery has never been an issue. Camera takes great photos, yeah I wish that digital zoom was a little better quality but that's all. Speaker, honestly haven't cared a bit about it, I use my AirPods if I need quality audio anyway. It's so much lighter and easier to carry around all day than my previous 16 Pro Max. It's so beautiful to hold and a year later still gets oohs and ahhs from people who have yet to see it ini the wild and hold it, and can't believe how thin it is WITH a case on it. It wasn't the cheapest option but I feel like I got my money's worth out of it and it is the first phone that I will likely keep and not trade in at the 1 year mark. (Granted I'm not expecting it to retain much value at trade in anyway).
I'm excited to see the next generation of Air, but I expect it to be an iteration, not a complete redesign. I think they'll tweak the battery life taking advantage of a more efficient chip, and hopefully through image processing with AI make the digital zoom much better. I can't imagine the physical form factor will so drastically change with the second generation, Apple has not done that since I can remember with any of their products. Just think for a second, where is a second camera going to go? It will either take 25% more space in the plateau or maybe 10% away from the battery (and make the MagSafe battery from gen 1 obsolete). You just can't add a camera, make the battery bigger, add a speaker and also keep it thin and light, and drop the price. You will just end up with a more expensive standard iPhone 18 and still nobody will buy it. But even a slightly better Air 2, I'd still look forward to upgrading.
I'm excited to see the next generation of Air, but I expect it to be an iteration, not a complete redesign. I think they'll tweak the battery life taking advantage of a more efficient chip, and hopefully through image processing with AI make the digital zoom much better. I can't imagine the physical form factor will so drastically change with the second generation, Apple has not done that since I can remember with any of their products. Just think for a second, where is a second camera going to go? It will either take 25% more space in the plateau or maybe 10% away from the battery (and make the MagSafe battery from gen 1 obsolete). You just can't add a camera, make the battery bigger, add a speaker and also keep it thin and light, and drop the price. You will just end up with a more expensive standard iPhone 18 and still nobody will buy it. But even a slightly better Air 2, I'd still look forward to upgrading.
After a year (switched from the 16PM) I would agree with the author that it still feels amazing in the hand, but primarily if you're going caseless. My only gripe has been the lack of an ultra-wide camera lens since I use the macro mode a lot to read small labels and I use the ultra wide in various situations to get the whole picture. I've been sorely missing both capabilities. Telephoto is nice but not really that necessary. Battery life has been unnoticeably different, but I'm a light user and I bring the battery pack along if I'm going to be out walking all day and using the maps. The speaker is fine and I've not really noticed any deprecation for how I use it. I primarily only use the speaker in the morning when I'm shaving. I'm going to be keeping my eyes open in a few days to see if the Ultra is what I need or if waiting for the Air 2 will be better for me. Without a compelling reason to switch this may be the first year I just sit on what I have.
DDustiNN
macrumors 68030
Fully disagree. I can leave my phone unlocked with the screen on, and the battery barely moves at all after hours.
One time I left my phone downstairs at my gf’s house overnight (locked, always-on screen, full wallpaper and widgets), and in the morning it had only gone down like a couple percent. I was shocked.
And I never use low power mode, ever.
mattopotamus
macrumors P6
You lucky duck. I have 35 min SoT and am at 62%. If I use my phone another 30 mins (on wifi mind you), it will be in the low 40s. I have to either mid day charge or charge as soon as I get home.
Yesterday was 3 hours SoT and required a charge from 20% - 70% and finished the day with 7%.
It has been my biggest issue with the phone, and the only reason I am considering something else. A travel day is a real nightmare unless I tether myself to a wall/outlet.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
I have had the Air since October and its my favorite iphone I have ever owned. In the hand its the best feeling iphone and best overall iphone to use on a daily basis that I have used since the 11 (better than the 13, 15 Plus, and 16 Pro I had previously).
Battery life has been fantastic, equal to my previous phone the 16 Pro.
Where it falls short of perfection: it needs a telephoto lens. Don't give me an ultra wide, telephoto lens or don't give it a second camera lens. Speaker, the great majority of the time the single speaker is perfectly fine but on occasion it needs a second speaker definitely.
Battery life has been fantastic, equal to my previous phone the 16 Pro.
Where it falls short of perfection: it needs a telephoto lens. Don't give me an ultra wide, telephoto lens or don't give it a second camera lens. Speaker, the great majority of the time the single speaker is perfectly fine but on occasion it needs a second speaker definitely.
joefrank64k
macrumors 6502a
Same. From 16PM to Air. This is also the first iPhone since the OG and 3G that’s I’ve gone caseless because the Air is so awesome to hold.
I miss the macro lens a bit myself. I compensate with Apple’s excellent Magnifier app:
Magnifier App - App Store
Download Magnifier by Apple on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like Magnifier.
apps.apple.com
achappy
macrumors 6502
There's something wrong with your phone. My Air's battery has been great and I've had no issues and it's been as good if not better than the 15PM I switched from. I bought an extended battery and returned because I never needed it. This is being outdoors for 6-7 hours and streaming video. Recently went on a vacation to NY and I took it off the charger at 9AM and used it all day including Apple Maps, photos, research, etc and when we got back to the hotel at 10PM I was only at 33%.
The Air is the best phone for me since the iPhone X. I thought I would miss the extra cameras and honestly NY was the only time I wish I had the telephoto but then my wife has a 17 Pro so we used hers but it was only for a few pictures when we walked the Brooklyn Bridge. But then I grabbed her phone and felt how heavy and bulky it is and threw it at her after taking a picture 😀. I use the speakerphone more often than I normally would because of some personal calls I've needed to make that put me on hold so I just put it on speaker until I'm connected and it's been OK.
It's ridiculously light, thin with a large screen that can be used one handed. I've used it caseless since I got it. My only regret is I wish I had gone with White. I had a white 15PM and decided to go back to black.
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SactoGuy18
macrumors 603
I personally hope that Apple offers full Qi2.2 MagSafe wireless charging and USB Type C port charging that meets the Power Delivery 3.2 SPR AVS standard of 40 watts sustained and 60 watts short burst. Faster charging speeds would make the smaller battery size of future iPhone Air models less of a hassle.
I went from a 13 mini to an Air and they’re not comparable at all. The 13 mini had far worse battery life (especially on cellular).
drsox
macrumors 68000
Not in my usage. I don't hold it with one finger. Never said anything about what you said, just about experience in using it.
mentaluproar
macrumors 68000
Those are completely untrue statements. You clearly don't own an Air.