Because people have the mindset of, “if I don’t like it, nobody can like it!!!”
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Kuo: High Demand for iPhone 17 Models, But Questions Remain About iPhone Air
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I ordered an Air for my wife, upgrading from her 14 Pro, so battery life should be better and the form factor will definitely be an upgrade. I’m on the fence for upgrading my 15 PM, as I wrote this post on it and it’s running hot already and I’m down to 89% battery after being up for just an hour, so maybe I know what I should do (get a 17 PM).
I disagree. Air has compromises, but too few considering its form factor.
It could have been a standard (or last year's) chip, down clocked, no Promotion to save energy. Instead it it super close to the standard 16 in battery size, and it's a pro, premium device that will have a comparable battery life of an iPhone 15/16.
I ordered a 17 Pro, but I'm certainly Air-curious, being a guy and carrying my phone in my pocket.
I'm not happy with my current 16 Pro's battery life -- especially since I moved to iOS 26, there's been a measureable battery dip, to the extent that I was originally planning to move to the 17 Pro Max. Literally cannot make it through the day without topping off at some point. Typically, that's in the car while driving somewhere, or letting it charge during dinner or what have you. But it's annoying when you're traveling or out and about. I've seen "low battery mode" engaged more than I care to think about.
As soon as I saw the ~18% improved battery size on the 17 Pro, it seemed like exactly what I needed. The Air is compelling from a size and weight standpoint, but just matching or slightly exceeding my 16 Pro in battery life means I would still likely be looking for an outlet at some point in the day, which defeats some of the reason to upgrade for me.
I'll be watching, needless to say. If the battery life is a fair bit better than the 16 Pro in practice, I may swap. But if it's the same or even just an hour better, I'll probably keep the course with the inbound 17 Pro.
I'm not happy with my current 16 Pro's battery life -- especially since I moved to iOS 26, there's been a measureable battery dip, to the extent that I was originally planning to move to the 17 Pro Max. Literally cannot make it through the day without topping off at some point. Typically, that's in the car while driving somewhere, or letting it charge during dinner or what have you. But it's annoying when you're traveling or out and about. I've seen "low battery mode" engaged more than I care to think about.
As soon as I saw the ~18% improved battery size on the 17 Pro, it seemed like exactly what I needed. The Air is compelling from a size and weight standpoint, but just matching or slightly exceeding my 16 Pro in battery life means I would still likely be looking for an outlet at some point in the day, which defeats some of the reason to upgrade for me.
I'll be watching, needless to say. If the battery life is a fair bit better than the 16 Pro in practice, I may swap. But if it's the same or even just an hour better, I'll probably keep the course with the inbound 17 Pro.
My armchair expert hypothesis is that most people who are pre-ordering fall in the tech enthusiasts spectrum and they tend to buy the best from what’s on offer.
I guess the Air’s sales will pickup once people use it for themselves at the stores. From the various hands on posted till now, it does seem to have the wow factor aesthetically.
I guess the Air’s sales will pickup once people use it for themselves at the stores. From the various hands on posted till now, it does seem to have the wow factor aesthetically.
Same for my family. I wish you could go to an Apple Store the day of or the day after the announcement and have hands on time and then preorder right there if you wanted one.
Darth Tulhu
macrumors 68020
You gotta love individuals that rage against choice. But given the current climate, this take is not surprising.
You cannot ignore the market for those who have careers based around video / filming / content. More and more we see the pro phones being the device of choice for this large set of users. You also can't ignore users those who simply want a larger phone, and don't want the air. I see where you have come from here, but I don’t think it’s accurate to call that a personal opinion if it assumes what others want or need. A personal opinion should reflect your own preferences, not a generalisation for everyone else.
Not quite:
iPhone SE 1: 113g
iPhone 12 mini: 135g
iPhone 13 mini: 141g
iPhone Air: 165g
iPhone 16e: 167g
iPhone 16: 170g
iPhone 17: 177g
iPhone XS: 177g
iPhone 16 Plus: 199g
The iPhone Air is a bit like a pounded-flat 16e in terms of form factor, with the camera plateau bulging out where the hammer missed.
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I actually think the opposite — I’ve always gone for the Pro and Max models. But the iPhone 17 Pro looks like it already has a case on, and I hate cases. I’ve never used one and never will. You don’t buy a Ferrari just to wrap it in a cover!
So this year, the iPhone Air is the obvious choice. The battery life is similar to the 16 Pro — and if you need more, just get a MagSafe battery pack. As for the camera, I don’t need a telephoto lens — I’ll just walk five meters closer to the subject.
A thin phone against an orange brick wall is the perfect combo this year, and it’s never been a safer bet. It’s arriving this Friday, and my friend bought the “Pro” — which isn’t really that Pro, considering it’s made of aluminum. The Air is the real Pro, with titanium! 😀
So this year, the iPhone Air is the obvious choice. The battery life is similar to the 16 Pro — and if you need more, just get a MagSafe battery pack. As for the camera, I don’t need a telephoto lens — I’ll just walk five meters closer to the subject.
A thin phone against an orange brick wall is the perfect combo this year, and it’s never been a safer bet. It’s arriving this Friday, and my friend bought the “Pro” — which isn’t really that Pro, considering it’s made of aluminum. The Air is the real Pro, with titanium! 😀
if this statement was true, we would still have the Mini 😘
A lot of what I'm hearing in this thread is, "I don't like the Air, so NOBODY should like the Air."
You do know there is something called choice. If you won't like the Air, Apple will gladly sell you the 16e, 17, or 17 Pro. I just don't get the idea why people are so giddy for something to fail before it's even hit the market -- and when they don't even have to buy it. It's not being forced upon anyone.
So much negativity online, it's hard to escape.
You do know there is something called choice. If you won't like the Air, Apple will gladly sell you the 16e, 17, or 17 Pro. I just don't get the idea why people are so giddy for something to fail before it's even hit the market -- and when they don't even have to buy it. It's not being forced upon anyone.
So much negativity online, it's hard to escape.
every poll that has ever been conducted in the history of this website, having more battery is way more popular than any other option
Its a device you really have to pick up in the Apple store to appreciate (I imagine. Not any on display yet) much like the Samsung Fold 7. For the general consumer, the annual list of updates beyond power/battery/camera are things they will never use. Not everyone wants or needs a chonker of a Pro phone.
What’s the point of buying the air only to add an ugly thick bumper case? I will never understand this logic…get a screen protector and use it naked for the form factor, after all that’s what you are paying for - accepting all those compromises for the thinness…but no let’s slap on a case..
I think this would make sense, if you completely ignore the other phones that were announced...
I think much of this is bias and preference. "I believe I'm a typical person, and if it won't work for me, it can't work for enough people to justify existing -- see the Mini line".
Likewise, people believe they selected the "right" model for themselves already, and feel the need to defend their purchase decision because if they're wrong, then they feel like they spent their $1000 incorrectly. People like validation that they made the right purchase decision. Seeing Air models still available now when they ordered a Pro is validation. Seeing the EU battery tests showing that the Air's battery performance may be similar to a last generation Pro model blows up some of the narrative of terrible battery (depending on use case, of couse).
The other concern I've seen some raise boils down to "if this is successful, then Apple will take this as validation and move all of the line to this design, and I don't want to lose all this battery life!". Some of that is rooted in the smaller iPhones going away after they introduced the larger models. The consumer overall spoke, and many folks lost the smaller phones they had a preference for.
It's all a bundle of fun, and best to ignore. There's a right option for everyone out there, including selecting none at all.
I'm curious to see the sales numbers for the Air later on because right now I am hearing a lot of people online saying they are going with the Air so lets see if they actually do. Plus, I really think once people go into a store and see it in person and compare it to the other models it will sell well due to its wow factor. I personally am waiting on user feedback on the Air, and checking it out in person of course, before deciding between the Air and upcoming 17e (I really want a light weight phone no matter what features I have to give up for it, I am so done with heavy phones).
People will use the stock to support their argument no matter how it goes.
Sells out quick? They didn't make many of them, doesn't mean it's selling well.
Doesn't sell out quick? Its because they made a lot of them, doesn't mean it's selling well.
Sells out quick? They didn't make many of them, doesn't mean it's selling well.
Doesn't sell out quick? Its because they made a lot of them, doesn't mean it's selling well.
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The thing is many of the criticisms are just repeats of those aimed at the original Macbook Air.
The single USB port was incredibly controvertial when power users of the era needed Firewire to offload video from DV cassettes and a DVD Burner to share their creations. You could equate the external battery pack to the Superdrive. Fast forward 17 years and now everyone picks the Air as the default and nobody misses Firewire.
The OG Macbook Air made people realise just how chonky and heavy their old laptops were. They (and I) happily lugged a 2.5kg beast to campus, work and back. The Air was just 1.6kg by comparison and we didn't know what we were missing.
Power users may not think of a Max iPhone as being heavy but the time I had one (14pm) it was triggering arthritis in my right hand. But we don't think of them as heavy or thick because we have nothing to compare them to. I imagine picking up the Air in an Apple Store and comparing it to the Max will instill similar feelings and in a couple of years we will wonder why we ever put up with such heavy phones.
