I think the air is a interesting phone but not the type of phone I would get just to many compromises for me and just got a 16 back in April so I’m good here but if I was to get a 17 it would be the base model all the way it finally got the features that a lot people want on the base model and the way the economy is going a lot of people will be getting the base 17 in my opinion👍🏻
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Kuo: High Demand for iPhone 17 Models, But Questions Remain About iPhone Air
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It would be in a worse position. Same specs and price six months later? That’s half a cycle gone. The newness of A19 gone.
Apple does it with the regular iPhone 18 and 18e to promote the Pro models.
I think the Air is probably in more demand than this article suggests. I was pre-ordering one for myself and my wife and while my sky-blue was showing availability for the 19th, her white one was already into 1st-2nd week of October. She decided to 'make do' with sky blue 
I really don't understand these negative comments about the Air. Sure, it has compromises due to its dimensions - but why do you care? It's not like it's taking the place of a "more worthy" phone! Choice is good, in my book. I personally am tired of lugging around the 16 Pro Max - and the 17 Pro Max is getting heavier and thicker still. Since I never used the fancy cameras nor the two speakers, and always (except on vacations) have 40+% battery left at the end of the day, why carry the extra weight 100% of the time? The only thing I will miss is the Pro Max's screen size - which was the reason I got it in the first place. But at least the Air's is bigger than the Pro's.
I really don't understand these negative comments about the Air. Sure, it has compromises due to its dimensions - but why do you care? It's not like it's taking the place of a "more worthy" phone! Choice is good, in my book. I personally am tired of lugging around the 16 Pro Max - and the 17 Pro Max is getting heavier and thicker still. Since I never used the fancy cameras nor the two speakers, and always (except on vacations) have 40+% battery left at the end of the day, why carry the extra weight 100% of the time? The only thing I will miss is the Pro Max's screen size - which was the reason I got it in the first place. But at least the Air's is bigger than the Pro's.
Chinese customers have already spoken with the regular 17. Given the huge jump in Pro Max sales this year, it’s extremely unlikely Air will also be high in demand in China, unless you think people are starting to carry two phones, like back in the iPhone 6 days.
Biggest issue with the Air is the single camera. I think most consumers could deal with the lower battery life, especially the vast majority of people who aren’t power users. But no one wants to make concessions on camera features in 2025.
Sometimes it feels that Apple's sales team is out of touch with real demand and expectations. If it flops it would be second time already. Everyone wanted smaller phone and they made Mini, it was fun but lacked some crucial features, as well as price tag didn't make it the most affordable model from lineup. Now everyone wants lighter phone and they release this 165g 6.5' 1000$ slate without second speaker. I don't know honestly. Yes it has 12GB RAM so doesn't look as pathetic as regular 17, but on the other hand why no pro features like ProRAW, ProRes, ProRes RAW, vapor chamber. Or maybe all of those are reserved for 2nd iteration...
For example there are barely any differences nowadays in terms of features on iPad Air and Pro, or MacBook Air and Pro. But iPhone Air vs Pro battle is totally unequal.
On the other hand, we are yet to see real demand. Majority of people never pre-order and vote with their wallet, as well as most sales will happen during Black Friday and in the Christmas/New Year season. Air might outperform both Pro and regular 17 just because of "classy, fresh" factor
For example there are barely any differences nowadays in terms of features on iPad Air and Pro, or MacBook Air and Pro. But iPhone Air vs Pro battle is totally unequal.
On the other hand, we are yet to see real demand. Majority of people never pre-order and vote with their wallet, as well as most sales will happen during Black Friday and in the Christmas/New Year season. Air might outperform both Pro and regular 17 just because of "classy, fresh" factor
This was the main reason I held off on the Air. I think if they could've gotten to 2 lenses then you might've seen a lot more people okay with the change, but the single lens at this price point feels a bit too much compromise.
My current iPhone has a horrible battery. My previous iPhone had a battery that was replaced by the Apple retail store. The replacement battery bulged out of my iPhone housing. I am not a fan of Apple batteries right now. But…
As for battery life of the iPhone 17 Air, Apple says that it is “all-day” battery with 27 hours of video playback… that’s better than any of my prior iphones when new and at the point when I replaced them. So there is no gimping for me with the 17 Air in terms of battery life. At least not when looking at the specs. Real world use may prove a different story.
In terms of camera… well, I use my iPhone mostly as an internet device / media player, and as a file holder / external storage device. I might take 2 photos a month with my iPhone. So I don’t care about a camera on a phone, and I actually wish Apple would offer a camera-delete option for iPhones. I hate the hump, bump, plateau, pimple, valley, whatever you call it.
The way I use my iPhone, as an external storage device, my current phone does a reliable and satisfactory job in terms of file transfer speeds. USB C 2 on the 17 Air would be more of the same “reliable satisfactory job” in terms of file transfers. Granted, USB C 3 on the 17 Pro is much much much better. But for me, the transfer speed going from my current phone to a 17 Air would not be gimped. It would just be the same. I can live with that.
Other than just 1 out of 5 phone conversations being over speaker phone, I don’t listen to much out loud through the speakers of my iPhone. And my media consumption is through Beats Fit Pro. So for me, the 17 Air is not gimped there in terms of having just one speaker.
The 17 Air has the 12GB RAM which I definitely want. In that case, my current daily user iphone is absolutely gimped with it continually dropping pages / reloading pages.
So for me, if I upgrade, the only concern for me is the heating / cooling of the phone vs. the 17 Pro which has the new cooling tech. My current phone can become a hot-plate in my hand fairly rapidly.
The other issue that would give me pause is the price of the 17 Air. I am saying the $100 difference between it and the 17 Pro gives me pause. I either save weight, get a phone with 12GB RAM that does all the stuff I need, and I keep $100… or I spend $100 more and get a heavier and thicker phone, that I know will keep cool, but it has the 12GB RAM, and it has more other stuff on it than a I will use but it will do what I need.
So my issue is cooling or keeping $100 it seems. I think a hands-on trial in the store will solve that.
As for battery life of the iPhone 17 Air, Apple says that it is “all-day” battery with 27 hours of video playback… that’s better than any of my prior iphones when new and at the point when I replaced them. So there is no gimping for me with the 17 Air in terms of battery life. At least not when looking at the specs. Real world use may prove a different story.
In terms of camera… well, I use my iPhone mostly as an internet device / media player, and as a file holder / external storage device. I might take 2 photos a month with my iPhone. So I don’t care about a camera on a phone, and I actually wish Apple would offer a camera-delete option for iPhones. I hate the hump, bump, plateau, pimple, valley, whatever you call it.
The way I use my iPhone, as an external storage device, my current phone does a reliable and satisfactory job in terms of file transfer speeds. USB C 2 on the 17 Air would be more of the same “reliable satisfactory job” in terms of file transfers. Granted, USB C 3 on the 17 Pro is much much much better. But for me, the transfer speed going from my current phone to a 17 Air would not be gimped. It would just be the same. I can live with that.
Other than just 1 out of 5 phone conversations being over speaker phone, I don’t listen to much out loud through the speakers of my iPhone. And my media consumption is through Beats Fit Pro. So for me, the 17 Air is not gimped there in terms of having just one speaker.
The 17 Air has the 12GB RAM which I definitely want. In that case, my current daily user iphone is absolutely gimped with it continually dropping pages / reloading pages.
So for me, if I upgrade, the only concern for me is the heating / cooling of the phone vs. the 17 Pro which has the new cooling tech. My current phone can become a hot-plate in my hand fairly rapidly.
The other issue that would give me pause is the price of the 17 Air. I am saying the $100 difference between it and the 17 Pro gives me pause. I either save weight, get a phone with 12GB RAM that does all the stuff I need, and I keep $100… or I spend $100 more and get a heavier and thicker phone, that I know will keep cool, but it has the 12GB RAM, and it has more other stuff on it than a I will use but it will do what I need.
So my issue is cooling or keeping $100 it seems. I think a hands-on trial in the store will solve that.
What a weird post. It’s an option for those who want it.
I do. I don’t use the camera features on my 14pro max. It’s just not important to me. That’s why they have different features on different models, right? The lack of multiple camera lens is a feature that appeals to me.
While the Air has some shortcomings I’m a sucker for design so am waiting to get hands on for my final thoughts.
The battery in the Air on par with the 16 Pro is much better than I was expecting (if Apple can be believed) and the lower spec camera and speakers don’t bother me as I watch content on my iPad and am far from a photographer.
Having said that the value of the base 17 is hard to ignore so basically I have no idea what I’m doing 🤣
The battery in the Air on par with the 16 Pro is much better than I was expecting (if Apple can be believed) and the lower spec camera and speakers don’t bother me as I watch content on my iPad and am far from a photographer.
Having said that the value of the base 17 is hard to ignore so basically I have no idea what I’m doing 🤣
People use different products I see no use for, but that doesn't mean I hope they bomb horribly just to spite them (or god knows why you want to withhold people from having some options). They made the air the thin, shiny, jewel-like phone so the pro's could be utilitarian and thicker because they think some people bought the pro for the looks and build quality. I think they're right. You get what you want: a thicker phone with awesome battery, and yet you're angry that they gave people the option for an alternative... Why?
I half regretted panic buying a 13 Pro after my 11 Pro Max was pickpocketed in 2021, instead of a 13 Mini. But the 13 Pro cameras for work and the starlight colour instead of white on the 13 Mini made my choice.
I now have a decent DSLR for work, so after 4 weighty stainless steel years of the 13 Pro I’m giving the Air a chance.
I now have a decent DSLR for work, so after 4 weighty stainless steel years of the 13 Pro I’m giving the Air a chance.
Weird take. Having the Air in the lineup frees Apple to make the Pro chunkier and beefier with better battery life, better cameras, etc. If you want slim, you have that option. If you want more battery, you have the Pro (or regular iPhone, which seems to have excellent battery life). It's not like the Air is replacing the other choices.
So, I also fell into the trap of replying to this guy, but clearly he's a troll. If you check his message history, it's about how Apple Watches burned his wrist, how the samsung stuff is so great ("buying it on day one and it's so amazing!", "two weeks in and it's great!", then replying to other people "when I first bought it I thought it was trash, but after a couple of months everything is amazing!"), shocking people with degrading porn stories, etc.
he's just looking for engagement and rage.
Don't fall into the trap I did: don't feed the troll.
Exactly. Don't feed ANY of the trolls. A week ago, many here said that all the iPhone sales were going to be lukewarm. Not true. Now, the commentariat needs to go on about something else. It's a good slate of equipment this September, most incremental, but some more cutting edge, such as the Air. People often overlook that, sometimes, a first version of a new category is as much a proof of concept as anything else. Hopefully, they will iterate on it. Is the Air for me? No, but I applaud them taking the risk. Perhaps it'll be like the SE - with a small, but loyal following and maybe not enough buyers to keep it going forward. But maybe some of the Air's technology will trickle down - or up - to other models. In the meantime, life beckons and I should get off the internet.
It's far less compromising than the Macbook Air was at launch and that is now easily one of their best products. I don't even get why you're complaining. The pro got thicker, more battery than ever, and better performance. Clearly they've realized there are people who want one or the other and are happily accommodating both.
I think it has to be a certain type of person crashing out about the Air. It’s stirred strong emotions within them and they’re still processing it all. 🙏🏼
We should try and be patient with their outbursts as they slowly come to terms with it.
It's because many people don't like Cook and want to see Apple fail as a result. While conveniently forgeting that Apple flops (around a dozen+ of them) were under the leadership of the previous CEO.
He added that there is no direct historical comparator for its positioning in the lineup, making it hard to assess how it will perform at this early stage.
I beg to differ.
Remember the iPod mini? Everyone and their cousin said:
"No one will fall for that. 4GB for $249"
While the regular one was:
$299 (10 GB)
$399 (15 GB)
$399 (20 GB)
$499 (30 GB)
$499 (40 GB)
Yet it proved to be their most successful iPod at the time.
What I can't fathom is why they didn't equip it with a 96mpx Ultrawide capable of using sensor crop to 1x and 2x. This way you'd have everything the regular iPhone offers in a single lens. Then again do you need an ultrawide when a panorama will do?
Its worth mentioning Google used to offer a really nice 3x3 image stitch panorama mode on their camera that produced great results. Its possible to use software to eliminate the need for the ultrawide.