iPhone Air People Just Don’t Get the Point of the iPhone Air

[Lounge vibes 05]

The Air release and reception is reminding me a lot of the XR release.
The XR made several compromises that the phone directly beneath it, the iPhone 8+, didn’t.
The 750P LCD display was criticized, its single camera was criticized, its bright color options were criticized. People honestly thought that consumers would choose the dual camera packing full 1080P 8+ over the “ compromised” XR.
This feels very similar, the Air has a lot of compromises over the phones directly beneath it, but it does push the envelope forward, just like the XR did.
For all of its flaws, the XR was wildly successful.

 

[Garethe86]

orange brick

Exactly!

How would you know the battery falls short ?
Apple did say "all day battery" which is more than enough for me being a casual user.

Camera falling short ?
Not for me - I don't use it much and when I do it's a point and shoot like and instamatic.

I thought they said 27 hours, on par with the current 16 pro, which is what I have, so I can live with that. I rarely run below 50%. I also bought the battery pack, but it won't be available until sometime after I receive the phone.

 

[sonicrobby]

people don’t get me either, the amount of money I would pay for a modern day iPhone with a camera that is flush with the back… I would have be willing to pay more and “downgrade” from my 16 pro to the 16e if that back camera was flush 😍

And by modern day, I just mean supported by the latest OS versions

 

[Garethe86]

The Air release and reception is reminding me a lot of the XR release.
The XR made several compromises that the phone directly beneath it, the iPhone 8+, didn’t.
The 750P LCD display was criticized, its single camera was criticized, its bright color options were criticized. People honestly thought that consumers would choose the dual camera packing full 1080P 8+ over the “ compromised” XR.
This feels very similar, the Air has a lot of compromises over the phones directly beneath it, but it does push the envelope forward, just like the XR did.
For all of its flaws, the XR was wildly successful.

Ugh, I had all kinds of problems with that XR, I don't think I lasted even 3 months with it, it was a beautiful phone though, I had the red.

 

[4sallypat]

Exactly!

I thought they said 27 hours, on par with the current 16 pro, which is what I have, so I can live with that. I rarely run below 50%. I also bought the battery pack, but it won't be available until sometime after I receive the phone.

Yes, I saw that too

 

[rachelsgoldens]

I'm excited for it! I need lighter and thinner in my work day. I have to stick my phone in my pocket throughout the day because I'm not always sitting at a desk, and the heavy phones pull my pants down! That's not very flattering for a woman or a leader, so I'm excited to have something lighter to carry around
I'm also keeping I'm 16 Pro for weekends or times when I'm taking more photos.

 

[4sallypat]

I'm excited for it! I need lighter and thinner in my work day. I have to stick my phone in my pocket throughout the day because I'm not always sitting at a desk, and the heavy phones pull my pants down! That's not very flattering for a woman or a leader, so I'm excited to have something lighter to carry around
I'm also keeping I'm 16 Pro for weekends or times when I'm taking more photos.

Same here - I wear 2 iPhone Pros (personal and work) on my belt all day 5 days a week.

Combined, they do drag my pants down.

Hoping if the 17 Air works out, I will get my work phone replaced as well..

 

[Qu1ckset]

I just preordered the iPhone 17 Pro Max, upgrading from my 16 Pro, but I'm having second thoughts. I love the idea of a bigger screen and the better camera for taking photos of our new baby, but I'm worried the Pro Max will feel too heavy.


Is anyone else going from a 16 Pro to the new Air, and are you concerned about the camera difference? I'm trying to decide if the lighter feel is worth the trade-off.

As far as the design of the air, it just feels more like “old apple” if that makes sense. And I mean that in a good way.

I got the 15p just before my kid was born , and it’s been just over a year and honestly camera wise , the single camera would have been fine , haven’t really used the other lenses.

The only thing holding me back on upgrading right now is the lack of usb3 other wise I would have already ordered just waiting to see it in store before I make a decision

 

[drugdoubles]

The Air release and reception is reminding me a lot of the XR release.
The XR made several compromises that the phone directly beneath it, the iPhone 8+, didn’t.
The 750P LCD display was criticized, its single camera was criticized, its bright color options were criticized. People honestly thought that consumers would choose the dual camera packing full 1080P 8+ over the “ compromised” XR.
This feels very similar, the Air has a lot of compromises over the phones directly beneath it, but it does push the envelope forward, just like the XR did.
For all of its flaws, the XR was wildly successful.

XR was a cheap choice and a lot of cellular plan provided that for free, Air is crazy expensive.

 

[wagszilla]

If consumers don't "get the point" of a consumer product, the company is the one that has failed.

(It's a very sleek phone though, to be fair)

 

[Rigby]

It looks cool but honestly I don't get the hype. The iPhone 6 and the SE (2020/2023) were both less than 2mm thicker and had no camera bump. Obviously the hardware is much improved, but the form factor doesn't seem all that revolutionary.

 

[Qu1ckset]

It looks cool but honestly I don't get the hype. The iPhone 6 and the SE (2020/2023) were both less than 2mm thicker and had no camera bump. Obviously the hardware is much improved, but the form factor doesn't seem all that revolutionary.

Hated the feel of the iPhone 6 , never ran a case on my iPhone 5 but 100% needed a case on the 6 as the rounded edges made it so slippery!

I know this is subjective but I think the air is the best looking phone out of the whole 17 lineup , not perfect by any means but def interesting , new pros are stupid ugly!

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

XR was a cheap choice and a lot of cellular plan provided that for free, Air is crazy expensive.

With inflation, the XR was $967.64 in today’s money, and the Air is $999.
It’s also very likely that, much like the XR before it was set up to become the basic numbered iPhone, I think it’s very likely that the Air is set for the same trajectory.

 

[phoneorpda]

I have been a Pro model user since this differentiation existed, and I couldn’t be more excited to upgrade to the Air. For what I look for in a phone it’s perfect!!!!

 

[drugdoubles]

With inflation, the XR was $967.64 in today’s money, and the Air is $999.
It’s also very likely that, much like the XR before it was set up to become the basic numbered iPhone, I think it’s very likely that the Air is set for the same trajectory.

The lowest price for a new XR was $499 in 2021.

The inflation adjustment formula is:
Adjusted Price = Original Price × (CPI in 2025 / CPI in 2021)
= $499 × (314.80 / 270.97)
≈ $499 × 1.162
≈ $579.84

Air is 72% more expensive

 

[zenmacx]

It’s easy to get hyper focused on specs instead of the real world user experience. While certainly not a direct competitor to iPhone Air specs wise, an iPhone I purchased just for the fun of it and to see what the user experience is like is the 16e.

I was pleasantly surprised and even a bit shocked at how pleasant the user experience is. Especially when compared to my main primary phone which is an iPhone 16 Pro Max. Having carried two phones daily for years, I thought let's put an iPhone 16e on my secondary line just for the fun of it.

Now that I have had that experience I will try an iPhone Air for the same reason, just to see what it’s like. Perhaps it will end up replacing the Pro Max on my primary line. That would be a stunning change.

 

[drugdoubles]

With inflation, the XR was $967.64 in today’s money, and the Air is $999.
It’s also very likely that, much like the XR before it was set up to become the basic numbered iPhone, I think it’s very likely that the Air is set for the same trajectory.

XR was popular after it had big discount and gave out with cellular plan, not original price.

 

[maxoakland]

Air people are gonna know what it's like to be a mini fanboy. When did we become so negative as a society?

When we got tired of companies trying to sell us warmed over mediocrity at ever higher prices as our wages stagnate thanks to their union busting and lobbying

 

[icemantx]

As a previous owner of the 11 Pro, 12 Pro and now the 16 Pro, there is no logic as to why I’m considering the Air. I think it’s the simplistic and sleek design coupled with a bigger screen, yet not plus size unwieldy. The battery is worse, cameras are worse, speakers are worse, yet I still find myself thinking about moving to it from the 16 Pro even though objectively it makes little sense.

 

[jmpage2]

The point is the Air is a compromised product. It’s worse than base 17 in every single way except thickness and only slightly lighter. If people like it and want to buy it that’s cool, go ahead. But it’s not innovative. It’s a watered down product to make it “thin”

It is not worse than the base 17 in "every single way".

1. 50% more RAM.
2. Faster CPU/GPU
3. Larger screen.

 

[scrapesleon]

Tim thought people didn't learn their lesson from the iPhone 6

 

[huanbrother]

Anyone think the air is a precursor for a foldable in the next year? Certainly thin enough. Would be an instant buy for me if they make it, but for now ill stick with my mini. I love being able to drop it in any pocket and not notice it. One thing that would make me upgrade on size is a foldable.

Yeah.

Why don't we call the current Air --- iPhone UNO
and the two part foldable --- iPhone DOS

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

The lowest price for a new XR was $499 in 2021.

The inflation adjustment formula is:
Adjusted Price = Original Price × (CPI in 2025 / CPI in 2021)
= $499 × (314.80 / 270.97)
≈ $499 × 1.162
≈ $579.84

Air is 72% more expensive

Nonsense, I’m talking in 2018 when the phone released.
Obviously, the price had gone down by 2021, just like in 2028 this years iPhone Air will likely be able to be purchased refurbished or possibly new for sub-$500.
But when the phone released, it was $749, or $967 in today’s money.

 

[Zayway86]

Good luck with the battery life. It will probably suck.

 

[Mike2128]

Coming from a 14 Pro, everything about the Air is either equal or upgraded. The camera features I’ll be losing are legitimately things I’ve never once used on my 14 Pro, or still have no idea what they even are. And it’s the first “new” design in a long time, so that counts for something to me.