Am I wrong in the mindset that tech isn’t always trying to solve a problem? Sometimes products are created just to see if they could be. And that seems to at least partially be the case with the Air. Clearly the phone only has one speaker and one camera because it quite literally can’t fit anything else in it. But it’s an engineering marvel that will need to be seen and held in person vs argued about online by people who’ve never seen or touched it.
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iPhone Air People Just Don’t Get the Point of the iPhone Air
- Thread starter Sami13496
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It is just so thin that it disappears in your hand...and incredible strong. Also it incorporates Apple AI 😅
But then, consumers can be impressed by its looks. In reality the iPhone of today, at least in my view, is not a significant leap forward past the iPhone 13 Pro or maybe 14 Pro in relation to technological advancements.
But then, consumers can be impressed by its looks. In reality the iPhone of today, at least in my view, is not a significant leap forward past the iPhone 13 Pro or maybe 14 Pro in relation to technological advancements.
iPhone Air
The thinnest iPhone ever. With the power of the A19 Pro chip inside. The new Center Stage front camera. And Ceramic Shield front and back.
www.apple.com
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I’m not arguing. The op said people don’t get it I agreed.
I don’t understand the point in paying more for minimal form over function. If it was a new mini it wouldn’t be for me but I would get it. This i don’t.
Apple as always been about paying more for the aesthetic and refinement. If we talk practicality and function, android would have been the logical choice for many. But apple spending their time to polish up for the aesthetic and user experience, for many it is worth paying more for. The iPhone air is another example of that. As a pro user, I had no plans to upgrade my phone if it was just the 17, 17 pro and pro max released. Because I will get a different experience than what I’ve had, that is why I’m deciding to try the iPhone air. Using the thin m4 iPad Pro has made my experience more… magical? Than my older iPads. To this day I take my iPad out of its case and appreciate how thin it is on a weekly basis. I’ve not have that feeling with iPhone since the iPhone X. I’m hoping the air can bring that back.
The stereo speakers were really what kinda drove me to the pro max again even though I wanted to switch it up
I get this. The lack of stereo speakers is the last thing that is holding me back. Since the configuration I want isn’t available for launch day delivery (256GB cloud white) I’m just going to wait for the reviews before I make a decision.
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Your tone is not an issue. This is a rare moment in the last 10 years of Apple history with a truly revolutionary product. I’m getting on that bus as that is why I buy Apple products. I am truly bored with the pro models and I hope my tone resonates as I hope everyone is happy with their phones this year. What if the air can do all we hope? That’s enough for me.
MR and YouTube don't represent typical users. Both are filled with tech chasers who obsess over the minuscule and gripe about everything imaginable.
Stop getting upset over the internet and focus on what you want and need. And stop defending the Air. It doesn't need defending.
The most vocal complainers here (about the Air) come from those who have no real interest in the Air, they just enjoy belittling everyone else to make themselves feel important. Ignore the impudent and your life with be much smother.
That’s great and very long winded but I don’t get it, it’s not that deep. You’re paying more for a worse phone for a marginal perceived improvement in size. I don’t get it.
You’re right, it really isn’t that deep: you aren’t the target audience.
I didn’t say I was. I don’t know why anyone would be I don’t get it.
Revolutionary?! I’m so upset with Apple at this point. The fact that they never innovate these days has us thinking a slimmed down phone is equivalent to what the first Gen IPhone was or what the IPhone X became. Apple needs to Do Better. Even when they bring the foldable it will be so late it the game that we are just playing catch up.
I would wait until air 2… I think the air is going to be a great phone but I’m not sure about the air 1… At least wait for more durability test, head tests and more…
Right but it has a slightly larger screen which is a nice bonus for someone who wants the largest screen they can get in a phone that still fits easily in a pocket.
I get it. I’m all in, last chance for Apples 1st revolutionary product of this generation. But…. if the Air is finally a reason to stay with Apple I’m willing to give them that chance. If it burns a hole in my stress-less chair from overheating and the battery runs out before my first cup of coffee in the morning I too am done.
You don’t have to get it though, people find value in different things. I don’t understand why people purchase luxury cars when basic ones do the same thing. But that’s because I value the transport from A to B, while other may value the comfort or features. The aspects you find important, are what you would be willing to pay more for, even if others don’t see its value.
You say a worse phone, but to me the size is more valuable than the internals. I would pay $1500 for an iPhone mini with a worse camera, but same battery life as the iPad Air and runs iOS 26. No one will ever understand why I would do that, but it’s important for me. I value form factor more than internals because my threshold requirements for internals are minimal. A phone that is thin, small, and has a flush camera, I would pay way more for than a phone that doesn’t look good to me but has 3x the processor.
How are people just able to up and leave Apple. I definitely be looking at the Samsung foldables but I have an Apple Watch, IPad, Apple TV, and IPhone. I’m pretty locked in.
Your last sentence says it all. If you think you will like it, try it. The 2 week return period, no questions asked is generous and enough time to check for overheating, poor sound quality, limited camera, etc. That's my plan and I hope I love the Air as much as I think I will.
At no point did I say I need to get it. I’m saying I don’t. You’re arguing with me about it.
As I said I would understand a mini I dont understand this.
It has a bigger footprint, shaves off 12 grams and is 2.3mm thinner most people would have a net gain if they just got a slimmer case on a 17 than their current case.
I just don’t believe that’s a noticeable improvement and potentially marginally worse to fit in a pocket. I don’t get it, I’m not trying to convince you but for some reason you’re trying to convince me.
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I hear you Cyberguy. I think the transition away from Apple for me would be gradual. Apple TV and the watch would be easy for me to migrate away from. iPad hardware is awesome but not so much with the software. I believe that if the air isn’t a wonderful product I will try a Samsung phone next time.How are people just able to up and leave Apple. I definitely be looking at the Samsung foldables but I have an Apple Watch, IPad, Apple TV, and IPhone. I’m pretty locked in.
16e: 6,05” (officially 6,1”)
Air: 6,55” (officialy 6,5”)
Apple and its rounding… The Air is 0,5” bigger and 2 g lighter than the 16e. The iPhone 16e is almost halfway between the iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone Air…
I hadn’t seen this and it is super interesting. I think the mixed use rating is the closest thing we have to a battery life test before reviews come in.
The Air is rated for 40 hours like you said. The iPhone 16 Plus is rated for 48 hours. Therefore, extrapolating: the Air has 83.3% as much battery as the 16 Plus, or in other words, about 22 hours of screen-on time with the same use with which my 16 Plus gives me 27 hours.
We’ll see if comprehensive reviews match this, but I think it’s looking good.
My iPhone Xʀ gave me 16 hours of SOT and I was very happy with that. 22 hours would still be great.
With a little luck, battery life is not one more compromise. (Some people had stated that the refresh rate could be optimised for video and that’s why it’s as good as the 16 Plus).
If it is that good (22 hours of SOT with light use), I think people will be happy. After all, the iPhone Xʀ gets 16 on iOS 12 and everybody loved it.
It has to have margin for heavier use, such as full cellular. My Xʀ on iOS 12 gets 12.
I think that a real-world battery life worse than 16 hours of light use is untenable for most users today. Users are too heavy. Something like the Xs’ battery life wouldn’t fly today. But 22 hours would give a full day to relevant users. I say relevant because ridiculously heavy users kill everything regardless of how good it is. And I don’t say heavy in terms of time, but in terms of usage. High brightness gaming would kill my 27-hours-of-SOT 16 Plus on iOS 18 in five hours. It’s just not a relevant usage pattern to me.
It’s so clear that those on this forum who are most critical of the air are people who ordered the pro max but just know deep down that it is a boring revision, another weighty brick with a camera spec bump and little else. They know the Air is fresh and reminiscent of the Apple of old but they also know they would have to deal with compromises. This creates conflict and the only instinctive to do is to just hate on the Air.
Does the iPhone Air have the camera sensor from the 16e? Seems like that’s the case being it does not have macro ability like the base iPhone 16 or 17. Or is macro achieved through the ultrawide lens only? Which would mean it’s the same main 26mm sensor in the 16e, 16, 17, Air