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

[Hicksmat1976]

lol to the op
this product is a box of stuff thrown together
its half an iPhone air and Tim thought, hey I could make some cash out of that half arsed product
lets call it something cool, like iPhone air
get people to pay for less than normally get but lets make it look cool

 

[Nom4d]

I am still on the fence on this one. I have the 16 pro and just looking forward to getting a lighter iPhone. Only thing that slightly puts me off is it’s going to be a little taller than the iPhone I have right now. However I think that is something I will just accept and get used to.

I am so tempted to pre order tomorow. However I wish to see the iPhones in the store first before I make a decision if I wish to buy.

I have 1 year left on my contract with my current iPhone but it all looks well to be next Friday then I will just trade in my iPhone in the Apple Store and pay the difference for the new iPhone air.

I just love the colour blue of the new air and that will be my go to iPhone. I have always got the pro iPhones but like most people I never really used the pro features. I am just looking forward to seeing the iPhones in person next Friday and then make my decision. However so far 95% confident will get it.

Also regarding speaker does not bother me. I have my AirPods Pro 2 which are always in my ears 🙂

 

[Cervisia]

A typical comment on social media and in many YouTube reviews goes: “Why would anyone pay $999 for an iPhone Air when it has worse specs than even the regular iPhone?”

Could you please finally understand that not every user cares about processor power or professional-grade cameras? Some people specifically want a light, thin, and elegant iPhone. Many iPhone users don’t play demanding games on their phone and only take simple point-and-shoot photos.

To be honest, it really annoys me how even on YouTube there seems to be some kind of baseline for what people are supposed to want from an iPhone. Just because someone like MKBHD prefers a giant phone with huge battery life and a Hollywood-level camera doesn’t mean everyone else should want the same thing.

I think iPhone Air is gonna sell like crazy!

Elegant is the last thing that comes to my mind about iPhone Air. I'd be happy with an iPhone with a single camera but a body that's thick enough so that there is no camera tumor. Also the place of wireless charging coils should go to the battery. But Apple has an accountant's idea of a lineup: all price points they target are checked, that's it.

However the real point of the iPhone Air is to be a tech demo for the foldable iPhone (that needs thinness), which will conquer a new price point so high in the lineup that even the Pro Max will blush. And it has a single camera because the foldable is also rumoured to only have one, and the Air can justify that: look, we've already made a premium phone with one, it's enough! It's not because we couldn't reasonably fit more into a foldable, cross my heart, I promise!

 

[Cervisia]

Completely agree! I think the Air will be very popular with the people who mostly use their iPhone for calls, texting and email type of functions. I know plenty of people who only take an occasional picture and don’t play games.

That's me, and I hate it. The ugly looks, the scary thinness, the big size.

They aren’t using their iPhone constantly so battery life of the Air would be plenty.

At the same time, I'd love a phone which I can be sure won't quit on me after a careless day, since my cards, transport pass are on it too.

I think it’s impressive that Apple can make an iPhone that thin yet so functional.

I don't really see the impressive part. The functional part - the big tumor that has the small camera tumor on it -housing the electronics is twice as thick as iPhone 6. All they did to cram everything into that bumpy tumor, then make the battery thinner.

 

[drugdoubles]

Another concern is that the “head” part of the Air should be much heavier because camera is so much thicker, so you would not feel comfortable when you hold it. The YouTubers who do marketing for living would never tell you.

 

[drugdoubles]

It is funny how money are made from 17 series:
17 Base: very high CP value this year
17 Pro/Max: kind of new look, you buy anyway if money is not an issue
Air: Air only MagSafe battery, at least 3 kinds of heavily protective case in Apple Store, Apple Care, extremely expensive repair Air fee, battery replacement

 

[fatTribble]

That's me, and I hate it. The ugly looks, the scary thinness, the big size.

At the same time, I'd love a phone which I can be sure won't quit on me after a careless day, since my cards, transport pass are on it too.

I don't really see the impressive part. The functional part - the big tumor that has the small camera tumor on it -housing the electronics is twice as thick as iPhone 6. All they did to cram everything into that bumpy tumor, then make the battery thinner.

Wow! Clearly not the phone for you then.

 

[Thisismattwade]

It is funny how money are made from 17 series:
17 Base: very high CP value this year
17 Pro/Max: kind of new look, you buy anyway if money is not an issue
Air: Air only MagSafe battery, at least 3 kinds of heavily protective case in Apple Store, Apple Care, extremely expensive repair Air fee, battery replacement

Hi, what does "very high CP value" mean?

 

[cdsapplefan]

iPhone air is definitely what they see as the way forward. Pros for the heavy utilitarian use etc, air for the new path. Much like iPhone X was the new way even though the launched the 8s right beside it.

People have said this around this forum since its launch in that it will only get better. Heck by the time I upgrade if they have stereo speakers I'll probably be considering it

You think they will get rid if the standard iPhone and just keep the Air as the way forward and phone for most people? The Air will be what most people need and the pro’s will be for what the heavy professional needs. Simplify the iPhone lineup like the MacBook 💻

 

[4sallypat]

• The iPhone Air is not a "new form factor," it is just a bit thinner. Made thinner by compromises like less speakers, less cameras, less battery capacity, etc.
• So in many ways you are paying $619 to downgrade.
• That said, IMO the iPhone Air looks excellent so far, a great product for Apple to add to its iPhone product mix and it will sell well.

Everyone is entitled to have their own opinions and wants.

It's an upgrade for me as my arthritic wrists, fingers and elbows will appreciate a lighter weight and thinner phone - perfect for my all day battery use (I don't use Pro features anyway).

iPhone is a tertiary tool - about 1-2 hours total per day.
OTOH I use 90% of the time: Mac Studio and Macbook M2 Air for daily tasks.

 

[mansplains]

It’s the perfect device for those that do a lot of consuming only. The screen is big / nice as the pros. Has a decent camera for when you want a photo of something. I always got the pro max for the screen but hardly ever did anything pro with it. The Air now fits perfectly for my needs.

It’s not as good for consuming video given the lack of stereo speakers. But with headphones, this doesn’t matter. Mono speaker is one of the few drawbacks keeping me from buying… it’s nearly perfect.

 

[Mrbobb]

I like aesthetic and thin, but sometimes it can be TOO THIN, the goiter camera hump doesn't help. I actually like 'em a little plum.

 

[QCassidy352]

The thing that kills me is it’s not actually that light. It’s 12g lighter than the base 17. Twelve. Grams. A difference that’s probably close to undetectable in the hand. (It’s also 24g heavier than the iPhone 13 mini, which was usable one handed and therefore actually had a reason to exist)

 

[joshwithachance]

Yes, Air is for those who value aesthetics over function. At least for now...

Because it still does 95% of what the base model and Pro do, while looking (and feeling) infinitely better while doing it.

 

[tonyau]

I just love this phone!
The only drawback for me is that the camera does not create .DNG files, otherwise I would order one today.

 

[Jeremy3292]

If people want to buy the Air bc they like it, by all means go ahead. To each his own, no worries there. But what I cannot stand is everyone say the Air is “innovative” or something “groundbreaking”. They literally just stripped stuff out! It’s not hard to do at all. Take out two bulky cameras, put in a much thinner battery, take out mmWave from the connectivity chip, remove speakers, and suddenly we are being innovative? There is absolutely nothing revolutionary about the Air. Please buy it if you like it, but miss me with the innovation BS. This is nothing like the MacBook Air from 15 years ago when all laptops around were BRICKS.

 

[Plerf]

You think they will get rid if the standard iPhone and just keep the Air as the way forward and phone for most people? The Air will be what most people need and the pro’s will be for what the heavy professional needs. Simplify the iPhone lineup like the MacBook 💻

Yes. But that will take about 2-3 iterations. See you in the fall of 2027!

 

[bbates123]

It is not light at all, it is just 5% lighter than the 17 Base but lack so many things of 17 Base.

Not sure what math you're using. It's 7.2% lighter. Not huge but significant.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

It’s not as good for consuming video given the lack of stereo speakers. But with headphones, this doesn’t matter. Mono speaker is one of the few drawbacks keeping me from buying… it’s nearly perfect.

One reason I recommend trying before buying is that we do not know how good/bad the single speaker will be. Obviously no stereo, but logically anyone who needs stereo will use headphones/pods. So will the Air's single speaker be loud enough and clear enough for non-stereo usages? Probably, but it requires real-world testing.

 

[bbates123]

The thing that kills me is it’s not actually that light. It’s 12g lighter than the base 17. Twelve. Grams. A difference that’s probably close to undetectable in the hand. (It’s also 24g heavier than the iPhone 13 mini, which was usable one handed and therefore actually had a reason to exist)

I sure wish we still had the mini but sadly, I don't see it ever returning. That being said, I'll take anything that reduces weight so I applaud Apple for providing a lighter alternative, the lightest mainstream phone out there. 12g is still 7% lighter and I think that is significant, especially with a larger screen.

 

[NativeMac]

If the Air had stereo speakers, I'd switch in a heartbeat from my Pro Max because I've found I don't use most Pro features. But having two speakers is something I use daily when watching videos. So this device is almost for me; so I understand the appeal.

 

[Atomic1977]

I think the air is just a carbon copy of what they tried to do with the iPad Air make it thinner and lighter. I have a air iPad and it’s not really all that lite.

 

[G5isAlive]

People get it. It's just most people are not overly concerned about the weight or thickness. The regular iPhone is not bothersome to that degree.

Some people compare it to MacBook Air in 2008. Regular notebooks of that era were 4-5 lbs and 1-inch thick. You carried it using a backpack. That's not that case with iPhone.

You made the OP's point in your rather black and white statement. It's not for you, it's not for some, but we should all recognize it can be for someone and acknowledge that point.

 

[drugdoubles]

Hi, what does "very high CP value" mean?

Google it or ask AI

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

It is not light at all, it is just 5% lighter than the 17 Base but lack so many things of 17 Base.

It’s not just about the weight, it’s also about the weight distribution, which is something a lot of people just refuse to keep in mind.
Yes, it’s only 5% lighter than the regular 17, but it is significantly wider and taller, meaning that in your hands, it will feel even more significantly lighter.
It’s the same reason a 5 LB MacBook Pro feels significantly lighter than a 5 LB weight, sure the actual measurement of weight is the same between both of them, but one of them is super condensed, and one of them is spread out across a massive surface.
Compared to an iPhone Pro Max, which is similar in dimensions, this thing will feel like a modern big screen iPod touch more than any big screen iPhone released within the past seven years.
Anyone who had an iPod touch back in the day will know exactly what I’m talking about, similar size dimensions to the iPhone of the time, but significantly thinner and lighter with those the same dimensions, and it was an absolutely different feel in the hand.
The fifth generation iPod touch and the iPhone 5 had the same screen size and pretty much the same height and width, but the iPhone 5 felt like a downright brick compared to the iPod touch, which felt so light it was almost more toy than tool, despite being essentially an iPhone with the phone stripped out.