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

[Mike2128]

I understand if a particular iPhone or any Apple product doesn’t appeal to someone. Maybe it’s the features. Maybe it’s the price. Maybe they are just happy with what they have.

The intensity that some people have in harshly criticizing a product and the people who like them is stunning.

Is it so preposterous to think that two people could be very happy with their devices and buying choices even though they’ve each made different decisions to meet their own needs and desires?

Is it so preposterous to be happy for someone else?

Especially for something no one has even handled yet.

 

[4sallypat]

I understand if a particular iPhone or any Apple product doesn’t appeal to someone. Maybe it’s the features. Maybe it’s the price. Maybe they are just happy with what they have.

The intensity that some people have in harshly criticizing a product and the people who like them is stunning.

Is it so preposterous to think that two people could be very happy with their devices and buying choices even though they’ve each made different decisions to meet their own needs and desires?

Is it so preposterous to be happy for someone else?

Well stated and agree!

I don't get why people talk negatively on a product that we haven't had time to test out and use.....

From someone who is NOT a pro user - a mere normal casual user I am looking forward to the new form factor in the Air.

 

[AppliedMicro]

The intensity that some people have in harshly criticizing a product and the people who like them is stunning.

I don’t think I’ve been too harsh.

But admittedly, I’d give them less crap once they give me my new mini.

 

[tolili alert]

Quite interesting comparing this and seeing the same size screen of the air comes in a footprint nearly 2 cm less in height of the 11 PM 👌🏻

In fact, Air’s screen is almost 0,1” bigger than 11PM (6,55” vs 6,46”).

 

[profmjh]

I’d give them less crap once they give me my new mini

I bought an Apple refurbished iPhone 13 mini last year as a second phone. It's not obvious to me that it's worse than my main phone, an iPhone 16. I'm sure there are all kinds of specification differences, but I just don't notice them. The mini is great for when I'm going outside: it's so small and light I don't notice that it's in my pocket at all.

 

[fatTribble]

I don’t think I’ve been too harsh.

But admittedly, I’d give them less crap once they give me my new mini.

I wasn’t trying to call out anyone individually. I was really just trying to comment on the overall tone without sounding judgy.

 

[Garethe86]

I bought an Apple refurbished iPhone 13 mini last year as a second phone. It's not obvious to me that it's worse than my main phone, an iPhone 16. I'm sure there are all kinds of specification differences, but I just don't notice them. The mini is great for when I'm going outside: it's so small and light I don't notice that it's in my pocket at all.

This was why I liked the SE from 2022, super lightweight and thin, felt great in the hand. It was the perfect hiking/travel phone. I even took it on a cruise (when I travel I leave my expensive tech at home).

 

[fatTribble]

Well stated and agree!

I don't get why people talk negatively on a product that we haven't had time to test out and use.....

From someone who is NOT a pro user - a mere normal casual user I am looking forward to the new form factor in the Air.

There are facts about the products like its battery life, features and materials.

Then there are opinions about those facts.

I could explain everything about the Air that wouldn’t meet my needs and desires. I’m still impressed by what it is and I’m thrilled for those who are getting one. I’m baffled what I’m supposed to be angry about.

 

[Garethe86]

There are facts about the products like its battery life, features and materials.

Then there are opinions about those facts.

I could explain everything about the Air that wouldn’t meet my needs and desires. I’m still impressed by what it is and I’m thrilled for those who are getting one. I’m baffled what I’m supposed to be angry about.

I don't know either. There are a lot of Apple products I will never own like a mac or vision pro, but I still marvel over the devices and genuinely happy for those who own them, I don't feel the need to cut em down.

 

[NotApplicable]

It’s not going to be 2 whole Airs though. You’re adding another screen, not everything inside of it. Apple clearly made the Air thinner than the S25 edge purposely. They are obsessed with details like that (sometimes for the worse) and I expect no different for their fold.

Both sides are going to have batteries in them if Apple wants to be competitive. Not to mention one side has ports, MagSafe, buttons, rear cameras, while the other side has double-sided screen. Each half of the Z fold 7 is 4.2mm thick on its own.

Rumors are that Apple won’t compete on thinness of the foldable in the first generation, but we all know the OS will be far nicer to use than android!

 

[fatTribble]

And as someone once said, you should never ask users what they need, because they can’t answer that; they might not even understand it, and even if they do, they won’t know how to come up with a solution. What you should ask users is what their problem or pain point is. Or even better, you should observe them.

Absolutely agree!

As a software engineer I’ve spent a lot of years improving applications for users. They would often ask if a particular feature could be changed or run faster. When I watched how they worked I almost always would find better improvements for them to do things automatically or with greatly reduced effort. Their response was very often “I never thought you could do that”

 

[Sami13496]

What's your source for what "many" and "most" Air users think? Especially because the Air hasn't shipped yet, I'd love to know how you came by this information.

Fair enough.

 

[Garethe86]

Absolutely agree!

As a software engineer I’ve spent a lot of years improving applications for users. They would often ask if a particular feature could be changed or run faster. When I watched how they worked I almost always would find better improvements for them to do things automatically or with greatly reduced effort. Their response was very often “I never thought you could do that”

On the other end of the spectrum there are end users upset and stressed just from having to change their passwords every 3 months; not everyone desires a product like a foldable, they might want a couple of extra features but they mostly want everything to remain the same. ***Not an engineer, but I've worked in process management n design.

 

[Ferrandix]

Yeah, a lot of geek people can´t event imagine there is people who thinks a smartphone can be like a watch, elegant and minimalistic

 

[ARK]

What are we comparing it to though? A phone with a different screen size is obviously going to have different height and width. IIRC the last 6.5” device was the 11PM and the air is certainly more compact:

View attachment 2549134

The 6 Plus is a better comparison. The Air is still smaller in depth and weight.

6 Plus
Height 6.22 inch
Width: 3.06 inch
Depth .28 inch
Weight: 6.07 ounces

Air
Height 6.15 inch
Width: 2.94 inch
Depth .22 inch
Weight: 5.82 ounces

 

[fatTribble]

On the other end of the spectrum there are end users upset and stressed just from having to change their passwords every 3 months; not everyone desires a product like a foldable, they might want a couple of extra features but they mostly want everything to remain the same. ***Not an engineer, but I've worked in process management n design.

My favorite was when we would give them a pop-up when an error occurred and they would call us in a panic having closed the pop up without reading it 🤪

 

[robotphood]

Let me repeat what I wrote: Understand that most people do not care about last year's iPhone.

The average smartphone replacement cycle is about 3-4 years in the U.S. This means the consumers considering iPhone 17 series currently use iPhone 13 or 14.

The battery life of iPhone 16 Pro is irrelevant to them. When they're upgrading, they're looking at what's available today. This represents the vast majority of consumers. MacRumors posters are not representative.



The level of discussion feels the same as 2020 we saw iPhone 12 mini, or 2022 when 14 Plus was launched. It's a new form factor year, so there's bound to be a lot of discussion.

If Apple had a 17 Plus, it would be fairly competitive. Look at how the 17 has many Pro features including display and 256GB base. The Air replaces that model.

You're right about the replacement cycle these days. But I think that makes the battery life of the current line even less relevant to someone coming from a 13 or 14 because according to Apple the only phones with better battery life than the Air are the 14+ Pro Max phones. I could see a customer that loves the Air form factor justifying it because the battery life is already better than the phone they are coming from. If you're looking for max battery life than you're likely considering the pro line anyway. But we'll see how the Air sells. I definitely think the 17 Plus would have cannibalize the Air with the 17 line having pro motion and 256gb now. Having a Plus model makes the Air pricing look even worse.

Well if the idea is to have a compact phone, which is what everyone is talking about surely it’s folly to compare it to the biggest iPhone there is.
My problem with the device is it’s not compact and it lacks features. A 2mm reduction in thickness doesn’t offset the trade offs, in my opinion.
If this had been a thin mini that had reduced features I would ‘get’ it.

People keep comparing it to the pros. Somehow the marketing have positioned the Pros and the Air as a premium device and people are just disregarding the normal iPhone which would be the best choice for most people.

Well I think a 2-3mm reduction in height/width and 61g lighter matters here. The Air isn't an overall small and compact phone like a Mini is supposed to be, but it is smaller and lighter all around to a comparable sized screen. It's more like a thinner/lighter Plus than anything. I don't disagree that the normal iPhone is the best value right now. A 17 Plus for 899 would have been excellent for people that want the bigger screen option.

The 6 Plus is a better comparison at:
Height 6.22 inch
Width: 3.06 inch
Depth .28 inch
Weight: 6.07 ounces

Air
Height 6.15 inch
Width: 2.94 inch
Depth .22 inch
Weight: 5.82 ounces

The Air is still smaller in depth and weight.

I think that's probably too far back and the 6 Plus had a 5.5" screen.

 

[robotphood]

Both sides are going to have batteries in them if Apple wants to be competitive. Not to mention one side has ports, MagSafe, buttons, rear cameras, while the other side has double-sided screen. Each half of the Z fold 7 is 4.2mm thick on its own.

Rumors are that Apple won’t compete on thinness of the foldable in the first generation, but we all know the OS will be far nicer to use than android!

Right, but the fold won't be 2 Airs just like how the Z fold 7 isn't 2x s25 edge. The batteries will likely be smaller/thinner. Even the Z fold 7 battery capacity is smaller than the S25+ and Ultra.

 

[SYCAMOREGRAD]

I got the 12 mini because it was a new form factor. Yes, the battery life was not great, but I loved that size so much I got the 13 mini, as well. When they dropped the mini for 14, I went with the Pro, since I would have to get a 6.1” phone. I went Pro on 15 in natural and 16 in Desert. Now I’m getting the Air. I think once people see it they will like how it looks. During Brian Tong’s roundtable last week more than one person said you HAVE to see it in person. Photos and videos don’t do it justice. My phone lives on MagSafe in the car, so it should be fine.

 

[ARK]

I think that's probably too far back and the 6 Plus had a 5.5" screen.

The dimensions of the device are nearly identical. How is that not comparable?

 

[ARK]

I got the 12 mini because it was a new form factor. Yes, the battery life was not great, but I loved that size so much I got the 13 mini, as well. When they dropped the mini for 14, I went with the Pro, since I would have to get a 6.1” phone. I went Pro on 15 in natural and 16 in Desert. Now I’m getting the Air. I think once people see it they will like how it looks. During Brian Tong’s roundtable last week more than one person said you HAVE to see it in person. Photos and videos don’t do it justice. My phone lives on MagSafe in the car, so it should be fine.

Small world ISU!

 

[Jumpthesnark]

Any who actually asked for a thin phone anyway? SMH

People in 2001: "Who actually asked for a white music player with some weird clickwheel to play songs that you have to import from your computer anyway? SMH"

 

[robotphood]

The dimensions of the device are nearly identical. How is that not comparable?

Oh yes you're right, it would be the closest comparison to how big the overall device actually is. My original reply was in response to people critiquing the Air not being "compact" compared to devices that have smaller screens like the mini.

 

[dantay]

For me I ordered the Pro and Air and cancelled the Pro when I really thought what I valued and what was important to me. I have the 16 Pro at the moment and it’s ok but the screen is a bit small for me and I don’t want a brick like the Max. I’m not a “Pro” user but didn’t want the 60hz screen last year so went Pro. This year there is something different that will work for me as the 16 Pro battery life is not an issue and I don’t listen to music on the speakers and just take the odd picture.

The Plus had no major selling points (for me) so I can see why Apple have created something with its on thing going on and own usp.

I’m looking forward to getting the Air and hopefully next year the Fold, it’s good to try new things.

 

[Sami13496]

Ordered a 17 Pro Max. My only sincere hope is that when I pick it up on Friday, and walk past the desk with the Airs on it, and when I magically stop there, and then when I hold one in my hands…that I won’t like the Air.
Because then my head will explode.
I like it so much but it just doesn’t make sense for me. And that’s sad because it’s such a beauty!
And who doesn’t like something beautiful ??!

Please let us know how it goes