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

[GioGiusi]

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

Um, no. The Air is for people who value usability of the device they hold and look at for hours per day, over microscopic performance differences that haven't mattered for years.

The thing has better battery life, better CPU performance, and a better camera than an iPhone 14 Pro. We'll be fine. Trust me, we're not missing anything. I'm going from a 16 Pro Max to this, because I'm sick of the chonk, the heft, and ending the day with 60% battery life.

 

[GioGiusi]

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

This is what I want to see. Not a singular vision for iPhone, but a diversification. Let the Pro products have chunk, heft, the best cameras money can buy, and 2 day battery life. I don't understand the need for any of it, and I've had plenty of Pro iPhones. But someone somewhere wants it. Just don't hold back other important features just because you want to make a buck.

The fact that iPhone 17 and iPhone Air both have Pro Motion displays is an indication that common sense finally won out over greed at Apple.

 

[GioGiusi]

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.

Many people have said the Air is essentially the front half of the foldable. But unfortunately that isn't correct at all based on the leaked specs of the foldable.

 

[GioGiusi]

FWIW I would say that size including thickness is a functional component, not simply aesthetic.

Yes. Such a silly thing to say. As if the entire physical design and usability of the device were simply "aesthetic". What a coping comment.

 

[C7 POWER]

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!

This is mainly a test bed to nail down the technology for next years foldable.

 

[profmjh]

I've just pre-ordered an iPhone Air. For the following reasons.

First, as soon as I saw it, I fell in love. Here is Apple returning to its roots as a maker of beautiful things.

Second, the screen size is larger than my iPhone 16, yet the weight is not. That's a clear win.

Third, on most days, the battery life will be solid. On those days where I need something more, I have the custom-designed MagSafe battery pack to give me as much power as I could possibly need.

I used to be a Pro Max guy. But I actually downgraded from the 16 Pro Max to the regular 16. The reason? Weight. I'm old and I was getting recurring and persistent finger pain from supporting the weight of the Pro Max. That pain went away after the downgrade.

I also realized that I don't need the Pro features. The 16 has been my favorite iPhone ever. And I really had no plans to change it. Until I saw the Air.

I also have an 13 mini, which I absolutely love. It's the phone I use when I leave the house. It's so light and small it fits anywhere without discomfort or awkwardness. The Air will mostly be for home use. Doomscrolling on the sofa. And I'll be able to doomscroll more in a single viewing. Can't wait.

 

[profmjh]

This is mainly a test bed to nail down the technology for next years foldable.

Isn't this, you know, absolute nonsense.

The thin part of the Air is glass, metal and battery. You can't hinge two of them together and get a foldable phone. You need the plateau. How's that going to work?

If Apple wants to make a foldable they'll make a foldable. I don't see where the Air fits into that at all. I'm not even sure they appeal to the same customers.

 

[Garethe86]

Isn't this, you know, absolute nonsense.

The thin part of the Air is glass, metal and battery. You can't hinge two of them together and get a foldable phone. You need the plateau. How's that going to work?

If Apple wants to make a foldable they'll make a foldable. I don't see where the Air fits into that at all. I'm not even sure they appeal to the same customers.

Yes it IS nonsense. Apple is pretty discreet, they aren't going to advertise their R&D on the side of a bus so their competitor's can get a one up on them. Dynamic Island and removal of the headphone jack came out of nowhere, there was never a "precursor" about it. None of us had a clue.

 

[shr631]

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

flawed claim, air is plenty functional

more accurate to assert it’s for people who value form over features [that aren’t important to them]

basically it’s the right phone for plenty of people, assuming no unexpected “gates” pop up

 

[drugdoubles]

flawed claim, air is plenty functional

more accurate to assert it’s for people who value form over features [that aren’t important to them]

basically it’s the right phone for plenty of people, assuming no unexpected “gates” pop up

I agree if thinness and screen size are all what you care, you don’t care other things like price, lack of a lot of stuff in 17 Base, only one camera look like XR or 16e…

 

[ignatius345]

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.

100% agree. I just want a phone that isn't bulky and does the normal phone stuff.

When I look at my actual battery use day to day on my iPhone 15 Pro, I find that the vast majority of my hours I'm in situations where I can very conveniently charge my phone (work desk, home desk, driving, sleeping). It's rare that I hit the pillow at night with less than 50% battery, and it's often more like 70%. So really I'm carrying around a bunch of battery capacity I'm not using and I've got a thicker phone than I want in my pocket.

And really all this aside, I'll never understand people who just feel compelled to spend their time complaining about the mere existence of a product they don't want. I don't want a Pro Max phone, but you don't see me on discussions about that phone asking who it's for and why anybody would want it, and all that horse****. If it's not for you, it's not for you. Move on.

 

[Qu1ckset]

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

Meh I was I huge mini fan , ran my launch day 12mini up until last November , even had the battery replaced , but after switching to the 15pro I could care less about the mini

I have better battery life , better screen and I can pretty much use my 15p one handed.

I will say the air has me interested but I will wait to see it in store before I decide

 

[Qu1ckset]

100% agree. I just want a phone that isn't bulky and does the normal phone stuff.

When I look at my actual battery use day to day on my iPhone 15 Pro, I find that the vast majority of my hours I'm in situations where I can very conveniently charge my phone (work desk, home desk, driving, sleeping). It's rare that I hit the pillow at night with less than 50% battery, and it's often more like 70%. So really I'm carrying around a bunch of battery capacity I'm not using and I've got a thicker phone than I want in my pocket.

And really all this aside, I'll never understand people who just feel compelled to spend their time complaining about the mere existence of a product they don't want. I don't want a Pro Max phone, but you don't see me on discussions about that phone asking who it's for and why anybody would want it, and all that horse****. If it's not for you, it's not for you. Move on.

Ya I feel the same way , also have the 15pro and battery life is amazing , I have the option to charge it several times during the day (Car, Desk, etc) but never do , it just lasts all day with my usage!

 

[vvvvvv]

I agree if thinness and screen size are all what you care, you don’t care other things like price, lack of a lot of stuff in 17 Base, only one camera look like XR or 16e…

Upgrading from my 16e to an Air solely because it feels like a Duplo compared to other modern devices, even though there isn't much it can't do for my workflow.

 

[fatTribble]

From scratch sure. But taking a 16 and making an air is not hard for Apple or Samsung to do. Strip out parts like I said.

How do you know it’s only stripping out parts?
There are no parts that had to be redesigned to be smaller, more efficient?
Nothing had to change to reduce heat?
It’s not a Big Mac where you just omit the tomatoes.
Maybe we just have different ideas about what is hard.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Meh I was I huge mini fan , ran my launch day 12mini up until last November , even had the battery replaced , but after switching to the 15pro I could care less about the mini

I have better battery life , better screen and I can pretty much use my 15p one handed.

I will say the air has me interested but I will wait to see it in store before I decide

To each their own. I'm still enjoying my 13 Mini - it's nice how it just disappears into a pocket, and I don't find myself worrying about battery since I can charge just about anywhere.

The Air looks great. I wish the sides weren't polished, but it also doesn't matter since I have no intention on buying one.

 

[drugdoubles]

Upgrading from my 16e to an Air solely because it feels like a Duplo compared to other modern devices, even though there isn't much it can't do for my workflow.

Why do you feel like that? Just because you feel like it look cool?

 

[vvvvvv]

Why do you feel like that? Just because you feel like it look cool?

ProMotion is something I've wanted for ages. I'm not a Pro and rarely take photos, so I've not had a Pro phone. Base 17 is a solid deal but it's the first time in awhile they've done something different so I'm into it. I prefer the look of a single lens as well.

 

[kp98077]

1-air is much nicer looking phone than the pro
2-same screen (tad smaller)
3-better colors
4-less of a ridiculous opening
5-light
6-smaller than PM, not everyone wants a huge phone

 

[kp98077]

• 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.

Max for you?

 

[Qu1ckset]

1-air is much nicer looking phone than the pro
2-same screen (tad smaller)
3-better colors
4-less of a ridiculous opening
5-light
6-smaller than PM, not everyone wants a huge phone

Was never in the market for a new 17 pro or pro max as I’m happy with my 15pro , but man the new pro phones are hideous!

That being said I’m so tempted to get the new air!

 

[jmpage2]

Um, no. The Air is for people who value usability of the device they hold and look at for hours per day, over microscopic performance differences that haven't mattered for years.

The thing has better battery life, better CPU performance, and a better camera than an iPhone 14 Pro. We'll be fine. Trust me, we're not missing anything. I'm going from a 16 Pro Max to this, because I'm sick of the chonk, the heft, and ending the day with 60% battery life.

Correction, the sensor in the Air is the same smaller sensor found in the regular iPhone. It has the same number of pixels as the sensor in the pro but it is smaller which means it will perform worse in low light conditions which is why Apple did not show off night mode photos from the Air.

The Air has a single fixed 1x 28mm camera lens as that is the focal length that most people regularly use. Then it can do some cropping to take 2x photos that are not digitally manipulated.

Higher zoom levels are available through digital zoom and AI enhancement.

It cannot do macro photos which people use a lot.

It is unknown how it is going to do with things like reading barcodes, QR codes, etc. although I imagine Apple will put quite a lot of work into the algorithms that handle these things so that it performs well.

For reference purposes both the Samsung Edge and the regular iPhone 17 have an ultra wide lens and it's a bit of a mystery to me why both an ultra wide camera and stereo speakers weren't included on the Air.... I guess those are things Apple can add over the next refresh or two to make the Air more appealing.

The Air feels very similar to the launch of the iPhone X. A phone I was so excited about that I waited in the freezing cold in line overnight to buy it.

In hindsight the first generation of any brand new Apple product tends to have a lot of compromises and this one will be no different.

On the other hand if you find the heft of iPhone Pro annoying (I do) then it might be a nice upgrade.

I am personally somewhat tortured on this decision. I think I'd like the Air quite a lot in day to day use but have severe disappointment every time I wanted to do something with the missing cameras it doesn't have or am struggling to get a full day's battery use when I have to be on a bunch of video conference calls while traveling.

I want a bigger screen than what is on my iPhone 14 Pro but there's no way I will be able to comfortably pocket the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone 17 Pro probably does everything I need but I am settling for a slightly smaller screen and am still carrying a big brick of a phone in my pocket every day.

I really wish Apple had been able to make the device just a little bit more appealing for those of us who don't game or do lots of video with our phones but would really appreciate more of the basic feature set the regular iPhone has been delivering for years.

 

[Young Turk]

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!

I ordered mine, I order new every year, could afford any model, and chose the Air precisely for those reasons.

 

[naturalguy]

I don’t get the appeal of this phone, too each his own but I think this will go down like the iPhone mini

 

[timborama]

I don’t think anyone really asked for/wanted an Air, if the store is any indication. Every Air model is still 9/19 delivery as if 3.5 hours since orders started.