Not in every way. The Air has a larger screen. The Air has a version of the Pro A19 chip with 50% more cache memory than the A19 in the base iPhone 17. The Air also has the ceramic shield on the back, unlike the base iPhone 17.
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iPhone Air People Just Don’t Get the Point of the iPhone Air
- Thread starter Sami13496
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Love it or hate it, IMO the Air is innovative with the design and engineering it’s taken to get a device this slim and stunning with the power it has inside.
Amazing work Apple 🤩😃
God I need them to give the Mini this treatment.
I used to be that way when younger but as I age, I don't have that need anymore.
When the 14+ came out with longer battery life than the Pro - I was stunned needing to charge every other day.
Now that my use time is lower, I will be happy with the Air that gives me all day battery life.
I will be happy if it lasts as long as my current 16 Pro which is too heavy and bulky for my aged hands.
BTW I much prefer to use a Mac Studio with dual 27" displays, full sized keyboard & a real mouse since my eyes are getting weaker...
I was expecting to think the exact same thing, but the specs are honestly great and the price is a LOT less than I was expecting, so I'm going non-pro for the first time in like 7 years.
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.
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.
The Air looks more Pro than the Pro’s this year lol going back to the stainless steel glossy frame look we had for years, only it’s titanium on the Air with Ceramic Shield front & back glass.
Plus it’s got the A19 Pro chip with 12gb RAM. Powerhouse.
A19 vs A19 Pro. It’s literally more powerful than the base 17
I’m considering trading my 16PM for the Air. This years updates have been lacklustre, but I have been struggling with the bulk of the PM and not enjoyed the experience. I am definitely getting the Fold next year though. Going to wait until I can try the Air in the store and if I fall in love with it, I’ll trade.
I love the idea of a bigger screen and would love a Pro Max, but for medical reasons (Carpel tunnel & failed operations) I stick with smaller form factors, until now. Pro Max too heavy.
I had a 16e, sold it to my brother then I’ve been using a 16 Pro for the last 4 months. I pre ordered the Air today and I’m really excited and looking forward to it, bigger screen, thinner and quite a bit lighter than the 16 Pro 👌🏻
The Air’s camera will be excellent if lacking some features vs the Pro’s, certainly more than enough to take some great photos of your new baby (congrats)
I'm going from 16 Pro to the air and im not concerned about the camera difference at all. The Air is still going to have a great camera it just wont have the ultrawide or the telephoto. I don't know about you but I don't personally use either of those all that often. Ultrawide more than the telephoto but I will be fine either way. I do have an actual dedicated small camera I take with me most places as well so a lot of my phone pictures are just snaps when I happen to not have my Ricoh.
Overall I think that once you get used to the air camera it will be a complete non issue.
Despite the worse camera and likely poor battery, I was tempted to go from a Pro Max to the Air, but the orange was too tough for me to pass up. Just one of my favorite colors. But I much prefer the look of the Air and can see where Apple wants to go in a few years. Beautiful device.
I always purchased the highest tier iPhone. Currently have a black titanium 16 Pro Max 1GB and still have 103% battery life. Purchased new in October. Tired of the same old design year after year so I pre-ordered the iPhone Air and looking forward to trying a new design. I am not trading in my 16 Pro Max so I have a back up plan if need be.
Agree - 16 Pro not that great for the weight and bulk.
17 Air should be the new standard.
Of course this is the exact configuration I wanted and I was unable to get my preorder in before the shipping dates slipped to this. And my local Apple stores don’t have pick up times for this. Other colors no problem, just not the one I want. Oh well, guess this means I’ll get to read reviews and see it in person before I get it. Looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks in a week!
I pre-ordered the iPhone Air this morning for 9/19 in-store pickup, coming from my current 15PM that I've had for almost 2 years (and before that 13 Pro, 12 Pro and then X). I would classify myself as a "prosumer" - I like nice stuff, but I really don't *need* the power.
This is a similar situation these days with the current Macbook Airs, ever since the M1. The performance in the MBAs for the last few years has been more than enough for *most* people. And the Macbook Pros now feel more for true professionals who need the power / use their laptop as their livelihood, and thus have the more chonky body / ports.
I actually just got the M4 15" MBA, after I had the 2021 M1 Pro 14" MBP for last 4 years, and before that the 2016 13" MBP.
I got the Pro, but realized I didn't really "need" it.
The iPhone Air is a beautiful piece of tech. It really feels like the premium, luxury device for the "prosumer". If you need either the performance, the extended battery life, or the add'l camera lenses, you'll know it and you'll go with the Pro/Pro Max. But I agree there's probably a solid number of people who don't need those, but still want a premium device.
This is a similar situation these days with the current Macbook Airs, ever since the M1. The performance in the MBAs for the last few years has been more than enough for *most* people. And the Macbook Pros now feel more for true professionals who need the power / use their laptop as their livelihood, and thus have the more chonky body / ports.
I actually just got the M4 15" MBA, after I had the 2021 M1 Pro 14" MBP for last 4 years, and before that the 2016 13" MBP.
I got the Pro, but realized I didn't really "need" it.
The iPhone Air is a beautiful piece of tech. It really feels like the premium, luxury device for the "prosumer". If you need either the performance, the extended battery life, or the add'l camera lenses, you'll know it and you'll go with the Pro/Pro Max. But I agree there's probably a solid number of people who don't need those, but still want a premium device.
Ah maybe that's what is churning up the Pro and Pro Max people and starting to diss the Air ?
Have you seen the threads of people complaining that the Pro and Pro Max are built out of aluminum which they say is inferior ?
I for one, can't wait for my shiny, titanium framed Air.
Delivery date still hasn't changed even from 5am this morning....
iPhone 16 Pro user here. I’m going with the iPhone Air. The aluminum on the new iPhone 17 Pro looks very cheap imo. It’s a step back from Titanium. If they wanted to ditch the Titanium on the new Pros then they should’ve at least gone back to stainless steel.
Based on what I’ve seen thus far, the iPhone Air looks more premium. It’s nice to see a different form factor come into the market and still has basically the same specs as the Pro models.
I upgrade every year and have always gone the Pro route. It’ll be refreshing to try something different.
Based on what I’ve seen thus far, the iPhone Air looks more premium. It’s nice to see a different form factor come into the market and still has basically the same specs as the Pro models.
I upgrade every year and have always gone the Pro route. It’ll be refreshing to try something different.
This is a similar niche to the mini, except the only short falls are battery and camera. The access to faster 5G has trade offs but not significant enough to matter. The single speaker is already a non issue as I have the airpod pro 3 on preorder and a homepod mini for white noise while I sleep. The look and innovation interest me more than an orange brick to take pictures with. This is the first step towards a foldable and after buying a Z fold 6 for work I am all in on a foldable iPhone.
Same here, I'm a homebird anyway, what am I going to zoom in on? The dishes in the sink from my living room couch? Mkbhd stated nobody asked for light/thin. Well, nobody asked for a camera that could film an ant crawling on the ground from a quarter mile away either. Yet tech bloggers can't stop gushing about cameras. I get it. Filming is their business. But the rest of us don't live a life where we can go around snapping pics all day long.
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.