iPhone 17 Reason for Apple poor Air sales and people’s dislike of Pro camera bar

[bbates123]

Because people don't want last year's technology or performance. They don't want to choose a phone with the lowest battery life in the line up.

I'm not sure why some people keep bringing up iPhone 16 Pro. It's a silly comparison.

It's like saying, "People didn't have a problem with A18 chip last year, why do they have a problem if Apple uses A18 again this year?" Well, duh, nobody wants last year's tech.

Again, I'm not sure why you keep hating on the Air. Similar battery to the base 17, better modem (for many, including me) best size/weight which is an important "feature" just like 3 cameras or stereo speakers are features for people that value that (I don't). It has more of what I need and less of what I don't need than anything else in the 17 lineup. Don't be a hater and be happy that there are choices for the people that don't want bricks.

 

[bbates123]

I guess to laymen, "top of the line tech" now is simply "more battery, more cameras" even at the expense of thickness. Personally, I think it's "same tech or better than last year in a smaller package". But I can see I'm alone in that.



An improvement in overall carry weight is there in iPhone Air. But you and many obviously do not understand that at all.

We are going in circles.

Personally, I see absolutely zero improvements in stuffing more battery and cameras in a thicker and heavier body, but I can see you and many others seem to think that's the best thing since sliced bread.

So sure, let there be options. I'm not against the Pro Max. What I see as absolutely disgusting is how you and many others dismiss the iPhone Air as "no improvement" just because it does not fit your narrative.

You hit the nail on the head. It's like taking to a brick wall with these people. The difference in weight/thinness/form/titanium/modem are all important features to some people who don't value heavier thicker phones with more stuff they don't need. Be happy that Apple is offering options to people with different needs, why would you hate on that?

 

[bill-p]

You hit the nail on the head. It's like taking to a brick wall with these people. The difference in weight/thinness/form/titanium/modem are all important features to some people who don't value heavier thicker phones with more stuff they don't need. Be happy that Apple is offering options to people with different needs, why would you hate on that?

Yes. See... my issue is not with people saying "your Air cannot do X" but it's more with how some keep repeating how "Air does not need to exist".

It's the same crowd that chanted for years how "Mini does not need to exist".

They are the ones killing options, and yet they keep demanding that Apple gives them more "options" with future offerings. It's kind of ironic.

 

[JPack]

An improvement in overall carry weight is there in iPhone Air. But you and many obviously do not understand that at all.

We are going in circles.

Personally, I see absolutely zero improvements in stuffing more battery and cameras in a thicker and heavier body, but I can see you and many others seem to think that's the best thing since sliced bread.

So sure, let there be options. I'm not against the Pro Max. What I see as absolutely disgusting is how you and many others dismiss the iPhone Air as "no improvement" just because it does not fit your narrative.

It's not that "I" don't see it - it's the fact the overall market doesn't see it.

Threads like this are about discussing why Air has been unpopular.

What's the point in reaffirming there's a market for it? That's a given. There's a market for everything, including three-wheeled cars.

 

[JPack]

Again, I'm not sure why you keep hating on the Air. Similar battery to the base 17, better modem (for many, including me) best size/weight which is an important "feature" just like 3 cameras or stereo speakers are features for people that value that (I don't). It has more of what I need and less of what I don't need than anything else in the 17 lineup. Don't be a hater and be happy that there are choices for the people that don't want bricks.

It's not hate. It's facing the market reality.

The title of this thread: Reason for Apple poor Air sales and people’s dislike of Pro camera bar.

 

[JPack]

Yes. See... my issue is not with people saying "your Air cannot do X" but it's more with how some keep repeating how "Air does not need to exist".

It's the same crowd that chanted for years how "Mini does not need to exist".

They are the ones killing options, and yet they keep demanding that Apple gives them more "options" with future offerings. It's kind of ironic.

"Killing options" LOL. You seriously think MacRumors posters drive decisions at Apple HQ? Global sales performance is what drives those decisions, like pausing Air production.

Apple is offering plenty of options in their lineup, like foldables and a low-cost MacBook.

Don't blame reality, influencers, or unaligned stars for poor Air sales. Touch the ground and hear what most people want.

 

[Thor_9]

Funny this was not a problem at all for all previous generations of iPhone but suddenly is a major problem now for Air, which factually matches iPhone 16 Pro. Are you saying people lived on the edge of battery life with the 16 generation?



Are you making this comment realizing that the iPhone Air is factually only 6% smaller than iPhone 17 Pro Max in screen size? My eyes are old now too and I am in a similar situation as you. But I obviously picked the lighter phone with a very slight compromise in screen size. I think you're thinking Air is like the 17 Pro, but it's not. It's a bigger screen.



You are wrong. Let's keep it at that.

I’m not. But it’s ok you are wrong.

 

[JPack]

Are you making this comment realizing that the iPhone Air is factually only 6% smaller than iPhone 17 Pro Max in screen size? My eyes are old now too and I am in a similar situation as you. But I obviously picked the lighter phone with a very slight compromise in screen size. I think you're thinking Air is like the 17 Pro, but it's not. It's a bigger screen.

If you’re going to make a “factual” math claim, at least do the math correctly.

The 17 Pro Max display area is 9.8% larger than Air.

 

[Kjabean]

It's not hate. It's facing the market reality.

The title of this thread: Reason for Apple poor Air sales and people’s dislike of Pro camera bar.

It is not a market reality because there is a new story how that information was wrong and we have no idea if the air did well or not, it was debunked and Apple actually pulled the air release because they decided to redesign it. I wish it was true… I’m hoping there won’t be an air 2. I really don’t want another cyclops camera hole on the back of my air..

 

[JPack]

It is not a market reality because there is a new story how that information was wrong and we have no idea if the air did well or not, it was debunked and Apple actually pulled the air release because they decided to redesign it. I wish it was true… I’m hoping there won’t be an air 2. I really don’t want another cyclops camera hole on the back of my air..

Right. It’s selling well. That’s why Apple chose to do a last minute redesign that pushes out the next launch by at least 6 months.

 

[tomtad]

Right. It’s selling well. That’s why Apple chose to do a last minute redesign that pushes out the next launch by at least 6 months.

I don't think that redesign is happening. The R&D from this is going into the Fold and the iPhone 18 will we somewhat inspired by the Air I feel but not as thin and of course two cameras, speakers and larger battery. Maybe a slight price bump for the 18, with the 18e becoming the 'base' model.

The Air meanwhile will recieve a price cut next September and will dissapear in 2027 when the 18 launches.

 

[JPack]

I don't think that redesign is happening. The R&D from this is going into the Fold and the iPhone 18 will we somewhat inspired by the Air I feel but not as thin and of course two cameras, speakers and larger battery. Maybe a slight price bump for the 18, with the 18e becoming the 'base' model.

The Air meanwhile will recieve a price cut next September and will dissapear in 2027 when the 18 launches.

But how can iPhone 18 be "inspired" by the Air? If we look at Air, it's full of compromises.

All iPhone Air parts including speaker and Taptic Engine are smaller or thinner, but they also perform worse. The haptics are weaker. The speaker has less bass (source: Notebookcheck). Air requires titanium and steel-encased battery for rigidity. The A19 Pro SoC fits into the camera plateau, but only because there's no second camera.

There's no magic happening. It's not like Apple created parts that performed equally as well as regular parts, but somehow smaller. Given the sales performance of iPhone 17 and iPhone Air, why would Apple lean into a compromised design?

 

[CaféPicasso]

I think some people here are obsessed to an unhealthy extend with the iPhone Air

(the ones that don't use it)

 

[tomtad]

But how can iPhone 18 be "inspired" by the Air? If we look at Air, it's full of compromises.

All iPhone Air parts including speaker and Taptic Engine are smaller or thinner, but they also perform worse. The haptics are weaker. The speaker has less bass (source: Notebookcheck). Air requires titanium and steel-encased battery for rigidity. The A19 Pro SoC fits into the camera plateau, but only because there's no second camera.

There's no magic happening. It's not like Apple created parts that performed equally as well as regular parts, but somehow smaller. Given the sales performance of iPhone 17 and iPhone Air, why would Apple lean into a compromised design?

I'm thinking use of titanium, maybe a bit of 'plateau' going on at the back, that sort of thing. The iPhone 17 isn't a brick at all, it's 2.3mm thicker and 12 grams heavier. Hence why no one's buying the Air when you get more features in a device which is pretty much as thin and light for $200 less.

 

[JPack]

I'm thinking use of titanium, maybe a bit of 'plateau' going on at the back, that sort of thing.

Titanium = expensive to manufacture; why use it when iPhone 18 won't be thin?
Plateau = hides camera thickness; why have a plateau if sensor is small and iPhone 18 isn't thin?

The reason for the big Air plateau is to make the chassis as thin as possible. The plateau is literally as thick as the chassis. If thin is not "in" then why have a plateau on iPhone 18? On the Pro/Max, plateau is needed because of legitimately large sensors.

 

[dmdcash]

You hit the nail on the head. It's like taking to a brick wall with these people. The difference in weight/thinness/form/titanium/modem are all important features to some people who don't value heavier thicker phones with more stuff they don't need. Be happy that Apple is offering options to people with different needs, why would you hate on that?

Many of us don’t have tiny penises or are so insecure we want to show off our shiny new device that lacks many important features?

 

[bill-p]

If you’re going to make a “factual” math claim, at least do the math correctly.

The 17 Pro Max display area is 9.8% larger than Air.

Sure. It's 9.8% larger screen size but also at 41% heavier weight.

And yet it lasts exactly the same as Air on battery when both are on cellular. Facts.

 

[Kjabean]

Right. It’s selling well. That’s why Apple chose to do a last minute redesign that pushes out the next launch by at least 6 months.

The truth is you or I don’t know, we don’t know what Apple’s intentions were with the air.. you’re just guessing. All we know is that Apple didn’t want to sell a lot of them because they never promoted it or pushed it with incentives like the others. Which means it was a testing platform, out there is not the profit margins of the others.

lol about the penis size argument… somebody is defensive..lol

 

[JPack]

The truth is you or I don’t know, we don’t know what Apple’s intentions were with the air.. you’re just guessing. All we know is that Apple didn’t want to sell a lot of them because they never promoted it or pushed it with incentives like the others. Which means it was a testing platform, out there is not the profit margins of the others.

lol about the penis size argument… somebody is defensive..lol

LOL. If you want to insult your own intelligence, that's fine. But don't drag me into the "we don't know what Apple's intentions were."

Tim Cook literally flew to China in mid-October just to live stream on Douyin/TikTok and promote the Air. This was after it was clear sales elsewhere was poor. He was dual wielding Pro Max and Air during the September launch event and everywhere else like CNBC.

All flagship Apple Stores had Pro and Air signage outside of them. The idea that Apple didn't want to sell Air is so ridiculous.

 

[Lumixx]

If the Air had come out last year, it would have sold a lot more. This year, the 17 base destroyed it. The 17 base is the best value for money in many years.

 

[avro707]

I think people like familiar phones and dislike these redesign changes

The Pro has really excellent battery life and a really great camera system. That was what made me go over to the 17 Pro Max.

I also didn't like the colour schemes on the iPhone Air, the light gold in real life doesn't look like the website images either, as soon as I saw it in person - it was a no go.

I don't change my phones every year (or with the seasons) - so I intend to keep the 17 Pro Max for a long time.

 

[Kjabean]

LOL. If you want to insult your own intelligence, that's fine. But don't drag me into the "we don't know what Apple's intentions were."

Tim Cook literally flew to China in mid-October just to live stream on Douyin/TikTok and promote the Air. This was after it was clear sales elsewhere was poor. He was dual wielding Pro Max and Air during the September launch event and everywhere else like CNBC.

All flagship Apple Stores had Pro and Air signage outside of them. The idea that Apple didn't want to sell Air is so ridiculous.

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Your argument is that the ceo was holding both new products and they had signs of it outside the store? Yes it is a new product, I would hope they would mention it. However there has been no commercials, none of the carriers have financing deals where you can get it at a huge discount, and it has not received the coolest cases like the pro. This has a big effect on sales as most buy what has the best financing terms. I’m not sure why you think this would show a lack of intelligence, however usually the first person to start throwing insults out is usually the one that lacks intelligence from my experience.

 

[I7guy]

No. It's clear the vast majority of Apple's users are addicted to their phones and will run any phone's battery to the ground within a short amount of time plus push their phones to max thermal limits all the time. So most of them seem to need the most battery and the most amount of cooling in a phone possible.

No it’s not clear. What is more the truth is some people are addicted to their phones. Checking Facebook will not run the phones battery into oblivion.

The fact that 17 Pro Max sold better than 16 Pro Max proves as much.

It only proves more people bought it. Can’t prove the underlying reason.

Design doesn't matter anymore. We will continue to get very ugly, thick and heavy phones now since that's literally what the market is asking for.

For sure. Thin is out.

 

[JPack]

Your argument is that the ceo was holding both new products and they had signs of it outside the store? Yes it is a new product, I would hope they would mention it. However there has been no commercials, none of the carriers have financing deals where you can get it at a huge discount, and it has not received the coolest cases like the pro. This has a big effect on sales as most buy what has the best financing terms. I’m not sure why you think this would show a lack of intelligence, however usually the first person to start throwing insults out is usually the one that lacks intelligence from my experience.

No, it’s a combination of everything.

iPhone 17 base isn’t getting any “commercials” either, but it’s still back ordered in most places globally. That’s the benefit of being the most recognizable brand in the world. Apple doesn’t need to have a commercial for everything to sell.

Carriers determine financing deals.

Don’t tell me you also think Air being in stock for all colors and storage combinations is due to some tin foil hat rationale for Apple not really wanting to sell them.

 

[blairh]

They sold us same phone for years small updates now people either dislike the lack of cameras or they dislike the Pro camera bar. They release the same phone every year so my question is has the smart phone market matured like smart TV’s? Do we need a switch to an 18 month cycle like IPad? I think people like familiar phones and dislike these redesign changes

And the way Apple have ditched this is worrying Vision Pro got the update despite low sales. Apple TV doesn’t get yearly updates now either.

I wonder if the fold will be a poor investment and could get cancelled too? Perhaps Apple will go back to “one single release” iPhone Pro every September but with small updates?

Wow you are throwing out a lot of ideas at once LOL.

The iPhone 17 and Pro/Pro Max sales have been extremely strong. Absolutely no reason to ditch the 12-month upgrade cycle.

They are probably going to move the vanilla iPhone launches to the spring alongside the E line and the fall will be the Air, Pro, Pro Max, and folding iPhone (starting next year).

There are rumors that the next Air will be delayed until the spring as well, but I believe that is only because they won't be able to make the hardware changes that they obviously need to make. (Camera and speaker.)

The Fold is going to be awesome. The Air's disappointing debut is not going to influence the Fold's sales. Two wildly different devices.

The Air is not going to do well for its first generation because it has a garbage mono earpiece speaker and single camera at a premium price point. The form factor alone, the only selling point of the Air, is not reason enough for most consumers to pay a premium. The vanilla iPhone 17 is a far better choice, and it's cheaper. Current sales have reflected that.