Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Love the iPhone Air concept (a few days back finally held it in hand - just wow!), but not with current limitations. Sign me up when there's a proper second speaker and a ultra-wide camera.
 
I never understood the idea of the air, a phone that is more expensive, potentially slower, has less features including the cameras then the base mode. Its only "advantage" is that its thinner.
Most commentators don't. Because they do not own the phone. Not one person mentioned its usability and in hand feel. That is the whole point of there phone.

Everyone who has handled my Air wanted the form factor. Every single one. Most balked at the camera and one speaker. With good reason.
But more importantly I am willingly giving up to get the benefit of the lightness of the phone. It disappears in my pocket.

Keep your bricks. Thats fine. But some of us don't want them. To each their own.
 
Absolutely!
iPhone "air" isn't "air" at all, when considering weight and many previous iPhones, or even the current 16e.


iPhone 16e: 167 grams

iPhone Air: 165 grams

iPhone 12: 164 grams
iPhone 8/SE2: 148 grams
iPhone SE3: 144 grams
iPhone 13 Mini: 141 grams
iPhone 7: 138 grams
iPhone SE1: 113 grams
Well that kind of backed fired. The 16e is 6.1 inches. The Air 6.5. And the 16e is still heavier at 167grams. No comparison to be made. You just made a point that actually supports the Air. 👍
 
  • Like
Reactions: mlayer
needs stereo speakers...
I’m sure that’s true for many. Myself, speakers on an iPhone don’t matter. The only real audio I use is when I’m using the device as a phone and I have it lifted to my ear… or when it is connected to Apple CarPlay, which doesn’t use the built-in speaker(s). But I would have these questions for iPhone Air owners: 1) Is the ring volume loud enough? 2) Is the audio loud enough when using the speaker phone?
 
But more importantly I am willingly giving up to get the benefit of the lightness of the phone. It disappears in my pocket.
The problem is, that so few people feel your way. The air 2 is getting delayed becuase no one is buying it. Its rather obvious having a more expensive phone that does less then the base model phone is not attracting many buyers
 
  • Love
Reactions: turbineseaplane
The problem is, that so few people feel your way. The air 2 is getting delayed becuase no one is buying it. Its rather obvious having a more expensive phone that does less then the base model phone is not attracting many buyers
The Air is clearly hurt by the base 17 getting so many quality-of-life improvements (ProMotion, higher standard storage), that the $799 entry is close to a no-brainer if you're shopping for a new iPhone right now. It won't be like that forever, and if the next Air and the base model 18 are both released in spring 2027 as rumored, it will be interesting to see what Apple leaves off the feature list for the 18, especially if the A20 SoC is indeed a far more expensive chip because of the 2 nm process.
 
With all sincere respect (as one of these "old age people you reference) I truly don't get your point. I, for one, did not buy it because I had no interest in photos. I truly have no idea what you are talking about.
I mean that slim phones with one camera are limited for todays modern standard “saving digital memories” talking about. So I dont see teenagers aging for this “limited” device.
This is more for men in their 50’s and beyond with occasional photgraphy. Not even for very busy men which would beed to carry around extra battery or charger. Very annoying. Women usually doesnt care about few grams more in their purse.
Of course there are excepcions here and there. Talking about general.

And about this:

Mind that the phone at the end is as large as its case including the camera bump protection
 
I think they would rake in the sales if they made this $899 with two rear cameras and a little more battery—which may be possible with the new 2nm chips coming next year.

I would only consider it if the out the 4x from the Pro on here. I rarely ever use my ultra wide, and the 4/8x on the 17 Pro actually makes for a very good macro lens. I got a crazy shot of the eye of a treefrog a few weeks ago using the telephoto. Allowed me to not disturb the frog and ruin the shot.
I prefer an Ultrawide at 200mp which would essentially do it all.
 
No need for the 2nd camera and no going back to the pro max for me after using the Air for 6 weeks or so.
 
The problem is, that so few people feel your way. The air 2 is getting delayed becuase no one is buying it. Its rather obvious having a more expensive phone that does less then the base model phone is not attracting many buyers
You have to own the phone to get what I am saying. As most do. Thats the problem. Most dont give it a chance. But one speaker and one camera is not good. They can do better. Samsung did it.
Its getting delayed to improve the phone. Not because no one is buying. A iphone Air 2 was coming regardless. Low sales is forcing them to do so now.

No other iphone gives you what the Air gives you. Usability and in hand feel. Most dont get that.
 
  • Love
Reactions: dizmonk
You have to own the phone to get what I am saying
I don't need to own a product to discern a bad design, misjudged priories and low user engagement

Funnily enough that was an excuse that some apple fans were making with the trash can mac pro - you don't own it, so you don't know how good that was (we do, it was a flop). Or the 2016 MBP with the much derided touchbar and failed keyboard.

Most dont give it a chance.
Rightfully so
With the base model iPhone 17, you get better battery performance, better cameras, better speakers for 200 dollars less. When most businesses roll out a "premium" edition product, they actually add/improve the product. Most companies don't sell a product that does less has less for money and slap a premium sticker on it. Not Apple, they went with addition through subtraction - You pay more to get less.

Its getting delayed to improve the phone. Not because no one is buying.
Yes, its getting delayed to improve the phone, precisely because no one is buying it. If the phone was flying off the shelves, it makes no sense to delay the Air 2 for a year. You don't fix what's not broken. The Air's design is broken so now Apple is scrambling

Apple Delays Release of Next iPhone Air Amid Weak Sales
Apple reportedly pulls plug on iPhone Air 2 after weak sales of debut model
The next iPhone Air has reportedly been delayed
Apple is no longer planning to launch a second-generation iPhone Air next fall and has “already sharply scaled back production of the first version,” The Information reports. The next Air is instead likely to launch in spring 2027 at the earliest, and will be upgraded with a second camera lens, according to a follow-up Information report.
The company launched the super-thin version of the iPhone in September, but it seemingly hasn’t proven to be a big hit, and Apple is apparently making some changes to its plans for the phone’s follow-up.
 
It would have cost them nothing to begin with but Tim Cooks Apple carefully engineers products to encourage you to pay for something more expensive. Not more expensive to build mind you. No, just more expensive to buy.
 
I don't need to own a product to discern a bad design, misjudged priories and low user engagement

Funnily enough that was an excuse that some apple fans were making with the trash can mac pro - you don't own it, so you don't know how good that was (we do, it was a flop). Or the 2016 MBP with the much derided touchbar and failed keyboard.
You can argue that missing features are hurting the Air, that's a legit argument. However you can't find a review that says that the Air is a bad phone because it isn't. It's feature-limited as a choice in favor of weight and size conservation. Most of us who bought it knew that and are happy with the choice. The trash can Mac Pro and the 2016 MBP line were plagued by real design flaws: inability to handle heat, the butterfly keyboard, etc. If you can't discern the difference, I can't help you.
 
However you can't find a review that says that the Air is a bad phone because it isn't.
...
The trash can Mac Pro and the 2016 MBP line were plagued by real design flaws:
The Air is plagued by design flaws as well, in that its a billed as a premium device that does less then the base model for 200 dollars over the base model.

While that my may be my opinion, what is not an opinion is that the phone isn't selling well, so much so they paused/halted production and has delayed the introduction of the Air 2 for at least a year.
 
The Air is plagued by design flaws as well, in that its a billed as a premium device that does less then the base model for 200 dollars over the base model.

While that my may be my opinion, what is not an opinion is that the phone isn't selling well, so much so they paused/halted production and has delayed the introduction of the Air 2 for at least a year.
Every iPhone model has design flaws. The Pro and Pro Max are ugly as sin and are prone to scratching. The regular 17 has a tired design, the 16e has the notch. Apple will learn its lessons and adjust for the next release. If they don't we'll end up with fewer choices. You'd love that, huh?
 
  • Haha
  • Love
Reactions: dizmonk and maflynn
I don't need to own a product to discern a bad design, misjudged priories and low user engagement

Funnily enough that was an excuse that some apple fans were making with the trash can mac pro - you don't own it, so you don't know how good that was (we do, it was a flop). Or the 2016 MBP with the much derided touchbar and failed keyboard.


Rightfully so
With the base model iPhone 17, you get better battery performance, better cameras, better speakers for 200 dollars less. When most businesses roll out a "premium" edition product, they actually add/improve the product. Most companies don't sell a product that does less has less for money and slap a premium sticker on it. Not Apple, they went with addition through subtraction - You pay more to get less.


Yes, its getting delayed to improve the phone, precisely because no one is buying it. If the phone was flying off the shelves, it makes no sense to delay the Air 2 for a year. You don't fix what's not broken. The Air's design is broken so now Apple is scrambling

Apple Delays Release of Next iPhone Air Amid Weak Sales
Apple reportedly pulls plug on iPhone Air 2 after weak sales of debut model
The next iPhone Air has reportedly been delayed
None of that is true. They predicted via Gurman that they were only projected to sell 6-8 percent. And the Air isn't going anywhere. Funny thing is everything you just stated about the iphone Air was stated about the original Air laptop. Every single point you made. The Air got so good it replaced the standard non pro mac in the lineup. For good. Yes you kinda have to own the phone to 'get it'.

You just don't. What do you do with your phone most of the time? Use the Camera? No. Listen to the stereo speakers while listening to music? Nope. Most use earbuds.

You handle your phone. As in use it. That is what you do with your phone 90 percent of the time. Most if not all people do. Check email, respond to a post, message friends. The iphone Air is the best iphone for usability and feel in the hand. Which is a thing, you just don't know about it since you don't actually own the phone. It is better at actually using the phone which is what you do 90 percent of the time. So how valuable is your camera or stereo speakers then? When you only use them 10 percent of the time. Tops.

I see in the near future when the Air gets dual camera's and stereo speakers the base model goes away. Just like in the laptops. That is there long game. They know where the Air is going. They always did. If the Air has the same specs as the base models but comes with a larger screen, is made of better materials, and has the same if not better battery life, with much better usability why would anyone pick the base model other than price?

The iphone Air is the best built and best engineered iphone in the lineup. Best made of the best materials. Titanium vs Aluminum. Has the same CPU the A19 Pro. Same RAM. It has one less camera and one less speaker which you use 10 percent of the time and better in hand feel and usability in using your phone which you do 90 percent of the time.

Sign me up. I will take that deal any day.
 
Last edited:
funny how they use too many hardware compromises and impressive design feat in the same sentence. most of the time you can't have it both ways...

i'm sittin' pretty with mine. apple should be glad i finally do the single phone setup, after god knows how many years.
 
I think many factors are at play but the most important is one that no one mentions — the carriers. You can get a “free” iPhone 17 or a “free” iPhone 17 Pro with a three year contract. You can also get an iPhone Air for “free” with a three year contract but the carriers do not show the iPhone Air prominently or at all on their home page. Visibility is so important and under-appreciated.
I don’t live in a country with free devices with carrier contracts, so low sales shouldn’t be an issue if it’s a common behavior. However, I only saw someone using the Air once. When I checked the device at the store, I felt it lacked a camera setup. The camera section looked cheap and counterbalanced the device’s thinness, which is its sole marketing point. The long, empty protruding camera bump with a single lens looked like it had a version with triple cameras, but I purchased the lowest model. Apple should have added two lenses and made it more expensive than a regular iPhone. A single lens version should only be 100 higher than E models and 1000 cheaper than non-pro models. Thinness would not sell, unless it’s as thin as a credit card.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.