That very well could be, but then why is the Pro/Max flying off the shelves? It’s even more expensive. I think Apple underestimated the compromises and will not make the same mistakes next time (if there is one).
FaceTime, speaker phone, and Zoom are times people use speakers. There are also a lot of people who watch shows or whatever on their phones using the speaker(s).
The single speaker on my Air actually works great, the sound is loud and clear for speaker phone calls and videos. I guess if someone uses their phone speakers as the only way they listen to music then it might be a deal breaker but how many people really fall into that category anyways. I think people are just looking for excuses to make up.
the future is less cloud and more local - WHERE?
Your first 2 points have merit, the rest are either irrelevant for the average consumer, incorrect or exaggerated.
Whilst in the past making a phone that was all about design would have been enough, it appears that consumer tastes have changed enough to see their tech, particularly their phones as just a utility. The Pro wins out just because it does more.
To each their own. For me I value the features I am using every day on my phone as the most important things I look for when buying a phone, not things I might or might use once every few months. The thin design and light weight of the Air makes the phone sooooooo much better and more comfortable to use every single time I hold my phone. I would rather have that feature with the air than another model phone that has dual speakers but that I hate using due to how uncomfortable it is to hold. I was so glad to get rid of my 16 Pro as it was a miserable phone to hold and use. It was a powerhouse of a phone for sure but I couldn't stand holding it. As for the single speaker in the Air, I have never struggled to hear it, its loud and clear sounding.
i don't like the iPhone air concept and don't own such iphone. but:
