Because this post is interesting to me. I clicked on it because I am curious who is having buyers remorse and why.
I understand that it may make some snowflakes uncomfortable but such is the flow of information.
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iPhone Air Returned my Air
- Thread starter mectojic
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I understand that it may make some snowflakes uncomfortable but such is the flow of information.
I think Apple got the size right. A smaller one would have even worse battery life. Also the demand for larger screens is stronger than smaller screens. Talking to the guys in the Apple Store it sounded like the 17PM is outselling the 17P 3:1. People I spoke with generally like the 6.5" screen on the Air, and appreciated the thinness.
Personally I would be all over the air were it not for the battery and camera trade-offs.
Personally I would be all over the air were it not for the battery and camera trade-offs.
I think there is a lot of gray area. Maybe some people have particular concerns they cannot learn from an article or review. But some don’t even try and just buy with little to no thought. I specifically remember the post a few years ago where the person ordered 3 iPhones in different colors so they could decide which they like best. Everyone has their own opinion. And I have mine.
if the air had 2 cameras, and a bottom speaker I would probably have gone for it, but it's gimped in too many ways for me. I am happy with my 17 pro max.
It is interesting to watch, especially because the behavior of some people when new iPhones are launched is .... weird (in terms of general consumer behavior).
Generally, if a new, "expensive" product is launched, whether it's a fridge, a washing machine, a TV etc.. people generally don't queue up and pre-order. Usually they'll wait a little time, wait for a wide range of reviews and user feedback, and then consider buying.
I also think that, with iPhones, Watches and AirPods being released in September, then more Apple products being released in October, general consumer behavior would be to look at these things as Christmas / holiday season gifts ( even if it is for themselves) and are likely to wait until closer to the end of the year to buy, especially when Black Friday etc. discount promotions occur.
Apple (and Apple buyers) are weird in that they sell (or buy) a load of new product, sight-unseen and where reviews are only made by those who Apple sends advance units to, so there isn't yet a wide spread of objectivity in reviews.
It's impressive how Apple has managed to convince a certain amount people to buy their products sight-unseen. What else would you ever buy in this way, at these prices? Not that much, I think.
And in a few months, no-one will be excited by the 17 Pro or Air anymore, but that's when large amounts of units will be sold.
In other words, I don't think the hype and promotion (and sites like this, and commenters here, are adding greatly to the hype and promotion) directly correspond with actual sales, either in volume or in timeframe.
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Not everyone lives near an Apple Store you know, 5 hours for me and have never set foot in one since I stated buying Apple gear starting with a 4S.
And 2 local re sellers have them locked down so can’t handle them.
At least the iPad mini is out there, if you really want something larger. And I'm not saying that sarcastically. Now that iPadOS 26 includes a real Phone app, a cellular iPad mini would be pretty close to a larger iPhone than ever before.
Personally, I couldn't imagine the practicality of carrying around a phone as large as the Pro Max, let alone something even larger. I had a 6.0" phablet back in 2015, and it was the most uncomfortable, physically difficult to use phone I've ever had.
The 15 Pro that I have now barely fits in some of my pockets and the corner jabs me in the side when I sit down, feels like a lead brick in my pocket when I stand up, is painful to hold for more than a few minutes at a time, and I often almost drop it or tap random things trying to reach the top third of the screen when trying to operate it one-handed.
It just requires a lot of hand gymnastics to use it. And there's just a point every day when I think to myself, "this can't possibly be normal. This isn't ergonomic at all. I can't believe millions of people put up with this every day and are ok with it." Yet, there's no phone from Apple smaller than the 16e now, which is still 6.1".
I upgraded my 6.1” 15 Pro to the 6.3” 17 Pro and the extra heft and few mm increase in dimensions made it just a bit more difficult to use one-handed for me. For most tasks including typing, the 15 Pro is already a 2-handed device for me but at least I can scroll through and read messages without a high risk of dropping it. The 17 Pro feels a tiny bit more drop-prone.
I just received my Air delivery and it’s bigger than I’m comfortable with. When I tried in the Apple Store, the display models felt fine but it’s different when actually using it. I’ll give it a week but I reckon I’ll return the Air and replace it with the regular iPhone 17.
I actually do use my cellular iPad mini majority of the time when I’m out. Hence my preference for a sorta one-handed phone.
I did find the 5.4” iPhone mini’s display too small for comfort but I reckon they can probably fit 5.8” or 6.1” into something between iPhone 8 and X form factor without sacrificing the battery too much.
Of course I realize that. In my opinion there are people who try their best to make a purchase that will meet their needs. But even with all that effort, sometimes a purchase doesn’t work out.
On the other side are those who return the blue because it’s not the right shade of blue for them. There are people who buy multiple iPhones so they can try them out at home. They don’t put any effort into the purchase before they make it. They buy an Air only to find it has a single camera. How much effort does it take to stop and think about whether you use a lens other than the main lens?
I would never say returns shouldn’t be allowed by Apple.
I will say consumers should try to avoid returns by using thought and research before they make a purchase. Just my two cents. I already know people disagree.
In my preferred iPhone from most wanted to least wanted I guess:
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- iPhone 17 Pro
- iPhone 17
- iPhone Air
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I am exactly the same. I didn’t buy the air today but was looking and feeling it at the Apple Store today and when I compared it to my 16 pro and when I held it. I noticed it’s a slight stretch for me too. Which I don’t really want.
It’s a beautiful phone but I think I will get the 17 pro I am still thinking about it. Any reason your thinking or regular 17 coming from a pro model you had before?
Not yet decided yet I may go for it.
From what others suggest, estimated soon to come components such as 2nm chips perhaps next year, upcoming battery tech, smaller cameras possibly in two years or later, magnesium as frame, it seems the Air may adopt dual camera and a larger battery in as little as a few years or perhaps such will mature enough for the next redesign. It's possible the so called 20th anniversary iPhone Pro could even adopt all that and be as light weight as the current Air yet Apple may prefer a larger battery, as some estimate 7,500–8,300 mAh may be possible with triple camera at 180 g total. What's coming in possibly 2 years or within the next cycle of refreshes based upon it looks nice.
From what others suggest, estimated soon to come components such as 2nm chips perhaps next year, upcoming battery tech, smaller cameras possibly in two years or later, magnesium as frame, it seems the Air may adopt dual camera and a larger battery in as little as a few years or perhaps such will mature enough for the next redesign. It's possible the so called 20th anniversary iPhone Pro could even adopt all that and be as light weight as the current Air yet Apple may prefer a larger battery, as some estimate 7,500–8,300 mAh may be possible with triple camera at 180 g total. What's coming in possibly 2 years or within the next cycle of refreshes based upon it looks nice.
I have two phones: iPhone SE3 and iPhone 15 Pro. The SE3 is my daily driver while the 15 Pro is for when I need the longer battery and better cameras. Well, except now I’ve had to use the 15 Pro as my DD because my CGM kills the SE3’s battery like crazy (need to charge like 3x a day).
The 17 Pro replaces the 15 Pro.
The Air or 17 will replace the SE3.
Let's be honest, ZipZap, you've posted more than 6,000 replies on this site, there was no way you were skipping this thread, regardless of the title.
