Standard iPhone 17 Outperforms Expectations as Apple Ramps Up Manufacturing

[techfreak23]

Either a sneak peek or throwing things at the wall to see what sticks. First it was mini, then plus and now air. In a year or two it might be the fold.

The mini makes sense for feeling out how many of their customers wanted to go back to smaller phones, but the compromises in terms of battery and features were too much. I myself would prefer a slightly smaller phone, but not quite that small and not at the expense of the full features of the Pro. Plus also made sense since a lot of people do want a larger phone, but don't necessarily want the Pro Max or its price. Air just feels almost pointless. It's thinner, lighter, and has a large screen, but also gives up the other advantage of a larger phone. That being the battery. Also doesn't really make sense as a sneak peek for the fold or whatever else they have planned.

 

[vgmrm]

The Air should be the SE, but offering a downgraded standard model at the price of the Pro is completely out of place.

 

[motm95]

I got on the apple upgrade program when I picked up the 16 Pro Max last year. My eyes are not as good as they used to be so I wanted the bigger size. But over the course of the past year, I had grown to really dislike the weight and how it didn’t feel good in one hand. So decided to use the upgrade program this year to “downgrade” to the base 17 and now that it’s in my hands, I love it.

 

[markthrash]

I got the base model in blue. I only got the 15 Pro in 2023 because of Pro Motion. Ot only do I think the base iPhone is a good deal this year, I find the Pro model to be a really bad one. It’s overpriced for what it offers over the base model.

I got the exact same phone and I’m loving it. Coming from
An IP15Pro and I can’t say I feel like I’m downgrading in any way

 

[miq]

The base 17 is one of the best iPhones ever made in terms of price/features.

The 17 Pro models are the ugliest iPhones ever made. Even, having skipped gray and dark colors are one of Apple’s dumbest decision in years.

Did you imagine an orange MacBook Pro or iPad Pro? Absurd.

Yup. I dare say a fair few of the people gushing over their new orange phone today will in a few months tire of how garish it actually is.

 

[Baseiseough]

The base model of every Apple product is always the Best value. It’s also the one with the best resale value too.

 

[zonai]

Sure Airdrop can be finicky, but how long time does it really take to offload the photos with USB2 speed?

Offloading the ”last week of photos” is still just seconds for me with my 16 Pro.

Even if it was a minute, I still wouldn’t let it control my purchasing decision

AirDrop and USB transfer speeds are one part of it. I've been using a Pro phone since the 12, so the loss of telephoto would sting. Plus I want the phone with the better battery life. I took my 16 Pro Max to Universal last year and was stuck in line at the Mario Kart ride for 4 hours because it broke down. I couldn't play any games on my phone because the battery was dying so fast, and my phone barely made it back to the hotel. It was terrible, and I don't want a repeat of that happening.

 

[krspkbl]

lol poor Air

anyway, the 17 is great. I’d have got one if it wasn’t so small. If they didn’t get rid of the 17 Plus for the stupid Air then I’d have got that instead of the Pro Max

 

[chineseguy38]

Oh, Apple has their reasons.

YES! GREEDY!!

 

[chineseguy38]

But are you sure it is "for no reason"? Has there been any changes in the level of "financial friction" when imporrting goods from a US company into Australia that might be a reason why? Has the value of AUD dropped relative to the value of USD. How is inflation in Oz?

There's a lot of reasons why prices might have increased. If you're based in Australia, you'd be in far better position to find out the reasons prices have increased in Australia than someone based in Europe (which I am).

Conversion rate has been the same as last year. Actually AUD is a little strong. There is no additional tax for US companies in Australia. So the only reason is being GREEDY!! And Aussies are paying AUD$200 for 17 Pro more than Americans and they've import tariffs!!

 

[lewchenko]

I wonder where the plus buyers will go. To the air you would think but that has camera and battery compromises you may not want. To the 17 and forget about that nice big screen you wanted? Or to the ProMax for the big screen but lose out to weight and cost but gain stuff you were never interested in.

A classic Hobson's choice problem.

 

[jouster]

Not surprised to hear this. The New Haven Apple Store was down to blue/sage with 512GB when I visited on launch day. All other configurations were sold out. I should’ve preordered, but I wanted to hold the Air first.

 

[code-m]

Not surprised to hear this. The New Haven Apple Store was down to blue/sage with 512GB when I visited on launch day. All other configurations were sold out. I should’ve preordered, but I wanted to hold the Air first.

Two family members upgraded from iPhone 13 P/PM to the 17, I preordered a lavender and white, looks amazing. Daily advantages of the Pro in a light manageable package minus the telephoto but the 13 P/PM had 2x zoom and so does the 17.

Both are very happy with their purchase.

 

[code-m]

I wonder where the plus buyers will go. To the air you would think but that has camera and battery compromises you may not want. To the 17 and forget about that nice big screen you wanted? Or to the ProMax for the big screen but lose out to weight and cost but gain stuff you were never interested in.

A classic Hobson's choice problem.

6.3” display size hits the right balance tbh. Anything larger and bring on the hand fatigue as most people don’t have large hands.

 

[AppleEnthusiast1995]

I got the base model in blue. I only got the 15 Pro in 2023 because of Pro Motion. Not only do I think the base iPhone is a good deal this year, I find the Pro model to be a really bad one. It’s overpriced for what it offers over the base model.

Promotion inclusion on base will have me likely skipping pro line in the future. Unless the camera difference is that big. I too also got my 15 pro in 2023 for the promotion among other benefits because 60hz looks so sluggish. Never thought Apple would push the envelope this much on the base model.

 

[AlanBeyond]

Apple is increasing production on the standard iPhone 17 due to unexpected demand for the device, reports The Information. Following a strong pre-order weekend, Apple told two suppliers to increase daily iPhone 17 output by at least 30 percent.

The iPhone 17 is priced starting at $799, and it is $200 cheaper than the iPhone Air. It's $300 less than the iPhone 17 Pro, which now starts at $1,099. This year, the iPhone 17 got "Pro" features with the addition of a 120Hz refresh rate and Always-On display technology, plus it is the same size as the 17 Pro at 6.3 inches.

According to The Information, Apple's decision to increase iPhone 17 production suggests that the iPhone 17 Pro models are not selling as well as usual this year. If that's the case, it could have consequences for Apple's gross margin and September quarter revenue.

Ahead of the iPhone 17 launch, Apple allocated 25 percent of its iPhone 17 production to the standard model, 10 percent to the Air, and 65 percent to the Pro and Pro Max, as those are typically Apple's best-selling devices.

The standard iPhone and the two Pro models have been staples in Apple's iPhone line, but the company has struggled to find a fourth model that draws consumer interest. It started with the "mini" iPhones that were smaller than the iPhone 17. Those didn't sell as well as expected, so Apple moved on to the "Plus" size, offering standard iPhone features paired with a larger display. The Plus iPhone sales were also disappointing, so Apple has now moved to the ultra thin Air, and the company is hoping that a fresh design will lure customers into upgrading.

The iPhone Air is not yet available in China because of regulatory issues with the eSIM-only design. As a result, more Chinese customers may be opting for the standard iPhone 17.

Apple updates its device forecasts on a weekly basis, so the mix of iPhone models that suppliers are asked to prioritize could shift.

Article Link: Standard iPhone 17 Outperforms Expectations as Apple Ramps Up Manufacturing

I want a Plus model with 120Hz refresh rate, so angry that apple canceled this line this year when they finally decided to give the standard model that feature

 

[jpf293]

No surprise it is selling well. Apple has always nerfed the regular version in the past, making it seem worthwhile to pay a little bit more for the pro, but no longer.

 

[Happy_John]

I want a Plus model with 120Hz refresh rate, so angry that apple canceled this line this year when they finally decided to give the standard model that feature

It was the worst selling iPhone in last year's lineup. So it got axed. No more to it than that.

 

[RWI]

Base = Cheapest. What more do you need to know? (Check prices in Europe instead of US)

 

[Ursadorable]

Skipping this year's iPhone refresh until the iOS liquid glass facelift is less obnoxious. Usually I upgrade ever 3-4 years, but I haven't seen any "must have" features in the past several iterations, and liquid glass is a no-go as it stands (even following the "adjust transparency". That's only one of several gripes.

 

[shinkansenwarrior]

Would have preferred to have seen slightly more intensity in the sheen finish maybe between satin to semi gloss to make the colors pop a bit more. I just can't dig the color finishes ... green is a tricky color to get right ....I would slap sage on my yakitori chicken but not on my phone.

 

[TruthAboveAllElse]

Tim Apple will ensure that this gets corrected in less than one calendar year.

A bit of a strange year for iPhone releases - the iPhone 16e now feels a bit out of place compared to the rest of the lineup and only $200 less than the base model iPhone which is almost nothing spread out over 36 months for most people. In the years prior the iPhone SE was a significantly different type of device in where you could argue targets a demographic that prefers the simplicity of a home button compared to the gestures most of us are already used to.

Bring back the Mini at $599! Do it TIM!

People used to say the SE was for people who wanted a small phone. It has never been about being small, or having a home button. It has always been a cost oriented device based on last generation tech mixed with current generation tech.

 

[Taipan]

I wonder how this can be a surprise to them, given that the base model has almost all of the Pro‘s features und is much less ugly.

 

[smulji]

It was the worst selling iPhone in last year's lineup. So it got axed. No more to it than that.

What if Apple made the iPhone 17 Plus and gave it the exact same upgrades as the base 17? It may have sold much better this year.

 

[Happy_John]

What if Apple made the iPhone 17 Plus and gave it the exact same upgrades as the base 17? It may have sold much better this year.

Maybe, but Apple doesn't think so. They made the decision to axe the "plus" based on their prediction that it wouldn't sell enough to be worth their while, as keeping it in the range would cannibalise sales of the other phones, including the new addition, the Air.. If something were to make them lots of money, with very little new R&D (like the "base" 17), there was little to no reworking of the car for many of the comments), they would have done it. Apple likes making a profit.

The numbers didn't add up for them. Everyone on site slick this are very good at criticizing Apple for being "bean counters", but they are good at bean-counting. And this was obviously a "bean-counting" decision: not making the plus this year is more profitable than making the plus this year.