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iPhone X was the last time I held a phone and genuinely felt impressed until the Air now. Tech just feels so bloated after the spec war, so it’s nice to have a breather and get back to design again.

Gives me hope they can make something elegant for the 20th edition.
I agree! From the iPhone XS Max, to the 12 Pro Max and 15 Pro Max, and now the iPhone Air, the excitement of having a new design in a phone is finally back.

I held off upgrading from the 12 Pro Max for a while, waiting for something that really felt fresh. The 15 Pro Max brought USB-C and some solid updates, which tempted me… but I still held off, because the 16 Pro Max and even the 17 Pro Max didn’t really excite me.

But the Air did.
 
At a sane price it would be a really great phone. It's like an MBA marked up 33%. At that point it's just not worth picking up new IMO.
 
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I got it. I like how different it feels and how it feels comfortable holding it in your hand. I’m not a fan of the hard edge 16 and 17 models. I really like the tapered phones of 6 through 11 series and the air is closer to this than the prior generations. I hope this is the start of a new trend.
 
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iPhone X was the last time I held a phone and genuinely felt impressed until the Air now. Tech just feels so bloated after the spec war, so it’s nice to have a breather and get back to design again.
We must never forget about the atrocities of the spec war.
 
That’s true, iPhone Air is overpriced.

Yet Apple has a long record of charging premium prices that their devoted customers pay all based on the company’s influence over them.

Or, maybe some users have different priorities than you and are willing to pay more for a certain feature or design without being "devoted" or Apple having "influence over them."
 
After almost 2.5 weeks of use, I have to agree with the OP. The Air is an absolute pleasure to use and I look forward to taking it off its MagSafe stand each morning. It is the very best iPhone in recent years (since the X) for ME. Truly feels like you are just holding a sheet of glass with your content on screen.

I've been a "largest screen available" guy since the 6+ launched, so I've only owned Plus/Max models. While I loved the premium look/feel of titanium and glass, and really enjoyed my 15 PM for the two years I owned it, I often lamented the fact that it was too heavy and unwieldily in hand/pocket.

After viewing the keynote, I wasn't truly excited about anything in the 17 lineup but the Air peaked my curiosity. Despite this, I ordered a 17 PM but by the time it arrived a week later I had decided to give the Air a closer look. The 17 PM went directly from the UPS truck, to my porch, to the Apple Store. Once I held the Air there, I was sold.

Life is full of compromises. For me the trade off of losing the telephoto and ultra wide lenses, less battery and a mono speaker are worth it for the form factor. The other way would add all those things but come in a substantially larger/heavier/less premium package that I don't find nearly as nice in hand or as aesthetically pleasing. Either way for me would be a compromise and I'm very happy with the one I've made.
 
Would you be willing to have the Air as your only phone? I see so many people saying they’re using it as a second phone.
I got my Air as a secondary phone but after using it every day since I have preordered mine, I have made the switch to use my new Air as my primary phone over my 15PM. I have been loving everything about the new iPhone, especially how thin and light this new iPhone really is. Sometimes I have to recheck my pocket to make sure it is in there because it being so light I sometimes don't feel it there. To me this is an amazing product developed and sold by Apple. Reminds me of when the iPhone X first came out. I have not had this feeling about a phone since then.
 
Or, maybe some users have different priorities than you and are willing to pay more for a certain feature or design without being "devoted" or Apple having "influence over them."
It has everything to do with Apples marketing expertise. While it's true that they build excellent products, it can also be said they've achieved near total control over the minds of their buyers. Creating desire than influence people to overpay.

iPhone Air is a classic example. Another excellent example is iPhone 16e, two overpriced products that right thinking members of the Apple faithful admit are too expensive. With less features than their competitors, sales of these models allows Apple to laugh all the way to the bank.
 
It has everything to do with Apples marketing expertise. While it's true that they build excellent products, it can also be said they've achieved near total control over the minds of their buyers. Creating desire than influence people to overpay.

iPhone Air is a classic example. Another excellent example is iPhone 16e, two overpriced products that right thinking members of the Apple faithful admit are too expensive. With less features than their competitors, sales of these models allows Apple to laugh all the way to the bank.
You can say that about every single product Apple makes, not just Air. How can you tell that Pro phones are priced right? They cost a lot less to manufacture but the profit margin is huge on Pro versions too.

At least to some of us, marketing has nothing to do with wanting an Air. During the keynote, I was not impressed with any of the new phones but later on, I decided to upgrade to 17 Pro and had it delivered. After about a week, I was nearby an Apple store and decided to checkout the Air in person. As soon as I held it and played with it briefly, I had to give it a try for a longer period. It was my personal experience that led to me purchasing one.

Look, everything in today's world is overpriced. If you want something reasonable, then you will have to manufacture it yourself. Whether the Air is priced right or not depends on the buyer. If someone values the design of the Air then to them the price is worth it. To someone like you, for $100 more, Pro versions offer a lot more and its price is worth it to you. To someone else, basic 17 is worth it and everything else is overpriced. Don't just claim something is overpriced just because it does not meet your needs. I can guarantee you that there are choices you make in your life that someone will think is overpriced.
 
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I decided to pick one up today and using it is such a freaking pleasure. I got the 17 Pro Max at launch, but wanted another line just for personal use (at least that’s what I’m telling myself). Using this thing with no case is a breath of fresh air. It’s not perfect but man do I love it.
Why would you not just add a line to your iPhone 17 Pro Max? From what I read they support dual E-Sims, so you can have 2 lines with one phone.
 
It has everything to do with Apples marketing expertise. While it's true that they build excellent products, it can also be said they've achieved near total control over the minds of their buyers. Creating desire than influence people to overpay.

iPhone Air is a classic example. Another excellent example is iPhone 16e, two overpriced products that right thinking members of the Apple faithful admit are too expensive. With less features than their competitors, sales of these models allows Apple to laugh all the way to the bank.
Yeah, couldn't disagree more strongly. I'm willing to pay more for good design. That goes for everything from computers to furniture to cars. Has nothing to do with Apple having "near total control over the minds of their buyers."

For my uses (and in my opinion) the Air is a significantly better phone than the 17, and therefore is worth paying a premium for. If you're big into using the wide angle lens and listening to stuff over phone speakers, then I can see why you might say it's a worse phone. But I'm not. I'd much rather have a nicer design than two "features" I hardly ever use, because I'm going to pick up the phone dozens of times a day.
 
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I’m definitely enjoying mine. Loving the weight especially. Also love the 6.5 inch screen. It’s a nice sweet spot.

I was contemplating the regular 17, but 6.3 is a tad to small and the 6.9 is too big.
 
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Yeah, couldn't disagree more strongly. I'm willing to pay more for good design. That goes for everything from computers to furniture to cars. Has nothing to do with Apple having "near total control over the minds of their buyers."

For my uses (and in my opinion) the Air is a significantly better phone than the 17, and therefore is worth paying a premium for. If you're big into using the wide angle lens and listening to stuff over phone speakers, then I can see why you might say it's a worse phone. But I'm not. I'd much rather have a nicer design than two "features" I hardly ever use, because I'm going to pick up the phone dozens of times a day.
An interesting observation reveals that many buyers live in the Apple bubble and fail to recognize the competition.

I find the Air an attractive and compelling new iPhone.

However its shortcomings as compared to the well equipped Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, suggest the Air is overpriced. My personal experience with the Edge and in-person experience with iPhone Air reveals a striking difference.

Years as an Apple customer have taught me that first generation products often arrive missing certain features that Apple includes in the second generation model. Therefore I'm taking a wait and see approach. If next years Air has two speakers and a better battery like the Edge, I'm a buyer.
 
It has everything to do with Apples marketing expertise. While it's true that they build excellent products, it can also be said they've achieved near total control over the minds of their buyers. Creating desire than influence people to overpay.

iPhone Air is a classic example. Another excellent example is iPhone 16e, two overpriced products that right thinking members of the Apple faithful admit are too expensive. With less features than their competitors, sales of these models allows Apple to laugh all the way to the bank.
A Ferrari has fewer features than a modern family SUV. Is it therefore better? Or perhaps do they have different customers for different reasons?That’s true, iPhone Air is overpriced.

That’s true, iPhone Air is overpriced.

Yet Apple has a long record of charging premium prices that their devoted customers pay all based on the company’s influence over them.

Overpriced how? Most people get subsidised phones through their carrier. I get mine from Apple on their finance option so it’s 0% and I can trade in whenever I want and put the difference to lower the new handset cost.

The phone is a device we hold or carry our entire waking hours, so comfort is a priority. The Air offers flagship level performance in an irresistible form factor.

The Pro Max costs £1500, more than even a MacBook Air or iPad Pro. People buy them when they don’t know what USB 3 or thunderbolt are, let alone use them. They don’t use the cameras. They don’t know there is vapour cooling. But it’s the biggest and “the best.” Meanwhile it’s heavy and uncomfortable to hold.

I’ve used Pro or Pro Max since they first came out, and this year I’ve gone for the Air because from top to bottom it’s more pleasant to use than my 16 Pro without sacrificing anything except for the occasional use of the ultra wide lens. No big deal whatsoever.
 
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An interesting observation reveals that many buyers live in the Apple bubble and fail to recognize the competition.

I find the Air an attractive and compelling new iPhone.

However its shortcomings as compared to the well equipped Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, suggest the Air is overpriced. My personal experience with the Edge and in-person experience with iPhone Air reveals a striking difference.

Years as an Apple customer have taught me that first generation products often arrive missing certain features that Apple includes in the second generation model. Therefore I'm taking a wait and see approach. If next years Air has two speakers and a better battery like the Edge, I'm a buyer.
The fact of the matter is that a vast majority of consumers don’t cross-shop Apple and Android. The Air’s primary competition is other iPhones. And the Edge’s primary competition is other Android phones.

The ecosystem lock-in and stickiness of user preferences for one OS over the other is too strong to overcome for most. Meaning, the products on their side of the fence would have to be INCREDIBLY terrible in comparison to inspire a switch.
 
An interesting observation reveals that many buyers live in the Apple bubble and fail to recognize the competition.

I find the Air an attractive and compelling new iPhone.

However its shortcomings as compared to the well equipped Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, suggest the Air is overpriced. My personal experience with the Edge and in-person experience with iPhone Air reveals a striking difference.

Years as an Apple customer have taught me that first generation products often arrive missing certain features that Apple includes in the second generation model. Therefore I'm taking a wait and see approach. If next years Air has two speakers and a better battery like the Edge, I'm a buyer.

I couldn't care less for a Samsung phone. I have had Galaxy Note 5, Note 8, and have used S22 for few months. I always come back to iPhone. The only Android phone that looks somewhat appealing is the latest Pixel line.

So, yeah, like you said, there are competitors out there but they are not interesting.

Like you, I have also been an iPhone user since iPhone 3G so I know how Apple works.
 
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I couldn't care less for a Samsung phone. I have had Galaxy Note 5, Note 8, and have used S22 for few months. I always come back to iPhone. The only Android phone that looks somewhat appealing is the latest Pixel line.

So, yeah, like you said, there are competitors out there but they are not interesting.

Like you, I have also been an iPhone user since iPhone 3G so I know how Apple works.
Yep. I was a Samsung owner earlier in the Galaxy and Note lines but the bloat was unforgivable. Not to mention the lack of software optimisation, and lack of OS updates or at least timely ones.

I have no interest in going back to Samsung for phones. My related experience was they love to stuff features in just so they can say they’re there, but most of them don’t get used or aren’t very good. Give me Apple’s approach of waiting until it’s reliable and useful first.

But even with that aside, a huge benefit is Apple’s device connectivity. Handoff, Continuity, Universal Control, Sidecar, Face ID on phone or watch to buy a film on TV, everything is just so seamless.
 
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Agreed, I got one for a week, returned it, and missed it so got it again yesterday.

I loved using it without a case but I actually prefer it with a case. I got a Grecazo slim fit and it adds a nice bit of grip with no bulk, plus comes with a handy ring on a very small loop, which has been really helpful at stopping it slipping and adds some anti-theft protection.
lol. I thought I was the only crazy one.

Tried the Air, 'needed' the ultra wide.

Tried the 17 Pro, great ultra wide

Still miss the Air.

So I'm returning the 17P, getting the Air and finally porting my number onto the Air, yet keeping my 16 Pro lol, for those planned events where I know I'll be shooting content.

-
 
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lol. I thought I was the only crazy one.

Tried the Air, 'needed' the ultra wide.

Tried the 17 Pro, great ultra wide

Still miss the Air.

So I'm returning the 17P, getting the Air and finally porting my number onto the Air, yet keeping my 16 Pro lol, for those planned events where I know I'll be shooting content.

-
I’m so pleased with my decision. The Air is a pure delight to use. I’ve picked up my 16 Pro a few times and it feels horrible now. It’ll be traded in at Apple to contribute to the Air’s price.
 
An interesting observation reveals that many buyers live in the Apple bubble and fail to recognize the competition.

I find the Air an attractive and compelling new iPhone.

However its shortcomings as compared to the well equipped Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, suggest the Air is overpriced. My personal experience with the Edge and in-person experience with iPhone Air reveals a striking difference.

Years as an Apple customer have taught me that first generation products often arrive missing certain features that Apple includes in the second generation model. Therefore I'm taking a wait and see approach. If next years Air has two speakers and a better battery like the Edge, I'm a buyer.
Edge may have better specs, but it’s Android. No go right there.
 
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