iPhone Air The Air reviews have dropped and the speaker's junk

[FeliApple]

I think that this depends exclusively on usage patterns, like many have said. I find the lack of the Ultra Wide and Macro a far larger issue.
Preliminary battery tests are good so that is another key issue solved, imo.

But on speakers… I have two key experiences: my absolutely amazing 9.7-inch iPad Pro, the first generation of Quad Speakers on an iPad and possibly the best-sounding iOS device I have. If I used the speakers twenty times in nine years it’s a lot. I have always loved the idea of those speakers. But at the end of the day I never used them.

Six months ago, I purchased my iPhone 16 Plus, coming from my Xʀ on iOS 12. I started using it, tested the speakers, and immediately said “wow, these are really good! Far better than the Xʀ”. That was basically it. I never used them again.

I doubt in-built speakers will ever match the quality of bluetooth headphones or speakers. And if this remains true, I wouldn’t use in-built speakers no matter how good they become. For me, this is not a factor. Unless they aren’t even enough for phone calls, which I doubt. The earpiece has to be loud enough for calls, though. The 5c was not loud enough in loud environments, whereas both the Xʀ and the 16 Plus more than sufficed.

 

[super chimp]

Won't affect my decision - speakers are not what I use.

I rely on daily use: email, text, phone calls, AOD for my EV car to unlock.....

For me speaker performance I would say is in my top five most important features on a phone because I use it so much.

 

[super chimp]

If speaker quality is a deal breaker for you in CELL PHONE you may need to reassess your priorities in life...

Because what we really should be talking about is the fact that it gets nearly IDENTICAL battery life to the base 17 with a larger display and smaller battery while being notably lighter and thinner.

I use my iPhone 13 Pro for listening to podcasts at home, and the radio etc. So yes it is important feature to me. I don’t use it to listen to music but speaker quality makes a big difference to legibility of spoken voice.

 

[NvidiaIntelPC]

It may be a non-issue for you but it was what I was waiting on before I bought. I could put up with it being maybe slightly inferior to the stereo speakers on previous iPhones but for it to be immediately noticeable is a problem. Very disappointing and has made my mind up on getting the regular 17

You only read one review and decided? in all the comparisons I’ve seen, the sound is decent. Not as good as the dual-speaker models, but far from bad.

 

[4sallypat]

I use my iPhone 13 Pro for listening to podcasts at home, and the radio etc. So yes it is important feature to me. I don’t use it to listen to music but speaker quality makes a big difference to legibility of spoken voice.

Will see - tomorrow, I shall make many speakerphone voice and facetime calls and see how the speaker sounds..

 

[grovertdog]

That’s why the air is not for you, but it may be for others. At home I use my iPads, not my phone, except for calls.

It's more than ironic those who demand the feature/numbers checklists to be checked to the max (see what I did there?) and bash those with different priorities actually evangelize listening to tinny, devoid of dynamic range, silly compromise speakers as if they're a feature. Some even pretend spoken word podcasts are stereo and it makes a difference. You can't make this up.

 

[grovertdog]

I use my iPhone 13 Pro for listening to podcasts at home, and the radio etc. So yes it is important feature to me. I don’t use it to listen to music but speaker quality makes a big difference to legibility of spoken voice.

Then the Air should work nicely for you, dare I say you may be a target audience?

Monaural is quite appropriate for spoken word. The entire and only point of stereo is to create an illusion of a soundstage of music. Not to broadcast an unaccompanied voice. One of the primary reasons talk shows remained on AM radio for decades after FM took over for music.

With that said, definitely get the phone you want. You don't have to justify your decision to anyone, and there really aren't bad choices these days.

 

[Marko3563]

Speakers aren't a huge issue for me as I use airpods/bose speaker when I am listening to music. My hopes is the battery life is better than I think it will be. I know there are trade offs and I am accepting of that, but if its not good I will just go with a base 17.

 

[robotphood]

Speakers aren't a huge issue for me as I use airpods/bose speaker when I am listening to music. My hopes is the battery life is better than I think it will be. I know there are trade offs and I am accepting of that, but if its not good I will just go with a base 17.

 

[Marko3563]

I've watched this video several times throughout the day and a tech reviewer who does things I won't with the phone isn't real life usage imho. Not that I am complaining! I just think hearing more from actual people with their usage will help guide me towards a final decision.

Nothing against reviewers but I feel like they continue to push the pros and I would like to believe that while the Pro series is definitely better, that most want something different or that the base 17/air could be better this round.

I guess we'll see. This weekend will be the tale of how the Air is. I just cant find a case I like for the Air. I love Caudabe cases, but their sheath case for the Air sucks. I wish it had an open camera bump like the Pro Series.

 

[SRLMJ23]

What the reviews that I've viewed seem to miss is that each of the phones is aimed at a different user and use case. I wonder which reviewer will take a more balanced, nuanced, and realistic approach rather than stress testing each version as if your a hardcore gamer in relation to benchmarks.

While I'm getting the Pro I still think that I could easily like the Air as I'd use it with airpods and don't game. The pro has it this upgrade but with Carbon Lithium battery tech and a 2nd camera in a couple of versions on it may well be a real contender.

I do not think there will be a second version. I think the iPhone Air was made for Apple to prove they could fit all that tech in that small of a frame, and next year the foldable iPhone is going to be two iPhone Air’s put together. If there is no foldable iPhone next year, then yes, there most likely will be another Air, but the reports as of now are foldable iPhone in 2026.

Apple will pay close attention to what works on the Air, and what needs some refinement/attention and fix it for the iPhone Air Foldable or whatever they will call it.

Just my prediction!

 

[surferfb]

I guess we'll see. This weekend will be the tale of how the Air is. I just cant find a case I like for the Air. I love Caudabe cases, but their sheath case for the Air sucks. I wish it had an open camera bump like the Pro Series.

Just a reminder that the first couple of days may have worse battery than normal with all of the indexing, etc.

 

[Marko3563]

Just a reminder that the first couple of days may have worse battery than normal with all of the indexing, etc.

absolutely and its why I am not taking anything I have seen yet as factual until we get a few days into the daily usage. Once the phone gets an idea of a users usage it will be better to see. We know day one is typically rough due to background installs and such.

 

[surferfb]

absolutely and its why I am not taking anything I have seen yet as factual until we get a few days into the daily usage. Once the phone gets an idea of a users usage it will be better to see. We know day one is typically rough due to background installs and such.

I’m giving myself a week before I decide. I suspect the cameras are what will make or break it for me. But I am really hoping it works out for me.

 

[noteple]

It’s not a speaker phone or a stereo. Get some buds or another phone
What’s next, the display is too small and too thin for the ham fisted

 

[Marko3563]

I’m giving myself a week before I decide. I suspect the cameras are what will make or break it for me. But I am really hoping it works out for me.

I can understand the cameras being an issue. From a review I saw earlier the camera seemly does well and I was impressed. Sound wise, it sounded ok.


it will be interesting to see where we land within a week with how balanced it is. The trade offs are huge, but will the reward of it being thinner be beneficial? I mean I am going from a Pro Max to either a 6.3 or 6.5 screen and I am hopeful it will be the 6.5 but we will see.

that damn blue mist 17 though =(

 

[JPack]

I do not think there will be a second version. I think the iPhone Air was made for Apple to prove they could fit all that tech in that small of a frame, and next year the foldable iPhone is going to be two iPhone Air’s put together. If there is no foldable iPhone next year, then yes, there most likely will be another Air, but the reports as of now are foldable iPhone in 2026.

Apple will pay close attention to what works on the Air, and what needs some refinement/attention and fix it for the iPhone Air Foldable or whatever they will call it.

Just my prediction!

Everybody else made a foldable phone without making an Air. In fact, Huawei's Mate XT is a couple mm thinner than Air.

 

[robotphood]

double post

 

[blairh]

I do not think there will be a second version. I think the iPhone Air was made for Apple to prove they could fit all that tech in that small of a frame, and next year the foldable iPhone is going to be two iPhone Air’s put together. If there is no foldable iPhone next year, then yes, there most likely will be another Air, but the reports as of now are foldable iPhone in 2026.

Apple will pay close attention to what works on the Air, and what needs some refinement/attention and fix it for the iPhone Air Foldable or whatever they will call it.

Just my prediction!

The Air is the future of the slab lineup. It will replace the vanilla iPhone in the not so distant future.

 

[robotphood]

I've watched this video several times throughout the day and a tech reviewer who does things I won't with the phone isn't real life usage imho. Not that I am complaining! I just think hearing more from actual people with their usage will help guide me towards a final decision.

Nothing against reviewers but I feel like they continue to push the pros and I would like to believe that while the Pro series is definitely better, that most want something different or that the base 17/air could be better this round.

I guess we'll see. This weekend will be the tale of how the Air is. I just cant find a case I like for the Air. I love Caudabe cases, but their sheath case for the Air sucks. I wish it had an open camera bump like the Pro Series.

Of course, but this is more about how it compares to the other phones with mixed usage. Toms guide did a simple battery test as well. I’ve seen reviewers say the phone lasted the day with anywhere from 5-7 hours screen time. That’s more than I personally average so it should be adequate.

 

[JPack]

The Air is the future of the slab lineup. It will replace the vanilla iPhone in the not so distant future.

You really think Apple will leave a $400 gap in their product stack? That $799 represents the bulk of everyone’s revenue in terms of revenue and quantity.

 

[blairh]

You really think Apple will leave a $400 gap in their product stack? That $799 represents the bulk of everyone’s revenue in terms of revenue and quantity.

$400? You mean $200?

The Air will probably go down in price in a few years. So by the time it does take over for the vanilla iPhone, it could potentially start at $899 for example.

 

[JPack]

$400? You mean $200?

The Air will probably go down in price in a few years. So by the time it does take over for the vanilla iPhone, it could potentially start at $899 for example.

16e is $599
Air is $999

When was the last time you saw an iPhone go down in price?

XR/11 ($699/$749) evolved into iPhone 17 today ($799)
X ($999) evolved into iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099)

 

[rui no onna]

16e is $599
Air is $999

When was the last time you saw an iPhone go down in price?

XR/11 ($699/$749) evolved into iPhone 17 today ($799)
X ($999) evolved into iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099)

When Apple started selling unlocked iPhones in the US, the base model was $649 (iPhone 5) and it stayed at that price up to the iPhone 7.

The iPhone 8 went slightly up to $699.

The biggest price jump thus far seems to be SE ($429) -> 16e ($599).

 

[blairh]

16e is $599
Air is $999

When was the last time you saw an iPhone go down in price?

XR/11 ($699/$749) evolved into iPhone 17 today ($799)
X ($999) evolved into iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099)

I think the Air can indeed go down in price if Apple wants it to replace the vanilla iPhone. They are getting away with charging a higher price now because the tech is so new.

Those prices you quote are a result of natural inflation over a long period of time.