The Regular iPhone 17 is Reportedly Proving Popular — Here's Why

[EugW]

Just tap the 2× button in the Camera app, no? Exactly like you would to use the X’s optical 2× tele.

Sure, but the new tele in the Pro series is 4X, with tap-to-8X. No macro support on the Air either.

However, if you know you won't need more than 2X and won't need macro, then the Air would be fine. My daughter has the 16e which has the same "optical" zoom options as the Air, and it's fine for her. She was on the XR before. The 17 offers a 0.5X which can be handy, although for me it's the least used lens.

 

[bsmr]

It’s £300 cheaper than the Pro and the only real difference is a 4x telephoto lens.

17 has better main camera than the 17 pro! It's a faster lens

 

[bsmr]

Only reason I went with the Pro is the Cameras.

The non-pro cameras are 'maybe' better... Depends on your usecase.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-17-pro-camera-vs-iphone-air-camera-my-only-concern.2465369/post-34123002

 

[EugW]

17 has better main camera than the 17 pro! It's a faster lens

Not sure if it's better or worse but yes, the 17 main is faster than the 17 Pro main. However, they are different lenses. The 17 has a 26 mm equivalent, whereas the 17 Pro has a 24 mm equivalent. Also, the 17 Pro has the 2nd generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, whereas the 17 has the older 1st generation. This latter difference may be more important overall, but we won't know until the in-depth photography reviews come out.

 

[Poochi]

As an aside, I think Apple are keeping the option of making the “iPhone air” ( NOT the “iPhone 17 air) a limited edition once-off.

Going by my logic, the “iPhone fold” or “iPhone anniversary” won’t be added as an extra phone to the existing line up, they’ll replace the air.

So, the range will be:

Budget ( currently 16e )
normal ( currently 17)
Pro (currently 17 pro)
Big pro (cutrent 17 pro max)
Limited edition ( currently iPhone air)

The range I’d already pretty wide, so they might just change the limited edition every year or two years, rather than widening the range. And they won’t be given numbers.

The plus for Apple is that the “limited editions” don’t need to sell we’ll, and they don’t have to take a public hit fir cancelling, because it’s limited edition to start with : “We’re not cancelling this product because it was always planned to be manufactured and sold only for this period”.

The good news is that it might mean a new mini one year, but it won’t be upgraded with chip bumps unless it’s a huge seller.

This is an interesting take. Apple could make Air a collectible if it suddenly discontinues it next year and introduce Fold.

 

[Poochi]

That's not missing the point, it's being realistic. While it has it charms, most people aren't going to be swayed by those, and as I said before, I think it will be the worst seller of the four models this year.

The 12 GB RAM is nice to have, but 8 GB is totally fine, which is what is in last year's 16 Pro Max. As for the A19 Pro SoC, it's binned, and has the same number of GPU cores as the A19 non-Pro. Furthermore, if you actually need the A19 Pro's advanced SoC features, you're probably going to want an iPhone Pro anyway. Nobody is going to be buying the iPhone Air to shoot professional 4K video for example.

To put it another way, in Jonny Ive design fashion, the Air sacrifices almost everything else in the pursuit of thinness.

When Apple gets its act together and releases functional Ai, Air will have more differentiable value due to the 12Gb RAM and higher cache. Thinness yet still iPhone 16Pro level battery life is also very valuable.

The line up is strong this year, covers the basis for the most value conscious segment with 17, and carved out this new premium segment that see the value in portability while not being forced to get the heavier Pro just to have ProMotion.

 

[Poochi]

Why buy an air, when the base 17 is a much better value, in fact the 16 isn't worth bothering with as the upgrade from 128 to 256gb gets you a much better phone. Also with the Air you need to spend another £100 to get actuall all day battery life with a magsafe battery.

Why Air? Thinner while having a bigger display and not as unwieldy as the Pro. 12Gb RAM. There are also a lot of people who are not sensitive to the price.

 

[OzPeyter]

Is is definitely a monumental leap in technology. The main camera will be way better in the 17 than in the X. Totally different league.

However, the iPhone X has a telephoto lens, whereas the iPhone 17 does not. If you used the telephoto on the X, then you may miss it on the 17. IMO it's not really about maximizing the camera quality, but having options and the convenience. I don't need most of the pro features of the Pro line but I continue to get them because I want that telephoto.

My main camera is a now Fuji GX617 medium format panoramic film camera. Followed up by my Nikon D7500 with my nice 600mm Sigma lens (which with a crop factor of 1.5, I'm pushing 1000mm)

So I'm not going to be pushing the iPhone limits anytime soon

 

[Cod3rror]

People buying the Air are just beta testing future, thinner versions of the Pro without their knowledge.

There is not going to be thinner versions of the Pro. There is no workaround for camera physics.

Plus, it's a "Pro", so the thickness will be accepted by the target audience.

Air is a fashion accessory. I don't expect it to sell much. It makes no sense from either the technical or the practical standpoints.

 

[EugW]

There is not going to be thinner versions of the Pro. There is no workaround for camera physics.

Plus, it's a "Pro", so the thickness will be accepted by the target audience.

Air is a fashion accessory. I don't expect it to sell much. It makes no sense from either the technical or the practical standpoints.

I suspect the Pros may get a bit thinner over time, but if so, they will maintain big camera bumps, just like the Air still has a big camera bump.

 

[Happy_John]

This is an interesting take. Apple could make Air a collectible if it suddenly discontinues it next year and introduce Fold.

right now there are currently 5 current iPhones: the 16e, the “normal”, the air, the pro, the pro max.

If the air is a “permanent “ phone, then were going to gave 6 phones: the five above plus the “fold”.

Next there’s the “anniversary phone, which MUSt be a limited edition. Otherwise it can’t be an “anniversay” phone the next year. But it brings bus 7 simultaneous phone lines.

They can’t just keep adding new phone lines to the iPhone range. Apple have already been there with POC desktops, where too many lines and options confuse the consumer and lowers sales.

It’s a our guess, but, unless the Air is a massive, Masovian success, the air will be replace by the fold, and the fold will be placed by the anniversary, rather than these being new ranges. ( anniversary might be before fold, if the fold slips)

The base if iPhone, pro and pro max will be the only constant lines, but features from the limited editions will be handed down to the constant lines a year or two later, and the “e” will be budget option that will be updated eveey second or third year,

But right now, the base iPhone 17 is far more compelling option than the 16e. The extra money to nice to a 16 over a 16e mightn’t have been worth it.m, but the extra cost from a 16e to 17 is definitely worth it.

So I don’t know what the aim of the 16e is. It’s still a good phone, that hasn’t changed. But it’s only a viable option if 1) you can’t afford a 17 2) it is commercial / corporate deployment and they are for specific work purposes.

 

[Ralfi]

I cannot believe the Air is $400 more in Australia. It’s major advantage is a bigger screen.

It seems like a pointless release, only there to make the decision to get the regular 17 more difficult for some.

 

[EugW]

So I don’t know what the aim of the 16e is. It’s still a good phone, that hasn’t changed. But it’s only a viable option if 1) you can’t afford a 17 2) it is commercial / corporate deployment and they are for specific work purposes.

The 16e costs only 75% of the price of the 17. If I were buying today, I'd get the 17, but when I bought the 16e (for my daughter), it was competing against the 16. I thought the 16e value was OK compared to the 16, but the value of the 16e against the 17 isn't as good because the 17 got such a big upgrade and double the storage. In this context, I wonder if Apple will release a 17e next year. In the meantime, I expect some sales on the 16e, and discount pricing of the 16e under contract at many carriers. For example, the 16e could be a popular phone at Xmas for students if heavily subsidized by the carriers under contract.

BTW, I didn't consider the 15 at all. In some ways it was crippled even compared to the 16e, despite costing more than the 16e. I would have considered a 15 Pro refurb, but they were not available at the time.

I cannot believe the Air is $400 more in Australia. It’s major advantage is a bigger screen.

It seems like a pointless release, only there to make the decision to get the regular 17 more difficult for some.

I suspect the 2018 Air could be significantly better spec-wise. Apple has a habit of releasing gimped version 1 models, only to fix them in version 2 or 3.

 

[lakerchick4life]

Bro, if you are used to how long battery lasts on an iPhone Mini, the I can assure you that any new iPhone will last days to you .
Be smart and save some money. Technology won't make you happy anyway.

Cheers

Silly question, once I do decide which phone Im going to get..when it starts to drain when is a good time to charge it at what percentage..that way I wont make the same mistake twice

 

[Happy_John]

The 16e costs only 75% of the price of the 17. If I were buying today, I'd get the 17, but when I bought the 16e (for my daughter), it was competing against the 16. I thought the 16e value was OK compared to the 16, but the value of the 16e against the 17 isn't as good because the 17 got such a big upgrade and double the storage. In this context, I wonder if Apple will release a 17e next year. In the meantime, I expect some sales on the 16e, and discount pricing of the 16e under contract at many carriers. For example, the 16e could be a popular phone at Xmas for students if heavily subsidized by the carriers under contract.

BTW, I didn't consider the 15 at all. In some ways it was crippled even compared to the 16e, despite costing more than the 16e. I would have considered a 15 Pro refurb, but they were not available at the time.



I suspect the 2018 Air could be significantly better spec-wise. Apple has a habit of releasing gimped version 1 models, only to fix them in version 2 or 3.

I agree. Between the 16 and 16e, the 16e was a smart buy - if you’re not that focused on cameras, and just want a camera, the only drawback was the lack of MagSafe, and a case would cast a hell of a lot less than the zeta cost of the “full” 16.

The 16e was a smart choice.

But that goes out the window comparing the 1e and 17 - the promotion screen and double storage alone justifies paying the extra.

Which isn’t to say the 16 or 16e are bad phones. I have a 16 and I’m very happy with it, and of the 16e were around when I bought that phone, I probably would have consisted it, as it would have suited my needs.

But if I were buying today, I wouldn’t consider a 16 or 16e.

 

[frownface]

i wonder how many air buyers plan on using their phones naked

 

[EugW]

i wonder how many air buyers plan on using their phones naked

That gave me a very nasty image. Ew.

 

[mathiasinthe314]

i wonder how many air buyers plan on using their phones naked

I almost ordered the Air (and might return/cancel my Pro if I get hands on one and fall in love) and would have carried it naked. AppleCare essential in that situation, but I was prepared to put their durability claim to the test. You don't buy a phone that thin and slap a thick case on it. Defeats the purpose.

 

[iphoneobsession]

i wonder how many air buyers plan on using their phones naked

me

 

[robvalentine]

Why Air? Thinner while having a bigger display and not as unwieldy as the Pro. 12Gb RAM. There are also a lot of people who are not sensitive to the price.

Too many compromises, for me any way, and a lot of normal users I think, lack of battery capacity, and one speaker, Plus the 17 offers alot more to the average person than the air for 80% of the cost

 

[SalisburySam]

…covers the basis for the most value conscious segment with 17…

Our definition of “value conscious” differs; I don’t see a minimally $800 smartphone addressing those of us, okay me, who might be looking for a value conscious 17 at all. Maybe at $100 less, certainly at $200 less, which is why I would see good value in the 17 after price reductions when the 18 comes out.

 

[SactoGuy18]

The "regular" iPhone 17 resolved one major complaint: the lack of variable refresh rate. There were rumors of a fixed 120 Hz refresh rate but that fortunately did not come to pass.

 

[Le0M]

Silly question, once I do decide which phone Im going to get..when it starts to drain when is a good time to charge it at what percentage..that way I wont make the same mistake twice

To my knowledge, nowadays' batteries should not get to very low percentages, and theoretically you should charge your phone up to around 80%.
Also, charging it more often is better than charging it fewer times.

This is what I read a few years ago anyway.

 

[lakerchick4life]

To my knowledge, nowadays' batteries should not get to very low percentages, and theoretically you should charge your phone up to around 80%.
Also, charging it more often is better than charging it fewer times.

This is what I read a few years ago anyway.

oh I thought that maybe I was charging it way too much and that is why the battery got messed up. When I first got the phone I would charge it when it got to 30 percent, then I would see the battery life slowly continue to drop, like it would drop 10 percent without doing much of anything so its time for an upgrade going to go to the apple store near me over the weekend so I can see the phones and see which one is better to go with

 

[eurotec]

The reason is simple for me: 120 Hz/Promotion.