I really think the air comes down to case or no case. If you can use your phone with no case the air has the best in hand feel of any iphone since the X. If you put a case on it just feels like a thinner iphone but loses its magic. I have always used a leather case so Im trying to adjust to using the air with no case but its much more slippery than having a leather case on it. I really think it you want a light phone and you use a case the 17 is the way to go. If you go caseless the feel of the air is worth the trades off for my use cases.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone Air Dreaming of the Air
- Thread starter mathiasinthe314
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
People don’t want fomo so by default they go with the pro. I’m one of those people, almost. First I was shocked on how ugly the pros were and the fact there was no black. The I looked at the Air and how stunning it was in person, the black especially. Looks like a peace of single glass and I said there would be to many sacrifices. Then I stopped and looked at the sacrifices to find out 90% of it doesn’t apply to me. And the other 10% I can live without.
I would say it comes down to the air feels like a phone with no case, even with a case, if its the right case. I have my Air in the apple frosted clear case and it basically feels like a phone without a case because of weight and thinness. I still wouldn't chance a naked phone, the screens don't like drops.
Slightly off topic but it’s amazing how many pro max people I’ve seen this year say how they’re preferring smaller phones.
Us mini fans have been saying this for years. Is the penny finally dropping? 🤣
Us mini fans have been saying this for years. Is the penny finally dropping? 🤣
I bought the pro max and the air, one for me and one for the wife.
I still can’t decide between the two.
The pro max is a beast of a phone and it’s swaying me due to the awesome battery, better cameras, improved speakers and better gaming
The air is just phwoar, my favourite looking and feeling phone since the iPhone x
Head says pro max, heart says air
I still can’t decide between the two.
The pro max is a beast of a phone and it’s swaying me due to the awesome battery, better cameras, improved speakers and better gaming
The air is just phwoar, my favourite looking and feeling phone since the iPhone x
Head says pro max, heart says air
Dude, just get the air. There’s a no-questions-asked return policy for a reason. Life is too short to deprive yourself and cause years of torturous nightmares!
Same - My heart wants the Air. Logically, the Pro is the better phone on paper and there are less compromises. But the Air makes me feel some sort of way.
Listen to your wife ;~)
Especially any photographer will do far better with the three lenses of the Pro instead of one.
I think the conundrum is that it isn't just a tech decision. We relate to these devices in complicated ways.
Amazing. Apparently some folks seriously consider having "such a beautiful phone in your pocket" more important than having a competent phone in your pocket. The iP17 Pros are far more competent.
I spent hours in multiple Apple Stores this week, and [to me at least] the iPhone Airs do not jump off the display tables as "such a beautiful phone." One needs to look hard to pick out the Airs. In hand the Air indeed is a beautiful phone with its far more elegant titanium alloy frame. But the Air is also far less competent.
Apple gave buyers a clear form versus function choice this year. iPhone 17 Air form or iPhone 17 Pro function? Each buyer decides. Me, I chose function.
As far as I’m concerned, “better phone” aligns with my emotions.
Agreed "We relate to these devices in complicated ways." To me it is a tool, however. Any tool primarily gets judged by how well it functions. After function, form also becomes very relevant, but always secondary to function.
Suggesting that folks go with the Pro for reasons of fomo is absurd. Most who buy the Pro seek competence. Perhaps some "People don’t want fomo" but that silly fomo can be fomo the Air or fomo the Pro.
You chose form over function, which is fine for you. Your choice.
Sure, but I meant this thread wasn't created to seek any rational arguments.As far as I’m concerned, “better phone” aligns with my emotions.
I would buy the air on my credit card with the intention of retuning it within 14 days then just return it and go back to the pro.
Pretend you’re one of those sleazy guys. Have crazy monkey sex with the really sexy air head (see what I did there). Then, once it’s out of your system, go back to the logical choice or the girl that’s good for you (the pro) 😉
Pretend you’re one of those sleazy guys. Have crazy monkey sex with the really sexy air head (see what I did there). Then, once it’s out of your system, go back to the logical choice or the girl that’s good for you (the pro) 😉
It’s not much smaller than the pro max and certainly nothing like the mini. I don’t think same demand would exist if the screen was as small as the normal 17
I preordered a Pro and an Air coming from a 15PM. I was all in on the Air, fully understanding the objective benefits and weaknesses compared to the rest of the lineup.
I do agree that it’s amazingly engineered with an awesome looking design. I think if you’re truly okay with giving up some features, then you will love the phone.
I also think that the Pro actually feels better to hold on to with a good grip. I’m happy the metal band is gone- the unibody design really helps how good it feels with no case on. Also, I rest my phone on my pinky when using one handed and the Pro feels more comfortable due to it being very smooth/rounded along the edges.
The Air’s thinness and edges work against it in this case, and it is more irritating to my finger despite the phone being lighter in weight because it digs in on a smaller area.
The battery was pretty good, but it definitely drains quicker than I’d like it to when actively using the phone. This may not be an issue for you/actually be an improvement if you’re coming from a phone that didn’t have great battery life anyway.
I don’t listen to music / have loud convos in public, but the speaker loudness and fidelity was missed when casually watching something on the couch or in bed, or having Gemini read storybooks that my kids make on it at bedtime. Yes, I have AirPods, and no, I don’t always want them in my ears while I’m at home.
I don’t utilize the extra camera lenses too often, but there are times I would miss them at my kids’ events or while on vacation.
Ultimately, despite fully understanding the pros and tradeoffs ahead of time, it wasn’t until I really used the Air for a few days that I could give it a fair assessment. For me, I came to realize that the thin, light, cool looking design didn’t come close to offsetting the things that I was giving up with the Pro.
Again, if the tradeoffs really don’t affect you in a meaningful way, then you’ll love the Air and I’m glad so many people are having a great time with it. I’m sticking with the Pro, though.
I do agree that it’s amazingly engineered with an awesome looking design. I think if you’re truly okay with giving up some features, then you will love the phone.
I also think that the Pro actually feels better to hold on to with a good grip. I’m happy the metal band is gone- the unibody design really helps how good it feels with no case on. Also, I rest my phone on my pinky when using one handed and the Pro feels more comfortable due to it being very smooth/rounded along the edges.
The Air’s thinness and edges work against it in this case, and it is more irritating to my finger despite the phone being lighter in weight because it digs in on a smaller area.
The battery was pretty good, but it definitely drains quicker than I’d like it to when actively using the phone. This may not be an issue for you/actually be an improvement if you’re coming from a phone that didn’t have great battery life anyway.
I don’t listen to music / have loud convos in public, but the speaker loudness and fidelity was missed when casually watching something on the couch or in bed, or having Gemini read storybooks that my kids make on it at bedtime. Yes, I have AirPods, and no, I don’t always want them in my ears while I’m at home.
I don’t utilize the extra camera lenses too often, but there are times I would miss them at my kids’ events or while on vacation.
Ultimately, despite fully understanding the pros and tradeoffs ahead of time, it wasn’t until I really used the Air for a few days that I could give it a fair assessment. For me, I came to realize that the thin, light, cool looking design didn’t come close to offsetting the things that I was giving up with the Pro.
Again, if the tradeoffs really don’t affect you in a meaningful way, then you’ll love the Air and I’m glad so many people are having a great time with it. I’m sticking with the Pro, though.