Maybe I’m just out of touch, but I don’t understand who this is for, and I think it’s going to flop.
First of all…who is asking for thinner phones?
Secondly, the price. This is not an Air SE. This thing is only $100 less than a full-fat iPhone Pro, and $200 more than iPhone base (which is a particularly good value this year).
And what do you get for that price?
- 2 fewer lenses than the pro, and 1 fewer than the base
- Titanium frame, I guess?
- Less powerful processor than the base
- Inherently more fragile frame
- Less battery life than even the base model (this was often cited as the shortcoming of the iphone Mini)
- Slower charging speed than both models
- no cinematic video mode
Are people really clamoring for thinner phones so badly that they’ll spend more money for less features?
https://www.apple.com/iphone/compare/?modelList=iphone-17-pro%2Ciphone-air%2Ciphone-17
Edit: 1 week later and the Air underperforms the base model as well (as expected)
Also someone pointed out below that the 16e is only 2 grams heavier and is $400 cheaper.
As the owner of a 13 mini, I would point out that not all of us want big heavy phones, and I am happy them offer a lighter option. If Apple decides to offer iPhone-sized phones again, I hope they go with a smaller version of the Air.
I completely understand the desire for a smaller phone, but this is not really smaller, it’s just ever-so-slightly-thinner. And not even all of it, look at the side profile, the area around the camera is not much thinner than the standard devices.
And in my experience, while I also value lighter phones, most people seem to perceive them as “cheap”.
Yeah, well, I don’t put much stock into people’s perceptions. People are already pre-complaining about the battery life of the iPhone Air, which is hilarious to me as a mini owner who charges primarily before and after bed, not overnight. They’re mocking the crossbody strap as if they’ve never seen anyone carry their phone on a crossbody strap. I mean, it’s not for me (although I do carry my phone in what is technically a crossbody strap), but it looks handy, and it seems like it’d be better with a lighter phone.
yeah i’m holding on to my mini until a new small model comes out. i don’t want thinner i want smaller.
long live the mini.
It’s only 2 grams lighter than the 16e. I also would like a new mini model, but mostly to fit in my hand nicer and de-emphasize the screen in my life.