4 ms·

>maybe they could just do one thing that isn't maximally profitable once in a while. They tried that this year and called it iPhone Air

actionfromafar 11mo ago
Right, forgot to mention it should also be somewhat practical.
frereubu 11mo ago
I get you're referring to the profitability, but the iPhone Air is just thin, not small, which is where this conversation started.
- kridsdale1 11mo ago
  I bought a Pro Max for myself and an Air for my wife, who had a Mini before. The Air is DAMN SMALL. You really should try holding it. Yes the 2D dimensions are as large as a normal modern phone but it’s hardly there otherwise. It’s a good compromise. I’d want it myself but I shoot ProRes Video.
  - deleted 11mo ago
    [deleted]
  - jml78 11mo ago
    Based on sales of the air, it won’t be around in future years.
  - DiggyJohnson 11mo ago
    The issue is the 2D footprint compared to older models like the iPhone SE and iPhone 13 Mini. The iPhone Air is still significantly larger.
  - frereubu 11mo ago
    It's entirely about the 2D space in terms of being able to easily hold it in one hand and reach the whole screen, as well as other things like how it fits into pockets. I have large hands and an iPhone 13 mini, and it still feels too big for me to use comfortably with one hand.
  - crote 11mo ago
    > Yes the 2D dimensions are as large as a normal modern phone but it’s hardly there otherwise. The 2D dimensions are literally the only thing I care about. I'm going to barely notice the weight difference. The actual thickness is a lie with the giant camera hump. What I do care about is whether I can operate it single-handedly: I want my thumb to reach the top of the screen (so I can drag down the notification bar and click nav stuff) while the bottom of the phone is resting on my pinky. I could easily do that on my Galaxy S III Mini, it was comfortable with my Moto G 2, it was just about doable with my Nokia 6.1 - and it is impossible with my Pixel 7. At no point did I I actively look for a larger phone: going for a larger model has always been an unavoidable compromise.
thesuitonym 11mo ago
Ya got me there.
brulard 11mo ago
It felt more like: keep the size, reduce the battery life
CrimsonCape 11mo ago
You missed the part where he said "make a device people want."
rootusrootus 11mo ago
I'm curious how well it is selling. Early on there was a lot of enthusiasm, but I haven't heard much since. I don't know if I'd want a phone with less battery life, but my understanding is the Air's battery is actually not much smaller than last year's pro?
- layer8 11mo ago
  It doesn’t seem to be selling well: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/10/next-generation-iphone-air-delayed/ https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/10/next-generation-iphone-...
  - jsheard 11mo ago
    Neither is Samsung's similar Galaxy Edge apparently, to the extent that the product line may have already been cancelled after just one generation. Both companies probably should have sat on that idea until they could offset the physically smaller batteries with the much denser silicon-carbon technology.
    - layer8 11mo ago
      The battery is actually fine, better than the iPhone 16’s. The single camera and the pricing are the main problem, along with assorted minority showstoppers like single speaker and large size. It’s also not that much lighter, actually heavier than previous iPhones like the 12. People who are fine with a single camera and want less weight can also get the 16e for a much lower price, and then at least get stereo speakers. Add to that the very strong offering of the iPhone 17 this year.
  - rootusrootus 11mo ago
    > Foxconn has reportedly dismantled all but one and a half of its production lines for the iPhone Air , and all production is expected to be stopped at the end of the month Ouch! That sounds pretty bad, indeed. I was originally a little interested in the Air because I wanted to downsize from my previous 15 Pro Max. I ultimately decided that the Air was only thinner, and still big in the dimensions I wanted it to be smaller in.
fxtentacle 11mo ago
The iPhone Air was a turn in the wrong direction. What people like me wanted was an iPhone 13 mini that's a bit thicker so it can have a bit more battery capacity. And with the 120 Hz PWM nausea fixed. The iPhone Air has worse battery life. And it has a larger screen. And it's worse to handle one-handed. Coming from the 13 mini, it's not an improvement.
- throwforfeds 11mo ago
  I bought an Air, coming from a 13 mini, and I largely agree with you on all those points except the battery life. I'm not sure why everyone keeps saying the Air has bad battery life, which maybe it does compared to the 17 or 17 Pro etc, but the past week I've been test driving it it has more than all day battery life for me. My 13 mini needed a recharge in the middle of the day (battery was worn down to about 83%). Otherwise, yeah, you're right. I'm pretty sure I'm going to return it this week before my 14 days are up.
- ntoskrnl_exe 11mo ago
  Totally agreed. The one thing I don’t see criticized enough is the lack of a SIM card slot in international models. I understand they physically couldn’t fit it in, but I bet it's a deal breaker for everybody who has no experience with CDMA phones, so basically everybody outside of North America.
  - decimalenough 11mo ago
    > it's a deal breaker for everybody who has no experience with CDMA phones, so basically everybody outside of North America. Huh? CDMA is long dead, and the technical capabilities of physical and e-SIMs are identical. SIM = Subscriber Identity Module, all it does is encode your identity.
    - ntoskrnl_exe 11mo ago
      As far as I know, CDMA, compared to GSM, didn't have a SIM card equivalent. The identity information was baked into the handset and if you wanted to move your number from one phone into another, you had to get in touch with your carrier. eSIM reintroduces this problem. Those who experienced it 20-odd years ago with CDMA may feel like home. But elsewhere, where it's always been a norm to have the easily transferable physical SIM card, it might be viewed as too much of a hassle.

actionfromafar 11mo ago

Right, forgot to mention it should also be somewhat practical.

frereubu 11mo ago

I get you're referring to the profitability, but the iPhone Air is just thin, not small, which is where this conversation started.

kridsdale1 11mo ago
I bought a Pro Max for myself and an Air for my wife, who had a Mini before. The Air is DAMN SMALL. You really should try holding it. Yes the 2D dimensions are as large as a normal modern phone but it’s hardly there otherwise. It’s a good compromise. I’d want it myself but I shoot ProRes Video.
- deleted 11mo ago
  [deleted]
- jml78 11mo ago
  Based on sales of the air, it won’t be around in future years.
- DiggyJohnson 11mo ago
  The issue is the 2D footprint compared to older models like the iPhone SE and iPhone 13 Mini. The iPhone Air is still significantly larger.
- frereubu 11mo ago
  It's entirely about the 2D space in terms of being able to easily hold it in one hand and reach the whole screen, as well as other things like how it fits into pockets. I have large hands and an iPhone 13 mini, and it still feels too big for me to use comfortably with one hand.
- crote 11mo ago
  > Yes the 2D dimensions are as large as a normal modern phone but it’s hardly there otherwise. The 2D dimensions are literally the only thing I care about. I'm going to barely notice the weight difference. The actual thickness is a lie with the giant camera hump. What I do care about is whether I can operate it single-handedly: I want my thumb to reach the top of the screen (so I can drag down the notification bar and click nav stuff) while the bottom of the phone is resting on my pinky. I could easily do that on my Galaxy S III Mini, it was comfortable with my Moto G 2, it was just about doable with my Nokia 6.1 - and it is impossible with my Pixel 7. At no point did I I actively look for a larger phone: going for a larger model has always been an unavoidable compromise.

thesuitonym 11mo ago

Ya got me there.

brulard 11mo ago

It felt more like: keep the size, reduce the battery life

CrimsonCape 11mo ago

You missed the part where he said "make a device people want."

rootusrootus 11mo ago

I'm curious how well it is selling. Early on there was a lot of enthusiasm, but I haven't heard much since. I don't know if I'd want a phone with less battery life, but my understanding is the Air's battery is actually not much smaller than last year's pro?

layer8 11mo ago
It doesn’t seem to be selling well: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/10/next-generation-iphone-air-delayed/ https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/10/next-generation-iphone-...
- jsheard 11mo ago
  Neither is Samsung's similar Galaxy Edge apparently, to the extent that the product line may have already been cancelled after just one generation. Both companies probably should have sat on that idea until they could offset the physically smaller batteries with the much denser silicon-carbon technology.
  - layer8 11mo ago
    The battery is actually fine, better than the iPhone 16’s. The single camera and the pricing are the main problem, along with assorted minority showstoppers like single speaker and large size. It’s also not that much lighter, actually heavier than previous iPhones like the 12. People who are fine with a single camera and want less weight can also get the 16e for a much lower price, and then at least get stereo speakers. Add to that the very strong offering of the iPhone 17 this year.
- rootusrootus 11mo ago
  > Foxconn has reportedly dismantled all but one and a half of its production lines for the iPhone Air , and all production is expected to be stopped at the end of the month Ouch! That sounds pretty bad, indeed. I was originally a little interested in the Air because I wanted to downsize from my previous 15 Pro Max. I ultimately decided that the Air was only thinner, and still big in the dimensions I wanted it to be smaller in.

fxtentacle 11mo ago

The iPhone Air was a turn in the wrong direction. What people like me wanted was an iPhone 13 mini that's a bit thicker so it can have a bit more battery capacity. And with the 120 Hz PWM nausea fixed. The iPhone Air has worse battery life. And it has a larger screen. And it's worse to handle one-handed. Coming from the 13 mini, it's not an improvement.

throwforfeds 11mo ago
I bought an Air, coming from a 13 mini, and I largely agree with you on all those points except the battery life. I'm not sure why everyone keeps saying the Air has bad battery life, which maybe it does compared to the 17 or 17 Pro etc, but the past week I've been test driving it it has more than all day battery life for me. My 13 mini needed a recharge in the middle of the day (battery was worn down to about 83%). Otherwise, yeah, you're right. I'm pretty sure I'm going to return it this week before my 14 days are up.
ntoskrnl_exe 11mo ago
Totally agreed. The one thing I don’t see criticized enough is the lack of a SIM card slot in international models. I understand they physically couldn’t fit it in, but I bet it's a deal breaker for everybody who has no experience with CDMA phones, so basically everybody outside of North America.
- decimalenough 11mo ago
  > it's a deal breaker for everybody who has no experience with CDMA phones, so basically everybody outside of North America. Huh? CDMA is long dead, and the technical capabilities of physical and e-SIMs are identical. SIM = Subscriber Identity Module, all it does is encode your identity.
  - ntoskrnl_exe 11mo ago
    As far as I know, CDMA, compared to GSM, didn't have a SIM card equivalent. The identity information was baked into the handset and if you wanted to move your number from one phone into another, you had to get in touch with your carrier. eSIM reintroduces this problem. Those who experienced it 20-odd years ago with CDMA may feel like home. But elsewhere, where it's always been a norm to have the easily transferable physical SIM card, it might be viewed as too much of a hassle.