Apple has some major shake-ups coming to its iPhone lineup in the next few years, starting this fall when the iPhone 17 Air replaces the Plus model.My current plan is to replace my iPhone 16 Pro with the sleeker 17 Air model rather than a new Pro.Here’s why.
iPhone 17 Air will be the future, just like the device that inspired its name When Apple launched its very first ‘Air’ product, the MacBook Air, the computer came with a list of compromises.To achieve its ultra-slim design, Apple had to remove ports from the MacBook Air, sacrifice power, and even drop the optical drive that was then standard in laptops.The new computer wasn’t for everyone.
But for those who wanted a taste of the future of laptop design, the MacBook Air was an exciting new product.iPhone 17 Air stands poised to follow that same pattern.There’s no other new model that better represents the future of iPhone design than the Air.
Jony Ive long envisioned the ultimate iPhone design being a single slab of glass, which undoubtedly drove his obsession with making thinner, lighter models over time.Even though Ive’s no longer around, Apple seems to be carrying out the same vision.Like the iPhone X did in 2017, the iPhone 17 Air—per hands-on reports—could make Apple’s other models feel instantly dated.
And while it won’t have all the same features found in the more expensive Pro models, I’d argue the sacrifices aren’t nearly as severe as what the original MacBook Air required.Weighing the cost of an ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air Compared to its Pro siblings, iPhone 17 Air will have: a slightly less powerful A19 chip than the A19 Pro only one rear camera, dropping Ultra Wide and Telephoto less battery life The finer details on these omissions are still unknown, so it’s hard to say how much they’ll truly matter.For example, if the 17 Air’s battery performance is especially poor, that could cripple it out of the gate.
But if it’s ‘fine,’ and users are simply choosing between ‘good’ battery with the 17 Air and ‘great’ with the Pro models, the sacrifice may not feel so costly.The A19 chip’s limitations will likely go unnoticed by most users.And with the single camera issue, each person will have to judge its importance based on their own usage patterns.
Personally, I’ve been buying iPhone Pro models for years, and am very ready for a change.My iPhone 16 Pro is so much like my 15 Pro, and the 14 Pro before it.iPhone 17 Air excites me in a way the new 17 Pro models don’t.
I also don’t need as much battery as my 16 Pro packs, and rarely use the extra cameras.For me, getting a futuristic-feeling iPhone seems well worth the cost.Will Apple surprise me with some compelling new 17 Pro features that change my mind? It’s always possible.
But that’s looking less likely the closer we get to launch.iPhone 17 Air over 17 Pro: wrap-up If you just want the best possible iPhone, the 17 Pro models will, on paper at least, continue to be that.But from everything I’ve seen so far, the iPhone 17 Air feels like the model from the future.
And that’s why I plan to buy it.Do you plan to buy an iPhone 17 Air or Pro? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessories AirPods Pro 2 (now only $199, down from $249) MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone HomeKit smart plug 4-pack 10-year AirTag battery case 2-pack 100W USB-C power adapter for fast charging You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.
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