Rumors suggest the standard iPhone 17 will have significant upgrades, making a potential "iPhone Air" model less appealing.
The iPhone Air is getting way too much attention after Apple's big product launch event yesterday, while the best new iPhone (in my view) is being unfairly ignored.
The standard iPhone 16 model led sales in the first quarter, and the iPhone 17 may repeat that success in 2025. However, the 6.1-inch model's successor appears to be undervalued.
The iPhone Air announcement included marketing phrases like "breakthrough design" and "innovative camera experiences." However, the product may not be as revolutionary as advertised.
While Apple will likely sell more iPhone Airs than Samsung Galaxy S25 Edges, the base iPhone 17 should still be more successful.
The iPhone 16's weight wasn't an issue for most users. The iPhone 17, at 7.95mm thick and 177 grams, is slightly larger than the iPhone Air's 5.64mm and 165 grams.
The iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch screen and is only negligibly thicker and heavier than the iPhone 16, which is a significant design improvement over the iPhone Air.
The iPhone 17 isn't particularly innovative, but neither is the iPhone Air, especially after the Galaxy S25 Edge release. The iPhone 17 has two 48MP rear cameras, while the Air has only one.
The iPhone 17 also has better battery life than the iPhone Air. The iPhone 17 is rated for 30 hours of video playback, while the iPhone Air is rated for 27 hours.
The iPhone 17 Pro costs $100 more than its predecessor but has twice the storage. The iPhone Air also costs $100 more than the iPhone 16 Plus.
The iPhone 17 retains the iPhone 16's $799 starting price while increasing base storage from 128 to 256GB. This pricing strategy is competitive against Samsung and Google.
The Galaxy S25 and Pixel 10 start at $799 with only 128GB of storage. The iPhone 17 is also competitive with the OnePlus 13 and 13R.
Apple's pricing decision for the iPhone 17 is surprising but welcome. The iPhone 17 deserves more attention than the iPhone Air.
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