The iPhone 17 Air could be just as unpopular as the iPhone Plus and mini
- Renowned analyst Mark Gurman predicts that the iPhone 17 Air will not be a big hit
- Leaks support this theory, tipping major compromises in specs and a not particularly thin design
- Gurman suggests a foldable iPhone could be much more popular
In recent years, Apple has tried to expand its iPhone line with new models like the mini and Plus, and so far these models haven’t been particularly successful, at least by iPhone standards. Apple’s next attempt at an alternative iPhone could be the iPhone 17 Air, but one renowned analyst predicts it won’t fare any better.
In his latest subscriber-only newsletter for Bloomberg (via Phone Arena) Mark Gurman has predicted that “the ‘iPhone Air’ will suffer the same fate as the Mini and Plus lines.”
Gurman argues that with this slimmed-down phone, Apple is trying to replicate the success it achieved with the MacBook Air, positioning the iPhone Air as “a mid-tier offering at a great price, for people who don’t need the iPhone Air. ” most impressive specifications.”
However, Gurman doesn’t think this strategy will work as well with phones as it does with laptops, and while he doesn’t say why, there are some obvious potential problems.
Too many compromises for too little gain
For starters, the iPhone 17 Air’s main selling point is expected to be a slimmer and probably lighter design than current iPhones, but phones – even big ones like the iPhone 16 Pro Max – aren’t huge, heavy things in the first place . , so downsizing it will have less impact than with a laptop.
And based on leaks, the iPhone 17 Air may not be as slim as Apple had hoped, while the spec compromises (including rumors of only a single camera on the back of the iPhone 17 Air) could be significant enough to scare people.
So what can Apple do? According to Gurman, “the only alternative iPhone that will sell well is a foldable model.” That would make sense: a foldable iPhone is a radically different proposition than any current model, and would likely rank above even the Pro Max phones, which are currently the most popular.
We may not have to wait too much longer for a foldable iPhone either, as while laypeople disagree on if and when such a device will hit the market, the latest claim we’ve heard is that the foldable iPhone could land in 2025. we could soon see whether that or the iPhone 17 Air proves to be the more popular new breed of iPhone.
