Most years, it’s not very hard to decide which iPhone model to buy. I always go with a Pro model—usually the smaller of the two. But with next year’s iPhone 17 line and the expected ultra-thin 17 Air model, my purchase decision will be harder than ever. Here are the key factors I’m considering.
Plus is out, Air is in for the iPhone 17 lineup
Apple continues experimenting with its flagship iPhone lineup, particularly with its fluctuating fourth model.
There used to be an iPhone mini, but it didn’t sell well enough and Apple replaced it with the iPhone Plus. Turns out, history’s repeating itself and the Plus hasn’t justified its existence either.
Next year, Apple instead plans to ship the iPhone 17 Air. Highlights include:
- an ultra-thin form factor
- display size that sits between the Pro and Pro Max
- just one rear-facing camera
- a premium price
On paper, the 17 Air won’t be the ‘best’ iPhone, but it will offer a taste of the future.
Sort of like how the iPhone X represented a leap forward in industrial design—but this time, with some compromises that make it less compelling.
iPhone 17 Air compromises for Pro users
There’s a lot about the iPhone 17 Air that sounds great to me. After years of iPhone updates that have done little to change the physical design of the device, a major form factor change is exciting.
Right now I use an iPhone 16 Pro. And typically I would expect to buy a 17 Pro next year.
But the 17 Air may change that. There are three key details that will make the decision especially hard:
- Losing the 5x telephoto: After missing out on the 5x telephoto camera last year, since the Pro Max is too large for me, I’ve very much been enjoying it on my 16 Pro. When walking around the city, I can now take the kind of shots I’d always wished I could. Distance isn’t an issue anymore, and that’s a very nice upgrade. Unless the 17 Air’s camera comes with some major digital zoom improvements, it’ll be hard to give up the telephoto lens.
- Battery sacrifices: This is largely an unknown, but it’s a safe assumption that the iPhone 17 Air will have worse battery life than its thicker Pro counterparts. How much worse? That’s the key question. I would be fine with a slight reduction, but the details will be key.
- Display size uncertainty: I’m pretty content with the size of the iPhone 16 Pro. I like using my phone one-handed as I’m walking around, and I actually preferred the slightly smaller 15 Pro display than the bumped 16 Pro. So the thought of going from 6.3 up to 6.6 inches with the 17 Air isn’t very appealing. However, it’s possible the thinner body will make the larger size still fine for one-handed use, so I’m withholding judgment for now.
Will the 17 Air be worth it?
It would be hard to give up so much for a new iPhone model, but we’ll have to wait for Apple’s full lineup unveiling to make the most informed decision. So far, we know a lot about the 17 Air but very little about the 17 Pro and Pro Max.
I’m inclined to think I’ll still buy the 17 Air despite the sacrifices that model entails. But if the 17 Pro gets some killer updates that are Pro-exclusive?
Apple could make the decision even more painful.
Which iPhone 17 model do you plan to buy? What are your key decision factors? Let us know in the comments.
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