After the mini and Plus variants fell short of gaining substantial market traction, Apple has launched the ultra-slim iPhone Air. Much like the controversial redesign of the iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone Air has sparked a wave of mixed reactions online since its unveiling.

Yet, despite the criticism, I’m convinced that within 2-3 years, the iPhone Air will become the mainstream iPhone. It’ll be the device you see everywhere in public, and the one Apple will push to new users entering its ecosystem.

Right now, the iPhone Air isn’t perfect — it involves compromises — but I believe Apple has finally hit on a winning formula. Not just another niche model like the mini or Plus, but a device poised to capture a major slice of the smartphone market. Here’s why.

iPhone Air will improve rapidly

Many of the current limitations of the iPhone Air are temporary. Take battery life: while it's modest today, Apple is actively advancing battery technology — much like Samsung with the Galaxy S26 Edge. When conventional improvements aren’t enough, Apple is expected to adopt silicon-based batteries, a field it’s already investing in heavily.

There are already ultra-thin phones with larger batteries than the Air — the Tecno Slim being a prime example. The Air’s battery performance is already close to that of the base iPhone 17, falling short by only a few minutes. iOS 26’s intelligent power management plays a big role here, and future software updates combined with hardware upgrades will only enhance this further.

Performance is another area under scrutiny. Early benchmarks suggest that even with the newer A19 Pro chip, the Air slightly underperforms compared to the standard iPhone 17, which uses the regular A19 processor.

But let’s be real: most users won’t notice. For daily tasks and even gaming, the iPhone Air delivers a smooth experience. Yes, the titanium frame retains more heat, which can impact sustained performance, but for the average user, it’s more than sufficient.

Then there’s the single camera setup, which naturally doesn’t match the advanced systems on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. However, the majority of consumers aren’t shooting cinematic content on their phones. The Air’s camera is solid for everyday photography — and like everything else, it will only get better over time.

iPhone 17 Pro is now truly for professionals

With the iPhone 17 lineup, it’s clear Apple wants the Air to be the default choice for most users — not the Pro models. From subtle cues like the absence of a black finish on the Pros to the bold, function-first redesign, the message is evident: the Air is Apple’s new everyday flagship.

This strategy is likely to continue. The iPhone Air is positioned as the go-to model, while the iPhone 17 Pro becomes a specialized tool. Its all-aluminum body, complete with a glass panel for enhanced wireless charging, and the enlarged rear camera module may not win design awards, but they serve a purpose: raw performance and professional-grade capabilities.

What’s your pick? iPhone Air or iPhone 17 Pro Max?

iPhone Air 0%

iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max 50%

Base iPhone 17 50%

None of the above 0%

Votes 2 Back to Voting

Most people don’t need that level of power. They want a stylish, slim phone that lasts nearly a full day and handles apps, social media, and photos without issue. The iPhone Air fits that bill perfectly. The Pro models now make sense only if you demand top-tier performance and superior camera features.

I genuinely think Apple has found its sweet spot. The iPhone Air excites me more than any recent iPhone release, and judging from online conversations, I’m not alone.

The iPhone 17 Pro and the base iPhone 17 are fantastic devices — especially the base model, which received numerous upgrades.

But I believe the era of the Pro being the default "best" iPhone is winding down. The future belongs to the iPhone Air — and the upcoming foldable iPhone.

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