iPhone 17 Air 2-Week Real Experience Review - Surprising Differences from 16 Pro Max

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Being thin doesn’t automatically make something good, right?
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge made a big deal about being thin, but when I actually used it, that’s all there was to it.
So when I saw the iPhone 17 Air announcement, I thought “Here we go again with the thinness bragging.”
5.6mm thick and 165g… Just looking at the numbers didn’t really impress me.

But after actually using it…
Oh wow, this is on a completely different level.
I’d been using the 16 Pro Max as my main phone for over a year, consoling myself with “it’s heavy but the performance is good,”
but the moment I held the Air, I realized how much I’d been suffering.

Just two weeks ago, I was thinking “if I’m buying the Air, might as well just get the 17 Pro,”
but now my mind has completely changed.

The shortcomings like the mono speaker and single camera pale in comparison to
the incredible satisfaction this lightness and thinness brings.

Honestly, I’m still amazed at how much more satisfied I am than I expected.

Transitioning from 16 Pro Max to 17 Air

I used the 16 Pro Max as my main phone for over a year.
At first, that hefty weight felt premium, but as time went on, the weight became burdensome.
Especially when lying in bed using the phone - I dropped it on my face more than once. (It hurt… haha)

Then the Air announcement caught my attention.
5.6mm thick and 165g? Honestly, at first I thought “isn’t this just marketing again?” but after feeling the actual device at the store, I immediately pre-ordered it.
That thinness was no joke.

Of course, I had many concerns.
Mono speaker, single camera, smaller battery… I wondered if it would be okay,

but I decided to just try it and placed my order.

iPhone 17 Air First Impressions

The moment I opened the box, I said “Oh? It’s real.”
There was almost no difference between what I saw in photos and the actual device.
If anything, the real thing was even prettier.

I chose Sky Blue, and the subtle color changes depending on the angle are truly luxurious.
It has a completely different charm from the 16 Pro Max’s titanium feel.
Something softer and warmer?
The shock of holding it in my hands is hard to describe.

I thought “Is this really an iPhone?” it was so light.
It felt like I was holding a mockup.

The Amazing Feel of Weight Difference

This is the real game-changer.
16 Pro Max is 240g, Air is 165g - so it’s a 75g difference…
The numbers don’t seem like much, but in reality, it’s a completely different experience.

It’s different from the moment you take it out of your pocket, and it’s much more comfortable when operating with one hand.
I especially notice the difference when using it in bed - my arm doesn’t hurt at all.
When I was using the 16 Pro Max, I didn’t think it was heavy, but after using the Air, I realize how heavy it was.

Now when I briefly pick up my old 16 Pro Max after using the Air… it’s seriously no joke. It’s a brick, a brick…
I wonder how I carried something like that around every day.

Mono Speaker Real-World Evaluation

Honestly, this was what I was most worried about.
Going from stereo to mono is disappointing, right?
But when I actually used it… it’s better than I thought.

Of course, compared to the 16 Pro Max’s stereo speakers, it is disappointing.
Especially when watching YouTube horizontally, it does feel a bit bland.
But when watching vertically, I can’t really tell the difference.

The sound quality itself isn’t bad.
Apple didn’t seem to make it carelessly just because it’s mono.
The volume is sufficient and it sounds clear.
I had no inconvenience when using it at home or in the office.

And I mainly use AirPods Pro, so I don’t use the speaker that often.
With this usage pattern, I think the mono speaker is at an acceptable compromise level.

Single Camera Photography Performance

The camera is… disappointing. A bit frustrating. Can’t help it.
Since I can’t take telephoto shots on the Air that I used to take on the 16 Pro Max, it’s frustrating at times.
Especially when taking photos of kids, it’s a bit disappointing.
(So I’m trying to convince my wife that I need to buy a camera again for this reason. haha)

But regular photos come out fine.
The main camera performance itself isn’t bad.
For everyday photos and food photos, I can’t feel much difference from the 16 Pro Max.

Apple’s “2-in-1 camera” seems somewhat accurate.
It does 2x zoom through software, and the quality degradation isn’t severe.
Of course, compared to a real telephoto lens it’s disappointing, but it’s much better than having nothing.

For people who take a lot of photos or absolutely need telephoto, it will be disappointing.
But if you’re like me and just take everyday photos… it’s sufficient.

Battery Life and Daily Usability

I was most worried about the battery, but surprisingly it’s okay.
No problem using it all day.

Since I live a home-car-office life where charging spots are always nearby, I may not have experienced battery inconvenience.
It actually feels like it charges faster than the 16 Pro Max, which is more convenient in some ways.

Of course, it doesn’t match the 16 Pro Max’s battery endurance.
But the Air’s advantages are so significant…
The slightly faster battery drain is definitely worth accepting.
Just charge more often, right? There are plenty of power banks these days…

It might be disappointing for people who game a lot or watch videos for long periods, but for normal use, I see no problem at all.

iPhone 17 Air Detailed Specifications

I know most of you are probably already familiar with this,
but I figured there might be some folks out there looking for this info,
so I’ve put together the official iPhone 17 Air specs.

Feel free to scroll past if you already know all this – hopefully it’ll be useful for anyone who needs it!

Design and Size

  • Thickness: 5.6mm (thinnest iPhone in Apple history)
  • Weight: 165 grams
  • Material: Grade 5 titanium frame
  • Colors: Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue (4 options)
  • Durability: Front Ceramic Shield 2 (3x improved scratch resistance), Back Ceramic Shield

Display

  • Size: 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR
  • Resolution: 2736 x 1260 pixels
  • Refresh Rate: ProMotion up to 120Hz
  • Brightness: Up to 1,000 nits, HDR peak 1,600 nits, outdoor peak 3,000 nits
  • Features: Always-On display, improved anti-reflective coating

Performance

  • Chipset: A19 Pro
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Storage: 256GB~1TB
  • Wireless: N1 wireless chip (Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread support)
  • Modem: C1X modem (2x faster than previous generation)

Camera

  • Rear Camera: 48MP Fusion main camera (2x telephoto support)
  • Front Camera: 18MP Center Stage (square sensor, optimized for group selfies)
  • Features: No ultra-wide lens, so macro photography and spatial photos not possible
  • Video: Dual Capture (simultaneous front and rear camera recording)

Battery

  • Capacity: 3,149mAh
  • Battery Life: Up to 27 hours video playback, up to 22 hours streaming
  • Charging: 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter
  • Accessories: MagSafe battery pack $99 (total 40 hours usage possible)

Operating System

  • iOS: iOS 26
  • AI Features: Apple Intelligence, Visual Intelligence, Live Translation

Pricing and Release Info

  • Price: $999 ($200 more than iPhone 17, $100 less than iPhone 17 Pro)
  • Pre-order: From September 12, 2025
  • Release: September 19, 2025

Key Features

  • Action Button and Camera Control included
  • Global eSIM only (no physical SIM card support)
  • Innovative internal design maximizes battery space

Limitations

  • Single rear camera (iPhone 17 has dual, Pro has triple)
  • Mono speaker
  • Shorter battery life than other iPhone 17 models
  • No mmWave 5G support

Honest Overall Review After 2 Weeks

Bottom line: I’m very satisfied. Highly recommend!!

At first I thought “what’s good besides being thin?” but after actually using it, the convenience that thinness and lightness bring is really significant.

There are shortcomings…
Mono speaker, single camera, relatively shorter battery life…
But the portability advantages are big enough to offset and surpass these shortcomings.

I especially want to recommend it to people like me who hold their phone for long periods or prefer lighter devices.
On the other hand, it might be disappointing for people who take lots of photos or heavily use the battery.

iPhone 17 Air will probably be divisive, but… it was really a good choice for me.
What do you think? If you’ve tried the Air, please share your review in the comments!