Going into iPhone 16 pre-order season, I knew I wasn’t going to buy the Pro model. Also, I didn’t want something small. That said, the 6.1-inch iPhone 16 and 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro seemed too small to me. I say this as someone who has chosen the smaller iPhone Pro every year since Apple introduced it.
I don’t know when this happened, but I realized I needed a bigger display. Not only will you see more content when you browse the web, read books, and stream videos. I also find it increasingly difficult to type on the 6.1-inch screen.
Another benefit of increasing the size is that the battery pack inside the iPhone is larger. In the Plus and Pro Max sizes, battery life easily exceeds a day. I loved this experience in my first year with the iPhone 14 Pro, as it had very long battery life, at least for me. I say that because I know a lot of other people are frustrated with it.
Fast forward to mid-October, and I’ve been using the iPhone 16 Plus for about two weeks. I do everything on my iPhone 14 Pro that I used to do on my iPhone 14 Pro, but I’m actually afraid of certain things now. This made me realize how much I want the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air that’s been rumored so much. I’m ready for a bigger phone, but I want a much thinner profile than the Plus or Pro Max.
I really like the larger screen on the iPhone 16 Plus, even if it’s stuck at 60Hz. I’m also one of those people who doesn’t really understand the difference in refresh rates on iPhones. Downgrading the display from 120Hz to 60Hz on my iPhone 14 Pro didn’t bother me one bit. iOS 18 is great in most areas and everything runs smoothly.
I love the extra screen space. This makes using your iPhone even more convenient. It also has a longer battery life, giving you around 36 hours of use on a single charge. It’s not quite two days yet, but it’s almost there.
But it comes at a price.
The iPhone 16 Plus is incredibly bulky. It weighs 199g, the same as the smaller iPhone 16 Pro, but weight isn’t an issue here. Plus is only two larger overall. Adding a screen protector and case adds even more bulk. Note that the iPhone 16 Plus is actually thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro model. The Pro is 8.25 mm thick, while the Plus is 7.80 mm thick.
That’s why I want the iPhone 17 Air. I’m dreaming of an even thinner iPhone, preferably similar to the iPhone 6 through iPhone 8 models. The iPhone SE 3 currently maintains that form factor.
I find it very difficult to carry the Plus in my pants pocket. I have to take it out to tie my shoelaces, and I can’t wait to get it out of my pocket when I get home, no matter where I am.
Another thing to consider is that I run a lot for marathon training. I always carry my iPhone with me. I didn’t buy the cellular Apple Watch Series 10 for this reason. Running with the Plus in your pocket isn’t as difficult as you might think, but it still has its problems.
We also take care to handle the iPhone 16 Plus with one hand. I haven’t dropped it yet, but it’s scary. Therefore, I put it in a case and added bulk.
I had these concerns in mind last year when I first heard rumors that Apple would increase the display size of the iPhone 16 Pro to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches. I was afraid of using a big phone. It turns out Apple did that without significantly increasing the size of the Pro and Pro Max. These ultra-thin bezels helped push up the screen size.
Rumor has it that the iPhone 17 Air will replace the Plus size of Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup. However, it will have a smaller display than the current Plus’ 6.7-inch screen. The thinner profile could make the handset easier to handle with one hand.
The iPhone 17 Air is likely to be much more comfortable in your pocket than the Plus or Pro Max. For now, I don’t plan on carrying my iPhone in a bag or other clothing.
We’re willing to make other compromises to get an iPhone with a larger display and ultra-slim profile. You can also skip the ultra-wide camera and use a single-lens camera system. Similarly, I don’t care if the battery lasts 24 hours instead of 36 hours. Come to think of it, if the iPhone 17 Air had a metal back instead of glass, it could have given up wireless charging and MagSafe charging. .
That said, there’s no guarantee that Apple will produce an iPhone Air size this year. Rumors say it is, but Apple has time to cancel plans or delay the introduction of the Air size.
