C114 News September 10th (Yue Ming) Apple officially launched the new model of iPhone Air in the early morning of this morning, which is Apple's thinnest phone to date.
This naming method, which changed from "Plus" to "Air", reminds people of the stunning scenes when the MacBook Air was launched. Reuters reported that 17 years ago, Jobs pulled out the classic scene of the first MacBook Air from the office envelope, which ultimately demonstrated the portability of the ultra-thin notebook. Today, this iPhone Air, which follows the naming and design language of laptops, may be what Apple fans have long hoped for: not only achieve a differentiated appearance in the market, but also condenses hardware engineering miracles every square millimeter.
So, in this era of serious homogeneity of mobile phones, what is the significance of the product layout adjustment contained in the release of Apple's latest iPhone 17 series? Can iPhone Air continue the market positioning of MacBook Air successfully?
In this regard, IDC senior research director Nabila Popal pointed out that the iPhone Air is the boldest design breakthrough since the iPhone X. He said that the iPhone Air is the first step in Apple's strategic design innovation, laying the foundation for a foldable iPhone that may be launched next year. "While iPhone Air models may not be able to ship large scale, this is not the original design. It will attract users who prioritize device lightness and simplicity over all-round functionality, thus expanding Apple's user base and reaching a wider population. The Pro series will be favored by most users who prioritize battery life and camera performance. Apple's clever segmentation of the product lineup allows each model to attract users with different needs. These models work together to promote a strong wave of replacement for Apple," Nabila Popal said.
Ramazan Yavuz, director of data and analysis at IDC, believes that "Apple will name the ultra-light iPhone from 'Plus' Change to ‘Air’ is not only a simple name change, but also a clear strategic intention. The previous model that lags behind the basic and professional versions in positioning has now obtained a high-end positioning. The model released this time is committed to the best configuration on the iPhone product line, which is undoubtedly a great victory for Apple's own target market. Although this update is not a disruptive market change, Apple has successfully maintained the attention of the core user group through its continuous growth in shipments and dominance in the high-end market, and continued the good development momentum since the iPhone 14. "
According to IDC data, iPhone Air pricing is in the mid-range of the product line, which is $100 lower than the initial launch price of the Galaxy S25 Edge, which was launched at the beginning of this year and sold million units in the second quarter. Therefore, analysts believe that the pricing strategy will drive strong sales.
Regarding the market response and sales outlook of the iPhone 17 series in China, IDC research manager Guo Tianxiang said, "Thanks to major innovations in design and hardware, Chinese consumers have shown strong interest in the latest iPhone 17 series, which will undoubtedly stimulate market attention and drive demand for replacement. However, iPhone The ultra-thin design of the Air can only attract a small number of early tasters; due to its compromise on battery life and camera performance, and the current Chinese market is currently only one China Unicom operator that supports eSIM and requires offline activation, it is difficult for the model to impress mainstream Chinese consumers. More importantly, Apple's lag in AI functions is becoming a major challenge for its development in China as local competitors launch deep integrated AI functions and meet the needs of the Chinese market. "#Apple# #iphone Air#
