The Spring Festival Gala in the Technological World" was once again treated coldly. According to Guo Jing's Internet circle observation, fewer and fewer people stay up late to watch Apple's 2025 fall new product launch conference, and fewer and fewer users discuss content related to "iPhone 17" in their circle of friends, and even some technology media/self-media have not released iPhone 17-related updates.
So, does it mean that Apple's iPhone 17 released this time is out of the blue? Obviously not. For the media, they have gradually become accustomed to the routine of "waiting for news". Instead of staying up late to fight with the iPhone 17 press conference, it is better to wait for other media content such as "understanding iPhone 17XXX", "understanding Apple Press Conference XXX", and "Assummary of Apple Press Conference XXX" from other media. The next day, you can make a summary/analysis draft based on the relevant news. The news information is basically useless here.
For users, on the one hand, the mystery of Apple's new mobile phone has long been revealed, and it is difficult to see major innovations of "super historical" level; on the other hand, users are not media practitioners, and they will not miss anything when they read the news another day. If they should buy or buy, they will not make a move because they stay up late to watch the press conference.
The influence of the user side will also indirectly affect the follow-up of media/self-media. In the past, the traffic might be in the millions or even tens of millions of dollars in the press conference with Apple, but now there are fewer people watching it, or users don’t care much, so it seems that it doesn’t make much sense to go crazy and press conferences, and the traffic revenue and effort are not equal.
The user is lazy, and the media is lazy.
Apple has launched 4 new phones: iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Configuration aspect:
Processor: iPhone 17 is equipped with A19 chip (6-core CPU + 5-core GPU), iPhone 17 Air/Pro/Pro Max is equipped with A19 Pro chip (6-core CPU + 6-core GPU, Air is 5-core GPU)
Memory: Standard version 8GB RAM, Pro series 12GB RAM; storage space is expanded again, the initial storage space is 256GB, and the maximum support is 2TB.
Screen: The adaptive refresh rate of the entire series is 120Hz, the screen size of the standard version and Pro models is 6.3 inches, the screen size of the Pro Max model is 6.9 inches, the screen size of the Air model is 6.5 inches, and the entire series is using a super retinal XDR screen with a peak brightness of 3000 nits. Among them, the thickness of the Air model is only 5.6mm.
Photograph: Standard version rear dual camera (48-megapixel main camera + 48-megapixel ultra-wide angle), Air model rear single camera (48-megapixel two camera integrated), Pro model rear triple camera (48-megapixel fusion main camera + 48-megapixel fusion ultra-wide angle + 48-megapixel fusion telephoto).
Battery capacity: Standard version 3692mAh, Pro Max reaches 4823mAh, Pro Max video playback can be up to 37 hours; supports 40W wired fast charging and Qi 2.2 wireless charging, and the battery of the Air model has shrunk to 3149mAh.
From the hardware perspective, the reputation of the iPhone 17 series is still showing a "ice and fire" situation. For users who don't like it, Apple is still "squeezing toothpaste". The iPhone 17 doesn't look particularly prominent or particularly awesome. The appearance of the iPhone 17 is as ugly as ever. The iPhone 17 is still cutting the leeks. The top-end version is actually going to be sold for 17,999 yuan.
For users who like it, they see the highlights of the iPhone 17:
1. Have an ultra-thin iPhone Air.
2. The storage space starts with 256GB.
3. The screen refresh rate finally reached 120Hz.
4. The iPhone 17 has also become an A19 processor, but as before, the entry-level model uses the previous generation of processors.
5. The material of the iPhone 17 Pro is replaced by an aluminum alloy from the previous titanium alloy.
6. Added orange.
So, will the various evaluations of the iPhone 17 affect the sales of the iPhone 17? Or what will the sales of iPhone 17 this year? Who will defeat Apple’s iPhone 17 this time? My judgment is: sales are definitely better than previous generations.
First, the "king" in "mediocrity". If you let everyone recall the iPhone models that Apple has good reputation and users like in the past generations, then it must be the two classic models of iPhone 6 and iPhone X. The former has become popular in fingerprint recognition, while the latter has driven facial recognition. As for the later models, it is difficult for people to have a bright feeling, especially the appearance is the same every year.
From the iPhone 13 series, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 have all been marked as "mediocre". In fact, some users think that it is "mediocre" in this generation of iPhone 17.
But the problem with the iPhone is that its competitors are not others, but itself, that is, the iPhone can surpass its previous models. Obviously, this generation of iPhone 17 is much more prominent than iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16. Compared with these third generation models, iPhone 17 is the "king" of "mediocrity". As long as it is stronger than the old model, there will be no fewer people changing to new models.
Second, "Friends know I've changed my phone". Why do the three generations of iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 make Apple fans lose the urge to replace new phones? To a large extent, "Friends don't know I've changed my phone." The appearance is the same, making it difficult for others to distinguish the model of the iPhone, which means that the iPhone has lost some "social currency" qualification. If a product wants to become popular, people have to talk about it in social occasions. When it becomes a social center, it is difficult for the product to not be popular.
The iPhone 17 series has two differences in appearance. One is the ultra-thin iPhone Air, which is only 5.6mm thick, and it is a rear single camera. These two combinations can easily see its speciality at a glance. Other phones have four rear cameras, but Apple has created a "ancestral-return" rear single camera here, and the body is also super thin. It has to be said that Apple has to play.
Some users may think that the configuration of iPhone Air is so "embarrassing", won't it be bad to take photos? The phone is thin and the battery life is not good. However, For users who really like it, they don't care about these things. Just look good and special, and appearance is justice.
The second "speciality" in appearance is orange. Many domestic users may not be able to accept this color. In the past, mobile phone manufacturers would also launch beautiful colors such as green and purple, but orange is rare. It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not. This color is obviously "eye-catching", which is also a special feature. Some users do not care about it, but instead think it is outstanding. Whenever they change a brand, users may complain about this color, but the orange iPhone also plays the role of "friends know I change to a new phone."
Third, there are enough old users of iPhone. Apple CEO Tim Cook mentioned at the third quarter financial report meeting of fiscal year 2025 that since its launch in 2007, Apple has shipped 3 billion iPhones. He also mentioned that the number of iPhone users in China reached an all-time high.
Even if it is an iPhone, it is difficult to create the grand occasion of iPhone 6 and iPhone X rushing for purchases in those days. It can no longer make such a super hot product.
One of the advantages of iPhone 17 is that there are enough old iPhone users. In the past, I didn’t want to change to a new iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16. Now, facing the iPhone 17 series, it may be difficult to sit still. One of the factors is that the old iPhone is not good, the battery life is not good, the broken screen, the phone is stuck, the memory is full, and other factors will accelerate the user to change to a new iPhone 17.
In the past, we could see Huawei's P series, Mate series, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Honor, vivo, OPPO and other flagship phones competing with the new iPhone. Who will be the competitor of Apple's iPhone 17 this time? If no one can stop the iPhone 17, then in the high-end market, the advantages of the iPhone 17 will be more obvious than in previous years.
Note that the competitors mentioned here are competitions at the product level, not the slogans shouted by mobile phone manufacturers on marketing and promotional PPTs. Products are the real competitiveness. Why are domestic mobile phone manufacturers able to surpass iPhones in the past few years? This is very related to their own products being strong enough. The consequence of excessive marketing of mobile phone manufacturers is that user trust is reduced and your products are scattered, but there are all kinds of problems when used. Apart from the price comparison of iPhone, nothing else can be done. Nowadays users are smarter, not looking at marketing PPT, but products and reputation.
Apple's strategy of "increasing volume but not increasing price" is really fun. At the same price, the storage space starts from 256GB, which is quite attractive for users who want to buy a new iPhone.
Of course, it is impossible for iPhone 17 to be super popular. Consumers' consumption level is no longer the era of iPhone 6 and iPhone X, and in the end it depends on whether users are willing to buy it.
Is it true that if you change a new phone, what can you do? Save money if you don’t buy it, or will it win if you buy it early and enjoy it early? If you were, what would you choose?
