“Apple's iPhone 17 Slim is a wrongheaded approach that ignores what I really want”
Fixed your headline.
Indeed. The author somehow conflates “What I’d really like” with what “Enough potential buyers to makes this a worthwhile development effort.” Not all that many years ago, tech reporters who were enamored of future phones rather than smart phones, kept harping on the overriding importance of swappable batteries. The marketplace, pretty much everywhere where people had sufficient disposable income, however, decided differently.
Whether the author knows it or not, my experience at least is that Apple never introduces a new class of device without focus and beta testing.
When you run out of ideas, you make up a solution for a non-problem and pass it off as the reason to upgrade way more often than necessary.
Tim Cook's obsession with thinness and pretty new colors for existing products is embarrassing.
Steve Jobs would never, and I mean never, allow Apple's user experience to get so out of control.
I'd submit that Apple knows their customer base better than you do. They've done more research than you have. And that they know their customers like colors. If anything, they've often been chastised for having too few.
And as to Steve, I really, really, really, really, really wish people would stop channeling the ghost of someone they don't know and have never met in an attempt to bolster their own weak arguments. I guess they do that when they run out of ideas.
You remember, do you not, when Steve came back to Apple and induced the iMac? In colors?????????
And then later on introduced dozens upon dozens of iPods... in colors?????????
Or when Apple reintroduced the iMac line? in colors?????????
The rumor mill has been making comparisons of Slim to the original Macbook Air. Well, okay, except: the original Air was jaw-dropping upon reveal--it was arguably Steve's ultimate mic drop moment on stage. It was literally a groundbreaking design and engineering marvel to behold which became and remains the most successful laptop in the history of laptops. And what of the Slim? Haven't you heard? Are you sitting down? It's going to be 1-2 millimeters slimmer than a regular iPhone!!! But wait, there's more! It will likely have reduced battery life! It will only have one camera lens, not 2 or 3! The modem will not be compatible with fast 5G! Well, surely there must be something amazingly innovative about it? Yes! Yes! It will have an OLED screen and Pro Motion--you know, like generations of Pro models have had! And that's IT? Yes, but perhaps you didn't hear me the first time: it's going to be 1-2 millimeters SLIMMER, so naturally it's going to carry a premium price for this wonderful new feature. Now, are you impressed?
Whether the author knows it or not, my experience at least is that Apple never introduces a new class of device without focus and beta testing.
HomePod v1? iPhone Mini? iPhone Plus? The first two were definite, short-lived misses and the third is rumored to be in trouble and replaced come September. Focus group and beta testing is no assurance of a successful product.
Apple wants to give buyers a chance to go up-market, and people will pay up for a premium form-factor, even without an appreciable spec bump. see early MacBook Airs for a great example of that. Apple has sat on a nearly identical set of form factors since the iPhone 12 came out. The premium for form factor has gone to Samsung and Pixel. There's no reason Apple should allow that.
Battery life blah blah blah, bigger is better blah blah. Spoken like a man. Let me say this this without indemnifying myself - some women want something that fits easily in a pocket or in hand and don't necessarily think bigger is better. Men aren't the only market segment buying iPhones.
So true. A recent CEO at my company used a smaller iPhone, I think the SE model. He could buy whatever, cost no issue. But, he used the smaller phone because he said it’s so easy to hold.
I’ve adjusted to the 6.1 inch screen but feel that is the limit in size to do. Actually, the 5.8 size seen on the iPhone X might even be better.
When you run out of ideas, you make up a solution for a non-problem and pass it off as the reason to upgrade way more often than necessary.
Tim Cook's obsession with thinness and pretty new colors for existing products is embarrassing.
Steve Jobs would never, and I mean never, allow Apple's user experience to get so out of control.
I'd submit that Apple knows their customer base better than you do. They've done more research than you have. And that they know their customers like colors. If anything, they've often been chastised for having too few.
And as to Steve, I really, really, really, really, really wish people would stop channeling the ghost of someone they don't know and have never met in an attempt to bolster their own weak arguments. I guess they do that when they run out of ideas.
You remember, do you not, when Steve came back to Apple and induced the iMac? In colors?????????
And then later on introduced dozens upon dozens of iPods... in colors?????????
Or when Apple reintroduced the iMac line? in colors?????????
Also the iPod mini / nano in colours.... Which also nicely counters most of the Wrongheaded commentary of the article.
People didn't want the iPod mini they wanted more songs and more battery, except it did sell rather well. Also freed up pressure to make the iPod smaller and lighter so it could have more songs and battery.
Same happens with a Slim premium iPhone gives 2 chooses for the premium buyer. smaller or better cameras. Indeed I could see Apple making the pro thicker to get leap in the camera tech extra volume would allow.
For me, current iPhones are too heavy and too big, plus they’ve got plenty of battery life.
I bought an iPhone 16 Pro and returned it on day 14 because of its unwieldy size and weight.
I don’t care about a “slim” phone at all, but give me something with a smaller screen and a lighter weight and I’m interested, even if it means pulling features, reducing cameras, etc.
Tim Cook is the CEO. He doesn't make those kind of decisions. That's what department heads and VPs are for. Steve Jobs is dead, and he was the guy that promoted iPod socks. He was not infallible.
I understand what you're saying but cannot agree. "The Buck Stops Here" wasn't just for Harry Truman. Every CEO needs to be a real-world user of the products and services, and savvy enough to know when the product line has gone astray.
If you think Steve Jobs didn't run a tight ship, I don't know what to tell you. Hell, Steve even obsessed over Apple's choice of fonts. No, Steve wasn't infallible but neither was he a bean-counting nincompoop.
For me, current iPhones are too heavy and too big, plus they’ve got plenty of battery life.
I bought an iPhone 16 Pro and returned it on day 14 because of its unwieldy size and weight.
I don’t care about a “slim” phone at all, but give me something with a smaller screen and a lighter weight and I’m interested, even if it means pulling features, reducing cameras, etc.
While I don't doubt that there's a segment of people who want smaller, lighter phones, Apple's data must clearly show it's not a large enough group to support the offering of such a product. The quick failure of the iPhone Mini was surely a lesson learned, and now we have the SE getting larger, not smaller in its next iteration, rumored to be on track with essentially being an iPhone 14 with some modifications. To be clear, Apple has no aversion to offering "Mini" products when the market of buyers is large enough to support them: there's iPad Mini, HomePod Mini and, once upon a time, various iterations of mini iPods. One could even argue that the diminutive 11" MBA, back in the day, was a mini version of that laptop. But, for whatever reason, similar support doesn't exist for a mini phone. Even the rumored Slim will hardly be mini, with rumors claiming it will be sized in-between the regular and Plus iPhones.
When you run out of ideas, you make up a solution for a non-problem and pass it off as the reason to upgrade way more often than necessary.
Tim Cook's obsession with thinness and pretty new colors for existing products is embarrassing.
Steve Jobs would never, and I mean never, allow Apple's user experience to get so out of control.
I'd submit that Apple knows their customer base better than you do. They've done more research than you have. And that they know their customers like colors. If anything, they've often been chastised for having too few.
And as to Steve, I really, really, really, really, really wish people would stop channeling the ghost of someone they don't know and have never met in an attempt to bolster their own weak arguments. I guess they do that when they run out of ideas.
You remember, do you not, when Steve came back to Apple and induced the iMac? In colors?????????
And then later on introduced dozens upon dozens of iPods... in colors?????????
Or when Apple reintroduced the iMac line? in colors?????????
And the embarrassment called the iMac 24" has the MOST pages on the Apple Refurb Store for the highest number of customer returns. No one asked for thin products. Remember the 2016-2018 thin MacBooks with the worst keyboards ever designed? Once Ive was gone, Apple was able to fix that problem. You think Apple knows their customer base? Really? They introduce a $3,500 headset that no one ever wanted. And Apple wonders why no one is buying it, and tries to make up sad excuses by now calling it an 'early adopter product'. Nope. No one wants AR/VR. No one. No one asked for a thinner iPad. It is embarrassing that the iPad is 12 years old, yet it still only has 10 hours of battery life, yet MacBooks now claim up to 24 hours? Apple's research must be a hole in the ground because they have been making products the last few years that no one wants (Vision Pro, HomePod, HomePod mini, AirPod Max, badly colored iMacs with small displays).
This article is goofy (or as they say it in the industry, "in accordance with AppleInsider standards").
Please rewrite it. This time, don't go on about the battery life implications of "slimness". Write about the trade-off between battery life and lightness. That's the point of a slimmer device: it's more light. Lighter weight is a thing that people do want. That, not the straw man "slimness", is the quality involved in a trade-off with battery life. The whole shebang hinges on "light" and "weight" – words that don't appear once in the article.
What sort of tradeoff between battery life and device weight might people want? Or do iPhones need to be any lighter at all? Are they light enough as is? Take those key words (I italicized them) and rewrite the article so it actually says something. Go get busy!
(Edited to tone down some pre-coffee ranting. Sorry! Really, the diatribe isn't against this author; it's a snap at the many pundits who go on about "the pursuit of slimness" without even mentioning the prime objective of slimming: lighter weight. To all those pundits, I say: It's fine to dislike slimmer, lighter devices that come at the expense of battery life. But please stop imagining that "slimness" is the entirety of the goal. Give us your thoughts on the trade-off between battery life and weight!)
Thinness matters NOT. My phone has to fit in my pocket and allow me to sit down, at least for a while. My12 mini barely does that with minimal jabbing in my groin. Anything larger is a no go. Maybe I'll go back to my original SE, great little phone. Never use the UW lens anyway. And I prefer Touch ID to face.
Still holding on for 8 years to the SE body style until Apple releases something that is light weight. Weight is a huge consideration. Apple should have continued the Mini line.
People didn't want the iPod mini they wanted more songs and more battery, except it did sell rather well.
Actually, it HAD better battery life due to sold state storage.
What it a pricer "slim" phone allowed Apple to use a more advanced battery technology?
That to me would be a possibility. They couldn't risk switching either current model to a new tech. New model that is niche gives them a better roll-out size to target.
For me, current iPhones are too heavy and too big, plus they’ve got plenty of battery life.
I bought an iPhone 16 Pro and returned it on day 14 because of its unwieldy size and weight.
I don’t care about a “slim” phone at all, but give me something with a smaller screen and a lighter weight and I’m interested, even if it means pulling features, reducing cameras, etc.
While I don't doubt that there's a segment of people who want smaller, lighter phones, Apple's data must clearly show it's not a large enough group to support the offering of such a product.
Apple's data shows they don't have any capability to produce a diversity of SKUs (and components) economically. Anyone would be very happy to ship an iphone form factor which would only sell 100k units -- if they could make a margin on it.
Apple's data shows they don't have any capability to produce a diversity of SKUs (and components) economically. Anyone would be very happy to ship an iphone form factor which would only sell 100k units -- if they could make a margin on it.
Hello? Apple makes SIX different variations of iPad, including a mini... and it's actually TWELVE different variations if you count cellular models as different SKUs (which they are) from the Wifi-only models. So yes, Apple has this capability.
And the embarrassment called the iMac 24" has the MOST pages on the Apple Refurb Store for the highest number of customer returns. No one asked for thin products. Remember the 2016-2018 thin MacBooks with the worst keyboards ever designed? Once Ive was gone, Apple was able to fix that problem. You think Apple knows their customer base? Really? They introduce a $3,500 headset that no one ever wanted. And Apple wonders why no one is buying it, and tries to make up sad excuses by now calling it an 'early adopter product'. Nope. No one wants AR/VR. No one. No one asked for a thinner iPad. It is embarrassing that the iPad is 12 years old, yet it still only has 10 hours of battery life, yet MacBooks now claim up to 24 hours? Apple's research must be a hole in the ground because they have been making products the last few years that no one wants (Vision Pro, HomePod, HomePod mini, AirPod Max, badly colored iMacs with small displays).
iMac: the most successful all-in-one desktop computer in the history of desktop computers, and still is. iMac 24" will be 4 years old in April and just released v3, with no end to new releases in the future.
iPad: the most successful tablet in the history of tablets by orders of magnitude--there's not even a legit "second place" to the iPad.
MacBook Air: the most successful laptop in the history of laptops based on its thin and light form factor.
Yes, oh my, it's all so embarrassing! And you can tell that no one is buying or wanting Apple products the last few years as it has become and currently is the most valuable company in world, the most admired company in the world for 17 straight years and counting while its stock sits at an all-time high price. Yes, it's just one embarrassment after another!
Comments
Whether the author knows it or not, my experience at least is that Apple never introduces a new class of device without focus and beta testing.
And as to Steve, I really, really, really, really, really wish people would stop channeling the ghost of someone they don't know and have never met in an attempt to bolster their own weak arguments. I guess they do that when they run out of ideas.
You remember, do you not, when Steve came back to Apple and induced the iMac? In colors?????????
And then later on introduced dozens upon dozens of iPods... in colors?????????
Or when Apple reintroduced the iMac line? in colors?????????
Ummmmm.... no.
HomePod v1? iPhone Mini? iPhone Plus? The first two were definite, short-lived misses and the third is rumored to be in trouble and replaced come September. Focus group and beta testing is no assurance of a successful product.
Which also nicely counters most of the Wrongheaded commentary of the article.
People didn't want the iPod mini they wanted more songs and more battery, except it did sell rather well.
Also freed up pressure to make the iPod smaller and lighter so it could have more songs and battery.
Same happens with a Slim premium iPhone gives 2 chooses for the premium buyer. smaller or better cameras.
Indeed I could see Apple making the pro thicker to get leap in the camera tech extra volume would allow.
If you think Steve Jobs didn't run a tight ship, I don't know what to tell you. Hell, Steve even obsessed over Apple's choice of fonts. No, Steve wasn't infallible but neither was he a bean-counting nincompoop.
What it a pricer "slim" phone allowed Apple to use a more advanced battery technology?
Please rewrite it. This time, don't go on about the battery life implications of "slimness". Write about the trade-off between battery life and lightness. That's the point of a slimmer device: it's more light. Lighter weight is a thing that people do want. That, not the straw man "slimness", is the quality involved in a trade-off with battery life. The whole shebang hinges on "light" and "weight" – words that don't appear once in the article.
What sort of tradeoff between battery life and device weight might people want? Or do iPhones need to be any lighter at all? Are they light enough as is? Take those key words (I italicized them) and rewrite the article so it actually says something. Go get busy!
(Edited to tone down some pre-coffee ranting. Sorry! Really, the diatribe isn't against this author; it's a snap at the many pundits who go on about "the pursuit of slimness" without even mentioning the prime objective of slimming: lighter weight. To all those pundits, I say: It's fine to dislike slimmer, lighter devices that come at the expense of battery life. But please stop imagining that "slimness" is the entirety of the goal. Give us your thoughts on the trade-off between battery life and weight!)
My12 mini barely does that with minimal jabbing in my groin. Anything larger is a no go.
Maybe I'll go back to my original SE, great little phone. Never use the UW lens anyway. And I prefer Touch ID to face.
“Why does Apple think anyone wants it?“
IT’S A RUMOUR! “Why does Appleinsider write this piece as if this is actually happening?“
Not to mention, Apple explores a lot of options just because it may be desired. Appleinsider writes about this ALL THE TIME!”
iMac: the most successful all-in-one desktop computer in the history of desktop computers, and still is. iMac 24" will be 4 years old in April and just released v3, with no end to new releases in the future.
iPad: the most successful tablet in the history of tablets by orders of magnitude--there's not even a legit "second place" to the iPad.
MacBook Air: the most successful laptop in the history of laptops based on its thin and light form factor.
Yes, oh my, it's all so embarrassing! And you can tell that no one is buying or wanting Apple products the last few years as it has become and currently is the most valuable company in world, the most admired company in the world for 17 straight years and counting while its stock sits at an all-time high price. Yes, it's just one embarrassment after another!