The iPhone Air has ruined most other phones for me
I tried carrying around the 17 Pro for a few days and realized something: comfort matters more than specs.
This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
I promise I tried, but the new iPhone 17 Pro lasted exactly one day in my pocket. One day. And then I ran back to the iPhone Air like someone escaping from a weighted vest.
But in that process, I found something else particularly interesting — my body had a visceral reaction to the 17 Pro. I knew I had made a mistake the moment I picked it up. The Pro was technically better... yet somehow worse to actually use.
I decided to first dig a bit deeper in my feelings, but then also try and see if this was just my body playing tricks on me or whether there was some real science behind my feelings.
The feeling
First, I started looking for the right metaphor for the difference in feel between the Air and the 17 Pro (it would be a lot worse if I had picked the 17 Pro Max).
The metaphor that explains it best for me is that using the Air reminds me of a glider, while the Pro felts a bit like an anchor. The Air fights gravity much like a glider. When you lift it to your ear or just hold it up in bed, it feels feathery. The "visceral" joy I felt definitely comes from the defiance of expectation. My brain tells me I am picking a rather large object that shouldn't be this light.
Going back to the Pro felt a bit like losing a superpower I just gained a couple of months ago, the power of effortlessness.
The Pro, on the other side, feels like a little brick, almost seeking to hit the floor every time. You have to be careful with it. I think everyone has had a moment when they drop their phone while watching a video in bed and it hits them in the face. Well, that would hurt on the 17 Pro, it can do some damage.
Going back to the Pro felt a bit like losing a superpower I just gained a couple of months ago, the power of effortlessness.
Now that I have kind of put my feelings to paper, I asked AI to do something crazy: quantify this feeling by calculating the torque difference on your wrist based on the dimensions of the iPhone 17 Air vs. the Pro. The results will shock you.
The math
Gemini tells me that there is a real math that confirms exactly why my nervous system rejected the Pro.
Sure, the weight difference between the Air and the 17 Pro is only about 40 grams on paper (less than two ounces), the physics of how that weight behaves creates a much bigger gap in feeling.
1. The "Pinky Tax" (Torque)
Is it even possible to calculate the torque, aka the rotational force on your wrist to just keep your phone upright?
Turns out, there is. The most common way we hold a phone involves resting the bottom edge on the pinky finger, which turns your finger into a fulcrum and the phone into a lever.
In physics, the torque (τ) is calculated as Weight x Distance to Center of Gravity.
So in our case, even though the Air is taller, its mass is so low that the Pro exerts roughly 20% more torque on your wrist.
That 20% is a very considerable difference. Holding the 17 Pro requires constant micro-muscular adjustments to keep it from "toppling" backward. Don't forget that this is exacerbated by it top-heavy camera system, while the Air sits neutrally.
In physics, the torque (τ) is calculated as Weight x Distance to Center of Gravity.
So in our case, even though the Air is taller, its mass is so low that the Pro exerts roughly 20% more torque on your wrist.
That 20% is a very considerable difference. Holding the 17 Pro requires constant micro-muscular adjustments to keep it from "toppling" backward. Don't forget that this is exacerbated by it top-heavy camera system, while the Air sits neutrally.
2. The "Visual Density" Illusion (Areal Density)
Next up, let's look what part of its design makes the Air feel "futuristic."
It starts with the brain estimating how heavy an object should be based on its surface area, or in simple words - based on how big it looks.
So it turns out that the Pro has an "Areal Density" that is nearly 35% higher than the Air. I was shocked to find that out!
- iPhone 17 Pro: Compacts 206g into a smaller 6.3" body
- iPhone 17 Air: Spreads 165g across a larger 6.5" frame
So it turns out that the Pro has an "Areal Density" that is nearly 35% higher than the Air. I was shocked to find that out!
3. The Grip Efficiency
The other factor into play here is thickness. The 17 Pro (8.75mm) is nearly 55% thicker than the Air (5.64mm).
Why does this matter? While the Air sits inside the natural curve of your relaxed fingers, the Pro forces your hand to remain in a more open, "active grip". Over hours of use, this slight extension of your muscles and tendons results into exhaustion you can actually feel.
So it turns out my visceral reaction was actually to the drastic reduction in static load. Well, I myself would have never thought to put it that way, but for once I found AI's explanation surprisingly helpful.
Going back to the Pro meant voluntarily accepting a 35% penalty on my hand's comfort. And in exchange? I got features like extra cameras that I don't feel every second.
Going back to the Pro meant voluntarily accepting a 35% penalty on my hand's comfort. And in exchange? I got features like extra cameras that I don't feel every second.
While the Pro metrics (such as the better camera) are intellectual benefits, the Air benefits are sensory and they live in your nervous system.
Final Words
I kept telling myself I needed the iPhone Pro’s cameras. Then I tried carrying it around for a day and realized something far more important: comfort matters more than specs.
Once your nervous system acclimates to the lack of resistance offered by the Air, the Pro doesn't just feel heavier — it feels downright obsolete. It feels like technology from a past era where power required bulk.
Which brings me to the future of the iPhone Air 2.
We still don't know if such a device is even coming, and considering that Apple did not include the Air in the iPhone 17 series, this suggests yearly refreshes are less likely. Rumors say the iPhone Air 2 might launch in the fall of 2027, along with a new iPhone 18 and iPhone 17E. By that time, Apple should be ready with its first 2nm chip which should bring improvements in various areas, including efficiency. If the company adds a touch more practicality, like a slightly larger battery, this could become the preferred form factor for many more.
I believe that with the Air, Apple stumbled into a new design with a phone that respects the user's hand. It would be a shame if this just disappeared.
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