The New iPhones Aren't What I Expected

MrMobile (Michael Fischer) gives hands-on first impressions of the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro, arguing both designs work far better in person than leaks suggested.

• iPhone Air is 5.6mm thin with a single 48MP camera and no stereo speakers — compromises made to fit internals into a plateau-shaped bulge.
• iPhone Air starts at $999; an optional MagSafe battery pack adds 65% more capacity for an extra $100.
• iPhone 17 Pro switches from titanium back to aluminum for better thermal conductivity; it is the first iPhone with a vapor chamber cooling system.
• All three rear cameras on the iPhone 17 Pro are now 48MP; the 5x telephoto is replaced by a 4x lens offering 100mm and 200mm via cropping.
• A new 18MP square selfie sensor replaces the 12MP rectangular one, enabling portrait and landscape capture without rotating the phone.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB storage option pushes the price to nearly $2,000; the Pro starts at $1,099.
• eSIM-only Pro models reportedly get 2 hours more battery life than physical SIM versions.
• Fischer speculates aluminum was chosen partly because it takes anodization dye more easily, finally enabling bolder Pro colors like cosmic orange.

2025-09-12 · Watch on YouTube