iPhone 17 will bid farewell to Plus, welcome Air? Strategic logic behind the Apple product line

Recently, the rumors about the iPhone 17 series of product lines are very upset. According to a number of technologies and supply chain, Apple may completely cut off "Plus" models in 2025, and turn out new "iPhone Air" series.This adjustment not only means the change of naming methods, but also marks a major innovation of Apple's positioning and design concept for iPhone products.

1.Plus ended: the "chicken rib" dilemma after the popularization of large screens

Since the first introduction of "Plus" in the iPhone 6 Plus, the large screen model has always been an important part of Apple product line. However, as the rise of the Pro series and the general increase in the standard screen size, the PLUS model is gradually blurred:

• Narrowing the gap with the standard version: compared to iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus only has a slightly larger screen size and battery capacity, lacking unique selling points.

• Rolled by Pro Series: iPhone 14 Plus is priced near iPhone 14 Pro, but lacks high refresh rate screen, A16 chip, smart island and other core functions, and significant cost performance disadvantage.

• The market performance is weak: iPhone 14 Plus sales is much lower than expected, and even news of reduced production has been reported, becoming one of Apple's most unpopular models in recent years.

Obviously, the Plus model has not been able to meet the needs of the consumer's differentiation experience,exiting the historical stage is just a matter of time.

2.The rise of Air: perfect balance between thinning and specialization

Replacing the Plus's "iPhone Air" series, or will inherit the gene of Apple "Air" product line (such as MacBookAir, iPad Air) ,The main lightweight design and equilibrium performance, fill the market gap between the standard version and the Pro version.According to the break, the iPhone Air may have the following features:

• Extremely thin: the thickness of the body or below 7mm, the weight is controlled within 180g, becoming the most thin iPhone in history.

• New Material: Box and composite ceramic backplanes in titanium alloy, intensity and texture.

• Professional-grade screen: Equip with a 6.5-inch OLED screen, support 120 Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh rate, but the resolution is slightly lower than the Pro series.

• Performance and image: equipped with A19 chip (non-full blood version), rear double-test system (main photo + ultra wide angle), support 4K 60FPS video recording.

• Price Positioning: Between the standard version and Pro version, the price is priced or $ 899 (the national line version is 6999 RMB).

This "light flagship" is positioned, which can attract both portability and cost-effective users, and avoid direct competition with the Pro series.

3.Product line reconstruction: Apple's "precision knife method"

The introduction of iPhone Air, marks Apple's re-compliance of iPhone product line:

• Standard Edition (iPhone 17): facing the mass market, the main cost performance.

• Air version (iPhone 17 Air): focus on thin design and balanced experience, attracting high-end users.

• Pro version (iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max): positioning professional users, bearing the most cutting-edge technology and the highest end configuration.

This "three-legged" layout can cover both broader price sections, and avoid product positioning overlap, and it is still an embodiment of apple "precision knife".

4.Market impact: Android camp "Desperate Strike"

The launch of iPhone Air may form "Dewei Battrans" in the Android camp:

• Lightweight flagship market: Samsung Galaxy S system, Xiaomi digital series and other models will face direct competition.

• Folding Screen Market: The thin design of the iPhone Air may vary partially folding screen users.

• High-end market: The Pro series continues to consolidate Apple's rule of the price of 10,000 RMB, and the Air series is squeezed down the living space of the Android flagship.

In addition, the Air series pricing strategy may further pull the average price of the iPhone and improve the overall profitability of Apple.

5.Hanging and challenge

Although the foreground of the iPhone Air seems to be bright, there are still some

uncertainties:

• Lightweight with the balance of life: how to ensure the battery life while narrowing the body size?

• Loss of differentiated functions: can the Air series provide sufficiently attractive exclusive features to avoid "shrinking pro"?

• Market acceptance: is the consumer will pay a premium for a thin design?

From MacBook Air to iPad Air, Apple's "Air" product line has always been known for its thin design and balanced experience. If the iPhone Air rumors come true, it will be the first time Apple has introduced the concept of "Air" into smartphones. It is not only a complete innovation of the Plus model, but also a strategic upgrade of the iPhone product line.

For consumers, the launch of the iPhone Air means more choices,for the industry, it could be another milestone for Apple to redefine the shape of smartphones. In 2025, we'll see!

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