iPhone Plus: RIP
Imagining how outstanding an iPhone 17 Plus would have been
Most reviewers say that the iPhone 17 is the phone to get this year (by the way, they said the same thing last year lol).
It packs remarkable value and features. Compared the last year's iPhone 16, the most notable additions are the ProMotion display and the selfie camera. Last year, I attempted to use the base iPhone 16, but despite finding it a joy to use, the lack of a ProMotion display and always on display was a deal-breaker. Both are resolved this year. This year, I feel I am not a Pro user; the base iPhone is perfect.
However, what if you aren't a Pro user but would like a bigger (iPhone Pro Max) display? This year, you have no other choice but to get the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Alternatively, live with the compromises of the iPhone Air, which doesn't have the best battery life and isn't the largest display on an iPhone.
Last year, you could have bought the iPhone 16 Plus. This year, we could have bought the iPhone 17 Plus. Instead, we get an iPhone Air, which will not have the same battery life compared to the iPhone 17 Plus and has only one camera.
The following is the price structure in Australia:
- iPhone 17 - $1,399
$400 more
- iPhone Air - $1,799
$200 more
- iPhone 17 Pro - $1,999
$200 more
- iPhone 17 Pro Max - $2,199
The iPhone 16 Plus in Australia was priced at $1599 (admittedly, with only 128gb storage)
Therefore, if you want the iPhone with the largest display, you are paying $800 more than the base iPhone. Last year, you only paid $200 more 🤑🤑🤑
My parents are Pro Max users, not because they are Pro users, not because they want the latest and the greatest. They use the Pro Max because their eye sight isn't as good as it was and because they do most of their personal computing on their iPhone. Both my parents have an iPad Pro and iPad Mini, but I rarely (very rarely) see them using the iPad. They have no other choice but to get the iPhone Pro Max or downgrade to a smaller battery and a single camera.
I am not 40 yet, but even my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be, and that is why, 99% of the time, I prefer using the Pixel Fold instead of my iPhone 16 Pro. I also regret not getting the Pro Max last year because of my poor eyesight. Although this poor eyesight thing is a recent problem for me 😞
While I appreciate what Apple has done with the iPhone Air, I cannot help but think that Apple deliberately removed the iPhone 17 Plus from their lineup to push people towards the most expensive iPhone they sell, the Pro Max. As an Apple shareholder, this most certainly is the right move for a corporate giant.
The following is the iPhone lineup in Australia. There was definitely space for the iPhone 17 Plus (right after the iPhone 17 and before the iPhone Air at $1599). As consumers, I feel we were a little short-changed. Again!
