2025-10-05 16:12:20
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:
$400 more
$200 more
$200 more
The iPhone 16 Plus in Australia was priced at $1599 (admittedly, with only 128gb storage)
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 17 Plus at $1599). As consumers, I feel we were a little short-changed. Again!
2025-10-05 06:45:57
The following short story is not my creation, and I do not know who the original greater is, but it beautifully highlights some important lessons along with showing how our current world works.
A few years ago, robbers entered a bank in a small town. One of them shouted: “Don’t move! The money belongs to the bank. Your lives belong to you.
Immediately, all the people in the bank laid on the floor quietly and without panic.
This is an example of how the correct wording of a sentence can make everyone change their view of the world.
One woman lay on the floor provocatively. The robber approached her, saying, “Ma’am, this is a robbery. Please behave accordingly.”
This is an example of how to behave professionally, and focus on the goal.
While running from the bank, the youngest robber (who had a college degree) said to the oldest robber (who had barely finished elementary school): “Hey, maybe we should count how much we stole?” The older man replied: “Don’t be stupid. It’s a lot of money, so let’s wait for the news on TV to find out how much money was taken from the bank.”
This is an example of how life experience is more important than a degree
After the robbery, the manager of the bank said to his accountant: “Let’s call the police and tell them how much has been stolen.”
“Wait”, said the accountant, “before we do that, let’s add the $800,000 we took for ourselves a few months ago and just say that it was stolen as part of today’s robbery.”
This is an example of taking advantage of an opportunity.
The news reported the bank had been robbed of $3m the following day. The robbers counted the money, but they found only $1m so they started to grumble.
“We risked our lives for $1m, while the bank’s management robbed two million dollars without blinking? Maybe it’s better to learn how to work the system, instead of being a simple robber.”
This is an example of how knowledge can be more useful than power.
2025-09-23 17:23:31
Wives are good people. I cannot presume that all wives are good 😆
Firs, my wife is a wonderful human being and second, she is the only one on this planet that can be my better half. I doubt anyone else can survive with me. Anyway, she has a very interesting way of getting to the point.
I got the iPhone Air on Friday and I was waiting for her to notice or make a comment. Anyway, two days went by and she didn't say anything. So on Sunday evening, I handed her the iPhone Air and said, "this is my new iPhone".
10 seconds later she said, WOW, this is super light and thin. 5 seconds later, she handed the iPhone back to me.
I don't remember what I was expecting her to say or how she would react. In any case, I was surprised that the iPhone Air had so little air time.
I said: So thats it.
She said: it still is just an iPhone. whats the big deal?
She saw the disappointment on my face and said: Your energy is better spent elsewhere.
This concludes my wife's thoughts on the iPhone Air.
Does it put things into perspective? I think it does.
2025-09-22 15:22:04
I got my Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold last year at launch thanks to an amazing deal by trading in my 10-year-old iPad, which gave me $1,000 off.
MereCivilian
Anyway, this year, I was content with not upgrading from my one-year-old Pixel 9 Pro Fold because, well; I wasn't looking forward to spending so much money on a phone.
Compared to last year's model, this year, Google added the following to its foldable:
When the Pixel 10 Pro Fold was announced, my wallet was super pleased because I didn't have a good reason to upgrade. After trading in my Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the upgrade would cost me AUD1800. I like MagSafe, but I am not paying that much for it.
Whirlpool is a popular old school like forum in Australia. While browsing, I came across a post where it said that if you had bought the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold from Harvey Norman, you may upgrade by paying AUD299. This sounded like an amazing deal. My purchase came with Harvey Norman's Mobile Freedom Plan (which apparently is now discontinued). It is like Apple'e iPhone Upgrade Program. Interestingly, this plan was included for free with my purchase, and I can upgrade if available by 14 September 2025.
I was overjoyed 😹!
In Australia, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is going to be available on 9 October 2025, a few weeks after my Mobile Freedom Plan expires. However, you can place a preorder now, and this is exactly what I have done, thus using my AUD299 upgrade. The only downside was that I had to hand in my Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and wait till the 10 Pro Fold is available in October 😔.
Therefore, since 9 September, I have been without my beloved foldable 😿.
I am eagerly looking forward to 9 October when I go to my local Harvey Norman and reunite with a Foldable.
Best AUD299 I have spent in recent times
You may recall, in June 2025, I embarked on a challenge where I did not use any Apple devices for 6 weeks.
MereCivilian
Being without my beloved foldable, I took this opportunity to use only Apple devices for 4 weeks starting 9 September. This means that my Surface Pro and my Pixel Watch will rest while I try to live the Apple ecosystem lifestyle.
It's almost 2 weeks (at the time of writing this post) since this experiment started, and as I suspected, I really, really miss my Google Fold. Despite having the iPhone Air, there is something so wonderful about a foldable 💌.
Interestingly, I am also missing my Surface Pro. I got very fond of that device too. Honestly, I am considering bringing the Surface Pro back into my daily rotation and changing this experiment from Exclusive to Apple to 30 Days without Android.
2025-09-21 15:57:23
I buy an iPhone every year. Although I was hoping to change that this year, alas I am writing this with an iPhone Air next to me.
MereCivilian
Despite buying an iPhone every year, every year I go through the exercise of justifying my upgrade. Deep down I know no justification suffices to upgrade every year.
The following are some reasons I have upgraded in the past:
It just struck me I preordered the iPhone Air, despite it not having any of the above reasons that I have used in the past to justify my purchase.
Practical downsides for me
The bottom image is from the UltraWide lens. Source: Reddit
Today, with the iPhone Air next to me, it is hypocritical of me not to place importance on these features and give lightness and thinness an extreme priority.
Especially this year, when the Pro iPhones have significantly improved battery life and all three lens are now 48 MP.
Ultimately, these are mere excuses, and the heart wants what the heart wants. This year is no different.
However, it’s important to be honest with yourself and understand the significant compromises I am making. This is because this is the very first time I am upgrading from a Pro iPhone to an iPhone that is more jewellery than a utilitarian iPhone. The so-called upgrade has significant trade-offs.
Isn't it ironic that the iPhone 17 Pro is "function over form", battery life and camera, and the iPhone Air is "form over function".
I am still undecided and intend to full use Apple’s 14-day refund policy.
It wasn't a strong "yes" like when I preordered. Definitely less likely to keep the iPhone Air.
Boy oh boy, I do like how thin and light it is 🤣 🤯
It may shock Apple fans, but earlier this year, Samsung launched a thin phone as well, the Samsung 25 Edge. That thin phone does not make as many compromises compared to the iPhone Air.
Samsung 25 Edge. Source: Samsung
This includes:
If you are a Samsung 24 Ultra user switching to the Samsung 25 Edge, the compromises are much less. The only one relevant to my use case is the lack of a telephoto camera. This compromise is easier to make.
2025-09-12 19:58:35
Last year, I made an executive decision not to upgrade my iPhone every year as I have been for over 5 years now. The iPhone Pro has essentially been the same over the years. Yes, the camera gets better, etc etc. but certainly not worth upgrading every year.
If Apple had not stuck to their routine of just upgrading the Pro every year, I was on track to skip this year for the first time. This is because my mobile phone purchasing budget is going to be allocated to a Android foldable, maybe an iPhone foldable next year.
MereCivilian
Last year, I switched from the Pro Max to the Pro because of the weight issue. This year, the Pro Max is even heavier. No, thank you. My power-user friends will jump on it but last year I also accepted the fact that I am not a Pro user. I even bought the regular iPhone 16, but the lack of ProMotion wasn't a real deal-breaker. I gave it a real go too but cannot shake it off despite using it for 2 weeks.
Anyway, this year, Apple called my bluff and launched the iPhone Air. It's super light, super slick, and my heart wants one. It feels like ages since Apple gave us something this cool.
My plan is to pre-order the iPhone Air and, if I am happy with it, to sell my iPhone 16 Pro and call it a day.
I know it's just an iPhone. For most people, it's just an iPhone. For me, a tech nerd, I love my portable gadgets. Thats just who I am. Some people golf, other ski, some gamble, I buy a new phone every year. Glad we settled that.
For me, there is something about a mobile phone. I have always been interested, even in the Nokia days. I enjoy having a new phone every year. Thank God, I can afford it. The Good Lord has been kind. Thank you.
A part of me still thinks that I will miss the Pro cameras. Also, the Air being so thin, I am hoping it is grippy and not slip out. The battery life is not my concern because I carry two phones.
Anyway, I have not traded in my iPhone 16 Pro. I merely have preordered the iPhone Air and intend to use the full 14 days that Apple provides to test the phone for my use case. If I am not satisfied, I intend to return the iPhone Air and keep my iPhone 16 Pro.
