Apple is expected to show the second iPhone Air next spring with two cameras and a bigger battery, but 9to5Mac says the thin phone still has gaps to close.
Apple is expected to unveil the second iPhone Air next spring. It will reportedly add a second camera and a larger battery. A 9to5Mac opinion piece argues that is not enough, because the first Air sold only modestly and its compromises showed.
The first iPhone Air was praised as a feat of engineering. It packed most of a flagship phone into a very thin body. But its higher price and its trade-offs appealed to a small audience. The piece also says the Air is no longer the flashy new phone, since that role now belongs to the iPhone Duo. So the Air 2 has to win over more than enthusiasts.
The article lists several gaps compared with the Pro models. Some could be fixed in the next version. Others are the author's wish list, not confirmed plans.
Macro mode, which is for close-up shots, is missing mainly because the Air has no ultrawide camera. A second camera could help with that, though the article only hopes for it.
For sound, the author points to the iPad mini 8. It uses what Apple calls acoustic display, which lets speakers play through the display glass. Perhaps some of that tech could come to the Air 2. The piece does not say Apple plans this. Camera quality will likely stay limited by smaller sensors, the author expects.
Anyone drawn to a thin iPhone should look at the price gap first. The article says the Air sells very close to Pro pricing. Its argument is that if the Air comes within $100 of a Pro, it should feel close to one. Being thin should be a feature, not an excuse for missing ones.
The material gives no price, release date or full spec list for the Air 2. Apple has not confirmed the changes described here. Until the spring event, the sensible move is to compare the Air and the Pro feature by feature before paying extra for thinness.
If a thin iPhone tempts you, compare it with the Pro on speakers, charging speed and camera modes before you pay a price close to the Pro's.
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