Reasons not to buy the iPhone 17 Air: Are the mono speakers worth your money?

The iPhone 17 Air has attracted notice due to its slender structure and the luxurious touch. Nevertheless, under its smooth new skin, users and critics have reported some distinct shortcomings. The iPhone Air, the thinnest iPhone in the current line, features a different audio configuration that has raised debate on the speaker audio quality. The iPhone Air, in contrast to the other iPhone models like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, only has a single speaker design, which is positioned under the camera bump. This disparity has a major effect on loudness (measured as SPL- Sound Pressure Level) and frequency response and this affects the listening experience. The following five reasons are just some of the critical reasons why you may want to reevaluate buying the iPhone Air based on recent user feedback and professional reviews.

iPhone 17 Air monospeaker: Is spending on it worth your money?

Mono speakers influence the video viewing experience in landscape mode because the sound is only received on one side, and it is flat and not very engaging.Contrary to the stereo speakers that offer the two separate channels of audio, that is, left and right, mono speakers emit sound through a single source, hence; unequal distribution of sound when the phone is held in the horizontal position.It can usually lead to a softer, metallic and one-sided audio experience, making the pleasure and quality of video viewings and game playing in landscape mode less fun and less clear.Users will observe that sound is not three-dimensional and balanced, and therefore less interesting compared to gadgets that have a dual stereo sound system.

iPhone 17 Air: Poor speaker quality

The biggest grievance is the single speaker design on the iPhone Air. Although it does a fair portion of portrait-mode audio, sound quality in landscape mode and speakerphone calls is quite poor. According to its users, it becomes very quiet quickly and is rather tinny, in contrast to the dual stereo speakers of other iPhones such as the iPhone 15 Pro. This is a significant drawback to the people who regularly use speaker mode at home or when listening to music casually. Others will go to an extent of grabbing AirPods when they would have used the phone speakers.

iPhone 17 Air: Limited stereo sound experience

Another problem associated with the speaker issue is the absence of a complete stereo audio. The mono speaker design of the iPhone Air sacrifices audio balance and richness in comparison to iPhones with two sets of stereo speakers. Although the users who upgrade their older phones such as the iPhone 6S or the 2016 iPhone SE may experience a better sound quality, it remains below the expectations in this category and price range. This is more so when one is viewing videos or playing games in the landscape mode.

iPhone 17 Air: Thinness and build

The engineering achievement of milestone engineering makes the iPhone Air extremely thin with a profile of 5.6mm, the thinnest iPhone ever. Although some users enjoy the lightness and sleekness of the device, which makes using it feel like carrying a business card, the thinness is achieved at the expense of some of its practical functionality and usability. Certain users fear that the radical thinness will not last long and it will be followed by disappointments related to grip, structural rigidity and heat dissipation when used heavily. The internal packing is also so tight that battery size and perhaps thermal management are compromised.

iPhone 17 Air: Battery life trade-offs

The decreased thickness affects the battery capacity. The iPhone Air can play video for about 27 hours, which is a little less than that of the usual iPhone 17 (30 hours). This might be inadequate to the heavy users who might require it in everyday practices though still competitive. This is offset by some clever software optimisations and optional MagSafe external battery packs but is not a solution to everyone who wants to have all-day continuous use with no extra batteries.

iPhone 17 Air: Connectivity and minor issues

There have also been occasional Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity issues in this generation of iPhones, which might be connected to a new type of N1 wireless chip developed by Apple. These have an impact on wireless CarPlay stability and accessory pairing like AirPods. Although it is not universal, it is at times frustrating to users who require steady wireless connectivity.

Does the iPhone 17 Air really have problems with the speaker and sound quality?

Audio tests have shown that the single speaker of iPhone Air is capable of reaching about 88 decibels (dB) in the maximum volume in speakerphone mode. This is quite subdued in comparison with iPhone 17 Pro Max and other flagship devices that can hit the SPL of over 90 dB using both speakers. Although 88 dB is adequate to listen to music casually, the level frequently causes distortion in audio when played loudly as well as not giving the richness needed to use in multimedia applications such as videos or music. The frequency response of the iPhone Air has a smaller and less balanced sound range than the two-speaker versions. The bass frequencies are less pronounced and weak, with the mid and high frequencies taking the centre stage. This is typical of mono speakers because of single driver configuration and smaller cavity volume due to thin phone design. The iPhone 17 Pro Max on the other hand has the advantage of a more powerful stereo system with improved separation in lows, mids and highs providing richer, louder and immersive soundscapes.

Irrespective of these disadvantages, the iPhone Air is quite a stylish product with a titanium frame, amazing ceramic shield cover, and a fantastic screen. Its flagship A19 Pro chip boasts the best processing power enclosed in a slimmer, and lighter case. Nonetheless, those users who attach importance to loud balanced speakers, longer battery life, and more reliable connection could be more satisfied with other iPhone versions or flagship products.

Disclaimer: The information regarding the gadgets/devices listed in the table and article has been sourced from various secondary sources. For detailed product specifications, please refer to the brand sources.