Behind Apple naming the new iPhone iPhone Air, instead of iPhone 17 Air

Apple has decided to remove the serial number on the new iPhone Air model, giving rise to many theories about the reasons behind this decision.

There are many theories about the reasons behind Apple's decision to name the iPhone Air. (Source: Apple)

Things seemed to be getting neater. Earlier this year, the iPhone SE line was officially discontinued, making way (at a significantly higher price) for the iPhone 16e.

The entire iPhone lineup is then clearly organized by generation: iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, then iPhone 16, 16e, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max.

Users can tell which lifecycle a device belongs to just by looking at the name; anything with a 16 on it is newer than the 15 series - a logical and easy-to-understand arrangement.

But that order only lasted for… just over 6 months. Now, the situation is even more chaotic than before when Apple just launched four new models: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air.

The question is: Why “iPhone Air” and not the more plausible, and much-rumored, iPhone 17 Air?

The “special product” hypothesis

The first theory suggests that Apple wants to treat the iPhone Air as a completely new product line, so its “serial number” should start from 1, and have nothing to do with the number 17.

This is similar to what Apple did with the iPad Air. In 2013, after four generations of iPads, Apple released the first iPad Air—and they didn’t call it the iPad 5 Air. The following year, the successor was called the iPad Air 2, not the iPad 6 Air.

Before the iPad Air, Apple struggled with naming the iPad: "The New iPad" and "iPad with Retina Display", making it difficult for users to differentiate.

But with the iPhone, it's different: since 2014, when the iPhone 6 Plus was launched alongside the iPhone 6, Apple has maintained the policy of attaching generation numbers with suffixes like Plus, mini, Pro, Pro Max or "e".

The rare exception is the iPhone SE line. Apple uses the notation “(2nd generation)” and “(3rd generation)” to distinguish the 2020 and 2022 versions.

However, that only applies to the low-cost line, which is released in the spring, outside the annual fall launch cycle. And Apple itself abandoned this method when it launched the iPhone 16e this spring.

In short, separating the iPhone Air into a separate line helps Apple make it “more special”.

After all, it's asking $999 for a phone with shorter battery life than the $799 iPhone 17 and just a single rear camera.

If you think of the iPhone Air as a variant of the iPhone 17, it’s easy to make a direct comparison. But when it’s labeled as “a completely new product line,” things are different: buyers are paying for something new, something separate. And Apple’s implicit message is: “Please ignore the battery life, this is a completely different product.”

The “one-time” hypothesis

Another – and rather provocative – theory was put forward by Macworld writer Mahmoud Itani: Apple chose to omit the serial number when naming the iPhone Air because… this might be a one-off product.

By this logic, there will be no iPhone Air 2 or iPhone 18 Air. If sales don't really exceed expectations, the iPhone Air will only serve as a stepping stone before Apple launches its first foldable iPhone.

And on a foldable device, the Air’s ultra-thin design will become a necessity, not just an “aesthetic plus.” The name of that foldable version is still open: iPhone Fold or iPhone 18 Fold, no one is sure.

Even if the iPhone Air gets a second-generation upgrade, not having the number 17 on it gives Apple some flexibility. For example, next year, when the iPhone 18 comes out, the Air could be discounted and continue to be sold for another year.

At that time, users did not feel like they were holding “old goods” next to the 18 series, because the Air did not carry any generation number.

The “chaos” hypothesis

However, all of these theories are just that… theories. The truth is that it’s never easy to guess why Apple names its products. Partly because Apple is too secretive, but more importantly: the company’s naming policy has always been inconsistent.

iPhone: Most follow the generation number system followed by the suffix.

iPad and Apple Watch: Again, put the sub-name first, then attach the separate generation number later.

Mac: Now named after the processor chip (M1, M2, M3…), but previously based on the year of release.

Operating systems: macOS and iOS are assigned by the release year… plus 1.

Some other products: Like the HomePod 2, there isn't even a model number on the Apple website.

So perhaps people are giving Apple too much credit for trying to find some “logic” in their naming. In reality, Apple may not have any hard and fast rules at all—it’s all decided based on the marketing intent of the moment.

Instead of wondering why Apple didn't call it the iPhone 17 Air, perhaps the more correct question should be: why did we ever think Apple would name the product logically?

Name iPhone Air has created a stir in the market, both because of its difference and because of its ambiguity. It could signal an ambitious new product line, or it could just be a short-term test.

Regardless, this move once again shows that Apple is always ready to break the seemingly stable "order" to attract attention and open up space for future strategies.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/phia-sau-viec-apple-dat-ten-iphone-moi-la-iphone-air-thay-vi-iphone-17-air-327565.html