Apple(US:AAPL) 36氪·2025-10-24 13:35Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the innovative design and features of Apple's new iPhone Air, highlighting its unique battery shape and materials, as well as the trade-offs made to achieve a thinner and lighter device while maintaining battery life [4][5][11]. Design and Features - The iPhone Air has a 7% smaller area, 28% reduced thickness, and 17% lighter weight compared to the iPhone 16 Plus, while maintaining the same video playback time of 27 hours [5]. - The battery in the Air is uniquely shaped and made from silicon for the negative electrode, which is a departure from the traditional graphite, allowing for efficient power supply in a compact design [9][11]. - The Air's battery cost is estimated at $22, which is 2.8 times higher than that of the 16 Plus [12]. Functional Trade-offs - To increase battery installation area and reduce power consumption, the Air has fewer features, such as a single rear camera instead of two and the removal of the physical SIM card slot in favor of an electronic version [14]. - The layout of components has been significantly altered, with electronic parts consolidated to the top of the device, and the tactile components moved to the bottom [16]. Semiconductor Improvements - Apple has improved its semiconductor design, resulting in a 30% reduction in power consumption compared to the iPhone 16 Pro's modem, while also enhancing communication speed [19]. Cost and Pricing Strategy - The estimated cost of the base model (256GB) of the Air is around $539, with a cost rate of 54%, similar to the 16 Plus [21]. - The Air is priced at $999 for the 256GB model, reflecting Apple's strategy to discontinue lower-margin products like the 128GB version [21]. Market Position and Innovation - The iPhone Air aims to meet consumer demand for thinner devices, despite limited technological innovation in hardware, as noted by industry experts [24]. - The article suggests that Apple is lagging in software technology advancements, particularly in generative AI, compared to its hardware innovations [24].