iPhone 17 Series Demand Beats Expectations, But iPhone Air Struggles in Early Sales
The iPhone 17 series has entered the market very strongly, with demand much higher than expected early on. Reports from various experts and supply chain checks show that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max are seeing a big increase in orders and interest from customers. However, the new iPhone Air has not kept up, having trouble with lower sales in its first few weeks.
Strong Momentum for the iPhone 17 Series
From the time people could first order them to the first days they were sold, the iPhone 17 series has consistently done better than expected. According to 9to5Mac, the demand for the iPhone 17 and its Pro versions is “stronger than expected,” which even made Morgan Stanley think things would be better.
In India, the release of the iPhone 17 set new records: when it came out, the number of early orders was reportedly 19% higher than for the iPhone 16 series. The Times of India When it was released worldwide, lines formed at Apple Stores in major areas, a clear sign that customers were very eager.
Apple’s own reaction shows that it sees real demand: the company has asked the businesses that supply parts to increase how many standard iPhone 17s they make by 30–40%. Wedbush believes that the demand for the iPhone 17 is already about 10–15% higher than for last year’s iPhone 16 series.
Experts are optimistic: JPMorgan increased its target for Apple stock because of the strong demand for the iPhone 17. Investing.com Similarly, WccfTech says that the strength of all the iPhone 17 models gives Apple a good start for future products.
Why the iPhone 17 Series Is Gaining Traction
There seem to be several things helping the iPhone 17 models do well:
Small improvements — Even though the iPhone 17 series might not have a completely new look, the changes in how well it works, how efficiently it uses power, the camera improvements, and the screen have clearly appealed to buyers.
People waiting to upgrade — A large number of people with smartphones have not upgraded in four or more years. Some guess that this is about 315 million devices around the world, which may be causing many to want to upgrade to the iPhone 17.
Value change in standard model — The base 17 has been in very high demand, even more than expected, leading Apple to make more of them.
Strong support from big companies — Several investment firms have improved or repeated their positive views on Apple stock because of the early success of the iPhone 17. AppleInsider+2Investing.com+2
iPhone Air: The Weak Link So Far
In contrast to how well the 17 and its Pro versions are doing, the iPhone Air is having some problems early on. Experts and people in the supply chain say there is “relative weakness” in the demand for the Air.
One thing that makes it harder to tell: the iPhone Air has not yet been released in China, which is one of Apple’s biggest markets. Because it is not available there, it is hard to know how it will be received worldwide, and the early information is less reliable.
From a design perspective, the Air is slimmer and focuses more on looks, but this means it has some downsides—it only has one camera lens, its battery is a bit smaller, and it does not have as many top-tier capabilities as the Pro versions. Experts believe that these performance sacrifices make it less appealing overall.
A report about the supply chain from AppleInsider showed that the 17 Pro versions are getting much more attention from customers, while the Air version is not really mentioned in many surveys of investors. AppleInsider
What This Means for Apple & Future Strategy
The different levels of success between iPhone 17 and iPhone Air have important effects on future plans:
Apple might focus more on its Pro and Pro Max versions, particularly if the Air continues to not sell very well.
The initial success of the iPhone 17 series as a whole makes Apple feel good as it increases production for the whole year and plans for newer versions (like iPhone 18). https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/apple-iphone-17-pro-review-come-for-the-camera-stay-for-the-battery/
The slow start for the Air brings up questions about how Apple will arrange its range of phones that are priced from the middle to the higher end in later years. Shiboy
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why are more people than expected wanting to buy the iPhone 17 series?
It is because people have been waiting to upgrade for a while, the improvements are appealing, and Apple decided to promote the regular iPhone 17 as a good value option. Also, not having enough phones and a lot of preorders has made people think it is very popular.
Q2. What are the main signs that the demand for the iPhone 17 is very high?
Apple has asked for 30–40% more iPhone 17 models to be made. More people have preordered it than the iPhone 16. Experts and investment companies have increased their predictions for sales and stock prices because of this trend.
Q3. Why is the iPhone Air not doing so well at the moment?
It is not sold in China, and people think it has sacrifices in its specifications (only one camera, smaller battery, fewer top features), which has reduced excitement. The Air also has to compete with the Pro versions and the regular iPhone 17, which seem to offer more for the price.
Q4. Is it possible that the iPhone Air will sell better later on?
Yes—if Apple makes it available in more places (especially China), changes the price, or emphasizes what makes it special (how thin it is, its design). Updates to the software or advertising could help get people interested again.
Q5. How does this story about demand affect Apple’s next iPhone—iPhone 18?
The strong sales of iPhone 17 make Apple more confident as it starts planning for the iPhone 18. This may affect how much it invests in chip technology, what features it plans to include, and how it increases production. However, Apple still needs to deal with parts of the market like the Air, where demand is low, to keep a well-rounded range of products.
