Gen Z has spoken: Social media reacts to Apple’s iPhone 17 launch

Apple’s latest iPhone lineup, including the new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and the sleek iPhone 17 Air, has sparked a flurry of reactions online, particularly among Gen Z users on platforms like X, Instagram and Reddit. While the company showcased new features such as liquid cooling, AI-powered camera systems, and ProMotion displays, social media users received the announcement with a mixed reaction.

“Every iPhone keynote is basically Apple dropping the same mixtape with a new album cover,” said a X user, reflecting a common sentiment that Apple’s announcements have become increasingly predictable. Others poked fun at the over-the-top tech demos: “iPhone 17 is out. YouTubers in 2 days,” accompanied by a meme of Tom from Tom & Jerry preparing to smash the new iPhone. Some joked about the extreme tests YouTubers do, like passing the device through a wood chipper, “iPhone 17: breaks. YouTubers: shocked.”

Design choices also drew strong opinions. “Am I the only one who thinks the new iPhone 17 Pro Max looks ugly? They ruined the design,” complained a user on X, while another slammed the new camera bump as “an absolute monstrosity.” The iPhone 17 Air’s colours received mixed reactions: "There is no Iphone pro max in black, I need to rethink my life," quipped an Instagram user.“They sabotaged Pro model colours to make the Air look better,” said another user, while others praised shades like orange, calling it “the most beautiful piece of tech I’ve seen in years.”

Some Gen Z users slammed Apple’s marketing terms. “Apple keynotes today are just specs and benchmarks with meaningless terms no one cares about… 4x more durable, 20x greater than titanium for thermal conductivity. What does this even mean?” wrote a user, pointing out the shift from Steve Jobs-style product storytelling. Others mocked the pronunciation of “aluminium” by a British narrator: “That means it’s obviously different and better than regular aluminium or titanium,” they joked on Reddit.

Battery life and usability also came under scrutiny. “iPhone 17 Air has the same battery life as the iPhone 16 Pro,” noted one user. Some appreciated the portability and design tweaks: “Phone 17 Air keeps the camera control button, apparently. But what’s the point bruh there is one camera.”

Comparisons with competitors and previous models also came through. “iPhone 17 Air and Pixel 9. What’s the difference??😂” wrote a user, while others debated the practicality of the thinnest iPhone yet versus its features. 

With the phone priced at $999 for iPhone Air and $1,099 for iPhone 17 Pro, social media was also flooded with reaction reels showing Gen Z watching the launch event in their pyjamas with minimum bank balance. 

Whether Apple’s new devices will win over this demographic remains to be seen, but the online conversation is already in full swing.