iPhone Air: I'm sitting with my arms crossed, tapping my foot

So, dear reader, I'm in the market for a new iPhone.

I have steadfastly worked hard to avoid buying a new one. For those who have known me for quite a while, you'll know how difficult this has been. I have, for decades it seems, liked to have the absolute latest tech.

This manifests itself – always – since the original iPhone launched – in me upgrading diligently every single year. Usually same week of the launch. As the excitement began to die down, I'd upgrade within the same month.

Then the spell was broken.

I am currently rocking an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

And I'm really, really frustrated to say it's been perfectly fine.

Essentially, what I'm saying is that the Apple device innovation over the past two years (maybe, the past 5?) has been pretty dire. It was so bad, so shocking, so 'meh' that I just couldn't be bothered.

I didn't think the company deserved my money.

It felt to me like they were really cranking the handle on their most profitable line, taking zero chances and adding next to nothing of note.

Yes, there are untold billions to protect so I recognise the innovator's dilemma writ large for Apple. I sat and flicked through the September promotional videos and listened to what felt like dozens of "this is our best iPhone yet!" tropes. They had really started to wear thin. Really, really thin.

So I just didn't bother upgrading. Things have got so bad I've even been considering buying a reconditioned or 'like new' iPhone 16 Pro Max!

Now and again I'd meet someone with a bang-up-to-date iPhone and ... feel nothing. No pangs of jealousy. No 'wow' moments at the amazing capabilities offered by the latest devices. Truth be told, I couldn't really tell the difference between them.

And with the nonsense that was/is Apple Intelligence ... look, they tried. They really did. I'm not entirely sure the Apple executive teams had much of a clue about how everyone else on the planet was actually integrating AI into their daily lives. This, despite something like 800 million people a week (A WEEK) using ChatGPT.

So, to the much rumoured iPhone Air.

I like the sound of it, I really do.

A lovely, ultra slim iPhone, not weighing your pockets down – a current generation Motorola Razr – for example, That sounds pretty inspiring.

I am hopeful that it's a bit more than this.

I really hope it's not just a 5.5mm (or whatever) iPhone.

Surely there's something else?

Or are my expectations just completely misaligned. Am I too old... is the reality that an organisation like Apple no longer has the capacity to surprise and delight at the same time? The size and scale of Apple makes this very difficult nowadays.

I am expecting amazing engineering. I will do my best to ignore the superlative descriptions about it being the.best.and.thinnest.iPhone.we've.ever.made.

But this, dear reader, is why I'm sitting with my arms crossed, not expecting too much. I would love to be surprised and delighted. I'm still holding a candle for this. I will have half an eye on the live blogs.

The real proof will be whether I feel compelled to write about anything iPhone-related tomorrow.

You can watch the live reveal on www.apple.com.