Why So Much Backlash Against iPhone in the U.S.?

Whenever a new iPhone series is announced, the hype is usually massive. It becomes a viral topic across the world. People lining up outside stores the night before. Celebrations after finally getting the phone in hand. The buzz is always on another level.

This time too, the iPhone 17 series launched with grandeur. Apple Park was full of excitement. Bookings will open in a few days, and the iPhone 17 models will hit the market on the 19th. As always, the prices are sky-high. But, putting all that aside, this time there’s a noticeable wave of discontent — particularly in the United States.

For the first time in Apple’s history, a super-slim iPhone was released. They called it iPhone Air. It looks sleek, no doubt, but the biggest allegation is that its battery life isn’t living up to Apple’s claims. Apple says “all-day battery life,” but according to a review in The Washington Post, heavy use drains it in just 4–5 hours.

Users weren’t expecting a slim model. What they were really hoping for was a foldable iPhone — a true competitor to Samsung’s foldable devices. But it never came, leaving many U.S. users disappointed and vocal about their frustration. Samsung even took a subtle dig at Apple over this.

Another major criticism is that the iPhone 17 Pro Max, announced as Apple’s flagship, looks suspiciously similar to Google’s Pixel phones — at least from the back. This has sparked fresh debates online. And, as always, the pricing remains a major complaint, with some saying Apple is using AI-based features as an excuse to hike prices even further.

Overall, this time around, the new iPhones are drawing more criticism than praise in the U.S. Now all eyes are on Apple — to see how it addresses or counters this wave of backlash.