2026 iPhone Air Could Feature Two Rear Cameras, Says Leaker

[MacRumors]

Apple's second iPhone Air model is in development and could feature two rear cameras instead of one, according to a Chinese leaker with sources within Apple's supply chain.

The Weibo-based account "Digital Chat Station" claims that Apple is evaluating a dual-lens setup for the next version of its ultra-thin iPhone, with a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera joining the existing 48MP Fusion Main camera, similar to the base iPhone 17.

However, the leaker says that the second-generation device will keep the distinctive horizontal camera plateau, suggesting the second lens will sit alongside the existing one, unlike the dual-lens vertical arrangement on the iPhone 17.

Multiple technologies are housed in the plateau of the iPhone Air to maximize space for the battery, so Apple would presumably need to redesign the internals considerably to fit in another camera. Apple will reportedly continue to focus on making the device ultra-thin and lightweight.

Apple will release a second-generation iPhone Air alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Apple also plans to launch a third iPhone Air model with a larger display in the second half of 2027. That said, the first-generation device has apparently not been selling well outside of China, so Apple's plans could change.

Digital Chat Station has a decent track record for Apple rumors. They accurately revealed that the ‌iPhone‌ 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus would feature a slightly smaller 48-megapixel sensor than the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro Max, as well as the display panel design of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 back in 2020.

Article Link: 2026 iPhone Air Could Feature Two Rear Cameras, Says Leaker

 

[MacUserFella]

Great, now we just need stereo speakers

 

[krspkbl]

yey an even bigger and uglier bump!

 

[User 6502]

They should discontinue it already and bring back the iPhone mini. People don’t care about a thin phone, they’d rather have a small one.

 

[MathersMahmood]

I hardly ever use the ultra wide. More of a zoom guy myself.

 

[Ctrlos]

It would be helpful if they actually marketed it! People who have owned one will tell you it’s actually something of a marvel.

In a recent battery test Pete Matheson (in his email newsletter) did a 9 hour test of an hour each of 4K video recording, gaming, music streaming etc to mimic real world screen on time. The iPhone Air reached 7h45m, a tad higher than the 7h42m of the Pro.

The battery isn’t an issue. If you can live with one camera and you’re not a teenager who still plays music from their phone speaker it’s quite the beast. It’s also built like a tank, taking all sorts of knocks with nary a scratch.

I’m not saying it’s the best iPhone but it’s not crap by any means. It should however be $100 cheaper.

 

[hugogogo2003]

That would be great.You can't convince people they need 2 cameras for 6 years and then pretend the UW is not needed on a "premium" phone.

 

[kingalexthe1st]

They should discontinue it already and bring back the iPhone mini. People don’t care about a thin phone, they’d rather have a small one.

Judging by the sales numbers it seems people want neither. And I have an iPhone mini and want the Air!

 

[kingalexthe1st]

I just don’t see this happening. When a product like this doesn’t sell, Apple keeps it around for another year, might make a minor design tweak to stay in the design language of the year, and then discontinues it. Look at the iPhone mini and iPhone Plus. I’ll get an Air next year as it will likely be the last one, and I’m assuming it will still have 1 camera

 

[match14]

I hardly ever use the ultra wide. More of a zoom guy myself.

Agreed, often wonder if an iPhone with just a wide and a telephoto would sell really well.

 

[tyr2]

Now just make the following changes and I'll buy it:

* Reduce screen size to 13 mini size
* Restore stereo speakers
* Fatter for better battery life

A winner of a product for sure!

 

[stocklen]

Great, now we just need stereo speakers

why?

If its something you need then the air isn't for you I guess.

The sound quality from the Air's mono speaker is very good.

 

[Apple-achian]

yey an even bigger and uglier bump!

And barreling and chromatic aberration. Better to employ more ML in post-processing.

They should discontinue it already and bring back the iPhone mini. People don’t care about a thin phone, they’d rather have a small one.

Demand for the Mini is poor, which is why it was discontinued.

 

[DB2k]

isnt the 2026 iphone air half the folding iphone though?

 

[PixelPanics]

Honestly the only thing that stopped me from buying this gorgeous phone was the lack of camera (be it 0.5 or 2) and the lack of bottom speakers.

 

[macduke]

They should put the telephoto lens on it instead. If they can’t do 4x because it’s too thin then maybe they could do 3x.

Originally I thought the bump was for a horizontal periscope lens since it only had one camera. Turns out they had to shove all the chips on there because of battery life. Maybe someday they will be able to pull it off.

 

[ZEEN0j]

Any news about an Air 2 is good news for me. For the first time in like 10 years I skipped buying a phone yearly (current 16 pro). Not because I didn’t like the phones this year but more, buying a new phone each year has felt like a waste the last 3 years. I’m planning on getting an Air next year but it would be sad if they stop selling it. I’d rather have a tele lens than wide as a second camera though

 

[MayaUser]

Now just make the following changes and I'll buy it:

* Reduce screen size to 13 mini size
* Restore stereo speakers
* Fatter for better battery life

A winner of a product for sure!

that becomes the next mini and not the air philosophy

 

[MayaUser]

For iphone air users i think not the second camera is a must..if they have to chose just one extra would be the stereo speakers, second place would be better battery and last second camera

 

[twintin]

Great, now we just need stereo speakers

That is left as an upgrade reason för Air 3.

 

[Alfonson]

They should discontinue it already and bring back the iPhone mini. People don’t care about a thin phone, they’d rather have a small one.

the mini isn't a thing outside of forums. In my company we had some mini users and they all went back to larger models as soon as they were entitled to.
This shows: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...n-cuts-production-by-80.2469612/post-34241802

 

[bluecoast]

Like a few here, I just don't 'get' the ultra wide angle lens as I don't like the trippy distortions you get when taking landscape photos. I guess it's good for taking shots of groups of people?

And echoing a few others here, that Apple can't sell the regular iPhone with 2 lens & speakers and then sell the Air at $200 more with only one less of both and expect it to do well, just because it's thin (which admittedly is cool, but not for a compromised device at $999)

Rectify that & start it at $899 - $100 more than the regular iPhone, well now that's tempting - and it'll sell quite a lot of units, I would say.

But keep that price point at just below the iPhone pro and for $100 more, you might as well get a slightly smaller screen, a heavier phone, but 3 lens and better battery life and so much more for your $.

 

[Boeingfan]

There won’t be another Air. I’ll bet Cookster will pull it or the finance team will.

 

[kiranmk2]

Agreed, often wonder if an iPhone with just a wide and a telephoto would sell really well.

They should put the telephoto lens on it instead. If they can’t do 4x because it’s too thin then maybe they could do 3x.

I’d rather have a tele lens than wide as a second camera though

I think most people would rather have a wide and tele lens in the 2-camera phones...and this is precisely why Apple reserves the tele camera for the Pro models!

I think it is too late for the Air 2. Like the mini, when word got out that the 12 mini battery was really poor, the mini line became associated with poor battery life even though the battery was reportedly much improved on the 13 mini. It would take Apple introducing SiC batteries into the Air line only and then heavily marketing the Air 2 as thinner, lighter, sleeker...but just as much battery life as the iPhone 18 Pro (I would have said as much battery life as the iPhone 18, but that isn't being release until 6 months later).

 

[CharlesShaw]

This is good news for those looking forward to ongoing discussions about the Air!