Apple Said to Cut iPhone Air Production Amid Underwhelming Sales

[CWallace]

Because they didnt cut the production run of every model, just the air, they boosted production of everything else. That info is like all of 4 sentences into the MR post we’re all replying to, did you by any chance kneejerk reply without reading beyond the headline?

Just wait. Around early 2026 we will hear breathless reports how Apple is cutting production of all the other models and how this means nobody wants the iPhone 17 family and the whole line is a failure. And yet Apple will continue to see record iPhone revenues throughout 2026.

 

[mlayer]

Take a look at an iPhone Air picture (or go see one in store), enjoy the look, then take a deep breath and think -- there's no more clear sign of Apple lost in product development. They have piled up myriads of product managers and marketers who crawl over each other to see who can come up with something absurdly unique.

Seriously, take a walk and think -- they've deployed billions of dollars on shaving off 2.35 mm from -some parts of the phone- and with performance tradeoffs. Any kind of practical thickness calculation, which is stupid to begin with in this day and age, would need to include the camera bump.

They could have attacked (not dabbled with) so many serious and meaningful problems in our modern life - human cognition and AI, our physical health, our broken healthcare system, everyday driving, robotics, quantum computing ... it is getting easier to say Apple will not be relevant to our future.

If this company has any interest in being relevant in future it's time to replace the rich entitled senior leadership with young and ambition people. Keep on developing a solid simple line of products, but more than half of R&D should go to new things.

Consider how, besides being thinner, the Air is 20% lighter than the Pro and 40% lighter than the Pro Max, yet is tougher with better build quality than both. Then take a deep breath. That's what I did before I purchased the Air and I haven't looked back.

 

[klasma]

But it's so thin.

Apple is thinning production to match.

 

[Sausage.Biscuit]

Apple, he's a free idea from me that you can use; iPhone THICC.

Same length and width of normal iPhone, but an inch deep (thick). Use all that extra room for a large removable battery!

 

[wilhoitm]

The Camera at the top of the iPhone Air sticks out too much! So I bought the iPhone Pro Max whose camera sticks out too!

 

[Xenomorph]

Clearly the design just wasn't ambition enough.

They should have removed ALL speakers. Want to hear anything or make a call? Gotta use AirPods.

They should have removed ALL cameras. Want to take a picture? Well, Walgreens still sells Kodak cameras.

You may think that making these extreme changes would take a certain level of insanity. Well, I think it takes COURAGE.

 

[xpxp2002]

Perhaps the reason the Air, Plus and Mini have all failed to catch on is because from an ergonomic point of view, the regular model just hits the sweet spot?

I'd argue that it's the opposite of a sweet spot. It's just the least worst choice among a variety of imperfect options.

The ergonomics of the base/Pro are terrible since the iPhone 12. They're all too wide and too tall for practical one-handed use. Maybe people wouldn't be so prone to dropping and breaking their phones all the time, and need tank-style phone cases if their phones were an appropriate ergonomic size. Likewise, the sheer existence and success of the Popsocket is a clear sign that phones are too big.

I've bought iPhone Pro models for years for the hardware, but bemoaning the size and weight. I accepted the tradeoffs of losing the telephoto lens and foregoing the ProMotion display with the 12 mini and 13 mini those years because they were so much more comfortable to hold and use.

A 5.8" iPhone with all the Pro hardware, like the iPhone 11 Pro was, would be a reasonable compromise "sweet spot". But since Apple doesn't make a single phone smaller than 6.1" now, there is no "sweet spot." It's a question of "what will customers tolerate?" Not "what will customers be happy with?" So I just get the model that has the hardware I want and remain irritated and dissatisfied with the size and weight of the lead bricks they continue to churn out every year.

 

[Lodoss]

Once someone puts a case on the Air, it is not so thin anymore. Sure it would still be thinner than any other iPhone with a case, but not thin enough to give up important features such as multiple cameras, stereo speakers and longer battery life. The trade-offs to not justify the design for a majority of iPhone buyers. It is a cool iPhone for sure, but it is another niche iPhone.

I have a case on mine, and it’s still noticeably thinner and lighter than my 14PM and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The Air is a phone you have to hold and use to appreciate the engineering that went into this device, not just looking at a spec sheet.

 

[maczaddy]

Needed 2 separate cameras for spacial recording and while the shinny look might seem cool it’s a fingerprint magnet my 14 pro drives me crazy. I really was hoping to upgrade to the air but no spacial was the nail in the coffin. I also hear it’s wide I’d drop that even more. Guess I will keep my 14pro another year or 2 more as something about the 17 pros just doesn’t really excite me I think it’s that massive plateau. I saw someone on the train with the orange 17 pro and didn’t like the antenna cutout at the top.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I have a case on mine, and it’s still noticeably thinner and lighter than my 14PM and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The Air is a phone you have to hold and use to appreciate the engineering that went into this device, not just looking at a spec sheet.

Well yah, you're comparing to a Pro Max and a Fold (basically two phones put together).

 

[MaxVerstappen]

I wonder if it being eSIM only has stopped some people from buying it?

Of course it has.

 

[BrHi11]

I have an idea that I wish Apple would explore. It would make the shopping experience better, it would allow Apple to slide people up their product offerings to higher tier models more easily and makes the choices far simpler for the customer. I've created a rough sketch of what it could look like.

iPhone: Target price range for each base model $600-1800/2000

• iPhone Mini/SE: 5.8 inch screen ($599)
• iPhone: like it currently is ($799)
• iPhone Air: screen size between iPhone and Pro ($999)
• iPhone Pro: 6.9 inch only ($1199)
• iPhone Ultra: iPhone and iPad mini in one device ($1800)

iPads: Target price range for each base model $400-2500

• iPad Mini/SE: 8 inch screen ($399)
• iPad: 10 inch screen ($699)
• iPad Air: the iPad Pro 11 inch but make it like the iPhone Air ($999)
• iPad Pro: 13 inch and give it the iPhone Pro’s 17 treatment, extreme battery life and performance, ($1299)
• iPad Ultra: the long rumored folding iPad, I'm still not convinced this device makes sense, ($2499)

MacBook: Target price range for each base model $500-8000

• MacBook Mini/SE: 11 inch MacBook, A Pro-powered chip, 256gb, 12 or 16gb of ram, ($499 price)
• MacBook: 13 inch MacBook A Pro-powered or M chip, 256gb 12 or 16gb of ram, ($699 price)
• MacBook Air: 13 and 15 inch M series chip, as light as possible with solid battery life ($999 and $1299)
• MacBook Pro: 14 and 16 inch M series chips, longer battery life. ($1599 and $2499)
• MacBook Ultra: 18 inch M Series Max and Ultra chip, ($3999 (Max) and $7999 (ultra))

Macs: Target price range for each base model $400-7000

• Mac Mini/SE: One model only, A Pro Powered, education and light computing at home ($399 target)
• Mac: Old Mac mini: M powered chip same as today ($599)
• Mac Air: The smallest M Powered Mac with pro chip ($1299)
• Mac Pro: Studio new name to streamline naming, ($1999)
• Mac Ultra: New name for the Mac Pro ($6999)

I'm not as concerned about iMac as Apple hasn't really given them the care they deserve. But in this situation the naming is consistent across the board. It obviously isn't without issues in the naming them. So maybe make a SE be the most affordable while the mini retains the small form factor air is thinnest.

I think this kind of rebranding and marketing strategy helps push people higher while at the same time it makes it possible for a person to get into the Mac, iPad, and MacBook family for as little as ($1500) for a younger person this is much more doable. Also, if the Mac and MacBook offerings could be this affordable it would compete well in the education sector.

I doubt anything like this would ever fly and I know that some would be upset with only one Pro iPhone size. So those could be adjusted a bit. I gave such allowances with the screens on the Mac but could see how just one screen size could be an advantage there as well.

Anyway. Just a fun thought.

 

[con2apple]

It was a nice try but they really need to just cut that line. Mini, plus, now this. All sales bombs? Just do regular and pro max. That’s all that is needed.

Hey, if Apple were to launch a genuine Air, I would be the first to recommend it to all my friends.
However, it must be a genuine, a serious Air.

Not a
“we lie about the thickness and pretend there is no bumper that makes the phone as thick as a normal iPhone”
-Air

Buyers who work really hard for their money aren't that easily fooled. Not even if the product is promoted by the favorite Influenza.

 

[seek3r]

Every year, Apple cuts the production run of every iPhone model once the product is released and the initial sales rush is over. Apple's heaviest production run is prior to release to meet the initial demand and then they reduce it to meet the (lower) sustained sales volume over the rest of the year until they ramp up again for the next model in the Summer.

This has been the way for like a decade. Why the media keep acting like it is unique every year is beyond me.

Just wait. Around early 2026 we will hear breathless reports how Apple is cutting production of all the other models and how this means nobody wants the iPhone 17 family and the whole line is a failure. And yet Apple will continue to see record iPhone revenues throughout 2026.

I want you to read both your posts side by side and see if you can spot the problem.

Hint: production is going *up* on most models *after* initial sales, and only down on the air. That’s why this is a story, and even if that production is dropped in a few months it doesnt change the reality here in Oct 2025

 

[con2apple]

Apple hasn't even promoted the Air. They've promoted the crap out of the Pro and Pro Max, though.

I don't know about you personally, but most people in the world are capable of clicking on a website and then looking at the other products advertised. That's because they have to work for their money and therefore don't blindly buy anything.

 

[the 12th Doctor]

I really like how this phone feels. But the camera and sound aren’t there for me.

 

[macbookj0e]

Don't really care. I love my Air.

So do I but this doesn’t bode well for Apple sticking with the form factor for long like I’d wish they would. Feels like another mini to me which was another phone I loved…

 

[seek3r]

I don't know about you personally, but most people in the world are capable of clicking on a website and then looking at the other products advertised. That's because they have to work for their money and therefore don't blindly buy anything.

To be fair a lot of people really dont do that, they go into the AT&T or Apple store and ask “give me the latest iPhone, what colors are there?”. That’s the extent of their research

 

[bodonnell202]

I think for most folks it felt too compromised to justify the higher price, especially with the 17 being such a good value this year. I'm not surprised that the 17 is selling well - but I am surprised that it isn't eroding sales of the (regular) 17 Pro somewhat

 

[seek3r]

So do I but this doesn’t bode well for Apple sticking with the form factor for long like I’d wish they would. Feels like another mini to me which was another phone I loved…

They’re tried bigger, they’ve tried thinner… maybe they’ll now give smaller another try 🤞

 

[mrfabio]

I bought an Air for my wife, I was speechless. Battery is not an issue, such a joy to use. Display size is nailed, not too small and not too big. Being ligher and slimmer help handling it well even if you have small hands. I’ll buy one for me too next week. Please take seriously those news and don’t buy it or sell it used so I can save some money

 

[xxFoxtail]

I’m one of the weirdos who like the niche devices. I adored both of my iPhone minis, and I’m really liking my iPhone Air.

The Air probably wasn’t my best financial decision, but I’m not regretting it at all.

Hoping to see the Air (or preferably the mini) line continue on.

 

[SmokyT18]

I expect the Air to still be for sell and not discontinued months from now.

 

[iMac The Knife]

And again...called it! What a week for iMac The Knife-stradamus!!! The value just isn't there, and apparently it shows in the sales numbers.

 

[uacd]

Technology isn't magic, the Air is already using a fairly cutting edge battery design, so how on earth will they make an even better (more capacity, ergo bigger) battery while making the phone smaller?

Slower processor and less screen resolution to cut GPU processing demands, probably that way. After all they have “pro” and regular chips already so it might not be much of a big deal to try and make one that is more efficient for smaller phones