IMO, the only thing wrong is the price, drop the price to equal the basic model and you won’t get the feeling of paying more for less.
iPhone Air demand failed to meet Apple's expectations and the company's supply chain is scaling back shipments and production, reports Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Suppliers are expected to reduce capacity by more than 80 percent between now and the first quarter of 2026, and some components with longer lead times will be discontinued by the end of 2025.
According to Kuo, the iPhone Air's poor performance suggests that the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro models already "cover the majority of high-end user demand," so there is little room for new market segments.
There have been multiple reports suggesting the iPhone Air has failed to catch on with consumers. Last week, Japan's Mizuho Securities said that Apple would reduce iPhone Air production by a million units because of underwhelming sales performance, and earlier today, Nikkei said that there is "virtually no demand" for the iPhone Air, and that Apple would "drastically" cut production.
Apple competitor Samsung is apparently seeing the same response to its super thin smartphone, the Galaxy S25 Edge. Reports suggest that Samsung canceled development of a next-generation model after disappointing sales.
Apple's standard iPhone and Pro iPhone models have consistently performed well, but it has struggled with its fourth wildcard spot in the iPhone lineup. Apple experimented with a smaller 5.4-inch iPhone mini that did not sell well, and then moved to a larger iPhone Plus that served as a more affordable version of the large-sized Pro Max. That too failed, leading Apple to try a 5.6mm build that compromised on features for a lightweight and thin design.
We could get yet another new form factor as soon as 2026, with rumors suggesting that Apple will debut a foldable iPhone as part of the iPhone 18 lineup.
Article Link: Apple's iPhone Air Experiment Fails as Supply Chain Cuts Production by 80%
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Apple's iPhone Air Experiment Fails as Supply Chain Cuts Production by 80%
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With respect, I disagree, because of product lines.
Currently Apple are selling 5 flavours of iPhone: 16e, 17, 17 air, 17 pro, 17 pro max. The Fold would make it 6 flavours . The fold and the anniversary would make it 7 flavours. That’s too many.
Apple drove themselves to bankructy by offering a far tooo complicated rangę of Macs. They saved themselves from bankruptcy by cutting almost 20 different flavours of Mac down to 4 - consumer and pro, laptop and desktop.
7 flavours of iPhone is too much. There a reason why the Air is not the 17 Air. There’s a reason why there’s no iPhone 17 plus. If a new flavour of iPhone is added, they’ll have to remove an older flavour.
Bloat has always been Apple’s enemy. They’d be incredibly stupid to offer seven different iPhones in one year.
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Or maybe it’s just the reality that most consumers don’t appreciate the qualities of the Air versus its drawbacks? That’s a much more plausible explanations for why most enthusiasts and influencers aren’t too fond of the Air.
By the way, I was semi-enthusiastic about the Air during the rumors phase. I don’t even mind the single camera and the mono speaker, and the battery is quite good. But after trying it out, it’s just too large and unwieldy for me, and significantly heavier than the mini I’m using (not to mention the SE1 whose form factor I would prefer). In addition, the thick camera bar is a turn-off for me, as are the glossy edges.
This is just to illustrate that different people dislike different things about the Air. You have to have a specific set of preferences to choose the Air over other phones at its price point, and it turns out that not too many people have that.
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Would love to have a new iPhone Mini instead of the SE, built for Apple Intelligence and could be placed on a longer product launch-cycle
They could do that. What should go into the important $999 price slot? The Pro or Pro Max? Not likely. A reborn Plus? That seems a bit high. Definitely not a foldable as has been discussed. Apple has a bit of conundrum moving forward.
And we see how few people do. Even at the same price I’d get the regular one.
this is a classic thread, this isn't a new form factor 😂, its not even thin if you account for the camera bump and its not that much lighter than the normal 17
really bad product, surprised tricked as many people as they did into buying it
really bad product, surprised tricked as many people as they did into buying it
A foldable that’ll be so thin, it’ll bend as easily as a sheet of paper. It’ll be magical. £5000
Not with that attitude. iPhone Air only has less than 2% greater physical volume than the 13 Mini - yet it matches the battery life of the 16 Pro.
Not an issue of being able to make it work. It's an issue of having the willingness to make it work.
I think most people consider that 16e, 17, and 17 Pro are already thin enough – they even buy cases. If Apple succeeds in shaving a millimeter or two without sacrificing features or battery (as happened with the Apple Watch Series 10 or iPad Pro), great, but otherwise it shouldn't bother.
I am going to let you in on a secret. I heard Apple has 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max that has an all-day battery. Shhh, you didn’t hear from me.
Also, even with a case on, a thinner phone will still be thinner than a regular phone with a case.
I really don’t understand folks who are arguing against Air. You guys already have a phone that provides everything you need so let Air be Air. Why the attack against Air if it is really not the phone for you? Buyers can decide what they want and how much they want to spend. If no other option existed besides Air then I would definitely understand the hate.
Only reason for this thing has to be to get consumers to partially pay for the iPhone fold R&D. Otherwise who on earth would want a smartphone with a lousy camera and battery (isn’t that what the 16e was for)?
200 dollars too expensive.
I bet the price is the main deterrent, much more than battery and camera.
I bet the price is the main deterrent, much more than battery and camera.
The battery life of the Air is on par with the 17 and the 16 pro. But ok.
lol at all the suckers that fell for that base model, low battery, econ camera system just cause it looked pretty. Although they are all too stubborn to admit it, it’s a bust and fairly sure they all have buyers remorse now that they have a cr@p battery/camera. My 17 Pro Max is awesome!
I have a Pro 17 Max, but checked out the Air at the local Apple Store when my wife upgraded her 14 Pro; I personally think the Air is quite cool. My wife chose the standard iPhone 17 over the Air or a Pro despite my assuming that she might like the Air.
I’ve come around to the notion that Apple released the Air as a trial balloon for the new industrial design, which should be fully fleshed out with the folding phone. As mentioned previously, Apple doesn’t care to market or advertise the Air. In the meantime the few who bought it (like me) can give it an extended beta test. So far it exceeded my expectations on the battery front and met the reduced expectations for the camera while exceeded build quality expectations. It may not be a sales success. As a functional design it is a success, can’t deny that. I do like my cult hits.
Apple still needs to get the hinge right for the foldable, that’s maybe nine figures of R&D right there. Until then I stand happy with my purchase.
Apple still needs to get the hinge right for the foldable, that’s maybe nine figures of R&D right there. Until then I stand happy with my purchase.