Just wondered after what seems to have happened with the S25 Edge whether we’ll get an iPhone Air 2. Also wonder if we do, if we’ll have to wait a couple of years for it. Hence why it doesn’t have a number, so it would be more like the old SE models with more irregular updates.
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iPhone Air Do you think they’ll be an iPhone Air 2?
- Thread starter super chimp
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Due to production most of the time we’ll see two generations of a device before it’s discontinued.
Yeah I don't think we've ever seen only one generation of a new model. Minimum I think is two. Especially considering Apple considers the Air a substantially new model and not just a slight variation like the Mini or Plus (hence not 17 Air), so Apple probably invested more R and D in the Air and wouldn't want to kill it off so quickly.
The only way MAYBE is if the Air was planned as just a one generation stepping stone to the folding iPhone. But that doesn't seem likely to me.
And usually the first generation of a truly new model won't get a number, whether it's updated yearly or not. Both the original iPhone and the iPhone SE didn't have a number. So I don't think we can predict update frequency right now based on that.
Edit-
There is one exception example of a one generation model that came to mind, but it wasn't an iPhone--it was the iMac Pro. And I believe that was just a stop gap due to Apple needing time to revamp the Mac Pro.
The only way MAYBE is if the Air was planned as just a one generation stepping stone to the folding iPhone. But that doesn't seem likely to me.
And usually the first generation of a truly new model won't get a number, whether it's updated yearly or not. Both the original iPhone and the iPhone SE didn't have a number. So I don't think we can predict update frequency right now based on that.
Edit-
There is one exception example of a one generation model that came to mind, but it wasn't an iPhone--it was the iMac Pro. And I believe that was just a stop gap due to Apple needing time to revamp the Mac Pro.
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Yes but only bc it's much more cost-prohibitive to cut bait after one gen
The phone is stupidly expensive and that's killed it.
If Apple treat it like what it should be -- the MBA of the phone lineup -- and (assuming they're able given price of components) drastically slash the price accordingly (as they did with the MBA) -- it will be a true SE replacement and eventually a real asset in the lineup and not gone in two cycles like the Mini. It's a $600-650 device being sold for $1k. Hilarious stuff they tried to get away with here.
The phone is stupidly expensive and that's killed it.
If Apple treat it like what it should be -- the MBA of the phone lineup -- and (assuming they're able given price of components) drastically slash the price accordingly (as they did with the MBA) -- it will be a true SE replacement and eventually a real asset in the lineup and not gone in two cycles like the Mini. It's a $600-650 device being sold for $1k. Hilarious stuff they tried to get away with here.
I’m sure there will be an Air 2. Perhaps it will be replaced by a foldable after that since it sounds like the foldable isn’t going to be ready for 2026.
Definitely expecting another Air. Don’t think Apple will stop its production. Think it will improve over time and even get another camera.
One of the YT reviewers of the phone, cannot remember which it was now, I’m sure claimed they spent $1 billion in R&D in developing it. But saying that we don’t know how much Samsung spent on the Edge in R&D, and they’ve seemingly killed that after one generation.
Personally I would hope we get an Air 2 as to me it’s something different and going in the right direction design wise.
Personally I would hope we get an Air 2 as to me it’s something different and going in the right direction design wise.
According to this site Apple has at least three generations planned so far. Obviously that could change either way. I am hoping the Air is a permanent fixture to the iphone lineup.
I am thinking that Apple will have at least two maybe three models of the Air. I also think that it is the future of what the normal iPhone and Pro models will be with the features of the Air blending over to the rest much like the X having its features blending into the others as time went on.
I am thinking that the thin design and the screen along with moving the internals up to the plateau as the logic boards get smaller
The thin design is only possible due to lower battery capacity, so I don't see that happening to the regular iPhone or Pro/Max models.
For the logic board, the Air's board is not in the plateau - only the A19 SoC is. The 17 Pro/Max already adopts that design where the logic board sits above the battery. The only reason the A19 SoC is not in the Pro/Max plateau is because there are two additional camera modules in the way.
I'm guessing the Air will be having at least one more update and that Apple is using it to test things. My guess is that the foldable will be two air's sandwiched together. Hopefully the smaller battery will push the software engineers to make iOS even more power efficient. Not sure how much new battery tech that's around the corner. Sure, we have solid state but that won't be ready next year to improve battery performance.
Maybe well see another camera added to the device next year?
Maybe well see another camera added to the device next year?
Magic 8 Ball says: "Outlook not good"
Apple can either address the shortcomings in a second version like stereo speakers and a second camera..... Although Samsung did this with the edge and that didn't help with sales....... Or they can just scrap it
I have a feeling they give it one more go with some upgrades, and if sales are still bad then they get rid of it
I have a feeling they give it one more go with some upgrades, and if sales are still bad then they get rid of it
I think having two cameras would destroy the look of it and the whole point.. it is a throwback of a bygone era in a no cost cut luxury product. I don’t think Apple cares how it sells or designed it to for profit. They designed it as a halo product I feel and to get people ready for the new folding phones. I think the folding phone will take its place and eventually they will do a smaller folding mini. That is just my opinion though. I think it is perfect the way it is and I knew when I bought it that is was not going to be super popular and that wasn’t the point.
Even the world’s first ultra premium $999 smartphone back in 2017 had two rear camera lenses.
The lack of a second lens has nothing to do with looks and all to do with engineering compromises.
I think it depends just how much this thing has bombed.
Then again we got 2 generations of mini, 2 generations of Plus, given the lead times and development needed for these devices it's probably already baked in there will be an Air 2.
Just one strange anomaly though. For some strange reason they never called it the 17 Air, just the Air. When they introduced the Pro, and the mini, they always took on the generation of iPhone, but with the Air no.
Then again we got 2 generations of mini, 2 generations of Plus, given the lead times and development needed for these devices it's probably already baked in there will be an Air 2.
Just one strange anomaly though. For some strange reason they never called it the 17 Air, just the Air. When they introduced the Pro, and the mini, they always took on the generation of iPhone, but with the Air no.
I think the problem is they've engineered themselves into a bit of a dead end. The whole idea behind the design is the internals sit in the camera 'plateau' and then it's just screen and battery in the rest of the device, but introduce a second camera and then the space you've got rapidly shrinks. So you'd need a larger plateau, but then it's getting to the point where this isn't a thin device any more. And of course a second speaker can't sit in the plateau.
Maybe it's just a bad idea.
Nothing wrong with miniaturising components but maybe they don't need to sit in a plateau.
Only the A19 SoC is in the plateau, not the logic board. The rest of the logic board is below the plateau (above the battery). The iPhone 17 base and Pro/Max already use this design.
Literally the only reason why A19 is in the plateau is because there is no second camera.