iPhone Air Sales Are So Bad That Apple's Delaying the Next-Generation Version

[MacRumors]

The thin, light iPhone Air sold so poorly that Apple has decided to delay the launch of the next-generation iPhone Air that was scheduled to come out alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, reports The Information.

Apple initially planned to release a new iPhone Air in fall 2026, but now that's not going to happen.

Since the iPhone Air launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts. Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production. Apple supplier Foxconn has reportedly dismantled all but one and a half of its production lines for the iPhone Air, and all production is expected to be stopped at the end of the month. Luxshare, another supplier, stopped production at the end of October.

Apple was counting on the novel look of the device to spark interest, because it features the first substantial design update that we've seen to the iPhone lineup since the iPhone X added Face ID and an all-display design in 2017. Creating a super thin 5.6mm iPhone required compromises, so the iPhone Air has a smaller battery and a single-lens rear camera, but it still has a high price tag. Apple priced it starting at $999, and that appears to be more than customers are willing to pay for style without substance. The iPhone Air is only $100 cheaper than the $1,099 iPhone 17 Pro, which has a triple-lens rear camera and much better battery life.

Apple has not been able to land on a fourth iPhone that will sell well alongside the standard iPhone and Pro iPhone models. Apple experimented with a smaller 5.4-inch iPhone mini that suffered from disappointing sales, then moved on to the larger "Plus" iPhone that served as a more affordable version of the Pro Max. Plus models also failed, leading to the iPhone Air.

Apple has already been planning for a split launch for the iPhone starting with the iPhone 18 models. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone are planned for fall 2026, while the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will be held until early 2027. It's possible that the next-generation iPhone Air will come out alongside the iPhone 18 in the spring.

Apple has been working on a second-generation version of the iPhone Air with a lighter weight, vapor chamber cooling, and a larger battery capacity, but Apple could rethink the design.

Article Link: iPhone Air Sales Are So Bad That Apple's Delaying the Next-Generation Version

 

[AAPLbuyback]

Oh no, what will Apple do?

Give me a break. In other words, they are going to have higher average selling prices because so many more Pros will be sold.

Who cares.

 

[MacUserFella]

They should just cancel it instead, I doubt the sales of the Air 2 will be any better

 

[Franjelisco]

Lol grabs popcorn

 

[randomgeeza]

Colour me surprised.

 

[smulji]

They should just cancel it instead, I doubt the sales of the Air 2 will be any better

This is according to 9to5mac's report:

"The second-generation iPhone Air was initially set to launch next fall alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold. According to The Information, the device was planned to be even lighter than the current iPhone Air and have a larger battery capacity.

Apple was also working on bringing the vapor chamber cooling system that first debuted on the iPhone 17 Pro to the iPhone Air 2. A separate supply chain rumor last week said the iPhone Air 2 may have also had two cameras."

"It’s possible the product is undergoing a significant redesign, and one person said Apple could still release the second-generation iPhone Air as soon as spring 2027 alongside the standard iPhone 18 and budget-friendly 18e"

Apple just delayed the iPhone Air 2 indefinitely, report says - 9to5Mac

Apple has pulled the iPhone Air 2 from its launch schedule, with no new release date set and production reportedly winding down

9to5mac.com

If true, and Apple was going to fix all the shortcomings of the first iPhone Air, they should go ahead and release it.

 

[dba415]

Another Apple flop, after the Vision Pro...

Too many swings and misses from a once great company

 

[Darth Tulhu]

They need to rethink doing another one.

I thought it would sell well too, but people are prioritizing value over luxury these days (understandably).

I'm actually glad Apple just added it to the lineup instead of making this the only iPhone 17.

 

[knownikko]

You mean rational people are unwilling to compromise features and battery life to have the "thinnest iPhone ever (except where it isn't)"?

Outrageous.

 

[SpitUK]

Easily predicted, why the heck when we use our phones so much do we want a cut down version, makes no sense.

They should release an iPhone Mega Ultra which has a 7" screen, big battery, 4 cameras, 240Hz screen etc. That would sell like like crazy.

 

[GDF]

That is too bad. I own one and amazed every-time I pick it up how much better it compares to my old 16 Pro or the 17 Pro I tried. When I had both the Air and the 17 Pro, I reached for the Air every-time, as it felt so much better and the screen seemed so much better being larger. Definitely more upsides to it than downsides for me.

Battery life is just as good as my 16 Pro was and I never use speaker, as have Airpods, so could care less about that.

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

The price is the problem. Its a nice phone in a bubble, but the price is too much considering how much of a downgrade it is from the Pro that is $100 more.

 

[Jeremy3292]

Bc it's not groundbreaking at all. It is a stripped down version shoved in a tiny casing.

Vindication for those of us who said this from day one.

 

[canadianreader]

Elegant 1 speaker phone

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

They need to rethink doing another one.

I thought it would sell well too, but people are prioritizing value over luxury these days (understandably).

You can’t price it only $100 cheaper than the pro with less than half the features. Bullet meet foot.

 

[macduke]

I mean, we're basically in a recession if you remove AI spending. Those who have money are going to go with the iPhone Pro for $100 more. It's way more capable with a bigger battery and advanced camera system. Everyone else is going to go with a cheaper model. The base iPhone this year is actually quite capable for the price, and the SE is a solid device now. Perhaps in a stronger economy this device would do better, but for now people want the best bang for their buck, and the iPhone Air isn't it. It has some cool tech, but most people don't care.

What they really need to bring back is the iPhone mini. My wife has been waiting a long time to upgrade her iPhone 13 mini. I know it wasn't the most popular, but there would probably be a surge in demand since many people have been waiting. My aunt is also waiting for a new one, and she's on the 12 mini. And even so, it would probably be more popular than the Air. They don't need to bring out a new mini every year, but every 2-3 years would be nice for those who love it! And for those who are tiny or otherwise refuse to use a big phone.

 

[Unbiasedhippo]

Why does this read like a half plagiarized / Half AI post based on the actually article? MacRumors likes these polarizing topics lol

 

[The Rebel Alliance]

Loved my 12 mini. Love my Air. Guess I’m just a fourth iPhone kind of guy.

 

[ninetyCent]

No one asked for a thinner phone with ******** battery life. Feels like this is just a stepping stone to the fold anyway so it doesn't matter much to them.

 

[SAIRUS]

This is a bean counter release of a device. The stepping stone that was too expensive but didn't have enough base features.

Its battery wasn't even strong enough to have you enjoy the device....but it allowed the binned chips to be put to use...at the cost of their image.

 

[macman01101]

But Tim Cook said, "the iPhone air is so thin, it practically flies out of your hands!"

 

[ooh456]

They should have the courage to make it thinner and remove the remaining cameras, ports, and screen.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Gotta give credit where credit is due - this is great engagement bait!

You can’t price it only $100 cheaper than the pro with less than half the features. Bullet meet foot.

Half the features? It's missing 2 cameras and a speaker. Does the pro only have 6 total features? Be real.

Sh##, I bought the engagement bait.

 

[ChrisMac47]

A new 5.4 inch mini coming in at <100g and 2 day battery life would sell like hotcakes. But that's too much innovation for lazy Apple.

 

[BruiserB]

Loved my 12 mini. Love my Air. Guess I’m just a fourth iPhone kind of guy.

If only Apple would launch the Air mini! I'd probably get one myself. Still rocking my 13 mini.