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
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iPhone Air Sales Are So Bad That Apple's Delaying the Next-Generation Version
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Bigger in physical size, with a lesser camera, lesser battery, and a higher price… I mean it looks like their marketing department is starting to fail seriously…
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
Apple’s leadership with Tim Cook, the software department, and marketing are absolute disasters. Best thing to do would be clear house and get some competent people in there that are hungry for success, haven’t become lazy and unmotivated because they got too comfortable
Welp people voted with there wallets, hopefully this becomes a growing trend. Tired of planned missing features to just add in the next model or two
We have iPhone 13 mini up to 16 Pro in my household and when I compare our family vacation photos on cloud sharing, I can’t tell which phone the shots were taken on so yeah I guess I’m that dumb
Yes, I love the idea of an Air Mini! I don't need 2 cameras or even 2 speakers, as most of my media consumption is either through Bluetooth or my TV speakers and I have a standalone 'bridge camera'. Would love to keep a 5.4" display of my 13 Mini, but I think anything below 6" would interest me.
Bring back the mini! Lots of people want a smaller not thinner device.
Exactly! The mini is the perfect size for a phone. Anything bigger is cumbersome to carry around
This! The mini had no downsides compared to the regular iPhone, except for a smaller battery. And it was cheaper. And it has MagSafe, which the iphone16e does not have (!).
The battery of the 13 mini holds up pretty well after I put in a new battery: it now cruises through a day easily again. Also many people approached me that they would have loved to buy a smaller phone, but it was either not in the store back then or they already bought a regular one. But would have loved the smaller phone. Somehow, it did not sell good enough for Apple to make a 14 mini.
And now, the iPhone air: less battery, fewer cameras, throttling, and more expensive. Because thinner. What market analyst at Apple thought this was a good idea? Anyone saw this coming, right?
I think Apple made it to act as a technical training ground for the upcoming foldable.
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