iPhone Air to Get Minor Refresh This Year, Claims Leaker

[MacRumors]

Apple will launch a second-generation iPhone Air this year, despite reports that it has been delayed until 2027, according to the Weibo leaker known as Fixed Focus Digital.

Doubling down on a similar claim they made late last year, the leaker says feedback coming from the production line still suggests that the iPhone Air 2 will launch in the fall – presumably alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models and a rumored foldable iPhone.

The second-generation device will have "very minor changes," making it "basically a routine upgrade," the leaker said in comments machine-translated from Chinese.

The rumor comes in contrast to a November report from The Information that said Apple had decided to delay the launch of the next-generation ‌iPhone Air‌ until 2027 as a result of poor sales. A second report from the same outlet claimed Apple will use the delay to work on a redesign of the device that could include a second rear camera, as well as a lighter weight, vapor chamber cooling, and a larger battery capacity.

Notably, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman responded to these reports shortly after they were published, claiming his sources indicated that the iPhone Air 2 was not in fact delayed, because it had never been earmarked for 2026 in the first place. "The fact that Apple named the device the iPhone Air (rather than the iPhone 17 Air) signaled that it didn't want to tie the product to an annual release schedule," said Gurman at the time.

Gurman believes a refreshed Air could potentially roll out in spring 2027 alongside the standard iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e, as part of Apple's new split-launch strategy. In addition, Gurman's sources said the main focus of the second Air will be a move to a 2-nanometer chip that will improve the device's battery life, rather than introducing major structural changes.

It is still possible that a new ‌iPhone Air‌ could launch this coming fall, but the previous reports cast doubt on the Chinese leaker's claim. Fixed Focus Digital previously broke the news ahead of launch about the iPhone 16e name.

Article Link: iPhone Air to Get Minor Refresh This Year, Claims Leaker

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

If they don’t lower the price. It will sell even worse than last year.

 

[zahuh]

I absolutely love my iPhone Air! It's like a convertible fun car. Impractical in every single way except so nice to hold and use.

 

[cihag]

I believe, without a second camera (ultra wide), sales won’t improve very much.

All other compromises of the air can be mitigated, but you can’t work around the fact that you cannot photograph certain views if you don’t have enough room to take a step back.

 

[lyngo]

The minor update should be a significant price drop. I tried to use one of those and it was just an awful experience. I am glad that I switched back to the Pro Max. To those that are liking their experience with the Air, I am glad that you are enjoying the product!

 

[SilmarilFinder]

I absolutely love my iPhone Air! It's like a convertible fun car. Impractical in every single way except so nice to hold and use.

I have a convertible as a daily in the UK as a dad (which my wife hates) but even I can't justify buying the Air

 

[tomtad]

As I thought. Want a iPhone with the latest chip, this will be the only option out side of the Pro in September (not mentioning the Fold). There will be no regular iPhone 18 this year and of course that Air costs more.

 

[klasma]

I absolutely love my iPhone Air! It's like a convertible fun car. Impractical in every single way except so nice to hold and use.

But it isn’t actually convertible?

 

[Rokach]

The iPhone Air is an excellent device. The 6.5-inch screen is great, and it’s impressively thin, light and durable.


However, the camera, speakers, and battery life are weak points. Apple could easily solve all of these by making the phone just 1 mm thicker and it would still feel slim

 

[CATiNTHESTORE]

I guess marketing BS: You have two cameras in one’s doesn’t work at all …

 

[Porco]

Just a breath of fresh Air then?

 

[klasma]

If they don’t lower the price. It will sell even worse than last year.

Maybe they’re hoping that the lack of the regular iPhone 18 will increase sales of the Air? It’s still weird if they don’t make any substantial change. Perhaps there’s some supply chain obligations they want to cover by that.

 

[cihag]

The iPhone Air is an excellent device. The 6.5-inch screen is great, and it’s impressively thin, light and durable.


However, the camera, speakers, and battery life are weak points. Apple could easily solve all of these by making the phone just 1 mm thicker and it would still feel slim

Still, speaker and camera are “only worse”, but they are there and you can do anything in this regard that the pros can do, although the experience may be better with a pro.

But the missing ultra-wide is my main gripe, because it puts you in situations where you just cannot do the things a pro can do. Sometimes you cannot take a photo of a room e.g., or a building, or a group, because you don’t have the ultra-wide.

So let’s keep going that the Air 2 will at least get the ultra wide…

 

[youteonduty]

for apple air, apple probably does not mind any type of leaks, at this point any marketing will do

 

[one more]

The iPhone Air is an excellent device. The 6.5-inch screen is great, and it’s impressively thin, light and durable.

However, the camera, speakers, and battery life are weak points. Apple could easily solve all of these by making the phone just 1 mm thicker and it would still feel slim

True, but then the Pro sales would nose-dive.

As it is now, Air offers the worst possible features/value ratio of all iPhones currently sold.

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

Having now used Air for three weeks, I find it wonderful. For a casual user like me, the battery is great, and there's nothing to complain about the loudspeaker. The light weight and thinness makes it great to use even with one hand. But yes, it does need the ultrawide lens. And I get that the price point is high for many (I bought mine slightly used).

 

[boswald]

One camera? One speaker? In 2026? Come on now, Apple. Do better.

 

[ececlv]

True, but then the Pro sales would nose-dive.

As it is now, Air offers the worst possible features/value ratio of all iPhones currently sold.

I think 16e has the honor

 

[throAU]

the iphone air would have been great if it was about $200 cheaper, or alternatively managed to sneak another camera in there. i would almost even say “even if it had to be made with aluminium or steel” but those material choices would probably make it impossible to make with any reasonable durability (aluminium) or weight (steel) - so i get why its titanium instead.

maybe apple need to look into carbon for this sort of device? then again that probably won’t cool well. tough break.

as is, it straddles an awkward middle ground between not having the feature set and battery life, or affordable (for the masses) cost.

fact is, most people who spend that sort of money on an iphone want a high end camera, and the niche for those who want an ultra small/light phone minus features for a premium price is small.

I’m not saying those people are wrong - if you want that, more power to you, but the reality is you’re a very small niche and the sales numbers reflect that.

 

[Admiral Fart]

If the iPhone Air 2 releases with just a spec bump, this is a sure sign that it’s dead. Either they couldn’t add a second camera or make the other improvements for technical reasons, or they decided it wasn’t worth it since no one would buy it anyway.

 

[one more]

I think 16e has the honor

Ok, it might be a draw, if you consider its price, much better battery life and stereo speakers.

 

[Palliser]

They need to drop the price significantly or they should phase it out.

 

[throAU]

I absolutely love my iPhone Air! It's like a convertible fun car. Impractical in every single way except so nice to hold and use.

This is the exact reflection of what i said above. Convertibles don’t sell well either. Doesn’t mean the people who buy them are wrong, and i’m sure they enjoy them. Just a very small niche, that’s all.

Most people simply have other priorities (either price or features).

 

[one more]

If the iPhone Air 2 releases with just a spec bump, this is a sure sign that it’s dead. Either they couldn’t add a second camera or make the other improvements for technical reasons, or they decided it wasn’t worth it since no one would buy it anyway.

Yes, I don’t buy this rumour either. With growing RAM and SOC shortages it would make no sense for Apple to waste these components on a model that barely sells.

 

[canadianreader]

The second-generation device will have "very minor changes," making it "basically a routine upgrade," the leaker said in comments machine-translated from Chinese.

My guess is a second speaker