Report: 'Virtually No Demand' for iPhone Air

[chmania]

Designers and product engineers are not responsible for product sales performance, marketing and how it's promoted vs intended.

Certainly, it is the end buyers who are actually responsible for "product sales performance"; if they don't purchase that product, it fails.

Apple doesn't engage with users; they believe they know it all and know exactly what the users want. That's the problem with Apple. Users are much more educated than they were a decade ago.

 

[maflynn]

Designers and product engineers are not responsible for product sales performance, marketing and how it's promoted vs intended.

So you're saying if apple had better commericals, then this phone wouldn't be a flop?

I'm no expert, but I definitely think design choices can and do have a major impact on a product's success or failure, not how good a commercial is.

 

[Anaxarxes]

So you're saying if apple had better commericals, then this phone wouldn't be a flop?

I'm no expert, but I definitely think design choices can and do have a major impact on a product's success or failure, not how good a commercial is.

I used the word promotion intentionally — advertising is just one part of promoting a product or service.

Right now, the iPhone Air isn’t being promoted nearly as much as the Pro or the standard 17.

I actually bought a 17 recently for a friend and specifically asked the Apple Store employee if it was the right choice for him. The response was super straightforward: “How much do you use your phone, and does screen size matter to you?” Based on his answers, they said he could go for the Pro if he wanted better photos or stick with the standard model.

When I asked about the Air, the reply was just, “Yeah, that’s also a great phone — super thin and nice looking.”

That’s kind of the problem — there’s no clear positioning or educated preference for the Air. As a completely new product, it could really fit some users’ needs perfectly. But because Apple hasn’t clearly communicated who it’s for on a POS level, it feels like it exists outside the mainstream awareness bubble. Only enthusiasts seem to understand where the Air actually fits in the lineup.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's beyond an advertising problem.

You can't "market your way to sales" on a product the market itself is largely rejecting.

It's just not a product that fits with how it's positioned (what it offers for how much they're asking, etc).

 

[chmania]

You can't "market your way to sales" on a product the market itself is largely rejecting.

The market is actually made up of living people, and Apple has somewhat forgotten that.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The market is actually made up of living people, and Apple has somewhat forgotten that.

They are also high on their own supply (still .. always have been) and seem to think they can release "anything" and it will work.

It's actually been kind of refreshing to see all the failures of late. I'm hopeful that eventually it might finally cause a course correction.

 

[UliBaer]

They are also high on their own supply (still .. always have been) and seem to think they can release "anything" and it will work.

 

[turbineseaplane]

View attachment 2571686

"You can only buy fruit for your blender from the Apple store"

 

[snipr125]

If the base 17 was released with a 60hz display, then it would have been interesting to see if the Air would have sold better.

 

[Zwhaler]

Compromises:
1. Single speaker
2. Single camera
3. Extremely poor battery life (due to thinness)
4. Inferior C1X 5G modem compared to SD X80 in Pro series
5. Too thin to hold.
6. Busted Wifi 7 that is incapable of 320 Mhz channel width on 6Ghz.
7. No mmWave which is in Pro models.
8. No display output via USB-C to an external monitor or TV.
9. Still USB 2.0 speeds for a premium device in 2025.
10. Slower binned SOC (again due to thinness and heat concerns)

Did I miss anything?

You’re so right, I bought my air a month ago and literally haven’t been able to use it once because it is too thin to hold.

 

[turbineseaplane]

If the base 17 was released with a 60hz display, then it would have been interesting to see if the Air would have sold better.

Put another way …if they gimped the regular 17 with a super old screen technology, maybe the air would’ve sold better.

Glad they didn’t do that

 

[xraydoc]

Here's a VERY interesting battery test for those who think the iPhone Air battery will die after barely any usage:

 

[dan428]

You’re so right, I bought my air a month ago and literally haven’t been able to use it once because it is too thin to hold.

Can’t tell if this is sarcasm lol

I found that adding a MagSafe grip to the air massively improves usability though (especially if you go caseless)

 

[dan428]

Here's a VERY interesting battery test for those who think the iPhone Air battery will die after barely any usage:

Yeah that was interesting showing that it beats out all the previous pro models from 11-16 (and the current base model), that’s also my experience coming from the 15 pro.. my Air definitely has longer battery life than that had.

This is basically the point I was making before, most people just assume the battery is crap and don’t bother to research it. That has a huge impact on sales just from misinformation.

 

[nepalisherpa]

What I find ironic is that, many critics of Air on this forum are willing to take few Youtubers words but disagree with the owners who actually purchased one with their own money. Majority of the Youtubers are sponsored and they couldn't care less how they spin the videos. As long as it earns them clicks, that's all that matters.

No matter what topic is started about the Air, the discussion begins to take the same form: price is not right, battery is weak, it's only few mm thinner, etc. It just gets old. This "all-day" battery comment is funny because, first of all, battery life is dependent on how one uses it. Second, chargers are practically everywhere (home, car, office, etc.) and a quick 20-30 minute top off guarantees few additional hours of operation. So, even if the battery really was crappy (which it is not), one can still get by. People are so caught up in "all-day" battery. My battery charging habit with the Air is the same as it has been with my past phones.

 

[turbineseaplane]

What I find ironic is that, many critics of Air on this forum are willing to take few Youtubers words but disagree with the owners who actually purchased one with their own money.

Does it matter?

Why don’t people just enjoy whatever device they enjoy and not worry what people on a forum think?

 

[nepalisherpa]

Does it matter?

Why don’t people just enjoy whatever device they enjoy and not worry what people on a forum think?

It does not matter, but, you cannot browse a single thread about Air without seeing such comments. It's not even topics related to Air. Just go to any recent threads that's "general" info and you will see someone bringing up Air. This is where "ignore" list has come in handy.

 

[chmania]

It does not matter, but, you cannot browse a single thread about Air without seeing such comments.

Does it hurt you just because you are one of those who bought that Air? Why not simply be happy that you are the owner?

 

[nepalisherpa]

Does it hurt you just because you are one of those who bought that Air? Why not simply be happy that you are the owner?

LOL....I couldn't care less what others think, but, it gets irritating to browse when you just want to browse. Think about you trying to watch TV and someone just commenting on everything they see on TV. Does that hurt you or irritate you?

 

[Zwhaler]

Can’t tell if this is sarcasm lol

I found that adding a MagSafe grip to the air massively improves usability though (especially if you go caseless)

It was.

 

[dan428]

What I find ironic is that, many critics of Air on this forum are willing to take few Youtubers words but disagree with the owners who actually purchased one with their own money. Majority of the Youtubers are sponsored and they couldn't care less how they spin the videos. As long as it earns them clicks, that's all that matters.

No matter what topic is started about the Air, the discussion begins to take the same form: price is not right, battery is weak, it's only few mm thinner, etc. It just gets old. This "all-day" battery comment is funny because, first of all, battery life is dependent on how one uses it. Second, chargers are practically everywhere (home, car, office, etc.) and a quick 20-30 minute top off guarantees few additional hours of operation. So, even if the battery really was crappy (which it is not), one can still get by. People are so caught up in "all-day" battery. My battery charging habit with the Air is the same as it has been with my past phones.

Are people really saying the price isn’t right for it? I would’ve gotten it still if it were same price as the pro, but it’s $100 less which was like an extra bonus. The only iPhone with titanium sides, proven to be significantly more durable than the pros (and most other phones), bigger screen yet without the Max cost and heft.. the downsides are pretty minor compared to the upsides unless you only care about the camera or gaming (although actually I found that it’s the perfect model to mount on an Xbox controller)

Not directing this at you btw just the notion that it’s overpriced.

 

[psalex]

Apple is "drastically" cutting production of the iPhone Air and shifting focus toward the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models, Nikkei Asia reports.

The business publication claims to have learned of a major cut to iPhone Air production motivated by weaker-than-expected consumer interest, nearly to "end of production levels." Despite early reports of the iPhone Air selling out within hours of launch in China, the overall reception has apparently been lukewarm in the region.

Combined with weak demand in other markets, sales projections have dropped significantly. Although Nikkei declined to disclose the full extent of the production cut or which suppliers will be affected, it says that the changes may be seen in Apple's supply chain in the coming months.

A new KeyBanc Capital Markets survey for investors reveals "virtually no demand for iPhone Air, and limited willingness to pay for a foldable." Demand for other iPhone 17 models is said to be healthy but measured, with the mix "continuing to shift toward Pro and Pro Max models." Moreover, AI features have yet to meaningfully influence buying decisions.

Last week, Japan's Mizuho Securities said that Apple will reduce iPhone Air production by one million units this year. Meanwhile, Apple apparently plans to increase production of iPhone 17 models by two million units. A separate report claimed that Samsung has canceled plans to release a successor to its own iPhone Air rival, the Galaxy S25 Edge, due to low sales.

Article Link: Report: 'Virtually No Demand' for iPhone Air

It's too BIG!!! They should have made it the size of the mini, then it would have been amazing and easy to carry around.