Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Report: 'Virtually No Demand' for iPhone Air
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I think a few things happened here:
- Many people were excited about the Air, bought it, tried it out, and returned it because they didn't feel like the compromises were worth it.
- Apple finally gave Pro and Pro Max users what we have been requesting for years, mainly a larger longer lasting battery, better sustained performance, and outstanding cameras.
- The base iPhone 17 is a great phone rather than just the cheapest phone.
There are people who love the Air and thats great for the community as a whole, and for Apple. However it was never going to be a best seller due to the above. Apple is seeing what works, what people like and value, and will bring that into next years offerings.
- Many people were excited about the Air, bought it, tried it out, and returned it because they didn't feel like the compromises were worth it.
- Apple finally gave Pro and Pro Max users what we have been requesting for years, mainly a larger longer lasting battery, better sustained performance, and outstanding cameras.
- The base iPhone 17 is a great phone rather than just the cheapest phone.
There are people who love the Air and thats great for the community as a whole, and for Apple. However it was never going to be a best seller due to the above. Apple is seeing what works, what people like and value, and will bring that into next years offerings.
So, demand was bad for iPhone Plus too. Apple should either trim the lineup to 3 phones only (iPhone, iPhone pro, iPhone pro max) or even better, give us an iPhone Mini with a bit better battery life.
But if it's taking sales from the Pro what's the point? Apple's probably making more on the Pro as well.
My reference points are the mini and the OGSE. Yeah the Pro isn’t better, never owned one for that reason. But take the regular iPhone 12 for comparison, it’s smaller and lighter, only slightly thicker, but with a shallower camera bump.
Funny how people are *now* saying this, yet when Air didn't sell out in all colors and options in the initial launch, that means it's "not selling well," and "no one wants it."
You need to really get over the fact that this product exists and that people want it
In a five-phone lineup, one phone is likely to lag in sales compared to the others. I’d rather Apple use this fourth “premium” slot to try something new and innovative in terms of design or form factor like the Air than do a warmed over retread like the Plus. It’s also why they should bring back a version of the Apple Watch Edition, but instead of pricing it astronomically and plating it in 14 karat gold, perhaps make it round or play around with the form factor a bit. You still have your traditional lineup, but sometimes you need to try clever one-offs to keep people interested and engaged even if they don’t sell in high margins.
I don't think people hate it. It's a very elegant phone. Mono speaker and usb 2.0 are big turn offs at least for that price.
I am so with you on the ultra-wide. It’s of little to no use to me 99% of the time. On the standard models (iPhone 17) should be a dual camera setup with standard + telephoto lenses.
Do you actually have any evidence of this? Because there are no reports of return rates being higher for Air at Apple stores, and we would definitely hear about that given we have heard about return rates for other product launches
I think you're wishing for something
I agree.
In many ways I need the lighter Air. But it just doesn't make sense to not have the better telephoto camera and better battery. It's both my daily and my workhorse.
So, what will happen if I instead get around to getting a separate camera like I've thought about for years now? Will I still feel like I need that telephoto camera and extra heavy phone in my pocket all the time? I don't think so, and then the Air will start to look like a great option.
I can definitely see people go for the Air more throughout the year, because they'll be able to hold it in their hands, rather than us tech chasers that often preorder or order online based on specs.
I would *love* a thinner phone but I bought the Pro as a compromise between buying a little digital SLR camera as well, so I wouldn't want to give up my cameras…
Release a thin iPhone that most people thicken up with a case and now a battery pack due to the reduced capacity. Sure, why do you think sales are low?
Why not devote some of that resource to creating good software—i.e., OS 26 that doesn't drain the battery?
Why not devote some of that resource to creating good software—i.e., OS 26 that doesn't drain the battery?
My iPhone is my camera. I take lots of close up photos. The Air is useless to me.
I love the look of it, I like what Apple was going for, but I’d rather have a base 17 or a 17 Pro for the second camera and fewer compromises.
Hell, the base 17 is superior to the Air in many other ways, too.
Those who love the Air, more power to you! I hope you get many years of enjoyment.
I love the look of it, I like what Apple was going for, but I’d rather have a base 17 or a 17 Pro for the second camera and fewer compromises.
Hell, the base 17 is superior to the Air in many other ways, too.
Those who love the Air, more power to you! I hope you get many years of enjoyment.
Agreed. The iPhone 17 weighs 177g, the 17 Air 165g ... just 12g lighter and no smaller in two of the three dimensions. Just to compare, the SE3 weighed 144g, and if Apple just spent a few minutes actually innovating it could make a (better) SE4 at 125g or less.
Or why not go back to Apple's roots, be ambitious, and make it less than 100g!
No fun in Apple any more, no ambition.
Of course, all products are a tradeoff. But the tradeoff includes the price. If I get significantly less for about the same amount of money it seems the weight difference is not a big enough selling point. The street prices for the Air are already WAY down. 1050€ vs 1199€ at the start, no other model of the 17 line-up faces the same "issue".
And the sellout theory is nice, but we simply don't know in total numbers how many were sold. The success KPI will be the sales performance over ~9 Months maybe with a price adjustment it will be great?
I have no evidence of it, I said I think this is what happened. I gathered my opinion by reading the forums here and other articles around the internet. Why would I be wishing for something? If the Air is successful thats great.
Also: with a case on its the same size as an iPhone 17 pro anyway but with all the compromises
Phones really don't need full Wi-Fi 7 at 320Mhz nor do tablets thats just pointless, the speeds you get are way more than you need at 160Mhz. Well that's my view. Also WiFi 7 is still not hitting the market hard because nobody wants to pay £700 for a router these days.
So the iPhone model that websites keep hyping year after year (plus, mini, air) sees virtually no demand?
Maybe the market goes in a different direction that websites desires?
Maybe the market goes in a different direction that websites desires?
Limited willingness to pay for a foldable? Says who? Who did they poll? Because Samsung are enjoying a heck of lot of sales for their current foldable.
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
There isn’t overheating issuesz
ypu
Maybe Apple should advertise the Air more.
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
Do you own an air? My battery is great all day. My WiFi and 5G data speeds is faster then my 16 Pro. I don’t even get mmWave in my city. Overheating? What the hell are you talking about? Too thin to hold? Most people have Aiprods when they are watching something worth watching. A single speaker works perfectly fine for a random YouTube video. You are throwing pasta on the wall to see what sticks.