When to Expect the iPhone Air 2 and 20th Anniversary iPhone With Camera Under Screen

[subjonas]

First of all, the Air is indeed lighter than your 13 (165 vs. 174 gr.) while - more importantly - having a much bigger display. And secondly, have you held an Air yet? It feels a lot lighter still than the numbers would suggest because the weight is distributed over a larger area. It is a very pronounced psychological effect, same as with the latest, super-thin iPads Pro.

I picked up my friend's iPhone Mini the other day expecting it to feel lighter than my Air (bc I believe it is), but it felt heavier, I assume because it was denser weight. So weird.

 

[sk1ski1]

Might noticeable but is it practically notable?

When reading an article at a comfortable text size how many extra lines of text can you see?

Does the extra size notably reduce the all the scrolling while shopping?

-R

Big difference to me in watching videos and viewing pictures. Text is also bigger and have more lines on the screen for websites. In all ways, a much more immersive screen.

 

[darngooddesign]

Might noticeable but is it practically notable?

When reading an article at a comfortable text size how many extra lines of text can you see?

Does the extra size notably reduce the all the scrolling while shopping?

-R

It's probably best if you just wait until you see and hold one in person before claiming the screen isnt noticeably larger or the phone isn't noticeably lighter. You might still feel the difference isn't great enough, which is perfectly valid, but at least it will be based on experience instead of speculation.

 

[0lf]

Might noticeable but is it practically notable?

When reading an article at a comfortable text size how many extra lines of text can you see?

Does the extra size notably reduce the all the scrolling while shopping?

-R

 

[chelsel]

under screen camera!? How cringe... anything you put in front of the lens degrades the image quality.

 

[0lf]

Have you already seen people listening to their phone putting the bottom of the device to their ear ? Well, Apple decided this insanity had to stop.


For the camera problem, I suggest Apple to simply include a camera sticker in the iPhone air box.

 

[wood1208]

Apple should go at least one more release of iPhone Air, may call it iPhone Air 2 with 2 cameras(ultra wide and telephoto) on back like that picture in the article. Lot more people will buy iPhone Air 2.

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

I really like the Air, but I’m on 6.1 iPhone 15 pro, the Air at 6.5 is a stretch but I have no trust they won’t make the Air 2 even bigger. it’s crazy cycle of phone tablets.

 

[cdsapplefan]

I thought Apple only came out with the iPhone SE Budget model once every 3 years? Now Gurman is saying we will have a 17e and 18e.

 

[cdsapplefan]

Apple should go at least one more release of iPhone Air, may call it iPhone Air 2 with 2 cameras(ultra wide and telephoto) on back like that picture in the article. Lot more people will buy iPhone Air 2.

They really just need to add more battery capacity on the iPhone Air 2 as the current model depletes battery too fast. Maybe the can add a silicone carbon battery for the iPhone Air 2. 🔋

 

[Zaft]

Nope, I have always had the smaller iPhones every year and this is my first year to step up in screen size with an iPhone Air. Very noticeable huge difference to me in screen size. Many others have said the same.

Btw, ask any AI chatbot on the best way to compare screen sizes. They will say total screen area, not screen diagonal.

When comparing screen size, diagonal is easier, but total screen area (square inches) is the more accurate way to understand how big a screen actually feels

I didn't miscalculate, you are citing a completely different measure. I cited the linear diagonal screen size that is used as the descriptive size. Area is a completely different measure and can be misleading.

For practical purposes what is the improvement in viewable height or width of content? For width it's less than 8%, for height it's 8%, neither is a notable difference, and shows that the diagonal size difference of less than 7% is a good proxy, certainly better than area.



Oh, I already intended to, and you should take up my suggestion to try holding one for five minutes while watching a video the next time you are at an Apple store.

-R

Here is a picture I just took of my work iPhone 14 6.1 and my Air.

It’s a big increase.

 

[cdsapplefan]

The Air is lighter. The Air is also much bigger in screen size, making the weight reduction, small as it is, even more impressive. The Air was supposed to be a balance between thinness and lightness, while giving buyers a bigger screen. It succeeded in those areas.



Its drawbacks, in lack of an additional camera and battery life, are the hang ups. I was not one to believe that we would see a new updated Air every iPhone upgrade cycle. But assuming that Apple can address the camera and battery issues I think the next Air would sell a lot more units.

Yeah I really like the look and feel of the iPhone Air. It’s extremely lightweight and futuristic looking. Putting a case on it makes it not a Air anymore and bulky and heavy as a pro, so I would just put a Dbrand skin on it or go caseless and just have Apple Care. Yeah hopefully Apple uses a Silicone Carbon battery 🔋 in the iPhone Air 2 to get a decent battery that could last all day without needing a $100 battery pack or to charge up mid-day.

 

[escargot3]

The iPhone Air is not light, it weighs just as much as my current iPhone 13 (which I have named 'Chunky' due to its weight).

The iPhone air is lighter than the iPhone 13, despite having a much bigger screen, and about 50% more battery life.

 

[loyalraccoon]

Mark Gurman is a hack but keep linking to his subscription newsletter for which I’m sure you’re getting a cut.

 

[zenmacx]

"The 20th-anniversary iPhone will likely follow, with Gurman expecting the device to feature a curved glass screen"

Apparently Apple ignored the plethora of complaints about curved screens on various brands of Android phones over the years.

Having owned several flagship Samsung Galaxy models with curved screens I'm not about to buy an iPhone with curved glass.

Change for the sake of change seems to be the Apple way recently. No thank you.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I still think Apple could seriously look at dropping the iPhone Air altogether in favor of a massively redesigned iPhone 18 series model coming in March 2027. The new iPhone 18 may well be in this configuration:

1. The back looks like iPhone 17 Pro but with only two camera sensors.
2. Larger camera plateau will mean most of the electronics will be inside the camera plateau.
3. Will use stainless steel chassis but will be a bit physically thinner than iPhone 16/16 Plus models from 2024.
4. Wraparound antenna will be stainless steel.
5. Will come in 6.1" and 6.6" screen sizes with just about no bezels and LTPO VVR support, so the 6.1" model will be about the size of the 2017 iPhone X and the 6.6" model feels like a thicker iPhone Air.
6. Full MagSafe support including Qi2.2 support for 25 watt wireless charging.
7. Apple A20 SoC with 12 GB of RAM.
8. 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB internal storage capacity.
9. New silicon-carbon battery with 3,900 mAh on the 6.1" model and 4,500 mAh on the 6.6" model.
10. C2 radio modem, including mmWave support for US models.
11. N1 (or its successor) I/O chip.
12. Return of better-quality speakers.
13. USB Type C port with up to 40 watts initial charging speed and possible USB 3.2 1x1 5 gigabit/second data transfer speed.

Think of it looking like a cross between an iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 14 but a bit thinner because of the use of the silicon-carbon internal battery. The 6.1" model will be lighter than the iPhone 16 and the 6.6" model will be about same weight as the current iPhone 17.

 

[Gengar]

I just got my iPhone Air a couple of days ago (I have the 17 Pro Max as well). I love it. Stellar build quality. Battery life has been decent since everything has been setup and properly downloaded. 5G speeds are excellent on T-Mobile’s network. If they made a thinner Pro based on this form factor pioneered by the Air, it would do numbers. And I have to say 6.5” is also the sweet spot for screen size.

 

[Rettun1]

Why would the 20th-anniversary model come out in 2027 when the anniversary year is partially to almost completely over? Gonna be released in fall of 2026.

iPhone came out in 2007, so a new one coming out in 2027 would be 20 years later, or the 20th anniversary.

Even though it would technically be ‘iPhone 19’, but the name convention is falling apart soon probably

 

[mansplains]

No, my math is not wrong, you are citing a completely different measure. I cited the linear diagonal screen size that is used as the descriptive size. Area is a completely different measure and can be misleading.

For practical purposes what is the improvement in viewable height or width of content? For width it's less than 8%, for height it's 8%, neither is a notable difference, and shows that the diagonal size difference of less than 7% is a good proxy, certainly better than area.

Viewable height of content is what truly matters for most and that is merely an 8% improvement over the 13, not meaningful.

-R

Nope, I have always had the smaller iPhones every year and this is my first year to step up in screen size with an iPhone Air. Very noticeable huge difference to me in screen size. Many others have said the same.

Btw, ask any AI chatbot on the best way to compare screen sizes. They will say total screen area, not screen diagonal.

When comparing screen size, diagonal is easier, but total screen area (square inches) is the more accurate way to understand how big a screen actually feels

Area certainly makes more sense.

A diagonal difference of an inch and a half doesn’t sound like much, but the different aspect ratio of the iPad mini significantly increases display area.

 

[svish]

Don't know when we will see the next Air. Possible that it can launch in September 2027. 2027 first half might have only normal 18 and 18e. As for the 20th anniversary, definitely I am expecting Apple to unveil it in September 2027. Will not be surprised if the price jumps to $1499.

 

[spamabyss]

But with only one rubbish speaker instead of two the iPhone Air actually sounds half as crap as every other phone!

Have you heard the speakers of a 17 Pro Max? Perfectly fine to have a hands free conversation out on a street or listening to podcasts. Even the regular 17 does the job. Some years ago that sounded like crap even in a quiet environment, now it just works. Going by what I've heard about the Air, not so much with the single speaker.

 

[k1121j]

You all listed the 18 as spring and fall dud you mean max for fall?

 

[ChrisMac47]

Area certainly makes more sense.

A diagonal difference of an inch and a half doesn’t sound like much, but the different aspect ratio of the iPad mini significantly increases display area.

View attachment 2580167

What are "inches" ? This is an international forum, please use international units.

 

[d.pedro]

Apple plans to release a second-generation iPhone Air and a 20th-anniversary iPhone at separate times in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the next iPhone Air will likely be released around March 2027, alongside the standard iPhone 18 and a lower-end iPhone 18e. The 20th-anniversary iPhone will likely follow in September 2027, with Gurman expecting the device to feature a curved glass screen with a front camera hidden underneath it.

Here are all of the new iPhone models that Gurman expects Apple to release between the second half of 2026 and the first half of 2027:

• Fall 2026 (Likely September): iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone
• Spring 2027 (Likely March): iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and potentially an iPhone Air 2

Last week, The Information reported that some Apple engineers are hoping to release a redesigned iPhone Air with a second rear camera in spring 2027. The publication also said the next iPhone Air could weigh less, have a larger battery capacity, and gain a vapor chamber cooling system like the iPhone 17 Pro models have.

Gurman said that adding an ultra-wide camera to the iPhone Air is "technically possible," but he believes that it would be a "strange" decision, given the device's so-called "plateau" is already crowded and that it "seems like a lot of work for a phone that few people are buying." However, features like a second camera and longer battery life could make the iPhone Air far more appealing and boost demand for the device.

Gurman believes the iPhone Air 2 was always slated for 2027 — not delayed. He expects the device to have a 2nm chip for faster performance and longer battery life.

While there have been several reports indicating that iPhone Air demand is low, Apple only ever expected the device to make up "6% to 8%" of new iPhone sales, according to Gurman. It is unclear if Apple achieved that objective, but its internal bar might be low enough that it will still proceed with releasing an iPhone Air 2 in 2027.

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Article Link: When to Expect the iPhone Air 2 and 20th Anniversary iPhone With Camera Under Screen

Battery issues can be addressed, as new batteries will be rolling out before these products go into production. The engineering of placing new cameras needs to be addressed for both the foldable iPhone, and the anniversary iPhone 20, so there’s nothing stopping Apple from selling us another Apple Air. By the way, this is the best design ever conceived by Apple, and can’t wait to see what the upcoming IPA 2 will bring form factor wise. If it can take better pictures, even better.

 

[d.pedro]

Apple plans to release a second-generation iPhone Air and a 20th-anniversary iPhone at separate times in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the next iPhone Air will likely be released around March 2027, alongside the standard iPhone 18 and a lower-end iPhone 18e. The 20th-anniversary iPhone will likely follow in September 2027, with Gurman expecting the device to feature a curved glass screen with a front camera hidden underneath it.

Here are all of the new iPhone models that Gurman expects Apple to release between the second half of 2026 and the first half of 2027:

• Fall 2026 (Likely September): iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone
• Spring 2027 (Likely March): iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and potentially an iPhone Air 2

Last week, The Information reported that some Apple engineers are hoping to release a redesigned iPhone Air with a second rear camera in spring 2027. The publication also said the next iPhone Air could weigh less, have a larger battery capacity, and gain a vapor chamber cooling system like the iPhone 17 Pro models have.

Gurman said that adding an ultra-wide camera to the iPhone Air is "technically possible," but he believes that it would be a "strange" decision, given the device's so-called "plateau" is already crowded and that it "seems like a lot of work for a phone that few people are buying." However, features like a second camera and longer battery life could make the iPhone Air far more appealing and boost demand for the device.

Gurman believes the iPhone Air 2 was always slated for 2027 — not delayed. He expects the device to have a 2nm chip for faster performance and longer battery life.

While there have been several reports indicating that iPhone Air demand is low, Apple only ever expected the device to make up "6% to 8%" of new iPhone sales, according to Gurman. It is unclear if Apple achieved that objective, but its internal bar might be low enough that it will still proceed with releasing an iPhone Air 2 in 2027.

​

Article Link: When to Expect the iPhone Air 2 and 20th Anniversary iPhone With Camera Under Screen

I would’ve skipped 2026’s cycle anyway, as for me it doesn’t make any sense to change phones every year.
As someone wrote earlier, the Air will gradually take over the lineup as soon as engineering allows Apple to put together the slim, edgeless phone they’ve always dreamed of manufacturing.