The iPhone Air appears to have been one of the least successful iPhones ever, but it seems that hasn’t discouraged Apple from trying again in 2027 with an iPhone Air 2.
The latest report suggests that the company may fix the two biggest problems with the device, and if accurate, I would expect the 2nd-gen model to be significantly more popular …
This year’s iPhone Air
Almost immediately after launch, it was noted that the iPhone Air remained available for immediate delivery long after the iPhone 17 Pro was backordered.
A series of follow-up reports all seemed to confirm low demand for the model. One said that Apple’s manufacturing orders had been slashed to almost end of production levels, while a subsequent one said that production of the device had ceased altogether.
With Samsung seemingly faring no better with its Galaxy S25 Edge, other brands were said to have cancelled their own plans for an ultra-slim form factor.
The two problems
The issue appears to be not that there is no interest in an ultra-sleek smartphone, but rather that people are not willing to pay a high price for a device which involves significant compromise.
In the case of the iPhone Air, having just a single camera is a significant drawback compared to the dual cameras of the base model iPhone 17 and the triple camera setup of the iPhone 17 Pro.
Top comment by Jesse Garza
I'm still holding on to my 13 mini (which is actually lighter than the Air!) I don't care how thin the Air is; it's too big for my jean pockets, for my car's cupholder, for the external "phone" pocket on my gym bag... etc! I think that if they did a "cheap" mini with just one camera - not everyone needs or wants wide angle or zoom capabilities - it would do pretty well. Offer the full iOS experience and one decent camera in a device you can use with one hand for $200 or $300 less than the standard phone and see what happens! The mini should replace "e" phones, imho.
The issue was exacerbated by the pricing. The iPhone Air is $200 more than the iPhone 17, and only $100 cheaper than the iPhone 17 Pro. The majority of those who might have been tempted by the device were likely to have upsold or downsold themselves once they saw the pricing.
The iPhone Air 2 may reportedly solve both
Yesterday’s report in The Information said that Apple is currently looking at both issues.
Apple is going back to the drawing board and redesigning the iPhone Air because of the first model’s poor sales. It’s considering adding a second camera and cutting the retail price to make the device more attractive to consumers.
The report was far from definitive, merely saying that the company was considering both moves. If that does indeed turn out to be the case, however, then I would expect the 2027 model to be a popular choice for many.
Highlighted accessories
- Official Apple Store on Amazon
- Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter for iPhone 17
- Official Apple iPhone Air cases and bumpers
- iPhone Air MagSafe Battery
- Official iPhone Air case
- Official iPhone 17 cases
- Official iPhone 17 Pro cases and Pro Max cases
Photo: 9to5Mac/Apple
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