Apple’s Next iPhone Air May Be Delayed — So It Can Get Better
Georgiy Lyamin
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While Apple had originally expected to debut a second-generation iPhone Air in fall 2026, a new report from The Information suggests it may delay that release due to poor sales. However, that delay could ultimately benefit the Air, giving Apple the extra time it needs to improve the device.
Soon after the iPhone Air was released, we began seeing reports of poor sales for the super-thin and lightweight handsets, followed by cuts in manufacturing. Now, Apple has reportedly told its supply chain to scale back production and shipments of the Air. Apple’s main iPhone supplier, Foxconn, is said to be dismantling most of its Air production lines, keeping roughly one and a half active for now, with all production expected to stop by the end of November. Apple’s other iPhone Air supplier, Luxshare, halted production at the end of last month.
In mid-October, Nikkei Asia reported that Apple had slashed production orders for the iPhone Air to levels normally seen only when a device is nearing end-of-life, saying “Apple has instructed multiple suppliers to significantly reduce component and electronics module orders for the iPhone Air.”
That same month, Japan’s Mizuho Securities said Apple is planning to slow production of the iPhone Air, thanks to lower-than-expected sales. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley, while predicting production boosts for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, notably omitted the iPhone Air from the list.
However, a few days later, a research note from TD Cowen stated that Apple had not made any changes to the number of iPhone Air units Apple expects to produce this year, adding that its supply chain contacts confirmed production forecasts remain unchanged, at three million iPhone Air units in the third calendar quarter of 2025 and seven million in the fourth calendar quarter.
Apple expected the 5.6 mm-thin iPhone Air to be popular due to its ultra-slim and light design. However, it’s possible that the handset’s high starting price of $999 may have led buyers to opt for other iPhone models. The Air’s base price is only $100 less than that of the iPhone 17 Pro, which has a starting price of $1,099 and boasts longer battery life and a better triple-lens camera.
Apple has reportedly been developing a next-generation iPhone Air that would feature improved battery life, even lighter materials, and vapor chamber cooling. According to The Information, the delay may be less of a retreat than a strategic move to give Apple the time to add a second camera — a move that would help address user complaints about the hardware compromises in the first-generation model.
The report claims that some Apple engineers want to schedule the redesigned version with a second camera for a spring 2027 release, which is when Apple is expected to release its standard iPhone 18 and budget iPhone 18e models as part of a new split launch cycle. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a new foldable iPhone in fall 2026, which had been widely expected to feature the “iPhone Air 2.”
This isn’t the first we’ve heard of a second camera for the iPhone Air 2, as just last week, we reported that a Weibo post by the leaker known as “Digital Chat Station” (who has a mixed but generally good record predicting Apple’s moves) claimed that Apple is considering adding a 48-megapixel ultra-wide lens to the next model.
The new camera system for the iPhone Air 2 would likely mirror that of the standard iPhone 17 model, which is a main 48 MP shooter joined by a 48 MP ultra-wide lens. The leaker indicated that the overall design of the 2026 iPhone Air will remain basically the same, with the second camera added beside the primary one on the horizontal plateau.
Whether Apple is slowing production of the current iPhone Air or winding it down, reports of a strategic delay for the sequel make one thing clear: Apple has not given up on the ultra-slim concept. The focus now seems to be on taking the time to get the next version right.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
