On January 11, Huanqiu.com reported, citing sources with inside knowledge, that Apple has opted to delay the unveiling of its upcoming iPhone Air owing to sales figures falling short of projections. This decision has also had a notable effect on its supply chain network.
According to these sources, Apple has recently informed both its in-house engineers and external suppliers to exclude the initially planned iPhone Air 2 development initiative from its fall 2026 launch calendar, without specifying a new launch window. This particular model was originally slated to make its debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series and the iPhone Fold.
The sources further highlighted that Foxconn, which is one of the two primary assemblers for the iPhone Air, has already taken down all production lines except for one and a half, and anticipates a complete production halt by the end of this month. Meanwhile, Luxshare Precision, another collaborator, wrapped up its production tasks related to this model at the end of October.
Nevertheless, Apple has not entirely shelved this product series. Industry experts suggest that the tech giant might reintroduce a revamped iPhone Air in the spring of 2027, unveiling the second iteration alongside the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e.
The iPhone Air, since its market introduction, has attracted considerable attention. Positioned between the standard iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro, it features the slimmest profile ever seen in an iPhone, measuring a mere 5.6 millimeters at its thinnest point and weighing 165 grams. Its frame is crafted from Grade 5 titanium alloy, which is 80% recycled titanium, striking a balance between lightness and robustness. Moreover, it stands as the globe's inaugural smartphone to solely support eSIM technology. However, with a starting price tag of $999, the price gap with the standard high-end models is not substantial, yet it makes concessions in key specifications, leading to a lukewarm response from consumers. In contrast, the more comprehensively equipped iPhone 17 standard and Pro models have enjoyed greater popularity.
The China-market release of the iPhone Air trailed behind that of the U.S. market, with pre-sales commencing on October 17 and the official sales launch on October 22. Initially, the first batch of devices sold out swiftly upon the commencement of pre-orders, but the market fervor did not sustain post the official release. Apart from inherent product issues, the intricate eSIM activation procedure also dissuaded numerous potential buyers.
In light of the supply chain's scaling back of shipments and production capacity due to the iPhone Air's demand falling short of expectations, Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities, previously projected that by the first quarter of 2026, the majority of suppliers would slash their production capacity by over 80%, with certain components requiring longer lead times expected to halt production by the end of 2025.
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