Apple May Not Launch an iPhone Air Successor next Year

Back in September 2025, Apple debuted the iPhone Air, its slimmest iPhone ever. The smartphone was the talk of the town instantly, thanks to its super sleek and slim profile. However, it looks like the initial "Awe Dropping" moment never really translated to actual sales.

Apple trims iPhone Air production drastically

According to analyst, Ming Chi Kuo, Apple has decided to trim the iPhone Air production down to 80%. The company's supply chain has been instructed to scale back on the smartphone's production immediately, with 80% reduced capacity by the first quarter of 2026.

However, components with longer lead times will reportedly get discontinued by the end of 2025. Kuo believes that the crux of this decision has been the poor sales performance of the iPhone Air. What was supposed to be Apple's biggest jump in iPhone innovation yet failed to actually convince the market of the same.

Alongside the iPhone Air, Apple also debuted the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. They became an instant hit as expected, generating the majority of Apple's revenue and sales. So, it is understandable that when the standard iPhone and the Pros are such a value proposition for fans, it seems like the iPhone Air exists merely to fill that gap in the lineup.

The biggest reason why we believe the iPhone Air has failed to make a mark is because of its glaring compromises, while still costing a fortune. For over a lakh Indian rupees, Apple did flex its muscles in the engineering and design department. However, it nerfed the smartphone's battery, cameras, thermals and more.

So obviously, the "thin phone" vanity didn't really pay off when users were able to get the iPhone 17 Pro for just a few thousand rupees extra. Hence, it will be a safe bet to assume that the sequel to the iPhone Air is not coming in 2026. We are even more convinced since a short while back, talks of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge being discontinued surfaced online. 

With the iPhone "Mini", "Plus" and now the "Air" all out of the equation, Apple is left with an empty spot for the upcoming iPhone 18 series. It could have been filled by the long-awaited foldable iPhone, but reports suggest that the iPhone Fold launch will not happen before 2027. Hence, either Apple will stick to the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max for 2026, or will introduce another new product to carry its four phone launch tradition.