iPhone Air 2 May Skip 2026 Launch as Apple Pauses Development

Back in September 2025, Apple debuted the iPhone Air, its slimmest iPhone ever. The smartphone instantly became the talk of the town, thanks to its super sleek and slim profile. However, it looks like Apple might rethink its decision to bring the next iteration to the market.

The iPhone Air 2 may not launch in 2026 

According to tech publication The Information, Apple has reportedly notified engineers and suppliers to halt work on the next-gen iPhone Air as it has been taken off the schedule. This very likely means that the next Apple event in September 2026 will not see the launch of the iPhone Air 2 as fans expected.

Moreover, the report claims that a new launch timeline, window or date has not been decided as well. This could very well mean that the fate of the next iPhone is hanging in "thin air". However, it seems like the thin and light iPhone is not entirely cancelled. As per the publication, three people involved in the project said that some engineers are still working on the next-gen model.

So, there is still a chance that the launch of the iPhone Air 2 will become a reality, but the question is when? We have already seen Kuo's report claiming that the iPhone Air successor might not launch at all. Even though the current iPhone Air managed to create an initial "Awe Dropping" moment, it never really translated to actual sales.

The biggest reason why this happened was because of the trade-offs Apple needed to make to flex its muscles in the engineering and design departments. So, it seems obvious that the Cupertino brand is trying to make sure these creases are ironed out before the next iteration of the thin and light iPhone goes official.

Hence, even though the iPhone Air 2's indefinite delay is disappointing for fans, it is a good thing for consumers who are willing to spend more than a lakh Indian rupees on a thin iPhone, sans the cost-cutting.

That said, one of the publication's sources mentioned that the iPhone Air 2 could still launch by spring 2027. Rumours claim that the iPhone 18 launch has been delayed as well to 2027. So, it could be very likely that the iPhone Air 2 will launch alongside the iPhone 18 and the budget iPhone 18e.