In a approach, the iPhone Air is essentially the most radical departure for Apple since 2017’s iPhone X. Not a lot as a result of it has a singular type issue; somewhat, it is as a result of it is the primary time for the reason that X that Apple has bought a non-budget iPhone that is not only a minor variation of one other one. The iPhone XR I owned was a scaled-back model of the iPhone XS — likewise, the iPhone 13 could have shipped in Mini, Professional, and Professional Max variations, however the principle issues separating them have been cameras, efficiency, display screen measurement, and refresh charges. On the surface, you in all probability would not have the ability to inform the distinction between a 13 and 13 Professional besides for his or her lenses.
The phrase from Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring (by way of MacRumors), although, is that the Air gambit might not be paying off. Whereas demand for the iPhone 17 lineup is reportedly robust, and should even see a manufacturing improve, the Air has to date confronted “relative weak point,” as Woodring places it. That is a imprecise declare, and gross sales may at all times flip round — however anyway you slice it, it is in all probability not what Apple needed to listen to, not when it spent a lot of its September 9 occasion singing the Air’s praises.
Frankly, I hope Air gross sales proceed on a downward trajectory. You’ll be able to in all probability guess the the explanation why, but it surely’s price elaborating on them, and whether or not we’ll see a follow-up Air in 2026.
- Model
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Apple
- SoC
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A19 Professional 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU
- Show
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6.5-inch 2736 x 1260 pixel decision Tremendous Retina XDR show
- RAM
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N/A
The iPhone Air is a foul deal
Sending a message to Apple
Not too long ago, I acquired into hassle in a web based feedback part by claiming that individuals “ought to” purchase the iPhone 17 as a substitute of an Air, as a result of the Air is an inherently worse product. As anticipated, some folks rushed to the Air’s protection, arguing that thinness and lightness will be price as a lot as any characteristic. From there, issues rapidly took a flip. A number of folks insisted that I had no proper to say what different folks ought to worth; one particular person even argued I used to be “dictating” what folks can buy, as if I have been placing a gun to somebody’s head on the Apple Retailer.
To make my place clearer, I’ll say upfront that I am impressed by the Air as a bit of engineering. Regardless of it being so skinny, it is remarkably robust, to the purpose that testers have wanted industrial gear to get it to bend or break. And as Apple was desirous to level out throughout its announcement, many of the “guts” of the telephone — comparable to its processor and storage — are all stuffed into the digital camera bump (AKA plateau). Many of the body is devoted to its lithium-ion battery, and that is no imply feat.
Let’s get this straight although: excessive thinness and lightness should not that significant in 2025. Whereas the Air could be nice to carry, I am unable to bear in mind the final time I heard anybody, wherever significantly complain in regards to the measurement or weight of a smartphone that wasn’t deliberately outsized, just like the iPhone 17 Professional Max or the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely. That is as a result of smartphones have been each skinny and light-weight for a really very long time. Even the heaviest iPhones ever, the 13 Professional Max and 14 Professional Max, weighed simply 8.47 ounces (240 grams) every. The Air could also be noticeably lighter at 5.82 ounces (165 grams), however nobody is struggling to carry up a Professional Max except they have higher issues at work.
If the Air in some way proves fashionable in the long term, it may ship the mistaken message to Apple — you could cost folks extra for much less and get away with it.
Greater fashions could also be more durable to stuff right into a pocket, however that is owing to display screen measurement greater than thickness — which the Air does not remedy. The product has a 6.5-inch show, larger than the 6.3-inch one on the iPhone 17. Apple does not even depend the Air’s digital camera bump when it measures thickness, both. At that a part of the system, it is about 11.32mm — just under the 11.4mm of the iPhone 17’s bump. If you cannot get a 17 in your pocket, chances are high the Air shall be simply as unhealthy, if not worse.
All this could be irrelevant if it weren’t for the Air’s digital camera tech, battery life, and pricing. In contrast to the 17, there is no secondary ultra-wide digital camera. You’ll be able to’t shoot macro images, not to mention tight group portraits or large vistas. Battery life, in the meantime, is sufficient, however nonetheless decrease than that of each different iPhone within the fall 2025 catalog. So actually, you are paying $200 greater than a 17 for one thing that shall be more durable to reside with. You do get a sooner A19 Professional processor, however even that has one much less GPU core than the identical chip within the iPhone 17 Professional.
Sure, then, the iPhone Air is a foul deal. And if it in some way proves fashionable in the long term, it may ship the mistaken message to Apple — you could cost folks extra for much less and get away with it.
Is there a future for the iPhone Air?
Reply hazy, strive once more
Until the present mannequin is a catastrophic failure, I believe it is secure to count on an iPhone Air 2 in 2026. Apple has clearly invested plenty of money and time into the underlying know-how, and it is uncommon for the corporate to place that form of effort right into a one-off product. Keep in mind, we acquired two generations of iPhone mini regardless of weak gross sales.
For the Air 2 to be successful, Apple has two choices, as I see it.
The actual query mark is 2027. If the Air 1 continues to get a lukewarm response, and/or the Air 2 does not blow anybody out of the water, I may simply see Apple pulling the plug on an Air 3. Certainly, that may not be within the playing cards anyway — it is apparent that Apple’s final objective is laying the groundwork not only for a foldable iPhone, however for thinner type elements on the whole as soon as fewer compromises are needed. I am betting that the iPhone 19 (or no matter it is referred to as) will look much like the Air, however embody triple cameras, contemplating that Apple’s rivals are already making telephotos customary on their base {hardware}.
For the Air 2 to be successful, Apple has two choices, as I see it. The primary is to offer it modest upgrades over the Air 1, however dramatically decrease the worth, making it no less than $100 cheaper than the iPhone 18. The opposite is to carry onto the present price ticket, however carry digital camera and battery specs as much as snuff. Actually, if Apple have been to change to silicon-carbon (Si-C) battery tech, the Air 2’s runtime may probably crush that of the 18 with none improve in thickness. In fact, the 18 would nonetheless reign supreme if it switched to Si-C as nicely. I am holding my ear to the bottom for rumors on this one.
