Apple Delays Next-Generation iPhone Air Following Disappointing Sales
Apple has delayed the release of its next-generation iPhone Air after disappointing sales of the ultra-thin smartphone prompted production lines to grind to a halt, according to a report by The Information.
The follow-up model, internally known as “V62,” was originally slated to debut in fall 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple’s first foldable iPhone. However, Apple has now pulled it off the release schedule without announcing a new launch date, The Information reported Monday, citing three individuals involved in the project.
This decision marks the latest sign that Apple’s efforts to expand beyond its flagship iPhone lineup are faltering. The iPhone Air, introduced in September, was marketed as the company’s thinnest and most durable handset yet. Despite this, reviewers and consumers criticized its single-camera setup, short battery life, and weaker speakers compared to the Pro models.
Manufacturing partners Foxconn and Luxshare have already stopped or drastically reduced production of the current iPhone Air. Foxconn has dismantled all but one and a half of its production lines for the device and plans to halt the remainder by the end of November. Luxshare ended its production run in October.
Sources familiar with Apple’s supply chain told The Information that only about 10% of Apple’s iPhone manufacturing capacity was allocated to the Air, but even this limited output has struggled to find buyers. The model remains widely available in stores and online, a sharp contrast to the top-tier iPhone 17 Pro, which continues to sell out in some markets.
Sales data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, cited by The Information, showed that in September the iPhone Air accounted for just 3% of total iPhone sales. In comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro made up 9%, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max represented 12%.
Apple had been developing the iPhone Air 2 with plans for a lighter frame, a larger battery, and improved cooling through vapor chamber technology, already featured in the iPhone 17 Pro. Engineers were also exploring a redesign to add a second rear camera, a feature absent from the first generation and widely cited as a dealbreaker for many consumers.
Some engineers and suppliers continue to work on the device, raising the possibility that a revamped iPhone Air 2 could launch as soon as spring 2027 alongside the standard iPhone 18 and a lower-cost iPhone 18e, The Information reported.
While the delay stops short of an outright cancellation, taking a major iPhone model off the release calendar at this stage is highly unusual for Apple, current and former employees told the outlet. The company had only begun early production trials of the new model this summer, just as the first iPhone Air hit store shelves.
Apple declined to comment on the report.
This delay represents another setback in Apple’s years-long search for a successful midrange iPhone. Previous attempts, including the compact iPhone Mini and the large-screen iPhone Plus, were both discontinued after sluggish demand.
The future of the iPhone Air line remains uncertain as Apple reassesses its approach to expanding the iPhone family beyond its flagship models.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/11/business/apple-pulls-plug-on-iphone-air-2-after-weak-sales-of-debut-model-report/
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