Things are not looking good for the iPhone Air. Apple’s most ambitious smartphone in recent years, pioneering an ultra-slim form factor with clever engineering, is apparently not selling well enough, and hence, the company is planning to cut down on production. The iPhone Air, which sits as a bridge between the standard iPhone 17 and the more premium iPhone 17 Pro, is facing lower demand than expected.
Apple is reportedly scaling back production of its newest iPhone Air, after sales figures have fallen short of internal expectations in key Western markets. According to a report citing Japan’s Mizuho Securities, the technology giant plans to cut the production forecast for the iPhone Air by one million units this year. Instead, the company will reallocate resources to improve the output of its more successful models.
iPhone Air sees low demand
Mizuho Securities noted a robust performance across the rest of the iPhone 17 portfolio, claiming that the premium iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are exceeding the sales of their predecessors during the same period last year. This is largely attributed to the updated design and bold new colours on the Pro models.
Additionally, the standard iPhone 17 model is proving to be a “major success,” showing significantly better momentum than the previous iPhone 16. The presence of a new 120Hz ProMotion display and the new 18MP selfie camera seems to have generated interest in the standard model.
Despite the reduced forecast for the iPhone Air, Apple’s overall outlook for the series remains positive. The firm is reportedly planning to increase production for all other iPhone 17 variants by two million units, leading to an overall increase in the total production forecast for the series from 88 million to 94 million units for the start of 2026.
The mixed global reception of the iPhone Air suggests different preferences. While the device reportedly sold out within hours during its initial launch in China, demand in Western countries has been noticeably lower. Market analysts suggest that the iPhone Air’s combination of features and price may have limited its appeal. Factors such as a smaller battery, a single rear camera setup, and a premium price may have led many customers to opt for the more feature-rich iPhone 17 Pro models or the high-value iPhone 17.
It’s not just the iPhone Air that’s facing issues. Samsung’s equivalent of the iPhone Air, the Galaxy S25 Edge, is apparently not finding any takers, and hence, the company is rumoured to cancel the lineup entirely.
It seems that despite the technological advancements and ease of use, customers in the premium segment still prefer value-centric basics like good battery life, more cameras, and a justifiable price.
