Apple Delays Next-Generation iPhone Air Release
Apple has decided to delay the launch of its next iPhone Air, as production was interrupted due to lackluster sales of its ultra-thin smartphones. The anticipated successor, internally called V62, was set to launch in the fall of 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and the company’s first foldable iPhone.
However, reports indicate that Apple has pulled it from the release calendar, and no new date has been announced, according to sources involved in the project.
This decision highlights broader challenges within Apple’s product lines. Other offerings outside of the main iPhone line have also been sluggish in sales.
The iPhone Air was marketed as the sleekest and most durable phone yet. Still, when it launched in September, both critics and consumers pointed out issues like a single camera setup, short battery life, and less impressive speaker quality when compared to the Pro models.
Manufacturing partners, such as Foxconn and Luxshare, have already scaled back or ceased production of the current iPhone Air. Foxconn has significantly reduced its production lines, with plans to close the remaining operations by the end of November, while Luxshare ended its production in October.
Reports suggest that only about 10% of Apple’s iPhone production capacity was allocated for the Air model, yet sales continue to struggle. The device remains readily available in stores and online, a stark contrast to the iPhone 17 Pro, which frequently sells out.
In September, the iPhone Air made up just 3% of total iPhone sales, compared to 9% for the iPhone 17 Pro and 12% for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.
Apple had been working on the iPhone Air 2, intending it to feature a lighter frame, a larger battery, and improved cooling using vapor chamber technology similar to what’s found in the iPhone 17 Pro. Engineers were also looking to include a second rear camera—something many consumers had noted as a key missing feature.
Despite the delay, some engineers and suppliers are still continuing development, which may allow an enhanced iPhone Air 2 to launch alongside the standard iPhone 18 and a more affordable iPhone 18e potentially as early as spring 2027.
This situation doesn’t cancel the model entirely, but it does mean the major iPhone will be dropped from the upcoming release schedule—a rarity for Apple, according to current and former employees.
Apple had only just started early production tests for the new model around the time the first iPhone Air was released over the summer.
Apple has declined to provide any comments regarding the delay, marking yet another challenge in its pursuit of a midrange iPhone. Previous attempts, including the compact iPhone Mini and the larger iPhone Plus, were both ultimately discontinued due to low demand.
