Apple does not abandon the iPhone Air series even if sales are not convincing

Despite the disappointing commercial results recorded so far, Apple seems firmly committed to continuing the development of its iPhone Air.

The fact that the Cupertino company is preparing iPhone Air 2 is welcome; it is indeed very difficult to gauge the real demand for a new product category after just one generation. Samsung, which seems to have canceled the supposed Galaxy S26 Edge, should take note.

iPhone Air 2 will happen even if demand, as of today, is nil

The first model of this family, presented in September 2025, met with a decidedly cold reception from consumers.

A recent survey conducted by KeyBanc Capital Markets highlighted how the demand for the device is practically non-existent.

Data shared by the supply-chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo confirms a particularly critical situation, with suppliers that reduced manufacturing capacity by over 80% in the period between the official launch and the first quarter of 2026.

Actual production saw a drastic halt very quickly: assembly partners progressively reduced their commitment until a total stop. Luxshare halted the device’s production as early as October, while Foxconn closed the dedicated lines by the end of December, implying that the smartphone is now completely out of production.

This negative trend closely mirrors the commercial performance previously seen in the variants iPhone 12 mini, 13 mini, 14 Plus and 15 Plus, which, not by coincidence, enjoyed only two generations before giving way.

Apple’s perseverance and the expected improvements for the Air 2

Despite these evident difficulties, rumors leaked by the well-known leaker Fixed Focus Digital on the Weibo platform suggest a clear corporate will not to withdraw immediately.

The Asian informant has outlined the future of the range stating that The Air 2 will proceed with its standard product iteration cycle; no matter how bad the sales turn out, Apple will grit its teeth and move forward with at least two generations….

To try to lift public interest, engineers are considering a partial redesign of the next device.

According to information gathered by The Information, one of the main structural changes will involve adding a second rear camera to directly address one of the most frequent criticisms leveled at the current iteration. Industry reports indicate it could be a 48 MP sensor wide-angle lens.

Development is also focusing on reducing overall weight, implementing an advanced vapor chamber cooling system to optimally manage internal temperatures, and a concrete improvement in battery capacity.

All of this will be accompanied by an even thinner Face ID module and the integration of future-generation proprietary chips A20 and C2.

This cautious update will fit into a broader reorganization of market windows. The California-based company is reportedly planning to break the long tradition of a single autumn release, to split launches into two distinct moments of the year.

The top tier, composed of iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the talked-about iPhone Fold, should debut as usual in fall 2026. The standard iPhone 18, the new iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2 would instead be postponed to spring 2027.