Apple has decided to delay the launch of its next-generation iPhone Air, following the lower-than-expected sales of the first model. According to a report by The Information, the tech giant has significantly scaled down production of the current iPhone Air. This model was released in September as Apple’s thinnest smartphone ever.
Despite being touted as a design revolution that combines ultra-slim aesthetics and flagship-level performance, the model has not created the consumer buzz that Apple expected. This lackluster response prompted a strategic rethink of the Air series before the company proceeds with a second-generation version.
Apple is expected to release iPhone Air 2 in the fall of 2026 as a more mature version of the original. Early reports suggested that the successor model would be lighter with a bigger battery while integrating a vapor chamber cooling system. This is the same technology found on devices from the iPhone 17 Pro series.
Industry insiders now claim that Apple has no concrete plans for the release of its successor next year. The updated roadmap reportedly shifts the company’s focus to two major projects in 2026: iPhone 18 Pro lineup and Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
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If Apple doesn’t cancel the project entirely, iPhone Air 2 could actually launch in the spring of 2027. The model will be released along with the regular iPhone 18 and a budget-friendly iPhone 18E.
The delay gives Apple’s engineers a chance to find ways around critical design problems-particularly those related to integrating sophisticated camera hardware without sacrificing the phone’s svelte profile.
Recent Apple leaks have shown that the tech giant has at least experimented with a dual-camera setup on the rear of Air 2, comprising a 48MP main sensor and a 48MP ultra-wide lens. Curiously, the layout would remain horizontal, unlike the vertical design recently adopted by recent iPhones.
However, fitting two high-resolution lenses into an ultra-thin frame is no small task. The engineering complexity of maintaining the Air’s signature slimness while adding more hardware could be one of the core reasons behind this iPhone delay.