Looks like the iPhone Air isn’t flying off the shelves. Apple’s new super-thin phone is sleek, sure, but people seem to care more about how long it lasts and how good the photos look than shaving off a few millimeters of thickness.
Supporting this view, a Nikkei Asia report suggests that Apple will significantly reduce iPhone Air production after sales failed to meet expectations. Shoppers are gravitating toward the iPhone 17 and the Pro version, which offer more familiar features.
The drop in demand is hard to ignore. According to Nikkei, which cited several industry sources, Apple is cutting production so sharply that it’s nearing a full phase-out of the iPhone Air. One supply chain manager said that orders for November will be less than ten percent of what they were at launch in September, a clear sign of how steep the decline has been.
This update comes only weeks after the iPhone Air debuted in China, pointing to sluggish demand elsewhere. A separate survey by KeyBanc Capital Markets supports that view, finding “virtually no demand” for the iPhone Air among consumers. The same investor survey showed steady interest in other iPhone 17 models, especially the Pro and Pro Max, as buyers continue to gravitate toward higher-end options. Notably, KeyBanc added that Apple’s much-hyped AI features have yet to play a major role in driving purchases.
Debuting in September with a $999 price tag, the iPhone Air showcases Apple’s focus on design precision. Only 5.6mm thick, it’s the thinnest iPhone to date and lighter than any model since 2020’s iPhone 12 mini. Despite its slim frame, it features the same 48-megapixel main camera as the iPhone 17 series and, according to Apple, still achieves all-day battery life.
Since the iPhone Air can’t quite keep up with its bulkier siblings in battery life, Apple has launched a $99 MagSafe battery pack that pushes total use time to roughly 40 hours.
The iPhone Air’s constant availability hints at weak demand. Every color has been in stock for immediate delivery since release, unlike the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro, which still face shipping delays of several weeks due to continued interest.
Apple’s difficulties with the iPhone Air mirror trends seen at Samsung. The Galaxy S25 Edge, which also prioritized design over functionality, had sold only 1.31 million units as of August. In light of the weak demand, Samsung is reportedly discontinuing production and has canceled development of the Galaxy S26 Edge.
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