We’ve previously seen reports of Samsung possibly cancelling the Galaxy S26 Edge, despite having completed development of the device. While not quite as drastic, more recent reports point at Apple potentially following the same trajectory. There hasn’t been rumours of a second iPhone Air yet, but Apple is reportedly slashing production of the current model. These cuts are drastic enough to be described as near “end of production: levels.
This comes via Nikkei Asia, citing sources who pointed to the apparent weak demand of the iPhone Air. Initially accounting for between 10% to 15% of production production orders of this year’s iPhones, this will go down to below 10% starting November. On the flip side, the iPhone 17, as well as its Pro and Pro Max variants, have reportedly exceeded expectations. The base model even got a production order increase of 5 million units.
While the report does not include sales figures, it’s a pretty similar story to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, at least on one hand. On the other, the report notes that the Air is seen as Strategically paving the way for the first foldable iPhone. Still slated for release next year for now, it has been described as “two titanium iPhone Airs stuck side-by-side“.
On one hand, there’s no denying the novelty that is the iPhone Air, or other extra slim phones like it. Bus as our colleague Nurul mentioned in her review of the phone, that novelty wears off. And what you’re left with permanently are the tradeoffs to achieve that.
(Source: Nikkei Asia)