We've been noting over the past few weeks how Apple's new ultra-slim form factor, the iPhone Air, and its upcoming variants face an uncertain future.
Well, those rumors just got supercharged, courtesy of a new report, this time from The Information publication.
Apple iPhone Air 2 won't be released in the fall of 2026, when the rest of the iPhone 18 lineup is set to debut, iPhone Air production lines slashed
The Information is now citing three internal sources to report that the iPhone Air 2 faces an inordinate delay, and that Apple won't launch a successor to this year's iPhone Air in the fall of 2026, when the rest of the iPhone 18 lineup is expected to debut. It is also unclear if Apple will ever launch the iPhone Air 2.
The publication also seemingly confirmed an earlier report by Ming-Chi Kuo, where the famous Apple tipster had revealed that most iPhone Air suppliers were expected to slash capacity for the model by over 80 percent.
As per the latest tidbit, Foxconn has halted almost all production lines for the current iPhone Air, barring one complete line and another half a line. By the end of the month, Foxconn will halt all production lines for the ultra-slim variant. Do note that Foxconn is only one of two companies that assemble the iPhone Air. Meanwhile, the other assembler, Luxshare, already halted its production lines for the ultra-slim iPhone back in October.
Do note that Apple anticipated a slower uptake by devoting just 10 percent of its production lines to the iPhone Air. Even so, the actual physical uptake of the model appears to have failed even Apple's downbeat expectations, prompting a halt of the variant's existing supply lines, and placing its successor's future within a maelstrom of uncertainty.
According to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, the iPhone Air made up just 3 percent of all iPhone sales in September, vs. the iPhone 17 Pro's 9 percent sales mix and 12 percent for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Keep in mind that Apple has not entirely scrapped the iPhone Air 2, which bears an internal codename of V62, with some development work on the device still continuing. Apple might still release the next variant of the ultra-slim iPhone after undertaking significant design changes.
Finally, bear in mind that Apple's Tim Cook had refused to directly comment on the sales uptake for the iPhone Air during Apple's recent earnings call, noting only that Apple has received a "tremendous response" to its iPhone 17 lineup.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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