Apple Delays Launch of ‘iPhone Air’ Successor Amid Sluggish Sales

 Apple has decided to postpone the release of the successor to its ultra-thin smartphone iPhone Air, which has suffered from poor sales, the company announced on November 10 (local time).

As a result, only the iPhone 18 lineup and the foldable iPhone are now expected to debut next fall.

Sales slump forces delay

According to The Information, citing multiple internal sources, Apple has delayed the launch of the next-generation iPhone Air, originally planned for next fall.

Engineers and external suppliers have been notified of the delay, but no new timeline has been given.

Industry insiders predict that only the iPhone 18 series and a foldable iPhone will be unveiled in 2026 autumn.

Production lines scaled back — Foxconn and Luxshare exit

Due to weak demand for the iPhone Air, production facilities have been drastically reduced.

Foxconn, Apple’s main assembler, has dismantled all but one and a half production lines and plans to halt operations entirely by the end of this month.

Luxshare, another assembly partner, reportedly halted production altogether at the end of October.

In contrast, the high-selling iPhone 17 Pro models continue to occupy dozens of production lines.

The paradox of “the world’s thinnest iPhone”

Apple marketed the iPhone Air as “the world’s thinnest smartphone,” but its design compromised camera performance, audio quality, and battery life — leading consumers to turn away.

According to market research firm CIRP (Consumer Intelligence Research Partners), as of September the iPhone Air accounted for only 3 percent of total iPhone sales — far behind the iPhone 17 Pro (9 percent) and Pro Max (12 percent).

Successor to focus on “lighter weight + better performance”

Apple has not completely abandoned the iPhone Air project.

The next model is expected to be even lighter, feature a larger battery, and include the vapor-chamber cooling system used in the iPhone 17 Pro.

According to internal sources, Apple is considering launching the new model alongside a lower-priced iPhone in spring 2027.

Some analysts view this scheduling shift as a signal that Apple may begin unveiling premium models in the fall and standard or budget models in the spring.

By Choi Song-a | choesonga627@gmail.com