Taimur Asad·

The iPhone Air 2 Might Not Have Been Delayed After All, But Don’t Expect One in 2026 Anyway

There has been a lot of talk about the iPhone Air, with recent reports suggesting that slow sales have caused Apple to delay its first refresh. But a new report suggests that there was never likely to be a new iPhone Air in 2026 anyway.

Writing in his weekly newsletter Power On, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that the very “iPhone Air” name suggests that Apple didn’t intend for an annual refresh for a device that some have claimed is selling poorly.

By not linking it to the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple opened the door for a whole new update cycle.

Gurman says that Apple didn’t intend to release a new iPhone Air next year, so it’s impossible for it to have been delayed. Further, he suggests that Apple never expected it to be a strong seller.

Apple developed the Air believing it would make up 6% to 8% of new iPhone sales, I’m told. That roughly matches the performance of the iPhone 16 Plus model that it replaced. Apple touted the Air heavily during its September keynote presentation, but it hasn’t done much marketing since then. It’s clear that Apple never really anticipated much fanfare for the Air.

Further, Gurman says that Apple’s plans for a new iPhone Air revolve around the use of a new chip based on the 2nm manufacturing process.

That would allow for improved performance without negatively impacting battery life — something that iPhone Air detractors have long pointed to as the device’s weak spot.

You may also like to check out:

You can follow us on X, or Instagram, subscribe to our YouTube channel and even like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple, and the Web.