Camera, chip and design changes
The spring 2027 timing also fits Apple's reported shift to a split release schedule. MacRumors says reporting from Nikkei Asia, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and The Information points to early 2027 launches for the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2. Under that schedule, fall 2026 is reserved for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo.
The Air 2's new rear camera is expected to be a 48 MP ultrawide alongside the existing 48 MP main camera, according to Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station, whose claims were reported by PhoneArena. The tipster also expects an A20-series processor made on a 2 nm process, putting the Air 2 in the same chip family as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo.
The exact processor remains uncertain. iDevice, which tracks the reports, expects an A20 Pro manufactured on TSMC's 2 nm process but notes disagreement over the chip. RAM is reportedly staying at 12 GB. The original Air uses a 3 nm A19 Pro and has 12 GB of RAM.
Battery capacity is expected to rise from the original model's 3,149 mAh. Digital Chat Station has not specified a capacity for the successor; an earlier report suggested roughly 3,500 mAh.
Other reported changes include a lighter body and vapor chamber cooling. Apple is believed to have asked suppliers for an ultra-thin Face ID module to make room for the extra camera. The Elec also reports plans to use Samsung's thinner, brighter CoE OLED technology, short for Color Filter on Encapsulation, in the Air 2 after its debut on the foldable iPhone.
A narrow price gap and weak demand
The first Air's reception gives the redesign a difficult starting point. 9to5Mac reporter Michael Burkhardt praised the engineering behind its slim body and largely flagship-level capabilities, but said its compromises and high price restricted its appeal. He also argued that the iPhone Duo has replaced the Air as the lineup's attention-grabbing model.
At launch, the Air cost $999, compared with $1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro. That extra $100 bought a triple-lens rear camera, substantially better speakers and longer battery life. Analysts cited by MacRumors identified price as the central problem behind the Air's weak sales.
Consumer Intelligence Research Partners data shared with CNN and published January 28, 2026, showed that 6% of surveyed US iPhone buyers chose the Air during October through December 2025, its first full quarter on sale. The standard iPhone 17 accounted for 22%, the iPhone 17 Pro for 25% and the iPhone 17 Pro Max for 27%. The survey covered 500 US consumers who purchased an Apple product during those three months.
Production reports also pointed to weak demand. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, as cited by MacRumors, suppliers were asked to reduce Air production capacity by more than 80% between its September 2025 launch and the first quarter of 2026. Some components were discontinued by the end of 2025. Foxconn reportedly dismantled every Air production line, while Luxshare stopped making the phone at the end of October 2025. The model is widely believed to be out of production, with sales supplied from existing inventory.
Where the Air still trails the Pro
Burkhardt's concerns extend beyond battery size and the number of cameras. The original Air lacks RAW capture, cinematic mode and macro mode. An ultrawide camera could enable macro photography, he says, though he expects smaller sensors to continue limiting image quality.
Audio is another compromise: the Air relies on a single mono earpiece speaker. Burkhardt suggests Apple could adopt the iPad mini 8's acoustic display, which produces sound through the display glass.
Data transfer and charging also fall short of the Pro models. The Air uses USB 2 rather than USB 3 and charges at up to 20W through MagSafe or 25W by cable. The iPhone 18 Pro supports 25W MagSafe charging and 60W wired charging.
For Burkhardt, a successor priced within $100 of a Pro should deliver a comparably capable experience. He argues that a thin body should be an additional attraction, not the justification for accepting fewer features.
Rivals retreat from ultra-thin phones
MacRumors reports that the original Air's poor sales also prompted competitors to drop their own ultra-thin phone projects. Xiaomi and Vivo are said to have halted related work, while Samsung reportedly canceled the Galaxy S26 Edge after disappointing sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge.
Digital Chat Station claimed that the Air had only barely exceeded 700,000 unit activations despite several price cuts. In the tipster's assessment, the Air 2 may be the only next-generation ultra-thin flagship from a major manufacturer.
