A Weibo leaker today suggested that Apple’s iPhone Air 2 could be the only next-generation ultra-thin flagship smartphone from a major brand, after the original model’s poor sales performance appeared to have led rival manufacturers to abandon plans for their own follow-up products.
The leaker known as “Digital Chat Station” posted on Weibo today, claiming that the iPhone Air barely surpassed 700,000 unit activations, even after several rounds of price cuts. The post also noted that an unspecified ultra-thin Chinese device only managed 50,000 activations, and that the rival’s planned tracking now appears “very shaky” and will most likely be abandoned. The leaker concluded that the iPhone Air 2 could become the only ultra-thin flagship of the next generation.
The iPhone Air has been struggling commercially since its launch in September 2025. A survey by KeyBanc Capital Markets found “virtually no demand” for the device, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that suppliers were asked to reduce capacity by more than 80% between launch and early 2026, and the iPhone Air is now widely considered to be out of production entirely.
The device’s poor reception reverberated throughout the industry. Xiaomi is reportedly planning a “true Air model” to rival Apple’s offering, while Vivo is targeting slimming within its mid-range S series. Both companies have reportedly halted related projects. Samsung also canceled the Galaxy S26 Edge after the poor sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge.
Despite all this, another leaker claimed last month that Apple would continue with at least two generations of the device, regardless of sales performance. Reports are now aligned with a spring 2027 launch, with the delay attributed to both low sales of the original and Apple’s new split launch strategy, which moves the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 to a spring window while reserving fall 2026 for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone. Reports of Nikkei Asia, Bloombergit’s Mark Gurman, and The information all point to an early 2027 release.
Apple is reportedly significantly revising the iPhone Air 2 to address major criticisms of the original. The information reported that Apple is considering adding a second rear camera, likely an ultra-wide lens to complement the existing 48-megapixel Fusion camera, at a lower price. Other rumored changes include weight reduction, vapor chamber cooling, and increased battery capacity. Apple has reportedly asked its suppliers for an ultra-thin Face ID module to free up internal space for the additional camera. According to The ElectApple also plans to bring a thinner, brighter Samsung OLED technology called CoE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) to the iPhone Air 2, after first launching it on the foldable iPhone.