iPhone Air Failure Halts Ultra-Thin Phone Trend
▼ Summary
– Apple’s iPhone Air has experienced disappointing sales since its September launch, leading to production cuts and scaled-back shipments.
– Major Chinese smartphone makers including Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo have canceled or adjusted their ultra-thin phone projects in response to the iPhone Air’s poor market performance.
– The iPhone Air features a 5.6 mm thin design with trade-offs including a smaller battery and single rear camera, yet maintains a premium $999 starting price.
– Apple has delayed the second-generation iPhone Air to potentially redesign it with a second camera and improved battery life following weak consumer response.
– Samsung has also canceled its Galaxy S26 Edge and halted Galaxy S25 Edge production due to poor sales of its ultra-thin phone models.
The underwhelming market performance of Apple’s iPhone Air is sending shockwaves through the smartphone industry, compelling major Chinese manufacturers to abandon or postpone their own ultra-thin device initiatives. This strategic retreat signals a significant cooling of the trend toward extreme thinness, as companies reassess consumer priorities.
Following its September launch, the iPhone Air has been plagued by reports of sluggish sales and repeated manufacturing cutbacks. Key players in Apple’s supply chain have substantially reduced both shipments and production volumes. Manufacturing giant Foxconn has allegedly dismantled all its dedicated iPhone Air assembly lines, while another crucial supplier, Luxshare, halted its production operations by the end of October.
This disappointing market reception has had an immediate domino effect on competitors. Smartphone giants like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo have reportedly scrapped or significantly revised their development plans for similar Air-style models. Resources initially earmarked for these projects, including integrated eSIM solutions, are being reallocated to other product lines. Xiaomi was said to be developing a “true Air model” intended as a direct competitor, and Vivo was targeting a similar sleek profile for its mid-range S series. Both companies have now suspended these projects, though neither has made an official statement.
Apple banked on the iPhone Air’s radical new design to create a buzz, marking the first major aesthetic overhaul since the iPhone X introduced the notch and an all-screen front in 2017. However, achieving its super-slim 5.6 mm form factor came with notable compromises. The device incorporates a smaller battery and is limited to a single rear camera, yet it still commands a premium price point.
With a starting price of $999, many potential buyers perceive it as offering style over substance. It sits merely $100 below the $1,099 iPhone 17 Pro, a model that boasts a superior triple-lens camera system and significantly longer battery life. This pricing strategy appears to have backfired, failing to convince consumers of its value proposition.
The lukewarm consumer response has reportedly forced Apple to reconsider its approach entirely. According to a report from The Information, the company has delayed the development of a second-generation iPhone Air. Engineers are now tasked with redesigning the device, with a potential focus on incorporating a second rear camera and improving battery capacity, two of the most criticized shortcomings.
A similar narrative is unfolding for Samsung’s competing ultra-thin offering, the Galaxy S25 Edge. Due to persistently poor sales, the Korean tech giant has reportedly cancelled the planned Galaxy S26 Edge and has also halted production of the current Galaxy S25 Edge model.
(Source: Mac Rumors)
