Apple has reportedly put the brakes on its next lightweight iPhone. According to The Information, the company has told its engineers and suppliers that the second-generation iPhone Air is being taken off the production schedule, with no new release timeline in sight. The decision, described by the publication as “rare if not unprecedented,” suggests Apple is rethinking the future of the Air lineup just a few months after its debut.
Sources involved in the project told The Information that Apple hasn’t entirely scrapped the iPhone Air 2, but has temporarily paused its development. Some engineers and manufacturing partners are said to still be working on the device, hinting that Apple may be exploring a redesign or a change in positioning before it reappears in the roadmap.
Originally, the iPhone Air 2 was expected to launch next year alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone Fold. The device was rumoured to bring a larger battery, a thinner and lighter body, and a vapour chamber cooling system similar to the one introduced on the iPhone 17 Pro. Early supply chain leaks also suggested that the upcoming Air could feature a dual-camera setup, a first for the model.
However, the current version of the iPhone Air seems to have struggled in the market, reportedly prompting this delay. The cited source notes that Foxconn, Apple’s main production partner for the device, has already scaled down its manufacturing capacity, shutting down all but one and a half of its assembly lines and planning to end production entirely by the end of this month. Luxshare, another assembly partner, is said to have stopped production by the end of October.
The slowdown shows weaker-than-expected demand for the iPhone Air, which was introduced as a lighter and more affordable alternative within Apple’s lineup. Analysts believe that Apple may have overestimated the appeal of a thinner design in a market that increasingly prioritises performance, battery life, and camera capability over weight and size.
For now, Apple’s 2026 iPhone lineup is expected to include the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the company’s first foldable iPhone. The standard iPhone 18 and the entry-level iPhone 18e are reportedly set to follow in early 2027.
Still, there’s a chance the iPhone Air 2 hasn’t been grounded entirely. One source quoted by The Information said Apple could bring it back in spring 2027, possibly launching it alongside the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e. If that happens, the next iPhone Air could return not just as a refresh, but as a reimagined product built to fit better into Apple’s evolving lineup.
