A tech blogger revealed that although sales of the iPhone Air and iPhone 16e are not optimistic, both models will undergo normal iterations. However, the 17e will be released as scheduled next spring, while the Air 2 will be delayed.
According to CNMO, the iPhone Air, Apple's ultra-thin high-end model in the iPhone 17 series, has received a lukewarm market response since its launch in September 2025. Data shows that only about 100,000 units were activated in China within 12 days of its launch, far below the company's expectations. Due to poor sales performance, Apple has notified its supply chain and engineers to postpone the release of the next-generation iPhone Air (Air 2) from the original fall 2026, and has not yet provided a new timetable. Supply chain sources indicate that manufacturers such as Foxconn and Luxshare Precision have gradually stopped production lines related to the Air.
The more entry-level iPhone 16e also failed to gain market traction. Although its sales in the first three days were 60% higher than its predecessor, the iPhone SE3, the cumulative activation volume was only about 28,000 units, failing to reverse the overall decline in Apple's sales in China. In the European market, the 16e initially sold worse than its predecessor due to its higher starting price compared to the SE series and lower specifications.
Apple attempted to cover the mid-range and ultra-thin market segments with the iPhone Air and e series, but the two products failed to find a balance between pricing, specifications, and value for money, leading consumers to prefer the standard iPhone or similarly priced Android models. This adjustment to the iteration plan reflects another setback for Apple in its attempt to enter new markets.
