Just a week after rumors about Samsung canceling the Galaxy S26 Edge due to low sales of the ultra-slim S25 Edge, Apple is reportedly notifying its supply chain partners of plans to scale back iPhone Air production. According to people familiar with the matter, Apple is maintaining its overall production estimate for the iPhone 17 lineup, around 85 to 90 million units total, reports Nikkei Asia; however, those sources said iPhone Air production has been slashed to borderline “end of production” levels.
While the Air’s battery life and the single camera are drawbacks compared to the iPhone 17 Pro, The Verge’s Allison Johnson praised the fresh design in our review, saying that “My overall impression using the Air is the same as with the S25 Edge: the slim profile might be the headline attraction, but the lighter weight is the real benefit.” The iPhone Air is Apple’s first dip into ultra-thin phones, and may be a precursor to the rumored foldable iPhone.
The Air reportedly accounted for about 10 to 15 percent of all production orders projected for the iPhone 17 lineup, but the actual volume will be significantly reduced in November onward, according to supply chain managers. Nikkei Asia’s report also says Apple has bumped up base iPhone 17 production by 5 million units and increased production for the Pro models, as well.
On Monday, the analysts at Counterpoint said their data is showing the iPhone 17 series outsold the iPhone 16 series by 14 percent during the first 10 days of availability in the US and China.
Base iPhone 17 sales saw a particularly sharp 31 percent increase, and we have a few ideas about why—the addition of an always-on, high-refresh-rate display stood out in our review. The iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max got a 12 percent bump as carrier deals on upgrades offered deep discounts, according to the survey. Meanwhile, the iPhone Air is reportedly selling similarly to the iPhone 16 Plus, which it replaced in the iPhone lineup. Both phones made up the smallest portion of sales for their respective generations.
