It seems Apple’s big bet on “thin” has failed to impress consumers. In a stunning new report, Apple iPhone Air production orders are being slashed by over 90% starting in November, indicating the new model is a significant sales flop.
According to supply chain sources cited by Nikkei Asia, the ultra-thin iPhone Air has seen a “lukewarm reception” since its launch.
Why is the iPhone Air Failing?
The core issue appears to be a major miscalculation of consumer priorities. While the iPhone Air is an engineering marvel in terms of its thinness, it came with compromises.
A recent survey from KeyBanc Capital Markets found there was “virtually no demand for iPhone Air.” Consumers were simply not willing to sacrifice core features like battery life and camera capabilities for a slightly thinner design. This is a crucial lesson in how to choose a new gadget; consumers value practical features over simple aesthetics.
The iPhone Air’s struggles mirror those of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, which also failed to gain market traction, suggesting the ultra-thin trend may be dead on arrival.
How Are the Other iPhone 17 Models Doing?
This is the most interesting part of the story: the iPhone Air flop isn’t hurting Apple’s bottom line.
The same report notes that sales for the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models remain “healthy” and “strong.” In fact, Apple has reportedly increased production orders for these more popular models to compensate for the Air’s failure.
This move allows Apple to stick to its overall production forecast of 85 to 90 million units for the entire iPhone 17 lineup, proving the strength of its core products.
What This Means?
The failure of the iPhone Air is a rare and public miss for Apple. It shows that even the world’s most valuable tech company can misjudge what its customers truly want.
While the “Air” branding works for MacBooks, it seems iPhone users are not willing to make the same compromises. The good news for Apple is that the strength of its Pro models is more than enough to cover for this stumble.