The Apple iPhone Air is just 5.6mm thick (less than a quarter inch). Picture. Apple.
Apple’s new iPhone Air is struggling to breathe and is not as popular as the company had hoped it would be.
The iPhone Air’s demand failed to meet Apple’s expectations, and the company’s supply chain is scaling back shipments and production.
Reduction
Suppliers are expected to reduce capacity by more than 80 percent between now and the first quarter of 2026, and some components with longer lead times will be discontinued by the end of 2025, according to MacRumors.
According to report by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone Air’s poor performance suggests that the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro models already “cover the majority of high-end user demand,” so there is little room for new market segments.
NOW READ: iPhone 17 review: This is the Apple smartphone to get
Price
The iPhone Air costs a whopping R25 999 in South Africa,
The price of the Air, which CEO Tim Cook called the “biggest leap ever for iPhone”, is more expensive than a base iPhone 17, and is believed to be a major factor in the poor sales performance.
The iPhone 17 received the biggest upgrade, featuring superior specifications and a SIM card.
According to Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro have already “covered the majority of high-end user demand.”
Redesign
Apple announced the first major redesign of the iPhone in years in September, teasing the event with the phrase “awe-dropping” in a bid for the company to impress with its latest devices.
iPhone sales have been bumpy for years, and Apple has fallen behind competitors like Samsung on artificial intelligence (AI), including being caught in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump’s trade wars.
Apple was betting that iPhone Air would spark a super-cycle of iPhone purchases and reverse the trend of customers holding onto their devices longer before upgrading.
At just 5.6mm thick (less than a quarter inch), the $999 device features Apple’s new A19 Pro processor and promises all-day battery life with up to 40 hours of video playback.
ALSO READ: Competition Commission forces tech giants to make changes for SA users
