Apple iPhone Air sales stumble as company pivots toward foldable phones

Apple’s ultra‑thin iPhone Air, launched with a 5.6 mm profile and a €1,000 price tag, accounted for only about 6 % of total iPhone 17 sales – the same share the discontinued iPhone mini once held. In the United States the Air sold roughly three times more than the older iPhone Plus, while in design‑focused markets such as Japan and Sweden its market share rose into double‑digit figures.

Industry analysts note that Apple used the Air as a “Trojan horse” to field its first in‑house 5G modem (chip C1X) and other new components in real‑world conditions. The device’s modest 48 MP camera, 3,149 mAh battery and single‑speaker audio were trade‑offs required to keep the chassis thin.

Facing modest demand, Apple has frozen development of an iPhone Air 2 and the base iPhone 18 slated for spring 2027, redirecting resources toward a forthcoming foldable iPhone expected later this year. In the interim the company plans to upgrade the Air with a second ultra‑wide camera, a larger ~3,500 mAh battery and the next‑generation A20 processor built on a 2‑nm process.