Featured Image Credit: ANGELA WEISS / Contributor / Getty
Seldom do you hear about Apple products flopping.
Despite complaints about recent iOS 26 updates, including the Liquid Glass interface overhaul and 'frustrating' features that even Justin Bieber can't tolerate, Apple has always remained a dominant tech player.
However, if you've been following Apple closely, you might have noticed the conspicuous lack of iPhone Air sales.
Reports indicate the Air has sold substantially worse than the iPhone 17 lineup. According to an analysis by Pocket Lint, this failure could have tech-industry-wide consequences that persist for years.
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Apple's decisions have shaped the smartphone industry for nearly two decades. Some giants that initially dismissed the iPhone either lost their prominence or exited the business completely, like Nokia. Samsung arguably represents the biggest success story, after essentially copying many iPhone features, which led Apple to do the same.
However, following the iPhone Air's struggles, three major Chinese brands are abandoning similar ultra-thin phones, DigiTimes reported. Xiaomi has reportedly scrapped a 'true Air model,' while Oppo and Vivo have halted similar projects. Meanwhile, Samsung has discontinued production of its current Air competitor, the Galaxy S25 Edge, and stopped development on the S26 Edge entirely.
Launching a smartphone line requires significant time and resources, so manufacturers typically persist even when the odds of success are long. So the fact that four companies have simultaneously changed direction following Apple's iPhone flop raises questions.
The ultra-slim category will allegedly remain niche for the foreseeable future, unless Apple's rumoured second-generation Air in 2027 addresses all the problems that sank the original, Pocket Lint noted.
Moreover, tech experts claim Apple's focus for fall 2026 will be the 'inevitable iPhone Fold clones.'
While the iPhone Air's battery life proved better than initially feared, it still falls short of any iPhone 17 model. Similarly, the Air features only a single wide-angle camera at a time when budget smartphones include two cameras, and triple-camera setups are 'slowly becoming the norm.'
The problem isn't the lack of upgrades, but the premium price tag that offers an 'inferior' product, Pocket Lint argued.
"You're paying more for less, unless thinness, an A19 Pro chip, and a marginally larger screen are somehow dramatic advantages for you," the analysis read. "I do know people who love how light the Air is, but I've also heard many people agree that the Air should be priced at a discount, not a premium. A $699 model might've flown off the shelves."
