Apple’s iPhone Air is so unpopular, production’s getting axed

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So much for the iPhone Air era. Apple’s thinnest, lightest gamble on smartphone design has landed with less fanfare than an iOS update notification.

According to MacRumors, Apple is “drastically” cutting production of the iPhone Air after weak consumer interest pushed sales projections to the floor—nearly “end of production” levels, by supplier estimates.

The iPhone Air’s pitch was all about disappearing into your hand, measuring a wafer-thin 5.6mm and weighing just 165 grams, making it the thinnest phone Apple has ever released.

But as Apple itself admits, that’s pretty much the headline. Real-world buyers didn’t seem to care.

Despite initial reports of the Air selling out within hours in China, the rest of the world greeted it with a resounding “meh,” and even in China, enthusiasm faded quickly.

As first reported by Nikkei Asia, Apple’s supply chain is now seeing production orders for the iPhone Air cut to less than 10% of their original volume.

The move comes right after a KeyBanc Capital Markets survey found “virtually no demand for iPhone Air,” with most would-be buyers showing little willingness to pay for a phone that’s thin on features as well as profile.

According to AppleInsider, Apple’s initial plan was for the Air to make up 10-15% of its 2025 iPhone batch.

Now, analysts say it’s being pushed aside to make room for increased production of the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro, both of which are seeing “healthy but measured” demand.

The Air’s lack of a second camera, mono speaker, and a battery that’s more “petite” than powerful didn’t win over consumers who are used to more robust hardware for their money.

The bottom line? The iPhone Air is swiftly becoming a collector’s item for the Apple faithful—a phone so niche, Apple itself is ready to pretend it never happened.

If this was supposed to be the next big thing, it turns out thin and light just isn’t enough when the rest of the package feels, well, a little empty.

Kevin Raposo

Kevin is KnowTechie's founder and executive editor. With over 15 years of blogging experience in the tech industry, Kevin has transformed what was once a passion project into a full-blown tech news publication. Shoot him an email at kevin@knowtechie.com.