iPhone Air Could Be Headed for the Same Trouble as the Galaxy S26 Edge

It seems things aren’t going too well for the iPhone Air either. Hot on the heels of rumors that Samsung may have scrapped the Galaxy S26 Edge, Apple is reportedly scaling back production of the iPhone Air, according to supply chain sources. This suggests that no matter how appealing the form factor might be, the market just isn’t ready for it yet.

Apple slashes iPhone Air production due to weak demand, and we’ve been down this road before

Nikkei Asia reports that while Apple is increasing production of other iPhone 17 models, the iPhone Air is seeing a cutback. The publication reports the decision comes from weak demand in several markets. Originally, the iPhone Air was expected to make up about 10–15% of all new iPhones this year. It’s also said to be a test run for Apple’s first foldable device, rumored to launch in 2026.

Apple has reportedly asked suppliers to scale back on parts for the iPhone Air. One supply chain manager told the outlet that production orders for November are less than 10% of what they were in September. Another supplier received a similar notice. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are performing much better. And Apple has even added around 5 million more iPhone 17 units to its orders.

The situation seems quite similar to what Samsung is doing with the Galaxy S26 Edge. Multiple sources have confirmed that Samsung won’t be launching the Galaxy S26 Edge early next year. It’s unclear if the company plans to discontinue the Edge lineup altogether, but it doesn’t seem to be coming back anytime soon. In case of Samsung as well, the reason is weak sales and slow demand.

It might simply not be the right time for these kinds of devices. Consumers don’t seem too impressed, especially with the compromises that come with the sleek form factor. Battery life is a major concern for both the iPhone Air and the Galaxy S25 Edge.

In fact, Apple even teased a MagSafe Power Bank for the iPhone Air during its launch event. On top of that, the iPhone Air features just one rear camera, while the Galaxy S25 Edge doesn’t do much better with only two. For now, it seems these phones still have a bit of growing up to do.