After Samsung, Apple Rethinks Slim Smartphones — iPhone Air 2 Shelved

If reports are to be believed, Samsung has hit pause on its Edge-branded slim smartphone project, if not shelved it entirely. The reason is simple: lack of consumer interest. The Galaxy S25 Edge couldn’t outsell the S25+, already the least popular model in Samsung’s flagship lineup. Unsurprisingly, things haven’t gone much better at Apple, and it has now reportedly taken the iPhone Air 2 off its release schedule as well.

Apple to stop working on iPhone Air 2 after poor market response

Apple had initially planned to launch the second-generation iPhone Air next fall alongside the iPhone 18 series. The device was expected to be lighter than the current model, with a larger battery and other hardware upgrades, including a dual rear camera setup. However, with the original model failing to excite consumers beyond enthusiasts, the company has hit the brakes on its development.

According to The Information (via 9to5Mac), which cites three people involved with the project, Apple has “notified engineers and suppliers that they were taking the next iPhone Air off the schedule without providing a new release date.” The report notes that Apple hasn’t canceled the device entirely, describing the decision as “rare, if not unprecedented.” It appears to be a wait-and-see approach driven by weak demand.

Now, if you have been keeping tabs on Samsung’s side of things, the situation is exactly the same. Both companies appear to have overestimated the market appeal of ultra-thin flagships and no longer see a strong business case for keeping them in next year’s lineup.

Samsung had originally planned to replace the Galaxy S26+ with the S26 Edge in 2026, but not anymore. The Galaxy S26+ is back in the lineup instead. A recent report suggested that the company still has a slim phone in development under a different project. However, if Apple shelves its iPhone Air project for good, we may never see another Edge from Samsung.