Apple May Launch iPhone Air 2 in 2027 — Could Samsung Follow Suit?

Apple may be gearing up to bring back its ultra-slim smartphone vision. A fresh report suggests the company is considering launching the next-gen iPhone Air (which might be called iPhone Air 2) in 2027. This raises a question for the smartphone industry: if Apple returns to slim phones, will Samsung follow with a new Galaxy S Edge?

Apple could introduce a new slim iPhone model

Last year, Apple debuted the iPhone Air alongside the iPhone 17 series, positioning a new ultra-thin offering. However, the device failed to attract most buyers, resulting in poor sales performance. The company then reportedly dropped the next Air model from the upcoming iPhone 18 lineup.

Now, it looks like Apple is rethinking its strategy instead of dumping the idea completely. Korean media The Elec reports that the Cupertino giant is considering an iPhone Air 2 for 2027. The device could feature CoE (Color filter on Encapsulation) OLED display technology. As such, the company could make a thinner phone without the compromises that troubled the first iPhone Air.

However, the outlet (citing a different industry insider note) says Apple will decide whether to use CoE technology and release the next-gen iPhone Air in Q3 2026. Samsung Display is expected to benefit, as it already has the capability to handle the CoE manufacturing process and could supply displays for the iPhone Air 2.

Samsung might revive the Galaxy S Edge lineup as well

But what about Samsung MX division’s own ultra-slim smartphone ambitions? The company previously planned to expand its slim phone lineup with a Galaxy S26 Edge, replacing the Galaxy S26+ model. However, the firm later canceled the Edge model for the same reason as Apple: it failed to gain traction in the market. As a result, the upcoming Galaxy S26 series will return to the usual trio of models: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Now that Apple is considering bringing back the iPhone Air, Samsung might also revisit its plans for slim phones in the coming months. The company might introduce a Galaxy S27 Edge in 2027 or a completely new model that reflects its slim ambitions without compromising performance. In fact, Samsung is reportedly working on a new ultra-slim smartphone codenamed “More Slim.” We expect to hear more details about the Korean firm’s plans in the coming months.