Khaberni - Apple is preparing to revive the ultra-thin phone project through «iPhone Air 2», in a step that appears completely different from the first experiment that did not achieve the expected success in global markets.
While major companies have backed down from plans to compete in this category, Apple continues to work on developing a new generation with extensive modifications aimed at addressing the most prominent criticisms faced by the previous release.
According to recent leaks reported by the technology news site MacRumors, the new phone may become the only ultra-thin flagship device in the next generation of smartphones, after the withdrawal of several competing companies from this race.
The circulated information indicated that the first generation of "iPhone Air" did not achieve the commercial results Apple had hoped for, despite the promotional campaigns and price reductions that were subsequently offered to stimulate sales.
According to the famous leak account "Digital Chat Station" on the Chinese platform Weibo, the number of activated units of the phone barely exceeds 700,000 units, a number considered by observers to be much lower than expected for a phone carrying the Apple brand.
The leaks also revealed that one of the Chinese companies developing an ultra-thin competing phone was only able to register about 50,000 activation operations, which led it to completely reconsider the project amid expectations of its final cancellation.
The poor performance of this category did not stop at Apple only but also affected the plans of other companies within the smartphone market.
For instance, "Xiaomi" was working on developing a thin phone to compete with "Apple", while "Vivo" was considering reducing the thickness of some phones in its "S" series, but reports indicated that these projects had halted recently.
In the same context, there were rumors about "Samsung" canceling the second generation of the Galaxy S25 Edge after the limited results achieved by the first release, which reinforced the possibilities of Apple remaining almost the only player within this specialized category.
Despite the commercial failure of the first version, Apple seems to be sticking with the idea of ultra-thin phones, but with extensive modifications to the next generation.
A report by The Information mentioned that the American company is considering adding a second rear camera, expected to be an ultra-wide lens, alongside the main 48-megapixel Fusion camera.
The anticipated improvements also include redesigning the internal components to reduce weight, developing a cooling system based on a vapor chamber to improve thermal performance, and increasing the battery capacity, which was one of the main points of criticism in the previous release.
The leaks also indicate that Apple has requested suppliers to develop an ultra-thin Face ID unit in order to provide additional internal space to add the new camera without sacrificing the phone's thin design.
The circulating reports confirm that Apple is rearranging its phone launch schedule for the next phase. iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, as well as the foldable phone, are expected to be revealed in the fall of 2026, while the launch of iPhone 18 basic, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 will be postponed until the spring of 2027.
Observers believe this change reflects Apple's attempt to give ultra-thin phones more room to appear in the market, especially after the significant decline in interest by competing companies in this category.
Apple bets on the second attempt
Despite all the negative indicators surrounding the first generation, Apple remains convinced that ultra-thin phones still have a chance to succeed if developed appropriately.
According to the latest leaks, the company is betting on a more balanced experience that combines a thin design with practical specifications, with possibilities for a price reduction compared to the previous release to attract a larger segment of users.
Several reports indicate that spring 2027 is the expected date for the arrival of "iPhone Air 2".
