Early reactions to Apple’s first iPhone Air were mixed. Some buyers liked the slim design, but many felt the phone asked too much while offering too little. Critics were quick to call it a rare misstep for Apple, and rumours soon followed that the company might quietly move on. That doesn’t seem to be the case.
Fresh reports suggest Apple is already working on a second-generation model, widely expected to be called the iPhone Air 2. Rather than abandoning the idea, the company appears to be fixing what didn’t work the first time around. If current leaks are accurate, the new model could debut at Apple’s fall event in September 2026.
The biggest issue with the original iPhone Air was simple: the camera. With only a single rear lens, the phone felt out of place in a market where even budget devices now offer multiple cameras. That limitation turned off many potential buyers. According to recent leaks, Apple plans to address that directly by adding a second camera to the iPhone Air 2, bringing it closer in line with consumer expectations.
The report comes from leaker Fixed Focus Digital, who says Apple is still targeting a fall launch. That claim contradicts recent reporting from The Information, which said Apple had pulled the next Air model off its internal schedule. A follow-up report suggested some engineers were instead pushing for a redesigned Air in spring 2027, alongside the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e.
Beyond the camera, pricing is another area Apple is said to be reconsidering. Sources indicate the company has gone “back to the drawing board,” exploring ways to make the Air 2 more appealing without undercutting its core lineup.
There’s movement elsewhere in Apple’s plans as well. The iPhone 17e is still expected to arrive at Apple’s spring event, usually held in March. That model is shaping up to be a modest refresh, adding a new C1X modem and bringing back magnetic wireless charging, a feature many users missed on the iPhone 16e.
For now, the message is clear: Apple isn’t giving up on the iPhone Air. It’s trying to get it right.
Read next: From iPhone Fold to 20: Apple’s upcoming smartphones
