Over the past few months, rumors about the second-generation iPhone Air have been all over the place. While some reports suggested Apple had scrapped the model due to weak sales of the original, others pointed to a delayed launch in 2027. Last month, a leak contradicted both these claims, hinting that Apple could still launch the iPhone Air 2 this fall. Now, the same leaker has doubled down on this release timeline and offered a few more details.
In a recent post on Weibo, leaker Fixed Focus Digital has claimed that information from Apple’s manufacturing supply chain points to a fall 2026 launch for the iPhone Air 2, despite other sources disputing this timeline. The leaker also noted that the device will be a relatively minor upgrade, which aligns with previous leaks suggesting that the slim phone could get a new chip and the latest software, but not much else.
The future of the iPhone Air 2 remains up in the air
As with all leaks, this information should be taken with a grain of salt, especially since other, more reliable sources maintain that Apple won’t refresh the iPhone Air in 2026. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has a stellar track record with Apple-related leaks, has previously said that Apple never planned to include the iPhone Air in its annual refresh cycle and it was only meant to be “a technology exercise and a prototype en route to the foldable iPhone.”
On the other hand, a report from The Information highlighted that Apple canceled trial production for the iPhone Air 2 late last year following weak sales of the first model and is now considering a major redesign that could launch in 2027. The report added that Apple was weighing a second rear camera for the upgraded model and a lower retail price to make it more appealing to buyers.
With conflicting reports and leaks, the future of the iPhone Air 2 is uncertain. Whether Apple will stick to a minor update this year or wait until 2027 to launch a major redesign next year remains to be seen.