Apple’s iPhone Air 2 is still on track to launch later this year – potentially alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models – despite earlier reports pointing to a 2027 release.
According to Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital, feedback from Apple’s production line indicates the iPhone Air 2 is coming this fall, but expectations should be kept in check.
The update is described as a routine refresh rather than a major rethink. In other words, don’t expect a dramatic redesign or big feature shake-up if this report proves accurate, with a spec bump the likely outcome.
That claim directly clashes with a November report from The Information, which said Apple had pushed the iPhone Air’s follow-up to 2027 after underwhelming sales. That report also suggested Apple would use the extra time to rethink the device, potentially adding a second rear camera, shaving off more weight, improving cooling with a vapour chamber, and boosting battery capacity.
Adding to the confusion, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman pushed back on the idea of a delay, arguing that the iPhone Air was never tied to an annual upgrade cycle in the first place. The name itself, Gurman said, hinted that Apple didn’t want to lock the Air into the same yearly rhythm as its numbered iPhones. His sources instead point to a spring 2027 refresh, possibly launching alongside the standard iPhone 18 and a lower-cost iPhone 18e as part of Apple’s split-release strategy.
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External changes are unlikely anyway
Gurman has also suggested that the real focus of the next Air won’t be external changes, but a shift to a 2nm chip, which could bring meaningful gains in efficiency and battery life, arguably more in line with the Air’s lightweight, endurance-first appeal.
So where does that leave things? A 2026 launch isn’t impossible, but the mixed messaging makes this one far from settled. Fixed Focus Digital has a decent track record, having previously revealed the iPhone 16e name ahead of time, but multiple credible reports still point toward a longer wait.
For now, the iPhone Air 2 remains a question mark. Whether Apple opts for a quiet spec bump later this year or a more considered update in 2027, it’s clear the Air isn’t following the usual iPhone playbook, and that might be the most telling detail of all.
The iPhone Air is Apple’s most interesting, fun and likely divisive phone in a decade. It’s surprisingly durable, designed with such flair that it feels wonderful to pick up and does what it sets out to do very well. But, there are sacrifices here – and for some, they will simply be too much.
Pros
Sublime looks and feel
Lovely ProMoton screen
Great camera
Excellent performance
Cons
Battery life can’t quite match the Plus phones
Single camera lacks versatility
A hard sell for some when the iPhone 17 is so much cheaper
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