Apple’s iPhone Air was meant to be a bold rethink of the iPhone formula, but its ultra-thin design came with some real compromises.
According to a post on Weibo from known leaker Instant Digital, Apple has asked one of its suppliers to develop an ultra-thin Face ID component.
The idea, reportedly, is to free up internal space inside the next-generation device. This move would potentially allow Apple to fit both a main and an ultra-wide camera on the back of the iPhone Air 2.
If that turns out to be true, it would address one of the biggest complaints about the original iPhone Air.
While impressively slim at just 5.64mm, the design forced Apple to relocate much of the internal hardware to a raised camera plateau. That move helped make room for a larger battery. But, it also meant the Air was stuck with just a single rear camera.
That limitation was hard to justify, especially given that the battery life still fell short. In our testing, the iPhone Air lasted around 12 hours, well behind the 17 hours seen across the rest of the iPhone 17 line-up. Combined with a £999/$999 starting price, the Air ended up in an awkward position. It was more expensive than the standard iPhone 17 and uncomfortably close to the far more capable iPhone 17 Pro.
A thinner Face ID module could help Apple rebalance those trade-offs. By shrinking components at the front of the phone, Apple may be able to redistribute space internally. This could make room for a second camera without sacrificing battery size or thickness.
That said, this leak doesn’t fully line up with other reports. Recent rumours have described the iPhone Air 2 as a fairly conservative update. They mention only a newer chip and software tweaks rather than major hardware changes. If that’s accurate, a dual-camera set-up might still be off the table.
Instant Digital also suggested the thinner Face ID tech could appear in future MacBooks, though that seems speculative for now. Apple is reportedly prioritising Touch ID for other form factors, including its long-rumoured foldable device.
As always with Apple leaks, nothing is guaranteed. However, with fresh rumours pointing to a fall launch rather than a long wait until 2027, we may not have to wait too long to see whether Apple is ready to give the iPhone Air a second chance. The update could also fix some of its biggest missteps in the process.
The post iPhone Air 2 could get a serious Face ID upgrade appeared first on Trusted Reviews.
