The iPhone Air is basically DOA, reports claim

Apple announced a quartet of new smartphones at its “Awe Dropping” press event last month, but there was no doubt which of them was the most exciting. While the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max were all conservative iterations of previous models, the ultra-thin iPhone Air was something completely new.

But as some pundits predicted, the whirlwind of columns and live eyeballs that greeted the iPhone Air’s launch doesn’t appear to have translated into robust sales. In fact, it might sell very poorly.

According to a new report from Nikkei Asia citing “multiple sources with knowledge of the matter,” Apple has “significantly” reduced production orders for the iPhone Air due to low demand. The reductions are consistent, according to sources, with a product at END of his life, rather than a brand new one.

“Total forecasts have almost entered end-of-production mode,” said one of the managers interviewed by Nikkei, “down significantly from previous projections.”

A survey of investors by KeyBanc Capital Markets paints an even bleaker picture. The research indicates “virtually no consumer demand for the iPhone Air model.”

It may not be the disaster we think. Because the rest of the range seems to be selling very well. Both reports confirm this, with KeyBanc noting “healthy demand for the iPhone 17” and, better yet, “a continued move towards more expensive Pro and Pro Max models.” Nikkei, meanwhile, reports that demand for the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro “exceeded expectations” and that Apple increased orders for non-Air models as a result. Does it matter if the Air sells poorly, provided similarly or higher priced iPhone 17 Pro models make up the deficit?

Well, maybe yes. The problem, Apple knows, is that it can’t always rely on the same old iPhone design. In this respect, the iPhone Air is a bit like the Vision Pro: it’s Apple’s attempt to figure out what’s next. Based on these sales numbers, it’s not.

And if you think the Air was ever just a placeholder for next year’s first foldable iPhone, we’ve got even more bad news. The KeyBanc survey also asked consumers about this format. And what did he find? “Limited willingness to pay for a foldable iPhone. »

Let’s just hope the standard iPhone has a few more years left.