Trend On Tech

Home
Mobile

iPhone Air 2 Leak Hints Shock 2026 Comeback

New leak claims Apple’s iPhone Air 2 could still launch in fall 2026, despite earlier reports of a 2027 delay and weak first-gen sales.
Close-up of the rear camera, flash, and microphone on a white iPhone Air with a minimalist glass back.

A detailed view of the rear camera module and flash on a white Apple iPhone.
Image Credit: Apple

Apple is weighing whether to keep its ultra‑thin iPhone Air on a fall 2026 launch track, pitting a new Weibo leak against a growing body of reports that the sequel has been pushed into 2027 after weak first‑generation sales.

A leaker known as “Fixed Focus Digital” said sources indicate the second‑generation iPhone Air will debut at Apple’s main fall iPhone event in 2026, reviving an earlier roadmap that paired the device with higher‑end models rather than relegating it to a later slot. That claim directly challenges multiple reports, including from The Information and other outlets, that Apple told engineers and suppliers the follow‑up Air had been taken off the 2026 schedule and was being reworked for a spring 2027 release alongside the standard iPhone 18 and a lower‑priced iPhone 18e.

The original iPhone Air, positioned as an ultra‑thin alternative to flagship models, has reportedly underperformed relative to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro, prompting suppliers to scale back production and forcing Apple to reconsider the device’s role in its lineup. In response, Apple is said to be redesigning the Air 2 to close key feature gaps, including adding a second rear camera, cutting the price from the current model’s premium starting point and improving battery life, weight and cooling with a vapor‑chamber system.

Fixed Focus Digital’s latest post also claims the iPhone 17e, Apple’s next budget‑oriented model, has already entered mass production ahead of a planned spring 2026 launch event, underscoring Apple’s push to stagger lower‑cost and premium releases across the year. The 17e is widely expected to build on the current 16e by adopting an A19‑class chip, a glass back to restore magnetic wireless charging and other incremental upgrades aimed at keeping Apple Intelligence and new Siri features available in mid‑range hardware.

Analysts see Apple’s deliberations over the Air 2 timing as part of a broader shake‑up of the iPhone roadmap that also includes plans for iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple’s first foldable iPhone in fall 2026, with non‑Pro iPhone 18 variants and a lower‑priced 18e tentatively pushed to 2027. If Apple restores the Air 2 to the 2026 calendar, it would signal renewed confidence that a thinner design, a more competitive camera setup and a lower entry price can rescue a product that has so far failed to resonate with mainstream buyers.