Regarding recent rumors about the iPhone Air 2, Bloomberg News reporter Mark Gurman, in his latest "Power On" column,Point outThis product was not actually scheduled for release next year in recent months, so it wasn't canceled due to poor iPhone Air sales, nor was it merely a six-month delay. Mark Gurman also reiterated that Apple's upcoming iPhone update schedule will be affected by the addition of...New folding modelsThis will lead to the announcement of high-end models in the fall of next year, followed by an update of standard models the year after.
Key upgrades to the iPhone Air 2: 2nm processor, non-dual-lens design
Previous reportsIt has been suggested that Apple delayed the launch of the iPhone Air 2 to add a second camera lens, but Mark Gurman is skeptical and points out different upgrade priorities.
Mark Gurman stated that the main upgrade focus of the iPhone Air 2 will be the replacement of the new...2nm process processor (It may be an A20 processor designed with TSMC's N2 process), rather than a structural update, and it brings a significant improvement in battery life.
Regarding the possibility of adding an ultra-wide-angle dual lens, Mark Gurman believes it is "technically feasible, but strange." The reason is that the space in the iPhone Air to accommodate the camera is already very cramped. If adding an ultra-wide-angle lens that is not frequently used would require redesigning the entire camera space, it would seem like a huge undertaking for an iPhone model with low sales volume.
Therefore, Mark Gurman believes the only reasonable scenario is that the dual-lens design used in future foldable iPhones will be "brought down" to standard models.
iPhone Air sales met expectations, but this product is not positioned for "annual upgrades".
In addition, Mark Gurman pointed out that when Apple initially developed the iPhone Air, it expected its sales to account for 6% to 8% of the total sales of the new iPhones. These figures are "roughly" comparable to the performance of the iPhone 16 Plus, meaning that the sales performance of the iPhone Air was not lower than Apple's original expectations.
Apple clearly did not want the iPhone Air to be fixed in an annual release cycle from the beginning. Therefore, its product name is simply "iPhone Air" instead of "iPhone 17 Air" as initially rumored in the market. This means that the product is positioned like the early iPhone SE series and is not classified as a model that is updated every year. It may be updated only once every few years.
The release schedule for the new iPhone in 2026 will be permanently split.
Mark Gurman also made predictions about the release schedule of future iPhone models, including the possibility that Apple plans to hold the iPhone launch event...Divided into spring and autumn seasonsThis allows for the distribution of revenue across different timeframes and maintains a certain level of market activity, avoiding the situation where new product sales are concentrated in the fall each year, only to become lackluster in the following spring.
Regarding the upcoming sales schedule for the new iPhone, Mark Gurman anticipates the following:
• Fall 2026 (Advanced):
Three high-end models will be launched: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the rumored first foldable iPhone (iPhone Fold).
• Spring 2027 (Standard):
Apple will release the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and a possible updated version of the iPhone Air about six months after the fall launch event.
Mark Gurman anticipates that this new launch pattern of "high-end models debuting first in the fall, followed by standard (letter) models the following spring" will continue for several years, with Apple releasing five to six new iPhones each year.
The real purpose of launching the iPhone Air: to create a technological prototype for foldable phones.
Mark Gurman reiterated that one of the reasons for the existence of the iPhone Air is to leverage technical expertise and prototyping knowledge related to the iPhone Fold, which is slated for release in 2026. The foldable iPhone design will utilize many of the same materials, miniaturization techniques, internal components, battery, and software optimizations as the iPhone Air.
