The author argues that Apple shouldn't cancel the iPhone Air, even though they've never liked it.

The iPhone Air is not performing as well as the standard iPhone 17, the smaller, high-end iPhone 17 Pro, and the larger iPhone 17 Pro Max. This outcome was anticipated by many tech journalists due to the Air's smaller battery.

Although initially expected to do moderately well, the iPhone Air has not met expectations, and Apple may be addressing this. One option for Apple, similar to a strategy Samsung has considered, would be discontinuing the iPhone Air to reduce losses. Another option would be offering discounts to broaden its appeal.

Historically, Apple has not discounted iPhones before a new model release, and a price reduction could suggest that its marketing was inaccurate. However, a price drop to $899 from $999 could increase sales and set the stage for a more successful follow-up in 2026.

While the iPhone Air's sales are not as poor as the Galaxy S25 Edge, initial estimates indicate it is selling about 14 percent better than the previous year's iPhone 16 Plus in China and the US. The iPhone 16 Plus had a strong start in September 2024. Given that the iPhone Air is essentially an experimental product, its performance is not particularly bad.

The primary issue is that Apple's expectations for the first-generation iPhone Air were too high. Additionally, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max are strong competitors. Apple needs to reassess the iPhone Air's potential and hope that sales do not decline significantly. The future of the model is uncertain.

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