Editorials · Insider Reaction

I fear Apple might be unintentionally setting up the iPhone Air 2 to fail

With so many good iPhone models coming out, what exactly does the iPhone Air offer you?

By · Senior News Writer
This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
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White iPhone Air charging wirelessly on MagSafe stand
The iPhone Air 2 wasn't popular. Will its successor be? | Image by PhoneArena
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The iPhone Air 2 is reportedly coming out early next year, possibly in the month of March. It will be announced alongside the base iPhone 18 model as well as the iPhone 18e.

Of course, the iPhone Air is a replacement for the iPhone Plus models, which themselves were replacements for the iPhone mini models. Apple has been struggling to make an iPhone model that isn’t the base or a Pro variant but is still something that customers would want to get.

After seeing the new iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo, however, and especially when thinking about all of the leaked information we have on the iPhone Air 2, a worry springs to mind.

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Apple might unintentionally be setting up the iPhone Air 2 to fail.

Not enough hardware for the asking price




Perhaps the biggest reason for the poor sales of the iPhone Air was the fact that the phone featured much less impressive hardware for its asking price of $999. You only got one camera, a very small battery, decreased performance, and a subpar audio experience.

It made a lot more sense to spend another extra $100 and get an iPhone 17 Pro instead. And, given what we know about the iPhone Air 2, it feels like the same might be true for this upcoming model as well.

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Yes, we’re apparently getting another camera at least, but you would still expect a telephoto lens too at this price. Speaking of which, the iPhone Air 2 will most likely be more expensive than its predecessor as well, just like the new iPhone 18 Pro models are. This will further make it seem like a poor option for the cost.

What would make the iPhone Air 2 a worthwhile purchase?
5 Votes


Additionally, though the battery capacity is said to be higher, it will still fall far behind rival phones in this same price range. Unless Apple uses some new battery tech, the iPhone Air 2 will have unimpressive battery life.

As the base iPhone models keep getting better and better, to the point that the iPhone 17 sold exceptionally well around the globe, the iPhone Air series makes less and less sense. I’ve always said that I feel like Apple wants the iPhone Air to become the go-to iPhone for the average customer.

That’s never going to happen if these are the specs you’re getting for this price. And I’ve barely mentioned the thermal and performance metrics which will continue to lag behind the Pro models.

If you want an iPhone without a telephoto lens and hardware that doesn’t feel top-of-the-line, just get a base iPhone 18 instead. Yes, it will be thicker, but it will also have better battery life to make up for it.

What exactly is the iPhone Air 2 offering?




No, seriously, think about it. What exactly is the iPhone Air 2 offering? I can only think of one thing, aesthetics.

Unfortunately for Apple, that isn’t good enough to get most people to buy the Air. The MacBook Air isn’t popular just because of its sleek looks and fanless design, it also offers exceptional power to boot.

If the iPhone Air 2 doesn’t offer a full suite of cameras, isn’t as powerful as the Pro models despite being almost as expensive as them, and has poor battery life, then what’s the point? Now that the Pro models are being offered in black again, the Air series doesn’t even have that going for it.

The only reason someone would buy the iPhone Air 2 now is because they really like the idea of a super-slim phone. I get it, I do too, but I still wouldn’t buy the Air 2 until it comes with a telephoto lens and a much better battery.

Apple might just unintentionally be setting up the iPhone Air 2 to fail, and that’s a shame because I would love to see more competent slim phones from the company as well as its rivals like Samsung and Google.

Why the iPhone Air falls so far behind the newest Apple phones:

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