In the relentless pursuit of a sleeker, more elegant smartphone, Apple pushed the boundaries of engineering with the iPhone Air. At a jaw-dropping 5.6 mm (0.22 inches) thick, it’s not just thin; it’s a statement, holding the title as one of the slimmest phones ever to hit the market, even edging out competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. But in the world of tech, what seems like a triumph in design can sometimes be a compromise in function—and according to mounting reports, consumers have voted with their wallets, making the iPhone Air one of Apple's rare commercial missteps.
The fallout from this experiment in minimalism appears to be so significant that it's causing a domino effect across the industry, leading major players like Xiaomi and Vivo to rethink their own ultra-thin ambitions.
The Price of Thinness: Significant Compromises
From the moment it was unveiled, the iPhone Air’s design was its main selling point. It felt like a feather in the hand, a testament to Apple’s design prowess. However, to achieve that svelte profile, Apple’s engineers had to make some tough choices—choices that ultimately may have doomed the device.
The most glaring compromise lies in its battery. Packing a relatively small 3,149 mAh cell, the iPhone Air’s endurance pales in comparison to virtually all its modern competitors. In an age where power users demand all-day battery life and more, this was a hard pill to swallow. Furthermore, the camera system was stripped down, entirely omitting the popular ultrawide and telephoto lenses found on the iPhone Pro models and most other flagship devices. For many consumers, a smartphone is their primary camera, and this limitation proved to be a deal-breaker.
A Commercial Disappointment and Production Halt
These limitations seem to have had a direct impact on sales. Multiple reports, including a detailed analysis from DigiTimes, suggest that iPhone Air sales have been "less-than-stellar," with production expected to be halted entirely by the end of November. This is a remarkably short lifecycle for an Apple product, signaling that the device failed to resonate with the broader market.
While Apple is rumored to be developing a second-generation iPhone Air, the project appears to be going back to the drawing board, with a potential release not expected until 2027.
The implications of this flop are being felt far beyond Cupertino. According to a report from DigiTimes, Apple's struggle has sent a powerful message to the entire smartphone sector. The report cites anonymous industry sources who claim that Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo have either abandoned or significantly revised their plans for similarly ultra-thin devices.
The Ripple Effect: Competitors Scrap Their Slim Dreams
It seems the iPhone Air’s failure served as a cautionary tale that the entire industry was watching closely. Xiaomi was reportedly deep in the development of a smartphone nearly as thin as the iPhone Air, but work on that model has now been allegedly discontinued.
This trend isn't limited to Apple. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge—another ultra-thin contender—has also reportedly fallen short of commercial expectations, and its follow-up model has been scrapped. When two of the biggest names in the business stumble with a similar product strategy, it’s only logical for others to take notice. As highlighted in a follow-up report from 9to5Mac, Chinese smartphone brands watched the iPhone Air flop and promptly canceled their own plans.
The message from consumers appears to be clear: thinness alone is no longer a compelling enough reason to buy a premium smartphone if it comes at the cost of battery life and camera versatility.
Is There Still a Market? The Motorola Edge 70 Test Case
So, does this mean the ultra-thin phone is dead? Not necessarily. The intriguing test case now is the Motorola Edge 70. It occupies a similar space as a sleek, modern device but seems to have struck a more balanced approach. While still incredibly thin, it is not just slightly more affordable than Apple's and Samsung's ultra-thin flagships like the Galaxy S25 Edge, but it also packs features consumers demonstrably care about: a sizeable 4,800 mAh battery and a capable dual 50 MP rear camera system.
The success or failure of the Motorola Edge 70 will be the next data point for the industry. If it finds a receptive audience, it will prove that consumers want a blend of design and substance—a phone that is thin, but not at any cost.
The story of the iPhone Air is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in smartphone design. It challenged a long-held assumption that thinner is always better. The market's response suggests that we may have finally reached the point of diminishing returns, ushering in a new era where balanced performance and practical usability triumph over the pursuit of mere millimeters.