Copyright Cult of Mac
Low demand for the iPhone Air has forced Apple to ‘drastically” cut its production orders. But the company is increasing assembly for other iPhone 17 models due to high demand. The report comes as the iPhone Air sold out within minutes of preorders opening in China last week. iPhone Air struggles to take off When the iPhone Air debuted alongside the iPhone 17 Pro in the US in mid-September, it didn’t seem to attract the same level of excitement. Instead, demand for the Pro models and even the base iPhone 17 exceeded Apple’s expectations. A month after the super-slim iPhone’s launch, multiple reports point to strong consumer interest in the iPhone 17 lineup, while the iPhone Air sees tepid demand. However, an October 22nd report from Nikkei Asia paints a different picture. It states Apple has scaled iPhone Air assembly to “end of production levels” due to the relatively soft consumer interest. That’s despite the slim iPhone selling out in China soon after pre-orders went live. After the initial buzz faded, demand appears to have dropped off. Other iPhone 17 models see strong demand The strong iPhone 17 demand is making up for the iPhone Air’s sales flop. Thanks to “unexpectedly robust demand,” Apple has increased the production of the base iPhone 17 by 5 million units. It has also asked its vendors to make more iPhone 17 Pro units than previously estimated. Analysts weren’t exactly bullish about the iPhone Air even before it hit store shelves. Sure, it’s impressively thin and beautifully designed, but that slim profile comes at a cost. With a smaller battery, one less camera, and a higher price tag, the trade-offs were always going to limit its appeal beyond design enthusiasts. Even if the iPhone Air doesn’t take off commercially, the technology behind it will likely shape the design of slimmer Apple devices in the future.
