According to mobile network analytics firm Ookla, the iPhone Air is being used at twice the rate of the iPhone 16 Plus when comparing equivalent launch periods between the iPhone 17 series and last year’s iPhone 16 lineup.

The data is derived from community-sourced insights collected through real-world usage of the Speedtest app on iPhones.

Estimates of device sales are based on the number of Speedtest samples recorded for each model. During the late 2024 launch period, the iPhone 16 Plus accounted for less than 3% of total device usage. This lagged behind the standard iPhone 16 at 5.9%, and far behind the 16 Pro at 34% and the 16 Pro Max at 56%.

By the 2026 launch cycle, the share of the standard iPhone 17 and Pro Max models remained largely unchanged. The most notable shift came from the transition between the Plus and Air lines.

Specifically, the iPhone Air rose to capture 6.8% of usage, nearly triple the share previously held by the Plus model. This growth appears to have come partly at the expense of the iPhone 17 Pro, whose share declined from 34.9% to 30.6%.

This places the iPhone Air roughly on par with the standard iPhone 17. However, early adopters - typically tech enthusiasts who upgrade immediately upon release - are more likely to opt for the Air model. As a result, the gap between the Air and standard versions may widen over time.

Even so, the figures mark a positive development for Apple, especially considering the underwhelming performance of earlier alternatives like the Mini and Plus models. In contrast, the Air appears to have carved out a meaningful niche in the market.

Ookla’s data also highlights regional differences in demand. While the percentages cited reflect the US market, the iPhone Air holds a significantly larger share in other countries, reaching 11.2% in South Korea. The device is also performing well in Japan, Sweden and Singapore.

In terms of overall popularity, the iPhone Air has clearly outpaced Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge. In the US, the Air recorded three times as many Speedtest samples as its rival.

The report also points to improvements in Apple’s modem technology. The C1X modem in the iPhone Air represents a significant upgrade over the original C1, delivering 5G download speeds that nearly match Qualcomm-powered iPhone 17 Pro models and significantly surpass the performance of the C1 modem found in the iPhone 16e.

Under typical real-world conditions, download speeds are nearly on par, though upload speeds still lag behind.

Du Lam