As reported by Nikkei Asia, Apple has nearly halted production of the iPhone Air, despite the device only launching in China last week.

Supply chain insiders revealed that orders for the iPhone Air in November will drop to less than 10% of September levels due to poor sales in nearly all markets outside of China.

Initially, Apple had planned for the iPhone Air to account for 10–15% of the total iPhone production in 2025. However, this strategy has now been severely scaled back.

The model was originally positioned as a strategic stepping stone ahead of Apple’s foldable iPhone release in 2026. But global consumer response has been tepid.

One executive from the supply chain stated that Apple has requested a drastic reduction in orders for components and electronic modules for the iPhone Air. “Production is entering what we call the ‘end-of-production’ phase,” he added.

iPhone 17 and 17 Pro see overwhelming demand, Apple boosts production by 5 million units

In contrast, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are outperforming all expectations. Apple has added 5 million more units to its iPhone 17 production plan and has increased orders for the high-end iPhone 17 Pro, according to direct sources from the supply chain.

In the US, shipping times for the 256GB iPhone 17 are currently 2–3 weeks, while the iPhone Air remains readily available - highlighting the stark contrast in consumer demand.

A supply chain manager commented, “Apple is the only customer maintaining stable production plans. All other smartphone clients of ours, including Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo, have reduced orders for 2025.”

Despite ongoing US-China trade tensions and a global slowdown in the smartphone market, Apple is holding firm on its forecast of producing 85–90 million iPhone 17 units this year.

Another industry source noted, “Apple has even requested additional components to prepare for higher-than-expected demand.”

Apple launched the iPhone 17 lineup on September 9 and began shipping on September 19. The iPhone Air, meanwhile, faced delays in China due to strict eSIM regulations, though initial sales in the country were reportedly “decent,” according to Nikkei Asia.

According to Counterpoint Research, sales of the iPhone 17 during its first 10 days surpassed those of the iPhone 16 by 14% in Apple’s two key markets: the US and China.

The base iPhone 17 model has been the main growth driver thanks to a faster chip, increased storage, and a price tag unchanged from last year.

The research firm also noted that Apple was the only brand among the global Top 5 to post a sales increase in Q3 2025, despite the overall smartphone market being described as “saturated.”

Apple has not yet issued an official comment on the report.

Du Lam