The latest reports on Appleās iPhone Air sales paint a grim picture for the skinny smartphone format. According to Nikkei, Apple has drastically reduced orders for the iPhone Air, signaling a potential decline in interest for the sleek device.
While iPhone 17 family orders remain strong, the iPhone Air is reportedly struggling to meet expectations. Supply chain sources reveal that November orders for the iPhone Air are a mere fraction of what they were in September, indicating a sharp decline in demand.
On the heels of disappointing Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge sales, rumors suggest that Samsung may cancel the Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge, further casting doubt on the future of slim smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, known for its slim design, faced criticism for its subpar battery life and camera quality.
However, Motorola offers a glimmer of hope with the upcoming Moto X70 Air, touting powerful performance features at a potentially more affordable price point. With promises of extended software support and optimized battery performance, Motorola aims to carve out a niche in the competitive smartphone market.
While the fate of the skinny phone remains uncertain, Motorolaās entry into the market could signal a shift towards more affordable slim smartphones. It remains to be seen whether the skinny phone format can find success by striking the right balance between performance and pricing.
In summary
- iPhone Air sales reportedly in the toilet
- Orders at āend of lifeā levels
- Motorola offers hope with potentially cheaper option
The skinny smartphone format may need to be considered dead on arrival following a dire report on Appleās iPhone Air.
According to respected Japanese publication Nikkei, Apple has slashed orders to suppliers for its newest handset to a level youād typically expect to see at the very end of a phoneās life.
According to the report, Apple is ādrastically cuttingā iPhone Air orders whilst boosting those of the iPhone 17 family, which remain strong overall.
The result of these contrasting fortunes for the new range is that Appleās sales forecasts remain at 85 million to 90 million units. Itās just that the iPhone Air is set to make up much less of that figure than anticipated.
One supply chain source claims that the iPhone Air orders for November are less than 10 percent of what they were in September.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Is the skinny phone done for?
All in all, itās yet another indicator that the skinny phone format just isnāt the one.
Last week, following reports of terrible Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge sales, a South Korean website claimed that Samsung was taking its own drastic step of cancelling a potential follow-up in the Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge was the first major example of this super-slim handset to hit the market, midway through 2025. We had our own issues with the phone, mostly centring on its poor battery life and compromised camera system, both of which were in service of a form factor that didnāt bring any substantial benefits.
Mattias Inghe
Motorolaās slim hope
Motorola is next up to introduce a super-skinny smartphone, having announced the Moto X70 Air in China ahead of an expected Motorola Edge 70 global variant.
The company recently issued a rundown of its new global model via the next part of an ongoing quiz-based marketing push.
āOur newest phone lets you experience effortless multitasking with the powerful Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor, faster RAM (RAM boost), UFS 3.1 and great storage (512 GB)ā, it says. āEnjoy extended usage thanks to optimized battery performance, letting you do more and charge less.ā
āWith 4 years of OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates your device keeps running smoothly for years to come.ā
This offers a glimmer of hope. One of the big sticking points with both the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and the iPhone Air was an asking price in excess of Ā£1,000. It sounds as if Motorolaās slim phone will be significantly more affordable.
Who knows? Maybe the skinny phone isnāt dead at all, and just needs to find the pricing sweet spot.
