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Apple Slashes iPhone Air Output as Buyers Favor iPhone 17 and Pro

With November orders falling to under a tenth of September’s run, Apple redirects capacity toward higher‑selling iPhone 17 and Pro models.

Overview

  • Nikkei Asia reports iPhone Air production is being cut to levels typical of a product’s end‑of‑life, with November orders under 10% of September and the model remaining readily available as other variants face shipping delays.
  • Apple has raised orders for the base iPhone 17 by about 5 million units and increased iPhone 17 Pro output, while keeping the overall iPhone 2025 forecast steady at roughly 85–90 million units.
  • A KeyBanc Capital Markets survey finds virtually no demand for iPhone Air and limited willingness to pay for a foldable, with AI features not yet materially influencing purchase decisions.
  • Analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo says many iPhone Air suppliers will reduce capacity by more than 80% by the first quarter of 2026, with some long‑lead components ending by late 2025.
  • China was a notable outlier with initial sell‑outs after a delayed launch, but multiple supply‑chain reports say demand elsewhere remains weak as the Air—originally planned as about 10–15% of this year’s build—is seen by some as a bridge to a potential foldable in 2026.