iPhone Air 2 is coming in spring 2027 — with a second camera and better battery
Apple is pressing ahead with a second-generation iPhone Air, targeting a spring 2027 launch despite the original model's underwhelming sales. Bloomberg (Gurman, June 2026) reports that prototypes — codenamed V62 — are already in advanced testing. The first iPhone Air captured just 6% of US iPhone buyers in Q4 2025, compared to 49% who chose a Pro model, making Gen 2 a genuine test of whether thinness can ever be a real selling point.
The fixes
The two biggest knocks on the original Air were its single rear camera and short battery life. Both are being addressed. The Air 2 will add an ultrawide lens alongside the main camera — still no telephoto, but a meaningful step up. Apple's engineers are also working on improved endurance, though it isn't yet confirmed whether that means a physically larger battery cell or gains from chip efficiency alone.
That chip is the A20 Pro, built on a 2nm manufacturing process with a new packaging technology called WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module). The combination allows a more powerful processor to fit inside a slim chassis without generating excessive heat — solving a core tension that made the original Air's battery situation worse.
The design itself isn't changing. Apple is keeping the same ultra-thin form factor that defined the first model.
The skeptic case
Gen 1 sold roughly 200,000 units in China — against 17 million for the iPhone 17 lineup — before demand faded, per Cybernews/CIRP survey (Feb 2026). Consumer research consistently shows US and UK buyers rank battery life and durability above thinness when choosing a phone. Adding a second camera fixes a visible gap, but the Air 2 will still lack the telephoto lens that Pro buyers expect.
There's also new competition overhead. The iPhone Fold is expected in fall 2026, and Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 is already pitching itself as the premium alternative for buyers who want something different. Both could pull attention away from the Air 2 before it even ships.
What to expect
Apple hasn't confirmed pricing. The original Air launched at $999 in the US, and the second generation is unlikely to come in cheaper. A spring 2027 release would put it alongside the base iPhone 18 — Apple is reportedly splitting its launches, with flagship Pro models arriving separately in fall 2026. No word yet on UK or European retail availability, but a simultaneous rollout with the US is standard Apple practice.
