Apple is already testing the next iPhone Air, and the second generation looks set to fix the two complaints that matter most: a single rear camera and battery life that probably feels too modest for a phone this thin. According to Bloomberg, the iPhone Air 2 is scheduled for spring 2027, with internal code V62 already in testing.
The main iPhone Air 2 upgrade is straightforward. The current iPhone Air has one rear camera module; the new model is expected to add an ultrawide camera alongside it. That is the sort of change that makes a slim phone feel less compromised, because buyers no longer have to choose between a lightweight design and basic shooting flexibility.
iPhone Air 2 camera upgrade
Battery life is the other obvious target. Apple wants the Air 2 to last longer, but it is unclear whether that will come from a larger cell, better power efficiency, or both. In an ultra-thin chassis, brute-force battery growth is hard to pull off without turning the whole concept into a slightly chubby apology for itself.
Design changes are said to be limited, which suggests Apple is treating this as a refinement rather than a reinvention. The bigger internal shift is the move to an A20 Pro-class SoC, the same family of chip that will power the main iPhone line next generation. That should help with efficiency as much as raw speed, and for a phone built around thinness, efficiency is the real luxury item.
Apple may split iPhone launches into two waves
There is also a broader change brewing around Apple’s release calendar. Instead of putting every major iPhone on sale in the fall, the company may split launches into two stages. This year’s autumn event would reportedly cover only the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple’s first folding iPhone, while the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 would follow about half a year later.
That would be a neat way to smooth out revenue, and it also mirrors Samsung’s long-used habit of spacing launches across the year. Apple has spent years training customers to expect one giant fall drop; breaking that rhythm would be a big move, but it would give the company more than one sales peak instead of one very crowded one.
What the iPhone Air 2 should offer
- Second rear camera with an ultrawide lens
- Improved battery life
- A20 Pro-class chip
- Likely similar design to the current model
- Possible spring 2027 release
The open question is whether Apple can improve the Air without blurring its identity. Add too much battery, and the ”Air” part starts to look decorative. Add too little, and it stays a pretty phone with one obvious asterisk.