iPhone Air 2 could fix its biggest compromises

Apple is working on a second-generation iPhone Air, despite reports that weaker-than-expected sales had put the product line on hold. The next model could address several of the ultra-thin phone’s biggest compromises, including its single rear camera and limited battery capacity.

iPhone Air 2 camera and performance upgrades

The current iPhone Air has only one rear camera, one of the key tradeoffs of its thin design. Reports from Bloomberg and The Information say Apple plans to add a second camera to the iPhone Air 2. Bloomberg says it will be an ultra-wide camera, rather than a telephoto lens, bringing the device closer to Apple’s base iPhone models, which also use main and ultra-wide cameras.

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The phone is also expected to use Apple’s A20 Pro chip, replacing the A19 Pro in the current model. The A20 Pro would be Apple’s first 2-nanometer iPhone processor, potentially delivering more performance and improved efficiency within a similar-sized footprint.

The chip is also expected to use Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module technology, which integrates the system-on-chip and DRAM at the wafer level. The reported result is better performance and lower power consumption.

Battery, cooling, and release timing

A supply chain leak claims the iPhone Air 2 will include a 3,500mAh battery, up from 3,149mAh in the first-generation iPhone Air. That would represent an increase of more than 10%. The A20 Pro’s efficiency improvements could extend battery life further, although the final results will depend on Apple’s hardware and software tuning.

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The Information also reports that Apple is developing a vapor chamber cooling system for the device. Apple first introduced vapor chamber cooling in the iPhone 17 Pro, saying the technology improves heat dissipation and performance. On the iPhone Air 2, it could help the phone remain cooler under heavy workloads and sustain high performance for longer.

Apple initially expected to release the iPhone Air 2 in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. The Information reported in November that Apple had indefinitely delayed the model after sales of the first-generation iPhone Air came in below expectations, saying engineers and suppliers had been told the next iPhone Air was off the schedule without a new release date.

The Information later updated its report to say Apple had not canceled the iPhone Air 2. Most recently, Bloomberg reported that Apple now plans to launch it in spring 2027, alongside the new base-model iPhone 18.