Recent sales numbers for the iPhone Air are surprising many. The phone is doing better than expected. It even beats Samsung's slim model and Apple's own Plus version.
The iPhone 13 mini was a favorite for some. It was small and easy to use with one hand. It also fixed battery issues from older phones. But it did not sell well. So, Apple replaced it with a Plus version.
Even the Plus version did not grab attention. Later, Apple released the iPhone Air. It is thinner and lighter. This is according to a report from "digitaltrends," seen by "Al-Arabiya Business."
Earlier reports doubted the phone's performance. But data from Okla Speed Test shows things are different.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, iPhone Air took 6.8% of the US market. The iPhone 16 Plus only got 2.9% when it launched. This means Apple nearly doubled the performance for this phone size.
Did 'Air' Steal 'Pro' Customers?
The data suggests mostly no.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max kept a market share of 55.5%. The previous version had 56.3%. This shows people still like the high-end models.
What the 'Air' did was attract some buyers of the standard 'Pro' model. Its share dropped from 34.9% to 30.6%. About 4% of users chose the slim design over a bigger camera or longer battery life.
Samsung Loses the Bet
Meanwhile, Samsung's attempt to compete with Apple's thin phone, the S25 Edge, did not succeed. The phone got only 2.4% market share in the US. iPhone Air got 6.8%. Samsung barely showed up in markets like the UK and Germany.
These numbers confirm what Apple thought: Users want a phone that looks good and fits their lifestyle. They do not necessarily want a bigger or smaller phone.