The iPhone Air was a first step towards the iPhone Duo.
on Wednesday, and something we didn’t see — along with
, as Apple focused purely on premium devices — was a second iteration of its lightweight
At just 5.6mm thick and weighing only 165 grams, last year’s $999 iPhone 17 Air gave buyers a middle-ground option between the base iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro models, and for a pretty reasonable price.
— a demonstration that a slim, lightweight phone could be just as durable and high-functioning as a fully specced-out one. It came with just one rear 48-megapixel wide-angle camera, a
and slim profile would have been pivotal to designing Apple’s new folding phone, since foldables must be both slim and make similar compromises on specs — the
only has two rear lenses, compared with the three that come on
We were hoping Apple would release another version of the Air with improved cameras and battery life, especially since that
. Some people just want a phone that’s slightly better than the base iPhone, and many people want a capable phone without having to spend upward of $1,199 — the cheapest phone Apple announced on Wednesday as it took the wraps off premium handsets like the iPhone Duo,
Many people also don’t want a phone that folds. CNET’s survey of more than 2,600 adults last month found that
and that most would want to spend less than $1,000 if they did get one. But the Duo costs between $1,999 and $3,199 — far exceeding the iPhone Air’s original $999 price tag.
on Wednesday as it announced its new high-end handsets, leaving the middle ground with fewer options, even in previously available models. The iPhone 17 Air now starts at $1,099, with the price increases coming amid RAMageddon, the global memory shortage caused by the spike in AI tools. Apple continues to whittle down options for more budget-conscious consumers in a difficult economy.
We’re still holding out hope that the iPhone 18 Air has been pushed back until a
, where it could be unveiled alongside an iPhone 18 base model and a potential iPhone 18E, the budget follow-up to this year’s
IDC Worldwide Device Trackers Senior Research Director Nabila Popal likewise believes Apple is strategically withholding the second iPhone Air until next year to bundle with the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18E — launching a trio of more affordable smartphones to contrast with the premium trio of the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and Duo that were just announced.
“It allows Apple to spread its shipments more evenly throughout the year and simultaneously allow the spotlight on the premium models this fall — especially the new iPhone foldable,” Popal said. “Apple is spreading its portfolio to a wider consumer demographic and giving consumers more choice.”
But for now, the lack of lower-end models means anyone wanting to upgrade their phone to a brand-new Apple handset will be stuck choosing between an $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro and up to an eye-watering $3,199 for a 2TB iPhone Duo.
Corinne Reichert (she/her) grew up in Sydney, Australia and moved to California in 2019. She holds degrees in law and communications, and currently writes news, analysis and features for CNET across the topics of electric vehicles, broadband networks, mobile devices, big tech, artificial intelligence, home technology and entertainment. In her spare time, she watches soccer games and F1 races, and goes to Disneyland as often as possible.
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