iPhone Air Surpasses iPhone 16 Plus in Popularity

Recent data from Ookla indicates that the iPhone Air has achieved approximately double the popularity of the iPhone 16 Plus during the launch period of the iPhone 17 series. The iPhone Air captured 6.8% of usage in the U.S. market, a significant increase from the 2.9% share of the iPhone 16 Plus during the same timeframe in 2025. This shift suggests a successful transition for Apple as it phases out the Plus model, which had struggled to gain traction in previous generations.

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The iPhone Air's popularity is not uniform across regions. In South Korea, it accounted for 11.2% of the market share, while also performing well in Japan (8.9%) and Singapore (8.4%). This geographical segmentation highlights the Air's appeal beyond the domestic market, indicating a broader acceptance of the model in various international markets.

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The rise of the iPhone Air appears to have come at the expense of the iPhone 17 Pro, which saw its market share decline from 34.9% to 30.6%. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro Max's share remained stable at approximately 55.5%. This suggests that a portion of consumers opted for the Air's thinner design over the enhanced features of the Pro model, indicating a shift in consumer preferences within Apple's product lineup.

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The iPhone Air is equipped with Apple's C1X modem, which has demonstrated significant improvements in download speeds, nearing parity with the Qualcomm X80 modem found in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. While the Air's upload speeds still lag behind, with Qualcomm maintaining a lead of up to 32% in some regions, the advancements in latency and download performance position the Air competitively within the market.

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Despite its successes, the iPhone Air has faced criticism. Some analysts argue that while the model has gained traction, it still lacks the premium features that define the Pro models, which could limit its long-term appeal. Additionally, the transition from the Plus model to the Air raises questions about Apple's strategy in differentiating its product offerings.

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Apple has not publicly commented on the specific sales figures of the iPhone Air or its impact on the overall iPhone lineup. However, the data from Ookla suggests that the company may view the Air as a successful addition to its portfolio, particularly given its performance relative to previous models.

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• “The Air’s download speeds on 5G are close to what the Qualcomm modem achieves in the iPhone 17 Pro models, ahead of how the C1 fares in the iPhone 16e.” — Ookla Report

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• “The figures suggest that roughly 4 percent of buyers were willing to trade the better camera and processing power of the smaller iPhone 17 Pro model for the Air's thinner chassis.” — Market Analyst

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The iPhone Air's early performance suggests it has carved out a niche in Apple's lineup, potentially reshaping consumer expectations and preferences in the smartphone market.

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