Rumors have surfaced that the iPhone Air 2 (tentative name) will be the new base model, and that the iPhone 18, the successor model of the iPhone 17, will not be released, but that both models will be integrated.
It is rumored that the iPhone Air 2 will be equipped with a dual-lens camera, and if that happens, it is speculated that the difference from the iPhone 18 will be reduced.
Is the iPhone Air a model that shows future direction?
Some pointed out that the iPhone Air is not just a new model, but an important model that indicates the direction of the future iPhone.
The folding iPhone, which is expected to be announced soon, is expected to use technologies used in the iPhone Air, such as thinning technology and a titanium alloy frame.
There is an opinion that the knowledge gained from the development of the iPhone Air will be utilized in the 20th anniversary model of the iPhone, which is rumored to be released in 2027.
The adoption of such advanced technology may have been intended to develop the iPhone Air series into a position closer to a standard model in the future.
Main differences between iPhone Air and iPhone 17
There are differences between the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 in the number of main cameras, display size, installed chips, etc.
Multiple sources are predicting that the successor model, iPhone Air 2, will add a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and will have a dual-lens camera.
If this is achieved, there will be no difference between the iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18 in terms of the number of main cameras, which is a major difference in the current model.
On the other hand, current predictions are that the iPhone Air 2 will be approximately 6.5 inches and the iPhone 18 will be approximately 6.3 inches, so it is expected that there will be a difference in display size.
Information is also divided about the chip installed, but while it is expected that the iPhone Air 2 will be equipped with the A20 Pro, there are also reports that the chip installed in the iPhone 18 will be the A20.
Therefore, it cannot be said that just changing the camera to two lenses will completely eliminate differentiation from the iPhone 18.
What about the on-board chip?
If the iPhone Air 2 and iPhone 18 were to be integrated into one model equipped with the A20 Pro, the number of products equipped with the standard A20 would decrease.
At present, the A20 is expected to be installed in the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, and if the iPhone 18 is removed, the A20’s uses will be narrowed down.
In that case, there are concerns that the shipment volume of A20 will decrease significantly compared to A19, and that manufacturing costs and wholesale prices from TSMC to Apple will increase.
If the iPhone Air 2 and iPhone 18 are to be integrated into one base model, deciding whether to install the A20 or A20 Pro will likely be a big issue.
Base model sales price starts from 177,800 yen including tax! ?
According to this rumor, the selling price of the iPhone Air 2, which will be released by combining the two models, is said to start at $999. This selling price is the same as the 256GB model of iPhone Air.
Therefore, the selling price in Japan starts from 177,800 yen including tax. Considering that the selling price of the iPhone 17 is 142,800 yen (tax included), the price difference is too large for integration, and I feel that there is a high possibility that many users will not migrate from the iPhone 17 to the iPhone Air 2.
At the moment, there is a strong theory that 3 models will be released.
According to current predictions, the iPhone Air 2, iPhone 18, and iPhone 18e are all expected to be announced in spring 2027.
Therefore, this integration theory is a new prediction that differs from the existing product roadmap, and it seems best to view it with caution at this point.
In the future, if information such as CAD data, mockups, cases, etc. becomes available, it will be possible to confirm whether the iPhone Air 2 and iPhone 18 are being developed separately.
There is a certain rationality to the view that the iPhone Air 2 equipped with a dual-lens camera will make it difficult to differentiate it from the iPhone 18.
However, there is still room for differentiation in terms of display size, body thinness, installed chips, price, etc., so it may not be an easy decision for Apple to integrate the two models.
A new rumor says Apple may replace the base iPhone 18 with the iPhone Air 2 next year.
The Air 2 would become the new entry-level model for $999. pic.twitter.com/uzZMYWEJT5
— AppleTrack (@appltrack) September 7, 2026
Photo: Apple Hub/Facebook
Source: iPhone Mania
