Sales of the iPhone Air, which are far below expectations, are said to have had a wide impact on the smartphone industry in Asia, with a number of major Chinese manufacturers reportedly canceling or halting development of their ultra-thin phones.
According to Macrumors on Friday, since its launch in September, the iPhone Air's performance has not met expectations, resulting in production and shipment cuts. Apple's device supplier, Foxconn, reportedly dismantled its entire iPhone Air production line. Another supplier, Luxshare, has halted production since late October.
This situation has forced competitors like Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and other manufacturers to postpone or adjust their development plans for ultra-thin phones inspired by the iPhone Air. The eSIM solution previously allocated for these devices has even been diverted to other production lines.
Xiaomi was reportedly working on a “real Air model” to rival Apple’s products, while Vivo was targeting an ultra-thin design for its mid-range S series. However, both projects have reportedly been shelved, despite no official announcement from the company.
