iPhone Air Sales Surge to Double the Plus Model, Proving the Thin Design Strategy Works
It seems Apple’s decision to say goodbye to the iPhone Plus model and replace it with the iPhone Air was a step in the right direction. Despite some initial criticism, recent analysis from Ookla shows that the iPhone Air has been overwhelmingly popular. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Air model managed to capture a 6.8% user share in the US, which is exactly double the 2.9% the iPhone 16 Plus achieved during the same period the previous year.
However, the success of the iPhone Air has directly impacted the sales of the iPhone 17 Pro. The Pro model’s share dropped from 34.9% down to 30.6%, while the top-tier iPhone 17 Pro Max maintained a steady popularity at 55.5%. These figures reflect that around 4% of buyers were willing to trade the superior camera and processing power of the Pro model to experience the thin, lightweight, and sleek design of the Air instead.
In the past, Apple has constantly struggled to differentiate the fourth iPhone model. Whether it was the “mini” model that flopped in sales for two generations, or the “Plus” model that promoted a large screen but lacked premium features, they only managed to penetrate niche markets. The iPhone Air, however, successfully broke that curse, especially in international markets where the trend is even stronger. In South Korea, it holds a high share of 11.2%, followed by Japan at 8.9% and Singapore at 8.4%.
Another interesting piece of data from Ookla’s testing is the performance of the in-house C1X modem developed by Apple and used in the iPhone Air. It managed to achieve download speeds matching the Qualcomm X80 modem found in the Pro Max. Furthermore, it scored better in latency in 19 out of the 22 countries tested. This is a major milestone for Apple in reducing its reliance on external chips.
Even though Qualcomm still wins in data uploads—being up to 32% faster in certain regions due to more stable carrier aggregation technology—for general users who focus on consuming content and the aesthetic beauty of the device, the iPhone Air passes with flying colors. It has naturally become the most closely watched item in the iPhone 17 family.
Compared to its launch price of around $999 (approximately 36,500 THB) for such a cutting-edge design, it is no surprise that many people decided to switch their loyalty from the Pro model. This surging popularity might give Apple the confidence to develop “Air” versions of other products in the future. Get ready for the era of extreme thinness and lightness.
 Origin: Macrumors
