The new iPhone Air model has proven significantly more successful than the Plus format, which Apple promoted in previous generations. According to the analytics platform Ookla, the new model is almost twice as popular as the iPhone 16 Plus over the comparable period following the release of the iPhone 17 line.
The study is based on statistics from the Speedtest app, which allows us to evaluate not just sales, but the actual use of the devices. At the time of the launch of the iPhone 16 series, the Plus version’s share did not exceed 3% of the total number of active devices. For comparison, the basic iPhone occupied about 5.9%, while the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max confidently led with figures of approximately 34% and 56%, respectively.
With the release of the new generation, the situation has changed significantly: the iPhone Air has already reached a share of about 6.8% — almost three times more than the Plus in the same period. This points to a more successful positioning of the model: the Air is perceived as a balanced option between the base and Pro versions, offering a thin body, modern design, and sufficient performance without overpaying for flagship features.
At the same time, the growth in popularity of the Air was partly due to the Pro version: its share decreased from 34.9% to 30.6%. In terms of distribution, the Air turned out to be close to the base iPhone 17, but analysts note an important factor – at the start, such devices are more often purchased by tech enthusiasts and early adopters. As the market becomes saturated, the distribution of shares may change, especially if price becomes a key factor for a mass audience.
Demand for the model varies significantly by region. In the US, sales remain moderate, while in South Korea the share reaches 11.2%. High interest is also observed in Japan, Sweden, and Singapore. This may be due to a preference for lighter and more compact devices, as well as a high willingness of users in these markets to try new form factors.
Furthermore, the Air confidently competes with devices from other brands. Specifically, in the US market, it is more than three times more popular than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, which underscores the strength of the Apple ecosystem and user loyalty.
The new C1X modem installed in the iPhone Air deserves special attention. In terms of download speeds on 5G networks, it almost matches the Qualcomm solutions used in the Pro versions. In terms of upload speed, it is still inferior, but in real-world scenarios – streaming, social networks, web surfing – the difference is practically unnoticeable.
Overall, the success of the iPhone Air shows a change in Apple’s strategy: instead of trying to promote a “simplified large smartphone,” the company has focused on a thin, light, and technologically balanced product. If the trend continues, the Air line could take a permanent place between the base and Pro models, becoming one of the key sales drivers in the future.
