Apple tests iPhone Air update for spring 2027 release
Bloomberg News reports the next iPhone Air is in advanced testing with a second rear camera and battery improvements under review.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
Apple is working on a second version of the iPhone Air for a possible spring 2027 launch, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the company’s plans. The update would give Apple another chance to strengthen a slim iPhone design that is meant to broaden its $210 billion handset business.
The model now being tested inside Apple carries the code name V62, according to Bloomberg. People with knowledge of the work told Bloomberg that current prototypes add a second rear camera designed for ultrawide photos, addressing one of the main limitations of the first iPhone Air.
Apple also is trying to improve battery life on the new Air, Bloomberg reported. The people cited by Bloomberg said it remains unclear whether that would come from a larger battery, which could be difficult in the device’s thin body, or from gains in power efficiency.
The iPhone Air debuted in September 2025 as one of Apple’s thinnest smartphones. Bloomberg reported that the existing model sells for $999 and uses a single rear camera, a setup that has drawn the most customer complaints about the device.
The thin design gives the Air a distinct place in Apple’s lineup, but it also limits how much hardware the company can fit inside, according to Bloomberg. The device does not match the full feature set of Apple’s Pro phones, but Bloomberg reported that Apple sees it as useful for buyers who want a more portable iPhone with a distinctive design.
A new iPhone release schedule
A spring 2027 release would put about 18 months between the first iPhone Air and its successor, Bloomberg reported. The people familiar with the plans cautioned to Bloomberg that timing and specifications could still change. Apple declined to comment to Bloomberg.
The Air update is part of a broader shift in how Apple releases iPhones, according to Bloomberg. Apple has typically introduced its main iPhone models together in September, but Bloomberg reported that this year’s fall lineup will focus on higher-end devices: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
Bloomberg reported that Apple then plans to bring out the standard iPhone 18 and the revised Air roughly six months later. Later in 2027, Apple is also preparing two 20th anniversary iPhone models with a screen that curves around the edges, along with a second generation of its foldable phone, according to earlier Bloomberg reporting.
The refreshed Air is expected to use a version of the A20 Pro processor, Bloomberg reported. That chip is also slated for this fall’s iPhones, according to the report.
Apple has tried before to widen the iPhone lineup with alternate sizes, including mini and Plus models, but Bloomberg reported those versions did not become strong sellers. The Air is doing better than those earlier variants, according to Bloomberg, though it has not become one of Apple’s highest-volume iPhones.
Bloomberg reported that a staggered iPhone calendar could help Apple spread sales more evenly through the year and respond to rivals such as Samsung Electronics, which releases major phones at more than one point annually. Incoming Apple Chief Executive Officer John Ternus has said the Air helps separate Apple’s iPhone options, according to Bloomberg.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.