The iPhone Air is significantly surpassing sales of Samsung's sleek phone, as well as Apple's discontinued Plus model.

      The iPhone Air has outperformed the Plus and is surpassing Samsung's slim phone by a ratio of 3-to-1.

      My favorite contemporary iPhone was the iPhone 13 Mini. It addressed the battery issues of the iPhone 12 Mini while retaining the compact one-handed design. Unfortunately, it did not achieve sufficient sales, leading Apple to discontinue it in favor of a Plus model.

      The Plus model also struggled to attract consumer interest, and Apple quietly phased it out last year, introducing the more stylish and streamlined iPhone Air. Initial reports indicated that the iPhone Air was underperforming and appeared to be another misstep. However, recent data from Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence suggests these claims may have been overstated.

      In the fourth quarter of 2025, the iPhone Air secured a 6.8% share of the US market. While this may not seem significant, it’s worth noting that the iPhone 16 Plus, which it replaced, only achieved a 2.9% share during its launch period. Apple has more than doubled the performance of that category.

      Did the Air take sales away from the Pro models?

      This is a question that many analysts have been pondering, and the predominant answer is no. The iPhone 17 Pro Max controlled 55.5% of the market, nearly identical to the 56.3% share held by its predecessor. The ultra-premium segment remains stable.

      What the Air did do was attract some buyers from the standard Pro model, which fell from 34.9% to 30.6%. This means that around 4% of users opted for a sleeker design over improved camera capabilities and a larger battery. Many individuals, including myself, were willing to make that compromise.

      How did Samsung’s slim phone compare?

      For those following the smartphone news cycle, it’s known that Samsung aimed to overshadow the iPhone Air by launching its own slim device. However, reports indicate that this strategy may not have succeeded.

      In the U.S., the iPhone Air outsells the S25 Edge by a three-to-one margin, commanding 6.8% versus 2.4%. In markets such as the U.K. and Germany, the S25 Edge barely makes a mark, with less than 1% market share.

      The data supports what Apple likely anticipated: consumers preferred a stylish iPhone over one that was simply larger or smaller.