It's another battle of the leakers. While most rumor mongers say the iPhone Air will see its next update in 2027, one leaker goes against the grain and is doubling-down on a fall 2026 refresh.

The iPhone Air 2 was a divisive device, with analysts questioning whether it had made sufficient sales compared to other models in the iPhone 17 generation. However, while there is a general belief that a new model will eventually arrive, the timing of when that happens is still up for debate.

According to serial Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Tuesday, the smartphone will be returning in the fall of 2026, not one year later in the fall of 2027. This claim is apparently based on "feedback from the production line," without going into detail.

The declaration of a late 2026 launch is interesting. A questionable report from November claimed three people involved with the iPhone Air project said that there was originally a plan for a 2026 release.

However, Apple supply chain partners Luxshare and Foxconn allegedly disassembled most of their production lines for the model in fall 2025.

Mark Gurman also said that a 2026 iPhone Air update was unlikely. He also says that from the start, Apple never expected to create a second iteration in 2026 anyway.

In December, another report split the difference and said that the second-gen model would arrive in the spring of 2027 instead. It would theoretically launch alongside the iPhone 18e and the iPhone 18, under rumors Apple will update its usual release schedule so that more entry-level iPhone models would get spring launches while Pro models retain their fall launch cadence.

Later the same month, Fixed Focus Digital responded, insisting that sources said that the iPhone Air 2 will appear during the fall 2026 iPhone event.

Few changes to the thin model

Aside from the scheduling of the second-gen iPhone Air, the leaker added that there were going to be some updates made to the model. However, this was apparently going to consist of "minor changes," a "routine upgrade" with no significant revisions made.

Given Apple's penchant for making small annual hardware updates with periodic design overhauls, that makes sense for the iPhone Air 2.

However, one report in January claimed the changes would be bigger than a typical spec-bump update. The changes apparently include the use of Color Filter on Encap (CoE) technology to create a thinner and brighter display, without impacting power consumption.

There has also been speculation that Apple will make more use of the camera plateau design to add a second rear camera to the ultra-thin model.

Fixed Focus Digital has a mixed track record when it comes to leaks. On the one hand, the account was correct about the iPhone 16e name. They were also wrong about the iPhone 17 getting a 120Hz display but not ProMotion.

AppleInsider warns readers to exercise caution when dealing with the claims of Weibo leakers. Due to continual pressures to maintain a social presence, there's a tendency for leakers to repost information from other accounts, often without thoroughly checking the accuracy of the claims.