Apple may be considering making the iPhone Air 2 its mainstream iPhone 18 model rather than releasing separate standard and Air versions, according to a new rumor. If accurate, the move would put Apple’s ultra-thin design at the center of its next non-Pro iPhone lineup, with a reported starting price of $999.
The claim originated with Early Apple, an X account without an established enough track record to assess its reliability. It should therefore be treated cautiously, particularly as reports from recent months have consistently described the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 as three distinct models expected in spring 2027.
There is some longer-term logic to a closer alignment between the Air and standard iPhone ranges. The first iPhone Air introduced a 5.6 mm-thick design, but its single rear camera was a notable compromise. Rumors already point to a second rear camera on the Air 2, potentially removing one of the more significant practical differences between an Air model and a conventional iPhone.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on September 9, alongside its first foldable iPhone. The company’s more affordable models are not expected until spring 2027, leaving the eventual roles of the iPhone 18 and Air 2 unresolved.
