Apple’s iPhone Air may have launched under a cloud of skepticism, with plenty of criticism aimed at its noticeably smaller battery, but new data suggests the ultra-slim iPhone is anything but a flop. In fact, it appears to be selling far better than many expected—outperforming both its direct rivals and even Apple’s own recent “Plus” model.
An Ookla report based on Speedtest samples paints a surprisingly strong picture for the iPhone Air’s real-world momentum. One of the biggest standouts is connectivity performance. The report indicates Apple’s C1X modem in the iPhone Air delivers notably lower latency than Qualcomm’s X80 modem used in the iPhone 17 Pro models, while still providing comparable download speeds across most markets. For many users, that combination can translate into snappier responsiveness in everyday tasks like web browsing, app usage, and online gaming—especially in situations where latency matters as much as raw speed.
Beyond modem performance, the sales and adoption data is where the iPhone Air really separates itself. According to Ookla’s Speedtest sampling, the iPhone Air currently accounts for a 6.8 percent share of its iPhone samples. By comparison, the iPhone 16 Plus previously held only a 2.9 percent share. While Speedtest share isn’t a direct sales ledger, it’s a meaningful signal of device adoption and active use, and it strongly suggests the iPhone Air has significantly outpaced the iPhone 16 Plus in market traction.
The regional breakdown also helps explain why. The iPhone Air is reportedly doing especially well in style-driven markets such as South Korea and Japan, where design, thinness, and overall aesthetics can carry more weight in buying decisions. On the other hand, it’s said to perform less impressively in regions where shoppers prioritize price-to-performance value above all else—an understandable split given the iPhone Air’s biggest trade-off.
And that trade-off is battery life. The iPhone Air’s battery capacity is described as only 62 percent of the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s, and around 11 percent lower than even the standard iPhone 17. In practical terms, that can mean roughly 12 hours of real-world use, which may be acceptable for casual users but can quickly become a frustration for heavy users, travelers, or anyone relying on their phone for long days away from a charger.
Even with that drawback, the iPhone Air appears to be beating key competition in the ultra-thin flagship space. Ookla notes that the iPhone Air has largely eclipsed the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge globally, including a 3-to-1 advantage in U.S. sampling based on Speedtest data, while the Galaxy S25 Edge remains statistically minimal in adoption throughout much of Europe.
Put it all together and the story becomes clearer: the iPhone Air is thriving because it delivers what a specific audience wants most—premium design, a sleek profile, and strong day-to-day connectivity—while asking buyers to accept a well-known compromise in battery endurance. For many shoppers, especially in markets that value design prestige and thin hardware, that’s an easy trade to make.
