A new report from Ookla suggests that iPhone 17 Air is significantly outperforming the model it replaced, the iPhone 16 Plus.
According to the data, the iPhone Air accounts for 6.8% of total iPhone 17 series sales, more than double the 2.9% share held by the iPhone 16 Plus in its generation. That’s a strong early sign that Apple’s shift toward a thinner, more distinct design is actually landing with users.
The standard iPhone 17 is also seeing a boost, climbing to 7% share, up from 5.9% with the iPhone 16. Meanwhile, the premium iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are losing a bit of ground compared to their predecessors—especially the Pro model. This suggests some buyers are opting for the Air instead of going fully premium.
One key reason seems obvious: the Air finally gives users a clear identity—ultra-thin, lightweight, and different. The Plus model, by comparison, always felt like just a bigger version of the base iPhone.
There’s also an interesting performance angle. The iPhone Air’s new C1X modem is reportedly closing the gap with Qualcomm’s X80 modem, delivering near-equal download speeds globally. That’s a big step up from the earlier C1 modem, which lagged behind.
In the US, the iPhone Air is also outperforming Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge by a 3-to-1 margin, while Samsung’s model is barely registering in markets like the UK and Germany.
It’s worth noting this data comes from Speedtest samples, so it’s not official sales figures. Still, if the trend holds, Apple’s gamble on a thinner iPhone clearly wasn’t just for looks—it’s actually shifting buyer behavior.
