Report: iPhone Air Is Significantly More Popular than the Plus Model

Apple’s newer iPhone Air model seems to be doing much better than the Plus version it quietly replaced. A recent Ookla report suggests the iPhone Air is nearly twice as popular, which points to a clear change in what consumers want from an iPhone. The new slim iPhone is pulling nearly twice the usage share of the old iPhone 16 Plus during the same launch period.

While the iPhone Air remains the least popular iPhone in the latest iPhone 17 lineup, the overall growth indicates consumers are actually buying into the new design.

The iPhone Air appears to be twice as popular as the iPhone 16 Plus

According to a recent report by Ookla, the iPhone 16 Plus made up less than three percent of speed tests on its app during its launch window in late 2024. However, the iPhone Air has captured nearly seven percent of the share, 6.8 percent to be precise. These numbers put the iPhone Air on par with the standard iPhone 17.

It appears that the slim phone is pulling away buyers from the Pro variant, which saw its share drop to nearly 31 percent, down from 35 percent.

Furthermore, the report suggests the iPhone Air isn’t just doing well in the US; it is capturing consumer interest overseas as well. The phone took over 11 percent of the share in South Korea, and is seeing strong adoption in markets like Japan, Sweden, and Singapore.

Additionally, the source indicates the iPhone Air is generating three times more speed test samples in the US than the competing Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

New modem with speed upgrades plays a key role in Air’s popularity

If you’re unaware, Apple has equipped the iPhone Air with new internal hardware, including its new C1X modem. It represents a major step up from the older C1 chip that Apple used in the iPhone 16e. The Ookla report’s data suggests that this new modem holds its own when it comes to download speeds on 5G networks, which may be playing a key role in iPhone Air’s popularity.

In everyday use, Apple’s C1X modem reportedly provides higher download speeds. They are quite close to the more expensive Qualcomm modems inside the iPhone 17 Pro models. This is a massive improvement for the Cupertino company’s custom silicon. However, the C1X still falls a bit behind when it comes to upload speeds.

Speaking of the iPhone Air 2, reports about the Air’s successor are conflicting. Some reports claim Apple has delayed the Air 2’s launch until 2027, while some claim a launch later this year. We will keep you informed as soon as we have more information, so watch this space for regular updates.