The iPhone 17 series this year has bid farewell to the much-anticipated yet underperforming Plus model, making way for the iPhone Air.

The iPhone Air stands out with its slim and lightweight design, boasting a record-breaking thinness of just 5.5mm, making it the thinnest iPhone ever produced.

To achieve such a sleek profile, Apple had to make several trade-offs. These include ditching physical SIM cards in favor of eSIMs, equipping the device with only a single rear camera, and incorporating a relatively small battery.

From Apple's perspective, perhaps slimness and lightness carry far more weight than mere size. Previous Plus models were simply large without any standout features. In contrast, the Air combines a large screen with a thin profile and various other enhancements, potentially signaling a new direction for the company.

After all, Apple's previous Macbook Air also gained a significant market share with its slim and lightweight design. In the PC market, Apple's Air series laptops have enjoyed considerable success.

However, this year's iPhone Air has put Apple CEO Tim Cook in a precarious position, as its launch has been anything but smooth.

On one hand, eSIM-related issues have delayed sales in China by approximately a month compared to other models. Moreover, the current eSIM restrictions in the Chinese market have dampened enthusiasm among Chinese consumers.

On the other hand, the phone itself has faced criticism for its short battery life, subpar camera performance, and high price point. These issues have not only affected the Chinese market but also resonated globally, with many consumers showing little interest in the model.

Consequently, it was previously reported that Apple planned to slash orders for the iPhone Air by millions of units, as the initial production plan was clearly overambitious, leading to overproduction.

Recently, reports have surfaced indicating that the situation is more dire than just order cuts. Due to excessive inventory and weak consumer demand, with sales in the Chinese market and other regions falling short of expectations, production has reportedly been suspended.

Suspending production does not necessarily mean the iPhone Air will never be produced again. It simply reflects the current high inventory levels, which will take a considerable amount of time to clear. Therefore, production has been temporarily halted and will only resume once some of the inventory has been sold.

It is clear that this year's Air model has underperformed compared to the previous Plus. The future of the Air model remains uncertain, and whether Cook's vision of a slim and light design will ultimately prevail is still up in the air.