iPhone Air 2: What We Know About the 2027 Model, Codename V62, and Apple's New iPhone Calendar

Apple’s carefully maintained tradition of a single fall iPhone launch is reportedly ending. Beginning in 2026, the company is expected to split its flagship releases into two distinct windows, separating premium Pro and foldable devices from its more mainstream and value-oriented models . At the center of this new spring lineup sits the second-generation iPhone Air.

Details about the device, sourced from Bloomberg-cited reporting and corroborating outlets, remain unofficial but paint a coherent picture of a phone that is meant to address the first generation’s biggest criticisms while fitting into a transformed product roadmap .

Important caveat: Everything discussed here comes from reports and supply-chain leaks, not from Apple. Roadmaps can shift, and official names, specs, and launch dates are unconfirmed until Apple announces them.

Internal Codename and Development Status

The next iPhone Air carries the internal codename V62 and is reportedly in advanced testing at Apple and its suppliers . This is consistent with the codename structures seen in other leaked 2026–2027 roadmap documents, which label the iPhone 18 Pro models as V63 and V64, and the foldable iPhone as V68 . The presence of a codename and advanced testing status suggests the project is far enough along to appear in Apple’s forward-looking plans, even if the final hardware isn’t locked.

The timeline to get here has been a bit noisy. Earlier reports indicated Apple cancelled trial production of the iPhone Air 2 in late 2025, allegedly due to disappointing sales of the first-generation Air . However, later reporting clarified that a 2026 release “hadn’t actually been earmarked” for the Air 2 in recent months, meaning the project was never solidly slated for the earlier window; its 2027 target aligns with the original internal plan .

Key Specs and Expected Upgrades

Based on current reporting, the most concrete hardware upgrade for the iPhone Air 2 is the camera system:

• Dual-camera system: The device is expected to add a second rear camera, an ultrawide-angle lens, to pair with the existing 48-megapixel main sensor . The first-generation Air shipped with only a single 48MP rear camera, a compromise made to achieve the phone’s ultra-thin design . That decision drew complaints from users who wanted more photographic flexibility, and the Air 2’s dual-camera design is a direct response to that feedback .

Beyond the camera, several other improvements have been rumored, though with less consistent detail:

• Battery and efficiency: Bloomberg reported that Apple is working to improve battery life on the new Air, but it’s unclear whether that means a physically larger battery (which would clash with the thinness priority) or efficiency gains from chip and software optimizations . Some outlets have also raised the possibility of a next-generation 2nm chip that could significantly improve both battery life and thermal performance . However, the specific processor remains unconfirmed.

• Price: One report suggests Apple is considering a lower price for the Air 2 to improve sales after the first generation’s soft reception, but no specific figure has been leaked .

• Other possible features: User-generated summaries and less authoritative outlets have mentioned a silicon-carbon battery, stereo speakers, and other enhancements, but these points haven’t appeared in the more cautious, primary-source reports from Bloomberg and The Information . For now, the dual-camera upgrade remains the only widely corroborated spec.

Expected Release Window: Spring 2027

Multiple reports that cite Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman converge on a spring 2027 launch for the iPhone Air 2, likely in March or April . It’s expected to be announced at a U.S.-based Apple event alongside two other devices: the standard iPhone 18 and the lower-cost iPhone 18e .

This spring timing is a major break from Apple’s historical pattern. Since the iPhone’s debut in 2007, nearly every flagship model has launched in September. If the 2027 timeline holds, Apple would be unveiling three mainstream iPhones roughly six months before the next set of premium and anniversary models arrive in the fall.

How the iPhone Air 2 Fits into Apple’s Split-Season Strategy

For over 18 years, Apple concentrated its iPhone releases into a single high-profile fall event, which created massive spikes in consumer attention and sales but also placed enormous strain on engineering, marketing, and supply-chain teams . The split-season strategy is reportedly designed to smooth out those peaks and allow Apple to support a wider and more differentiated product portfolio year-round.

The framework, according to leaked roadmaps and analyst commentary, breaks down as follows:

Fall 2026 — Premium Tier

• iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max (codenamed V63 and V64), likely with under-display Face ID and the elimination of the Dynamic Island .
• First foldable iPhone (codename V68), a book-style device approximately 7.7 inches when open and 5.3 inches closed .
• This window anchors the most expensive and forward-looking technology to Apple’s familiar September launch slot .

Spring 2027 — Mainstream Tier

• iPhone Air 2 (V62): The updated slim model, positioned above the standard iPhone but below the Pro tier .
• iPhone 18: The standard flagship successor, now shifted out of fall to make room for the Pro and foldable launches .
• iPhone 18e: The successor to the iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e, serving as the price-conscious entry point .

Fall 2027 — Anniversary and Future Vision

• Reports point to a radical 20th-anniversary iPhone model, potentially called the “iPhone 20” or “iPhone XX,” featuring a fully all-screen design with an under-display camera and possibly under-display Face ID . This model sits beyond the scope of the immediate Air 2 window but clarifies the long-term direction Apple appears to be pursuing.

The Strategic Logic

Spreading launches across spring and fall gives Apple the ability to keep its iPhone line in the news cycle throughout the year. Instead of one event where all models compete for attention—and where lower-cost models often feel overshadowed by the Pro tier—the split seasons let each tier have its own moment. The mainstream Air, standard, and “e” models can claim the spring spotlight, while the premium Pro and foldable phones remain the fall tentpole .

This approach also alleviates production bottlenecks. By staggering the manufacturing ramp for different models, Apple can reduce the strain on its supply chain and potentially avoid the launch-day shortages that have sometimes plagued past releases .

What We Don’t Know Yet

For all the leaked detail, significant gaps remain:

• Final price: No reliable figure has leaked. Speculation about a lower price exists, but it’s unconfirmed .
• Exact battery specs and chipset: While Apple is reportedly working on battery improvements and a 2nm chip is plausible, neither is locked in by primary source reporting .
• Design details beyond the camera: The Air line is defined by thinness, but how Apple balances the second camera module with the slim profile isn’t yet known.
• Official naming: “iPhone Air 2” is the logical name used by most reporters, but Apple hasn’t confirmed it, and the company could always choose a different naming scheme.

A Roadmap Subject to Change

Supply-chain and leaked-roadmap reporting provides a powerful look at Apple’s likely direction, but it’s not a guarantee. Product schedules can shift by months or even quarters in response to component availability, production yields, or strategic reprioritization. The foldable iPhone’s reported high display failure rate in current production is one example of how hardware challenges can disrupt timelines .

The iPhone Air 2’s 2027 window appears consistent across multiple reliable reporters, but until Apple sends out invites, it’s best to treat all details as well-informed projections rather than confirmed facts.