A report from November 21, 2025, indicates that Apple's ultra-thin iPhone Air serves as an experimental platform for the company's secretive foldable iPhone project. This strategy explains the device's unconventional release schedule, which deviates from the typical annual iPhone updates. The primary goal of the iPhone Air line is not mass-market sales but rather to test innovative technologies and materials in real-world scenarios. The components and design of the iPhone Air, from its slim chassis to its thermal management, are reportedly generating crucial data for engineers developing the foldable device. Despite rumors of delays, an iPhone Air 2 is apparently scheduled for a spring 2027 launch and is expected to feature Apple's first 2-nanometer chip and an improved camera system, further serving as a test ground for technologies essential to a future foldable phone.