Syed Saif Ul Hassan 
Nov 20, 2025
An iPhone Air is displayed during an Apple's event at the Steve Jobs Theater, in Cupertino, California, US September 9, 2025. — Reuters
Following Apple's newest iPhone Air failing to gather a warm reception, the recent rumour that there won't be an upgraded version of the iPhone Air seems to have some veracity, as a key designer behind the iPhone Air, Abidur Chowdhury, has left Apple to join an unnamed AI startup.
Chowdhury featured in Apple’s introductory video for the iPhone Air and, while he was not the sole influence on the product, his departure has reportedly negatively affected the design team, according to Bloomberg.
Chowdhury joined Apple approximately six years ago, coinciding with Jony Ive's exit to establish his own agency, LoveFrom. Although Ive later worked on a project called “io,” which was acquired by OpenAI, he and LoveFrom did not join the company.
Despite the iPhone Air experiencing weaker-than-expected sales, sources indicate that Chowdhury’s exit is not related to these performance issues.
Apple continues to develop the next iteration of the iPhone Air, with the second-generation model, expected to be named iPhone Air 2, facing delays but not cancellation.
On the other hand, the future of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Edge appears uncertain, as recent reports have also cast doubt on it.
As the iPhone maker finds its way around this transition in its design team, one needs to watch closely to see how these changes affect the upcoming iPhone Air (if there will be any) and its position in the market.
