iPhone Air designer leaves Apple as Air 2 reportedly targets 2027

After more than six years with Apple, industrial designer Abidur Chowdhury, who helped create the iPhone Air, has reportedly left the company.

Abidur Chowdhury designed the iPhone Air and voiced the launch video for the ultra-thin phone in September. However, reports say that his departure from Apple is unrelated to the iPhone Air's underwhelming market performance.

The designer leaving Apple made waves internally, as Abidur's design efforts were praised within the company, despite the phone's underwhelming market performance. And according to Bloomberg, a sequel to the iPhone Air is still planned for release in 2027.

Abidur Chowdhury joined Apple in early 2019, shortly after Jony Ive departed. According to Chosun Biz, he left Apple for an artificial intelligence startup company.

Without Abidur Chowdhury, it is unknown who will be tasked with designing the upcoming iPhone Air (2) for its alleged 2027 release.

Samsung's intentions for its own ultra-thin phone series, the Edge, also remain murky. But if Apple intends to release the iPhone Air 2, it is possible that Samsung might not give up on its Edge series either.

What seems certain is that Samsung will announce the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra early next year. Whether or not a Galaxy S26 Edge will follow remains unclear.

Judging by sales, neither Apple nor Samsung appears to have successfully rekindled an interest in ultra-thin phones this year. However, with further advancements in battery technology, the form factor could become more appealing in the future.

Apple may also announce its first foldable iPhone in 2027, nearly a full decade after Samsung debuted its first Galaxy Fold.