iPhone Air price drops $343 in four months, biggest cut in latest Apple's lineup

By Phong Ngo January 17, 2026 | 01:09 am PT

The iPhone Air has dropped VND9 million (US$343) to VND23 million after four months on sale in Vietnam, marking the steepest price reduction among Apple’s iPhone 17 series.

Launched at VND32 million in September 2025, the Air did not sell out like the Pro and Pro Max models which were released at the same time, but maintained steady early demand, with smaller retailers initially offering discounts of up to VND1 million on certain color options.

Prices have since dropped sharply, particularly on e-commerce platforms. An authorized Apple store on Shopee listed the 256 GB version for VND23 million, according to Znews.

The price reduction has also been reflected at major retail chains. The Gioi Di Dong currently offers the device for around VND25 million, while FPT Shop lists it at about VND26 million, bundled with gifts or accessories.

By contrast, other 17 models released at the same time have seen price cuts of only VND1–2 million depending on storage, with some popular colors still selling at Apple’s original list price.

The iPhone Air. Photo by VnExpress/Tuan Hung

Nguyen Thanh Chung, a spokesperson for a major retail chain, told VnExpress in November that major stores sold more than 1,000 iPhone Air units per month, but this was still "far too low compared to the Pro Max series."

Le Hieu, who owns an Apple-focused store in Hanoi, said customers were initially drawn to the Air’s slim design but later switched to the Pro series for better camera quality, physical SIM card support, and more stable network performance.

A December 2025 report from smartphone price comparison site SellCell found that Apple’s thinnest iPhone also recorded a historic low resale value. Within 10 weeks of launch, the iPhone Air lost an average of 44.3% of its original retail price, with the 1 TB version falling 47.7%, the steepest depreciation SellCell has recorded for any iPhone since 2022.

According to Nikkei Asia, weak demand led Apple to cut the Air production by 10% in November compared with September.

The model had been expected to account for 10–15% of total iPhone output in 2025. However, an October survey by Apple Insider showed the iPhone Air captured just 2% of market share, failing to make the top five Apple models.