Apple, Samsung quietly pull ultra-slim phones after deep discounts fail to clear inventory

"Is the ultra-slim phone not in stores anymore?"

The iPhone Air and the Galaxy S25 Edge — ultra-slim flagship phones that Apple and Samsung Electronics each touted as their best products — are being phased out of the market. The devices have largely vanished from store shelves, and new units have become increasingly hard to find.

Apple has dropped a second-generation iPhone Air from its upcoming lineup, set to be unveiled Sept. 10 (Korean Standard Time). The Galaxy S25 Edge, meanwhile, has been discontinued.

Samsung Electronics launched the Galaxy S25 Edge and Apple released the iPhone Air — the thinnest iPhone ever made — in a competitive push that both companies predicted would be a hit. The iPhone Air's defining feature is its design: at 5.6 millimeters thick and 165 grams, it was built around portability. The Galaxy S25 Edge measures 5.8 millimeters thick and weighs 163 grams.

Both phones flopped. Despite steep discounts to move inventory, the companies were unable to clear their remaining stock.

The iPhone Air sold roughly one-third of what Apple had projected. Only 6 percent of iPhone buyers in the United States chose the Air. Apple subsequently cut output by about half and offered an unusual 30 percent discount.

Samsung also discounted the Galaxy S25 Edge by lowering the device price and increasing subsidies. At mobile phone retail clusters, the phone was bundled with plans priced around 100,000 won ($73) per month, with device-upgrade deals knocking roughly 1 million won off the price. A handset with a retail price of 1.5 million won ended up selling for an effective price of around 500,000 won.

Analysts point to underwhelming specs as the main reason for poor sales. Despite premium pricing, both phones shipped with a single rear camera and reduced battery capacity, falling short of consumer expectations. The innovative slim design and portability were selling points, but the phones offered little appeal in terms of value for money.

The Galaxy S25 Edge was priced at 1.496 million won for the 256-gigabyte model, some 341,000 won more than the standard Galaxy S25 at 1.155 million won. The iPhone Air was priced at 1.59 million won for the 256-gigabyte model, about 300,000 won above the standard iPhone 17 at around 1.29 million won. From the consumer's perspective, the slim models cost more while delivering less in battery life and camera performance.

Meanwhile, Apple has excluded a second-generation iPhone Air from its Sept. 10 (Korean Standard Time) product lineup. Instead, the company is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Apple's debut foldable is said to be passport-sized — similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 — marking the tech giant's full entry into the foldable market that Samsung Electronics has long dominated.