The iPhone Air has just seen a significant price drop, with Best Buy slashing its price by $150. This brings the cost of the phone down to $849.99, making it one of the lowest prices for a new iPhone Air since it launched at $999 last September. It's rare to see discounts on the latest iPhone models, especially during a time when manufacturing costs are rising due to a global memory chip shortage.

The shortage, caused by AI data centers consuming available supply, has driven up the cost of making every smartphone. Best Buy's deal is particularly notable because it's offering a competitive price for the iPhone Air, despite these challenges. The phone has struggled to sell well since its launch. Research from Counterpoint showed that iPhone Air shipments were running at low single-digit numbers in China, while the standard iPhone 17 drove growth.

Buyers haven't been impressed with the iPhone Air's single camera sensor, below-average battery life, and high $999 launch price. As a result, they're complaining about these issues. Third-party retailers have repeatedly slashed the price to shift units. In fact, within ten weeks of launch, the Air had already lost an average of 44.3% of its original retail value, according to SellCell. This is a significant loss in value, and it's likely due to the phone's poor sales.

This price drop is a reminder that public holidays remain the best time to buy tech, even as discounts become rarer. Some deals this year haven't matched up to what was on offer in 2025. For example, last May, Samsung knocked $230 off the Galaxy S25 Ultra if no phone was traded in. This May's equivalent deal started at $200 off, but it didn't come with a free Care Plus trial. This year's deal isn't as good as last year's, but it's still a decent offer.

However, Samsung has now increased the Galaxy S26 Ultra discount to $250 off for its Memorial Day sale. Trade-in prices have also improved, with the Galaxy S22 Ultra going from $260 to $350. This shows that manufacturers are still willing to offer competitive deals on public holidays, even if they can't do so as often as they used to. They're trying to balance their prices with the rising manufacturing costs.

The advice is clear: if you can, hold out for public holidays to buy your tech. Or, look for deals like this one, where retailers are willing to slash prices to shift units. The iPhone Air may not have been the most popular phone since its launch, but this price drop makes it a more competitive option for those looking for a new device. It's now a more attractive option, and it's worth considering.

Key Facts

  • The iPhone Air has seen a $150 price drop, bringing its cost down to $849.99
  • The phone has struggled to sell well since its launch, with low single-digit shipments in China
  • Buyers have complained about the single camera sensor, below-average battery life, and high launch price
  • The iPhone Air lost an average of 44.3% of its original retail value within ten weeks of launch
  • Public holidays remain the best time to buy tech, with manufacturers offering competitive deals on these days

The memory chip crisis has made genuine discounts rarer in 2026, but this deal shows that they're still possible. Manufacturers are still offering competitive deals, and they're doing so on public holidays. It's likely that we'll see more deals like this in the future, especially on public holidays. If you're in the market for a new iPhone, this price drop makes the iPhone Air a more attractive option. It's now a better value than it was before.

The size of this iPhone Air price drop is a reminder that public holidays remain the best window to buy tech, even as rising manufacturing costs squeeze deals everywhere. This is a good time to buy, and you shouldn't miss out on these deals.

This deal is a significant development in the world of tech, and it's likely to be of interest to anyone looking for a new smartphone. With its competitive price and improved trade-in values, the iPhone Air is now a more attractive option for those in the market for a new device. It's a good choice, and it's worth considering. The Nigerian market may not be directly affected by this deal, but it's still worth noting for anyone interested in tech.

The global memory chip shortage has driven up the cost of making smartphones, and this deal shows that manufacturers are still willing to offer competitive prices on public holidays. They're trying to balance their prices with the rising manufacturing costs, and they're doing so by offering deals like this one. The iPhone Air's price drop is a significant development, and it's likely to be of interest to anyone looking for a new smartphone. With its competitive price and improved trade-in values, the iPhone Air is now a more attractive option for those in the market for a new device. It's a good choice, and it's now a better value than it was before.

The price drop makes it a more competitive option, and it's worth buying.