Best Buy Cuts Unlocked iPhone Air Price by $150

Best Buy has reduced the price of a new unlocked iPhone Air by $150, bringing the device to $849.99. The discount marks one of the lowest prices for the model since its $999 launch last September. The retailer previously offered a $200 discount on the same phone. Among current iPhone 17 models, only the iPhone Air is available at a meaningful discount from a third-party seller.

Shipments of the iPhone Air have remained low since launch.

Data showed single-digit percentage growth in China compared with the standard iPhone 17. The phone has also lost value quickly on the resale market. Within ten weeks of release, its average resale price had fallen 44.3 percent from the original retail price.

Some buyers have cited the single camera sensor, shorter battery life, and the original $999 price as reasons for dissatisfaction. Retailers have responded by cutting prices to move inventory.

A global memory chip shortage tied to demand from AI data centers has reduced the frequency of smartphone discounts in 2026. Comparable sales last May included larger reductions and additional promotions that are not present in this year's offers. Samsung increased its discount on the Galaxy S26 Ultra to $250 for the current holiday period and raised trade-in values for older models.

The pattern indicates that major public holidays remain key periods for price reductions even as manufacturing costs rise.