Reports carried by Bloomberg revealed that Abidur Chowdhury, one of the main designers involved in the projectiPhone AirHe left Apple and joined an artificial intelligence startup whose name has not yet been revealed.

Chowdhury appears in the iPhone Air presentation video published by Apple, where he was an influential member of the design team, although he was not the sole mind behind the project. He also handled the official voiceover for the video, making it a clear part of the product’s identity.

iPhone Air designer leaves Apple

Although the iPhone Air did not achieve the expected commercial success, Bloomberg sources confirm that Chowdhury’s departure has nothing to do with the phone’s performance in the market. Leaks indicate that his departure had an impact within the design team, as his work was highly praised within Apple.

Chowdhury joined the company in early 2019, a period that also saw the departure of famous designer Jony Ive and the founding of the agency LoveFrom, which led to major changes in the structure of the design team at that time. According to a Chosun Biz report, Chowdhury left to join a startup company working in artificial intelligence, the name of which has not yet been announced.

Even after his departure, it seems that Apple is still committed to its plan to develop the second generation of the phone. Reports confirm that the iPhone Air 2 is still in the works, with a launch target in 2027, although the project has been postponed. But as of now, there is no information about which designer will take over the Air 2 project from Chowdhury.

On the other hand, Samsung’s plans for the ultra-thin Galaxy Edge devices are still unclear. But what is certain is that the company will announce the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra early next year, while the fate of the Galaxy S26 Edge remains unknown yet.

Market data indicates that both Apple and Samsung were unsuccessful this year in reviving interest in the ultra-thin phone market. But analysts believe that expected improvements in battery technology may make this type of device attractive in the future. See also: Apple announces the iPhone Pocket accessory.

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