You rarely get the full truth about why someone leaves a major tech company — not even when it involves someone as visible as Abidur Chowdhury, the Apple industrial designer who became the public face of the iPhone Air. Chowdhury, who reportedly played a “key role” in shaping the device and even served as its spokesperson during its global unveiling, has now left Apple for a job at an AI startup, according to Bloomberg.
His departure comes at a complicated moment for Apple’s lightweight smartphone experiment. Just over a week ago, The Information reported that the iPhone Air’s commercial performance has been underwhelming enough that Apple has quietly postponed the next-generation model. While Bloomberg adds that a second iPhone Air is still planned, it likely won’t arrive until 2027, giving Apple several years to rethink its positioning and design strategy.
Reviews of the iPhone Air—including Gizmodo’s largely positive analysis—praised its futuristic feel and impressive engineering but noted it may have gone too far in the direction of minimalism. Critics pointed out that the device’s ultralight build made it feel almost fragile, its battery life left much to be desired, and it failed to distinguish itself meaningfully beyond its slender frame. Some analysts suggested that the Air might ultimately serve as a stepping stone—a testing platform for ultra-miniaturized components that could later appear in smart glasses or even a future foldable iPhone.
Bloomberg’s reporting on Chowdhury’s exit, attributed to anonymous insiders, comes from longtime Apple insider Mark Gurman, who moved quickly to dispel speculation that the departure was tied to the iPhone Air’s shaky launch. In a post on X, Gurman stressed that:
“His exit is unrelated to the debut of the phone, which has seen its design praised despite underwhelming sales.”
Chowdhury joined Apple back in 2019, a critical transition period for the company’s design division. His arrival overlapped with the departure of legendary Chief Design Officer Jony Ive, whose exit followed growing tension within Apple over product direction—particularly the identity crisis surrounding the Apple Watch. Reports at the time suggested that Ive’s waning enthusiasm and frequent absences had left Apple’s once-unified design team drifting without strong leadership.
For that reason, Chowdhury’s rise within the company was seen as part of Apple’s broader attempt to restore stability and innovation within its design ranks. According to Gurman, Chowdhury had become a rapidly ascending figure inside Apple, someone internally viewed as a meaningful long-term contributor to the company’s product vision. Which is exactly why his sudden departure has reportedly “made waves” internally and raised eyebrows across Silicon Valley.
Whether his exit signifies deeper turbulence within Apple’s design operation or simply a personal career shift toward the booming world of AI remains unclear. But one thing is certain: losing the designer who helped bring the iPhone Air to life—during a period where Apple is fighting to reinvent itself—marks a notable moment for a company known for its carefully polished, tightly controlled image.