Apple’s long-awaited iPhone Air is finally making its debut in China. After weeks of regulatory delays, Apple has confirmed that preorders for its thinnest iPhone ever will open this Friday, October 17, at 9:00 a.m. local time. Deliveries and in-store sales begin on Wednesday, October 22.
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the launch personally during his visit to Shanghai. Posting on Weibo, he wrote, “Excited to announce iPhone Air will be available next week and pre-orders start this Friday, October 17!” The update came shortly after China’s three major telecom operators, China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, received approval to offer eSIM support.
When the iPhone Air was unveiled at Apple’s September “Awe Dropping” event, it was meant to launch globally alongside the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro. But Apple had to delay the rollout in China after facing regulatory hurdles related to eSIM technology. The iPhone Air is Apple’s first iPhone in the country that completely drops the physical SIM slot, relying instead on eSIM-only connectivity.
Starting at 7,999 yuan (around $1,121), the iPhone Air is just 5.6mm thick and features the same A18 chip as the standard iPhone 17. It’s designed to deliver the same power in a slimmer, travel-friendly form. The device’s lightweight build and minimalist design make it one of Apple’s most distinctive releases of the year.
Apple now faces a new challenge: convincing Chinese users to embrace eSIM. Physical SIM cards remain the norm in China, even as eSIM technology dominates markets like the U.S. and Europe. With support from all three major state-owned carriers, Apple is betting on a smoother transition this time around.
The timing of this launch works in Apple’s favor. With preorders kicking off this week, the company will have early performance data to discuss during its October 30 earnings call. That could give Apple a boost of confidence as it reports on its strongest iPhone lineup in years.
1 comment