Apple Confirms iPhone Air Pre-Orders Begin in China This Friday After Regulatory Delay

Apple’s ultra-thin iPhone Air is finally making its way to Chinese customers after a brief launch delay. During his visit to China this week, CEO Tim Cook confirmed on Weibo that pre-orders for the device will begin this Friday, with deliveries and in-store availability starting October 22.

The iPhone Air initially missed China’s September release window while Apple worked with regulators to resolve concerns surrounding its eSIM-only design. The device, measuring just 5.6 millimeters thick—drops the traditional SIM tray entirely, relying solely on digital SIM technology. While this setup has become standard in the United States and other regions, mainland carriers required additional coordination before approving support.

Apple has since confirmed that all three of China’s state-run network operators, China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, are preparing eSIM service for iPhone Air users, with rollout timelines depending on final regulatory clearance.

Positioned as the lightest and slimmest model in the iPhone 17 lineup, the iPhone Air starts at 7,999 yuan and shares much of the same hardware foundation as the iPhone 17, but in a more compact, minimal form factor aimed at users who value portability.

Its delayed debut marks an important step for Apple as it pushes eSIM adoption in one of its largest global markets.