When Apple first released the iPhone Air last month, it was missing from a key market: China. This was because the iPhone Air is eSIM-only due to its ultra-thin design, and China has strict regulations about eSIM technology.
Today, however, the iPhone Air officially went up for pre-order in China — and indications are it’s a big hit.
According to a report from the South China Morning Post, the iPhone Air “sold out within minutes of its launch in China” earlier today. The report explains that “minutes after” pre-orders began on Friday morning, the iPhone Air was sold out “at all bricks-and-mortar stores in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as in cities like Tianjin.”
Online shipping estimates for the iPhone Air in China have also shipped to November in many configurations. Historically, iPhone sales have boomed in China when Apple introduces a dramatic new design … and that’s exactly what the iPhone Air is.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has been in China for the last week, visiting with Apple shoppers, developers, employees, and more. He was even gifted a custom-made Labubu doll.
Cook also met with government officials in China, where he reportedly pledged to continue investing in China. That promise, of course, comes as Apple has also worked to diversify its manufacturing outside of China due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in the United States.
Apple this week also unveiled a new environmental initiative with Tsinghua University in China this week.
According to a report from The Elec today, Japanese firm Mizuho Securities cut its iPhone Air production forecast by 1 million units before the end of the year. So far, this hasn’t been corroborated by other sources. The report adds that Apple has increased production of the base model iPhone 17 by two million, the iPhone 17 Pro by one million, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max by four million units.
My favorite iPhone accessories:
Follow Chance: Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
By
