TL;DR
Apple will start pre-orders for the iPhone Air in China on October 17. This comes after the government allowed China’s main telecom operators to offer eSIM services. The iPhone Air is the only Apple phone in China that supports eSIM. It will start at 7,999 yuan (about $1,121). Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the launch while visiting Shanghai.
iPhone Air pre-orders to begin on October 17
Apple announced that the new iPhone Air will be available for pre-order in China starting Friday, October 17. The company made this move after Chinese authorities gave the green light for eSIM services. The phone is priced from 7,999 yuan, which is about $1,121. The iPhone Air is the only model in China that will support eSIM. This is a digital SIM built into the phone. It removes the need for a physical SIM card and makes it easier to switch between network providers.
Government allows telecoms to offer eSIM
China’s three biggest telecom companies, China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, have received approval to start trial eSIM services. A website linked to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology confirmed this news on Monday, October 13. This decision is important because eSIM has not been widely used in China before. Apple and other global phone makers already use eSIM in many countries. But until now, the Chinese market had strict rules. Now that the major telecom companies are allowed to offer eSIM, it creates new chances for phone makers to expand digital services in the country.
Tim Cook shares update from Shanghai
Apple CEO Tim Cook is currently visiting Shanghai. On Monday, he posted on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, about the iPhone Air launch. “Excited to announce iPhone Air will be available next week and pre-orders start this Friday, October 17!” he wrote. This post comes only weeks after Apple launched the iPhone 17 series in China. Cook’s visit highlights how important the Chinese market is for Apple.
eSIM marks a big change for Apple in China
The iPhone Air is a major step forward for Apple in China. Until now, users in China could only use physical SIM cards. eSIM lets users manage their mobile plans more easily. It also helps people who travel or use more than one phone number. Even though Apple already uses eSIM in other countries, this is the first time it is being used in China with support from local telecoms. This may help Apple attract more tech-savvy users in the country.
FAQs
- Why is the iPhone Air different in China?It is the first iPhone in China to support eSIM with help from local telecom providers.
- What is eSIM and why is it useful?eSIM is a digital SIM inside the phone. It makes it easier to switch networks or use more than one number.
- When can people in China pre-order the iPhone Air?Pre-orders will begin on Friday, October 17, 2025.
