The device, which starts at 7,999 yuan (about $1,121), will officially launch on October 22.

The iPhone Air will be Apple’s first eSIM-only smartphone in China, a big win for the company and the local telecom sector. 

Unlike other models, the 5.6mm-thick iPhone Air does not include a physical SIM slot, relying entirely on digital eSIM technology for connectivity.

This launch comes after weeks of delay as Apple worked with Chinese regulators to clear issues around eSIM deployment. Until now, China has been careful about adopting eSIMs due to data security and sovereignty concerns. 

The approval is a change in policy and could bring about broader eSIM adoption across the country’s telecom industry.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has now authorised China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom to begin trial eSIM services. 

This means customers on any of the three networks will be able to activate their iPhone Air without a physical SIM card, a first for Apple’s devices in the market.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, who is currently in Shanghai, announced the update on Weibo, writing, “Excited to announce iPhone Air will be available next week and pre-orders start this Friday, October 17!” His visit shows the importance of China, where Apple faces high competition from domestic brands like Huawei and Xiaomi.

In aligning it with the fourth-quarter sales period, Apple aims to capture year-end demand and reaffirm its focus on Chinese consumers. Experts say the move could also boost eSIM readiness among local manufacturers, benefiting a wider ecosystem of smartphones, smartwatches, and IoT devices.

With the iPhone Air, Apple is testing how fast China’s telecom sector can adapt to global standards, and whether the company can maintain its top place in the market with high local innovation.

Apple’s Chinese website now states that release information for the iPhone Air will be “updated later,” pointing to the hold-up. All three state-owned carriers, China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, plan to support the phone’s eSIM, but final regulatory clearance is still pending.

A post by China Mobile on Weibo confirmed the network has enabled eSIM services for mobile phones, though no launch date was given. Meanwhile, China Telecom briefly announced a September 19 launch on RedNote before removing the post, highlighting ongoing regulatory uncertainty.

Apple told local media it is working with authorities to bring the device to China “as soon as possible.”

The iPhone Air, at just 5.6mm, is Apple’s thinnest phone ever and entirely removes the physical SIM tray. While eSIM adoption is common in markets such as the U.S., Japan, and Gulf countries, China has traditionally been cautious, noting security and identity verification concerns. 

Previously, Apple partnered only with China Unicom, requiring in-store manual activation. Now, the company has agreements with all three major carriers, but each awaits final government approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which oversees telecom infrastructure and data security.

China is Apple’s second-largest market, and any postponement in flagship models could affect quarterly performance. IDC estimates the iPhone Air will account for 5–7% of global shipments of Apple’s larger models. Consumers who purchase the device abroad may face compatibility issues since local carriers will not support foreign eSIM profiles.

Globally, the iPhone Air is available for preorder in over 60 countries, including India, where it starts at ₹1,19,900. The delay in China reveals the challenges of a uniform global rollout, even as Apple phases out physical SIMs to enable slimmer designs and larger batteries.