Overview

• Tim Cook announced on Weibo during a China visit that preorders begin October 17 at 9:00 a.m. local time, with deliveries starting Wednesday, October 22.
• The iPhone Air has no physical SIM slot and operates exclusively via eSIM, a design choice that delayed its mainland rollout.
• Apple says China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom will provide eSIM support, with specific availability subject to regulatory approval.
• The entry configuration in China is priced from 7,999 yuan.
• Questions remain about carrier activation readiness and how quickly Chinese consumers will adopt an eSIM-only iPhone.