Apple will begin pre-orders for the iPhone Air in China on October 17, with the official launch scheduled for October 22, after facing delays due to regulatory concerns over its eSIM-only design.

The launch was announced by Apple CEO Tim Cook during his visit to Shanghai, emphasizing the significance of the Chinese market for the company's global strategy.

The delay was caused by regulatory issues related to the device's eSIM-only feature, which is less common in China where physical SIM cards are still prevalent.

Despite limited sales data, the iPhone Air has already shown strong market interest in China, with preorders surpassing those of the iPhone 16 on its first day.

Apple's strategic timing for the launch aims to gather early sales data to support its upcoming October 30 earnings report, reflecting confidence in its strongest iPhone lineup in years.

This launch timing may influence Apple's quarterly earnings, providing insight into the Chinese market's reception of the new device.

The iPhone Air is priced at 7,999 yuan (around $1,121), highlighting its high-end positioning, and features a slim 5.6mm thickness with the A18 chip, combining performance with a lightweight design.

The iPhone Air is notable for its engineering excellence, being the thinnest iPhone ever and weighing only 165 grams, with innovative features like a 3D-printed titanium USB-C port that reduces material use by 33%.

Apple is betting on the acceptance of eSIM technology in China, supported by major carriers like China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, despite the dominance of physical SIM cards in the region.

The Chinese market's response to the eSIM-only model remains uncertain, and analysts are expected to scrutinize this during Apple's upcoming earnings call.

In addition to the iPhone Air, Apple is expected to announce several new products this week, including updates to the iPad Pro, Vision Pro, and possibly the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the next-generation M5 chip.

The launch of the iPhone Air in China underscores its importance as a key market, contributing nearly 15% of Apple's global revenue during the last holiday quarter, making its success vital for the company's overall strategy.