Apple's iPhone Air pre-orders to start in China after telecom operators get approval for eSIM services: report

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Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AAPL]) iPhone Air will be available for pre-order in China later this week, as major Chinese telecom operators received regulatory approvals for eSIM services, Reuters reported.

The iPhone Air, priced starting from 7,999 yuan, will be the only model in China to have service providers' support for an eSIM, a digital SIM embedded in the device, the report added [https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/iphone-air-begin-pre-order-china-after-telecom-operators-approved-esim-services-2025-10-13/].

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Seeking Alpha.

China's three major telecom companies — China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom — have all received clearance from regulators to provide trial eSIM services, the report noted, citing a website affiliated with the industry ministry.

"Excited to announce iPhone Air will be available next week and pre-orders start this Friday, October 17!,"​ Apple's CEO Tim Cook, who is currently in Shanghai, said on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.

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