iPhone Air Sells Instantly in China - The Thin iPhone is A Success

Sunday, 19 October 2025 at 01:06

If we've ever thought that people would run away from these super-thin phones due to their tiny batteries, it's time to reconsider our previous thoughts. It seems that Apple's thinnest iPhone, which has a slim battery, is a commercial success. The iPhone Air's official launch happened last Friday in China, and the phone sold out within minutes. The strong demand shows Apple's popularity in one of its most important markets, but also shows people's interest in the new compact model.

The iPhone Air Sold Out In Just Five Minutes in China

The pre-sales of the iPhone Air began at 9 am local time after the phone received the Chinese regulatory approval. The model supports only e-SIM and was launched in China more than a month after most other countries. The only pre-orders opened at 8 pm on Apple's Chinese website and major e-commerce platforms. Just five minutes after the beginning, all the units were completely sold out.

Interestingly, the physical Apple Stores in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin also saw long lines. The shipments for online orders have been delayed by one to two weeks. Some analysts estimate that hundreds of thousands of units have been sold during the first wave. Apple has not yet released the official numbers.

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The strong launch followed a strategic visit to China by Apple CEO Tim Cook. During his trip, Cook met Vice-Premier He Lifeng and Commerce Minister Wang Weantao to discuss trade ties. Apple's exec also talked with developers, suppliers, and universities. His visit drew millions of views on Chinese social media, generating a big buzz ahead of the launch.

iPhone Air Features and Pricing in China

The iPhone Air is just 5.1mm thick, making it the slimmest iPhone ever. It comes with the Apple A18 chip, enhanced camera features, and improved battery life. The phone costs about CNY 5,999 (around $845 USD) and targets consumers in the premium segment. Obviously, the phone has an extra appeal with its super-thin form factor.

Specs Summary

Size: 156.2 × 74.7 × 5.6 mm • Weight: 165 g

Build: Ceramic Shield 2 glass, titanium frame (Grade 5)

SIM: Dual eSIM (8+ profiles, 2 active) • IP68 (6m/30 min)

Display: 6.5" LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 3000 nits peak, 1260×2736 (~460 ppi), Ceramic Shield 2

OS: iOS 26 • Chip: A19 Pro (3 nm) • CPU: Hexa-core • GPU: Apple 5-core

Memory: 12 GB RAM • 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB NVMe

Main Cam: 48 MP f/1.6 wide, PDAF, OIS • 4K HDR, Dolby Vision

Front Cam: 18 MP ultrawide + SL 3D • 4K HDR, gyro-EIS

Audio: Stereo • No jack

Comms: Wi-Fi 7 • BT 6.0 • GPS / GLONASS / NavIC • NFC • USB-C 2.0

Sensors: Face ID, UWB gen2, SOS + satellite Find My

Battery: 3149 mAh • 50% in 30 min (wired / MagSafe 15 W) • 4.5 W reverse

Endurance: 12h44 use / 40h total / 1000 cycles

Colors: Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue

With the strong demand, it seems that the iPhone Air can finally exorcize the ghost of failure in the iPhone lineup. The device occupies the slot once given to the iPhone mini and the iPhone Plus lineups. Both were commercial failures. Now, it seems that the iPhone Air is running in the opposite direction - to be a strong contender in the lineup.