Apple’s iPhone Air gets muted reception in China debut

Core Insights - The launch of Apple's iPhone Air in China received a muted consumer response, contrasting with the international rollout of the iPhone lineup which saw long queues [1][2] - The iPhone Air, priced at 7,999 yuan ($1,120), only supports eSIM, which has been slowly adopted by local carriers, leading to limited consumer interest [1][3] - Despite the lack of excitement for the iPhone Air, Apple has reported sales growth in the greater China region after a prolonged period of declining revenue [4] Consumer Response - At the Sanlitun store in Beijing, more customers were interested in the iPhone 17 Pro models rather than the iPhone Air, which was available for immediate purchase [2] - In Shanghai, the iPhone Air had no queues, indicating a lack of urgency among consumers, although some color options sold out quickly [2] - Consumers expressed curiosity about the iPhone Air's design and colors but were more inclined to try the device rather than make a purchase [2] Competitive Landscape - The iPhone Air's design prioritizes battery capacity over physical SIM card support, unlike the iPhone 17 series [3] - Local competitors like Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo have launched similarly thin foldable models, intensifying competition in the premium smartphone market [6] - The iPhone Air is considered expensive by Chinese standards, as consumers can find high-end Android devices at lower prices [6] Sales Performance - Demand for Apple's new iPhones has been strong, particularly for the redesigned iPhone 17 Pro and the new Air model [7] - The iPhone 17 series has outperformed the previous iPhone 16 series, with a 14% increase in sales during the first 10 days of availability in the US and China [7]