On September 12, reports emerged that at 1 a.m. Beijing time on September 10, Apple took the wraps off the iPhone 17 series during its autumn product launch event. Among the highlights was the debut of the iPhone Air, the thinnest and lightest model in Apple's history to date. Boasting a mere 5.6 - millimeter thickness and weighing in at 165 grams, it steps in to replace the Plus version. However, owing to certain trade - offs in battery and camera performance, along with its exclusive support for eSIM cards, this particular model won't be hitting the Chinese market at the same time as the other three models in the series. The official Apple website states that its release in China is pending approval.

On September 12, Apple released a statement. It emphasized that the new iPhone Air sports an ultra - thin and lightweight design, rendering it more robust than any of its predecessors. The tech giant also mentioned that it is actively working hand - in - hand with regulatory authorities to expedite the launch of the iPhone Air in China.