Apple CEO Tim Cook says iPhone Air to release in China next week

China Unicom receives government approval to start commercial trials for the eSIM function on smartphones, such as the iPhone Air

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Labubu creator Kasing Lung (left), Apple CEO Tim Cook and Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning meet at a Labubu exhibition in Shanghai on Monday. Photo: Handout

Published: 10:30pm, 13 Oct 2025Updated: 10:43pm, 13 Oct 2025

Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday said the iPhone Air would make its official debut in China next week, with pre-orders to start on Friday, according to his post on Weibo.

Cook’s announcement was made on the same day that China Unicom said it received government approval to conduct commercial trials for eSIM functions on smartphones.

Cook kicked off his second visit to China this year, meeting the men behind Pop Mart’s Labubu toys.

He met Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, creator of the popular Labubu toys, and Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning at a Labubu exhibition at The Bund in Shanghai, according to Cook’s post on Weibo and Chinese media reports.

Details about what the three executives discussed at the exhibition were not known.

The meeting reflects Cook’s continued engagement with mainland creative talent, business partners and senior government officials during his visits to China.

At Cook’s visit in March this year, he was among 80 multinational company executives who attended the China Development Forum, an annual event hosted by the Chinese government to facilitate dialogue with global investors.

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