After a prolonged wait, Apple enthusiasts can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the last lingering concern has been addressed. In a surprising move, Apple CEO Tim Cook made an unannounced appearance in a live broadcast on a major Chinese platform last night. He announced that pre-sales for the iPhone Air (Domestic Chinese Version) will commence on October 17, with the official launch set for October 22. The release information has been promptly updated across all official channels. Cook's presence underscores Apple's commitment to the Chinese market and reflects its strong confidence in the iPhone Air's sales potential in China. Many users, upon confirming the release date, are already eager to place their orders.

One of the biggest uncertainties surrounding the iPhone Air was the persistent online rumor that it would only be available as a contract phone, which had discouraged many potential buyers and even drawn unnecessary criticism towards carriers. However, this concern has now been proven unfounded. The availability of the iPhone Air through official channels confirms that it is a universal model compatible with all networks, effectively debunking the rumor that it would be exclusively sold as a contract phone.

Another lingering doubt was the speculation that the delayed release of the iPhone Air was to allow a competitor's similar model to hit the market first. This rumor, too, has been debunked. Based on the release date, it is clear that the iPhone Air will be the first in the Chinese market to support eSIM technology. Apple has indeed played a pivotal role in promoting the adoption of eSIM. It is anticipated that once the iPhone Air is released, domestic competitors will also gradually introduce similar models.

Significantly, Apple enjoys a relatively long exclusive release period this time, which I estimate to be at least one month. This will significantly bolster the sales of the iPhone Air. Although concerns about battery life have been raised, when the product is about to be released, this drawback is often overlooked by eager buyers. The three major carriers announced almost simultaneously yesterday that they have received approval for eSIM operation services, presumably to align with the iPhone Air's release.

As for the initial sales projections of the iPhone Air, I believe that surpassing 500,000 units within the first 7 days should be achievable. However, potential buyers should be aware of some issues. Although orders can be placed through official channels, autonomous activation is not possible. Whether converting an existing physical SIM card to eSIM or obtaining a new eSIM number for network access, activation and service setup must be carried out through the carrier. The good news is that the data plan can remain unchanged, meaning that activating eSIM service does not require selecting a new plan as previously rumored.

In terms of the iPhone Air's capabilities, it is not as subpar as some people perceive. For instance, regarding battery life, with the optimization of the new-generation C1X baseband and component system, it can typically last a full day under normal usage. Moreover, protected by front and rear ultra-ceramic crystal panels and a 5-grade aerospace-grade titanium metal frame, despite its slim profile of only 5.6mm, it is not as fragile as some imagine.

However, the question remains as to how many consumers will be willing to accept the starting price of 7,999 yuan.