Apple’s sleek new iPhone Air officially went on preorder in China on Friday, just days after receiving regulatory approval to launch in the region. Within hours, the ultra-thin handset sold out, according to the South China Morning Post—a milestone that hasn’t happened in any other market. The iPhone Air remains the only model in Apple’s 2025 lineup that didn’t sell out at launch in the U.S. or other international regions.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max was the first model to vanish from online stores when preorders opened on September 12, followed closely by the iPhone 17 Pro and the standard iPhone 17 over the first preorder weekend. Demand for Apple’s latest lineup continues to outpace that of last year’s iPhone 16 series.
Industry analysts note that the spike in demand is especially strong for the standard iPhone 17, typically Apple’s most affordable flagship. A report from Mizuho Securities (via The Elec) indicates that Apple now plans to produce about 94 million iPhones this year—6 million more than originally projected—underscoring stronger-than-expected sales momentum.
Still, supply remains strained. Ongoing checks by BGR show that many iPhone 17 models are persistently out of stock in several regions, though some European markets have recently seen modest improvements in shipping estimates. As of mid-October, wait times for certain models remain as long as two to three weeks.
How long will you wait for an iPhone 17?
To assess global availability, we conducted weekly stock checks across four iPhone models, testing all storage and color configurations for unlocked units without trade-in deals. The data below reflects delivery estimates as of Friday, October 16, across major regions in North America (U.S. and Canada), Europe (France, Germany, Switzerland, and Ireland), and Asia (China and Japan).
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 2–3 weeks (U.S., Canada, Germany); 1–2 weeks (China); in stock (U.K., France, Switzerland,
Ireland, Japan) - iPhone 17 Pro: 2–3 weeks (U.S., Canada, Germany); 1–2 weeks (China); in stock (U.K., France, Switzerland,
Ireland, Japan) - iPhone 17: 2–3 weeks (U.S., U.K., France, Switzerland, China, Japan); in stock (Canada, Germany, Ireland)
- iPhone Air: 1–2 weeks (China); in stock (U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, Japan)
As always, these shipping estimates are subject to change. Apple frequently updates regional online stores as inventory is replenished, and supply levels can differ by country and model. Retail carriers and electronics chains may also list alternative delivery dates based on local agreements. For those eager to get their hands on the new lineup sooner, checking stock directly at an Apple retail store often remains the fastest option.