Sales of the new iPhone begin, with all eyes on the slim model.

Worldwide sales of the new iPhone line, number 17, launched by Apple on September 9, began in Asia a few hours ago. Anticipation and curiosity are focused on the super-thin 'Air' model, which analysts say is a prelude to a future foldable phone from Apple.

In Beijing, Reuters online reports, a line formed outside an Apple store for the iPhone 17 launch, a signal from a market that has become a key hub for the Cupertino giant, especially in light of the trade war and increasingly fierce competition from rivals Huawei and Xiaomi. Lines outside Apple stores have been a recurring theme since the days of Steve Jobs, and have diminished over time with the introduction of online pre-orders. However, Apple does not disclose official pre-order figures.

The new generation of iPhones, now also arriving in Italy, consists of four models: iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and an entirely new addition, the iPhone Air. It's an ultra-thin titanium device, just 5.6 millimeters thick, that no longer has a physical SIM card but only a virtual one, the eSIM, to save space and maximize battery life.

A few days ago, on September 15, Cupertino also released iOS 26, the iPhone operating system update. The company warned that installing it "may cause battery drain in the first few days."