Apple Inc.’s iPhone Air went on sale in China on Wednesday, eliciting a subdued consumer response in the world’s biggest smartphone arena. At Beijing’s Sanlitun store, more customers were coming in to pick up iPhone 17 Pro models, with the iPhone Air initially available to order and receive on the same day. The iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max still accept physical SIM cards in China, but for the svelte 5.6-millimeter Air, Apple favored using that space for more battery capacity. The iPhone Air could spur fresh momentum as Apple contends with local favorites Huawei Technologies Co., Xiaomi Corp., Oppo and others. Demand for Apple’s new iPhones has proved strong, owing to the redesign of the iPhone 17 Pro, the fresh Air form factor, and the best base-model iPhone in years.