Apple's iPhone Air sold out across online stores in China within hours of pre-orders opening on Friday, the South China Morning Post reports.

Apple Inc.’s iPhone Air went on sale in China on Wednesday, eliciting a subdued consumer response in the world’s biggest smartphone arena.

Despite that, Apple stock rose more than 3% following the report on upbeat guidance from CEO Tim Cook who told CNBC he believes the company will see double-digit iPhone revenue growth in the December quarter.

Apple (AAPL) announced fourth quarter earnings on Thursday that beat on the top and bottom lines but fell just short of analysts' expectations on iPhone sales and revenue out of China. CEO Tim Cook offered an upbeat forecast on the the company's earnings call,

Apple Inc. blamed a surprise decline in China revenue on supply disruptions, predicting it will return to growth in the world’s biggest smartphone arena as the iPhone 17 gains momentum.

Fierce competition and supply constraints lead to a sales decline, but Apple’s boss says demand for newest iPhone series will spur a rebound.

According to a report from the South China Morning Post, the iPhone Air “sold out within minutes of its launch in China” earlier today. The report explains that “minutes after” pre-orders began on Friday morning, the iPhone Air was sold out “at all bricks-and-mortar stores in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as in cities like Tianjin.”

Chinese startup Noetix Robotics has developed a humanoid robot priced lower than an iPhone by redesigning its components, structure, and production chain from the ground up.