Apple has delayed the start of preorders for the iPhone Air in mainland China, citing regulatory issues related to eSIM technology as the likely cause.
The Chinese webpage for the ultra-thin iPhone states that “release details will be provided at a later time.” Apple had initially announced that preorders for the Air would begin in China simultaneously with the US, at 8AM ET today, and would be fully available starting September 19th. The iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max are currently available for preorder and will be shipped out next week.
The main issue seems to be Apple’s decision to make the Air exclusively eSIM-compatible worldwide. eSIM technology has not been widely adopted in mainland China, and locally manufactured phones do not yet support it (which has caused issues for me while using a Chinese phone in Europe!). None of Apple’s previous iPhones support eSIM in China, including the new iPhone 17 lineup.
Earlier this week, Apple’s eSIM support page for China stated that “China Unicom is the sole eSIM carrier for iPhone.” This information has now been updated to indicate that pending regulatory approval, all three of China’s state-owned major carriers, including China Mobile and China Telecom, will offer eSIM support.
According to the South China Morning Post, Apple has informed Chinese media that it is collaborating closely with regulatory authorities to expedite the availability of the iPhone Air in China.
