Apple has postponed preorders of the iPhone Air in mainland China, which have been on account of open right this moment, with regulatory points round eSIM nearly definitely in charge.
The Chinese language retailer web page for the super-slim iPhone says that “launch data will probably be up to date later” (translated from Chinese language). Apple had originally announced that the Air would go on preorder in China concurrently within the US, 8AM ET right this moment, with full availability from September nineteenth. Its different three new iPhones — the 17, 17 Professional, and 17 Professional Max — are all out there to preorder now, and ship from subsequent week.
The problem is almost certainly Apple’s choice to make the Air eSIM-only worldwide. eSIM has by no means been extensively out there in mainland China, and telephones manufactured for the native market nonetheless don’t embrace assist (which has tripped me up a number of occasions once I’ve gone touring in Europe with a evaluate unit of a Chinese language telephone!). None of Apple’s earlier iPhone assist eSIM in China, nor do any of the three iPhone 17 fashions.
Earlier this week Apple’s assist web page for eSIM in China declared that “China Unicom is the one supported eSIM service for iPhone.” That web page has now been updated, and says that “pending regulatory approval” all three of the nation’s state-owned primary carriers will provide eSIM, together with China Cellular and China Telecom.
The South China Morning Put up reports that Apple has instructed Chinese language media that it’s “working carefully with regulatory authorities to convey [the iPhone Air] to China as quickly as potential.”