Apple has delayed the preorders for the iPhone Air in mainland China, which were scheduled to start today. This postponement is likely tied to regulatory issues surrounding eSIM technology in the region.
The Chinese store page for the iPhone Air indicates that “release information will be updated later.” Initially, Apple announced that preorders for the Air would commence simultaneously with those in the US at 8 AM ET today, with plans for full availability by September 19. However, the other new iPhone models—17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max—are available for preorder and are expected to ship next week.
A primary factor for the delay appears to be Apple’s strategy of making the iPhone Air eSIM-only on a global scale. eSIM adoption has not gained significant traction in mainland China, where devices sold in the domestic market continue to lack eSIM support. Previous iPhone models, including the three new iPhone 17 versions, do not currently support eSIM in this market.
Earlier this week, Apple’s support page noted that “China Unicom is the only supported eSIM carrier for iPhone.” This information has since been updated to mention that all three major state-owned carriers—China Unicom, China Mobile, and China Telecom—will offer eSIM services, but only pending regulatory approval.
The South China Morning Post has reported that Apple is actively collaborating with regulatory authorities in China to expedite the introduction of the iPhone Air into the market.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/777023/iphone-air-launch-delayed-china-esim-issues