Apple delays release of iPhone Air in China due to pending approval of eSIM

Apple is gearing up for the global launch of its iPhone 17 series on September 19, but the debut of the eSIM-exclusive iPhone Air in China is encountering delays due to regulatory challenges. The company’s official site confirms that the three major Chinese telecom operators—China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom—are set to support eSIM functionality for the iPhone Air. However, the launch is contingent upon obtaining necessary regulatory approvals. Reports from the South China Morning Post indicate that Apple is actively collaborating with Chinese regulatory bodies to expedite the iPhone Air’s availability in the market. Additionally, a recent post by China Mobile on the social media platform Weibo stated that the network has activated eSIM services, although it did not specify when the iPhone Air would be available. In a related development, China Telecom had announced on RedNote that it would introduce its own eSIM service on the same day as the iPhone 17 launch, September 19, but this announcement was later retracted. As the pre-orders for the other models in the series kick off this Friday, many are left wondering when the regulatory roadblocks for the iPhone Air will be resolved. Apple has yet to comment on the situation.