Apple’s iPhone Air launch hits a snag in China

• Apple said the iPhone Air’s release date in China is “subject to regulatory approval.”
• The iPhone Air’s eSIM-only design conflicts with China’s limited eSIM carrier support.
• Other new iPhone models are set for release on September 19.

Apple’s new iPhone Air may be facing a setback in China.

The tech giant launched its thinnest phone on Tuesday at its fall event. At 5.6 millimeters, the iPhone Air doesn’t leave as much space for a SIM card and battery as the iPhone 17 models do. So, Apple ditched the SIM card slot and made the iPhone Air eSIM only.

The move poses a problem for Apple in mainland China, where some carriers don’t yet offer eSIM service.

The South China Morning Post reported a change to Apple’s website in the days following the launch. While the deliveries for iPhone Air were originally set to begin in the country on September 19, alongside the iPhone 17, Apple’s website no longer lists the Air’s release date.

“Release information will be updated later,” said an English translation of a message about the iPhone Air on Apple’s website on Friday.

Apple lists China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom as carriers that will support eSIM, “with the specific timing subject to regulatory approval” on its website. Although Apple didn’t specify which regulators’ approval it needs, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is the primary regulator of Chinese telecommunications.

A representative for Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The iPhone Air starts at 7,999 yuan, or about $1,123, in China.

This isn’t the first time Apple has faced iPhone woes in China. In recent years, it has lost ground to local competitors, like Xiaomi and Huawei, which can offer more affordable models and discounts thanks to government subsidies.

However, Apple’s revenue in the competitive region grew about 4% year over year last quarter, to the delight of Wall Street.

“This was a major step in the right direction for Cook and Cupertino, with China the star of the show,” Wedbush’s Dan Ives, a perennial tech bull, wrote in response to the growth.

The buzz around the iPhone Air in China, as reported by SCMP, could give Apple a boost if it can figure out this eSIM issue.

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