Apple has unexpectedly delayed preorders of the new iPhone Air in mainland China, citing pending regulatory approvals.
The device, which was scheduled to go on sale today alongside its U.S. launch, is now listed on Apple’s Chinese store page with the message: “release information will be updated later.”
Unlike the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max — which are all available for preorder in China and set to begin shipping next week — the iPhone Air faces hurdles because it is an eSIM-only model.
eSIM technology is still not widely adopted in mainland China. Until now, iPhones sold in the country have not supported eSIM, and the newly announced iPhone 17 lineup also continues to use traditional SIM cards. Apple’s decision to remove physical SIM slots entirely from the Air is therefore a sticking point for regulators.
Earlier this week, Apple’s support page noted that China Unicom was the only carrier offering eSIM support. The page has since been updated to say that, pending regulatory approval, all three of China’s state-owned carriers — China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom — will support eSIM.
According to the South China Morning Post, Apple has confirmed to Chinese media that it is “working closely with regulatory authorities to bring the iPhone Air to China as soon as possible.”
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If approved in time, the iPhone Air could still join the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup when it officially launches worldwide on September 19, 2025.
