Apple’s latest innovation, the iPhone Air, faces an unexpected delay in its China release due to regulatory concerns surrounding its eSIM-only design. The device, unveiled at Apple’s Awe Dropping event on September 9 alongside the iPhone 17 series, is the company’s slimmest smartphone to date at just 5.6mm and weighing 165 grams. While pre-orders have already gone live across more than 63 countries, including India, Apple has paused its rollout in mainland China until it receives clearance from local authorities.
According to The South China Morning Post, Apple has updated its China-specific iPhone Air product page, removing the earlier launch schedule and replacing it with a message stating that release details will be provided later. The original plan was to begin pre-orders on September 12 with deliveries from September 19.
The delay stems from eSIM compliance. Apple has confirmed that it is collaborating with Chinese regulators to enable a smooth launch and is working with major telecom operators including China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. While China Mobile has announced that eSIM services are enabled, the final green light from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is still pending.
Despite the delay in China, the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max remain on track for their September 19 launch in the country. Meanwhile, the iPhone Air continues to attract attention worldwide for its advanced specifications. Featuring the A19 Pro chip, a 6.5-inch ProMotion display, a 48-megapixel rear camera, and an 18-megapixel front camera, the device promises up to 27 hours of video playback on a single charge. Priced from Rs. 1,19,900 in India, the iPhone Air is expected to redefine Apple’s premium lightweight smartphone category.
