The iPhone 17 Air, which is the thinnest smartphone Apple has ever created, was scheduled to open for pre-orders on September 12th. However, the pre-order date has passed without any action for Chinese users. The official Apple store page for the iPhone 17 Air in China now displays a message stating that “information will be updated later,” a clear indication of a delay for this record-breakingly thin iPhone.

The main reason for this delay is most likely the challenge of widespread eSIM support. To achieve its impressive thinness, the iPhone 17 Air removed the physical SIM card tray and was designed as an eSIM-only variant for worldwide release. While Apple has stated it will be available globally through different retailers, the issue has arisen because eSIM technology is not yet widely supported in mainland China.

Previously, Apple’s support page for China clearly stated that China Unicom was the only carrier that would support the iPhone’s eSIM functionality. (Thanks to web archives for retrieving this information.) However, that page has now been updated to show that all three major state carriers will provide eSIM support, but only after they receive regulatory approval. This chain of events points to the core issue: a widespread lack of eSIM support is what’s truly delaying the Apple iPhone 17 Air in China. So, when will the iPhone 17 Air finally be released in China? Reports from Chinese media suggest that Apple is working closely with regulatory authorities to bring the iPhone 17 Air to market as soon as possible.

As the iPhone 17 Air has captured the spotlight of the main event due to its incredible thinness, it needs to be launched all around the world to meet consumer demand. We will be sure to inform you of the official iPhone 17 Air release date in China as soon as it is announced.