Picture/Graphics: D. Griffin Jones/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
After a month’s delay, Apple will launch the iPhone Air in China on Wednesday, October 22. Preorders for the machine will start this Friday, October 17.
Apple pushed again the iPhone Air’s September launch in China on the final minute as a result of regulatory hurdles round eSIM assist.
iPhone Air preorders go reside this Friday in China
Whereas unveiling the iPhone Air, Apple stated the super-slim iPhone preorders would open in China on the identical day (September 12) as the remainder of the world. However just a few hours earlier than preorders went reside, it delayed the cellphone’s launch within the nation.
Again then, an Apple spokesperson stated it was “working intently with regulatory authorities to carry it to China as quickly as doable.” The delay stemmed from the iPhone Air being an eSIM-only machine.
Now, throughout his go to to China, Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner introduced on Weibo that the iPhone Air will launch within the nation on October 22. Prospects can preorder the cellphone from later this week, beginning October 17.
Strict eSIM rules led to iPhone Air’s launch being delayed
China has strict rules surrounding eSIM. It requires shoppers to go to their nearest retail shops to confirm their id and activate the road.
Attributable to this, eSIM adoption isn’t widespread in China. Nonetheless, the iPhone Air will assist eSIM on all three main carriers: China Unicom, China Cellular and China Telecom. Nonetheless, the assist will rely upon regulatory approval.
It appears Apple cleared the mandatory hurdles, paving the way in which for iPhone Air’s launch within the nation.
China is one among Apple’s largest markets for the iPhone. The iPhone 17 has already shattered iPhone 16 preorder numbers within the nation by an enormous margin.
Whereas the iPhone Air could not replicate that degree of success given the trade-offs it makes for its ultra-slim design, there ought to nonetheless be robust demand for it.
