Apple delays iPhone Air launch in one of its most important markets: This is the reason

Apple has postponed the launch of its iPhone Air in mainland China, a report has said. The company has cited issues with regulatory approval for the delay and there is no timeline on when the phone will be available in the country – which is one of biggest and most important markets.

According to a report by Bloomberg, the company's China website did not allow customers to pre-order the device, stating that “release information will be updated later. All models will be released after approval.”

iPhone Air’s e-SIM-only design is a ‘problem’

One of the top features of iPhone Air is its e-SIM-only design, making the launch of the iPhone Air in China more complex than elsewhere. Because of its ultra-thin design, the new iPhone does not use a physical SIM card, a technology most common in China. When the iPhone Air was announced, Apple stated that it would initially be available only through the carrier China Unicom and would require users to activate the eSIM at a physical store. The company's website also noted that other carriers would eventually support the new device.Apple’s other new iPhone models—the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max—launched as scheduled in the region with physical SIM card support.

iPhone Air now available for pre-orders

This delay comes despite Apple’s previous announcement that the new phone would be available for pre-order and general release in China on the same dates as other major markets, including the US and India. Customers in India can now pre-order the new iPhone models directly on Apple’s official website. Buyers can also pre-order the iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air models through partner retailers such as Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales and other third-party Premium Apple Resellers like Imagine.