eSIM-Only iPhone Air Available in China Through China Unicom

[MacRumors]

The thin and light iPhone Air does not have a physical SIM slot, and is limited to eSIM-only operation. That's something of a problem, because in China, carriers have not traditionally supported eSIM for the iPhone even though it's widely used around the world.

Until now, iPhones sold in China have always had a physical SIM slot, and that's still the case for the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. There wasn't space for a SIM tray in the iPhone Air, but China won't have to go without. Apple was able to work with China Unicom to bring the iPhone Air with eSIM to the Chinese market.

On its website in China, Apple says that customers will need an eSIM-supported carrier and mobile plan to use the iPhone Air. The company also clarifies that not all carriers support eSIM, and that customers who want to use the iPhone Air will need to sign up for a plan with China Unicom. As of right now, China Unicom is the only carrier that supports eSIM.

China has a requirement that links a user's ID to their cellular phone, something that's harder to do with an eSIM over a physical SIM. China Unicom customers who buy an iPhone Air will be required to visit a China Unicom retail store to verify their IDs with store staff and activate their device.

Apple has a support document on the iPhone Air in China that further says only the model A3518 iPhone Air will be able to be activated via eSIM in China. All other iPhone Air models, including those purchased outside of China, will not be able to install an eSIM profile from a China mainland carrier.

Chinese customers who have an eSIM-capable iPhone Air purchased in China will be able to activate an eSIM from a local carrier when traveling, but eSIMs from non-China mainland carriers cannot be installed while located in China mainland.

Article Link: eSIM-Only iPhone Air Available in China Through China Unicom

 

[tylerthomas28]

So in other words few will buy. Physical sims are king in China.

 

[klasma]

For some reason I read that as China Unicorn. 🦄

 

[Paddle1]

I wonder how Apple was able to get an exemption from the no eSIM law.

 

[nateo200]

I wonder how Apple was able to get an exemption from the no eSIM law.

Money and a track record of being able to control their ecosystem better than any other country.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

So in other words few will buy. Physical sims are king in China.

Few were going to buy anyway, non-iPhones are king in China.

 

[bluecoast]

I wonder how Apple was able to get an exemption from the no eSIM law.

Maybe there's an exorbitant esim tax added on by china, meaning that only 3 people will buy it!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I wonder how Apple was able to get an exemption from the no eSIM law.

It’s an ID requirement, so as long as you go into a store with your ID, it’s not an exception, it’s just extra steps to compliance.

 

[iZac]

It’s an ID requirement, so as long as you go into a store with your ID, it’s not an exception, it’s just extra steps to compliance.

I don't know if they changed since, but I remember buying a cellular Apple Watch and realising that only Chinese nationals could get an eSIM because of the ID requirement - passports were not accepted.

 

[RevTEG]

Well this eliminates the iPhone Air for me. I still need a physical SIM card in som elf the developing nations I work in. While E-SIM is available in those countries, it requires a contact to access. This doesn’t work for a one to three month stay in county. Why would I want to sign a 1 year contract for 3 months?

 

[goshya]

Also, an iPhone Air bought in China will not support FaceTime audio (no Chinese iPhone does).

 

[UliBaer]

In other words, anyone traveling to China with a none Chinese iPhone Air will not be able to get a local eSim - great?!

 

[racerhomie]

In other words, anyone traveling to China with a none Chinese iPhone Air will not be able to get a local eSim - great?!

China is not a good nation to travel to anyways. But I get that it sucks, as they want to track citizens with physical SIMs

 

[baconcat_8964]

I wonder how Apple was able to get an exemption from the no eSIM law.

China has a long testing history on eSIM, but mainly limited to wearables and IoT devices.

Also, I think Beijing govenment also wants to achieve eSIM-only like the US, since they can forbid all foreign unapproved phones to be used in China with their eSIM activation policy.

 

[Knavel]

Chinese customers who have an eSIM-capable iPhone Air purchased in China will be able to activate an eSIM from a local carrier when traveling, but eSIMs from non-China mainland carriers cannot be installed while located in China mainland.

I don't exactly follow this. To date I have been able to install foreign eSIMs while physically located in China, as long as I currently had one active. That is, I could bootstrap from one to the next. Is this going to change? If so, will the change affect other iPhone models, or only the Air?

 

[goshya]

China is not a good nation to travel to anyways. But I get that it sucks, as they want to track citizens with physical SIMs

Clueless much?!

1. China offers visa-free entry for 30 days to citizens of most developed countries. A country with such a rich history is undoubtedly worth visiting.

2. Your comment makes no sense. You can also track citizens using an eSIM.

Phone manufacturers and Chinese mobile providers do not offer eSIM-compatible phones in China, as it would be simple to install an additional international eSIM, bypassing the Great Firewall of China. This would allow access to information the Communist Party restricts. Installing a working VPN in China has become increasingly difficult, partly due to Apple’s compliance. VPN apps are banned from the Chinese Apple App Store. International eSIMs offer a cost-effective way to access the unrestricted internet.

 

[goshya]

I don't exactly follow this. To date I have been able to install foreign eSIMs while physically located in China, as long as I currently had one active. That is, I could bootstrap from one to the next. Is this going to change? If so, will the change affect other iPhone models, or only the Air?

No changes for your foreign-bought iPhone. You can still use international eSIMs while in China.

Chinese authorities do not want their citizens using Chinese iPhone Airs to install international eSIMs whilst in China though, as this would allow them to bypass the Great Firewall of China. Nice that they will allow the use of international eSIMs when abroad. Anyway, sounds to me like some messed-up iPhone Air firmware for the phones sold in China. Similar to the firmwares that don’t allow the use of FaceTime Audio in China and Saudi Arabia or the mandatory shutter sound in Japan and Korea.

 

[AlanBeyond]

China is not a good nation to travel to anyways. But I get that it sucks, as they want to track citizens with physical SIMs

China is a great nation to travel to. You need to abandon your fixed mindset. Check some YouTube travel channels, it will broaden your horizon.

 

[AlanBeyond]

In other words, anyone traveling to China with a none Chinese iPhone Air will not be able to get a local eSim - great?!

Yes, which is so absurd because China is now trying so hard to attract foreign tourists.

 

[AlanBeyond]

No changes for your foreign-bought iPhone. You can still use international eSIMs while in China.

Chinese authorities do not want their citizens using Chinese iPhone Airs to install international eSIMs whilst in China though, as this would allow them to bypass the Great Firewall of China. Nice that they will allow the use of international eSIMs when abroad. Anyway, sounds to me like some messed-up iPhone Air firmware for the phones sold in China. Similar to the firmwares that don’t allow the use of FaceTime Audio in China and Saudi Arabia or the mandatory shutter sound in Japan and Korea.

In order to get local services, you need to get a Chinese phone number. That is very inconvenient for international tourists. Hope this could change soon, allowing foreign models to install Chinese eSIMs. They can keep the "Chinese phone can only install Chinese eSIMs while in China" strategy tho.

 

[goshya]

In order to get local services, you need to get a Chinese phone number. That is very inconvenient for international tourists. Hope this could change soon, allowing foreign models to install Chinese eSIMs. They can keep the "Chinese phone can only install Chinese eSIMs while in China" strategy tho.

Getting a Chinese plastic SIM card with Chinese phone number only requires a passport though. Cheap as well.

 

[Shirasaki]

See, this is the caveats I am suspecting for Chinese iPhone to use eSIM. And given how small customer base China Unicom is in China, Apple probably can ship like 10k iPhone Air to China and they may hardly sell any over the next year, and ends up needing to ship those stocks outside of China later on.
Oh and blocking foreign eSIMs from using local network? Sounds about right for China to do.

China has a long testing history on eSIM, but mainly limited to wearables and IoT devices.

Also, I think Beijing govenment also wants to achieve eSIM-only like the US, since they can forbid all foreign unapproved phones to be used in China with their eSIM activation policy.

I think they are already limiting foreign unapproved iPhones by locking 5G behind international eSIM whether the region has 5G signals or not. I can only use 4G with Telstra eSIM.
In the future, what can happen is they also check IMEI or similar and block service to iPhones which IMEI or similar using local cellular networks, effectively killing international roaming.

Yes, which is so absurd because China is now trying so hard to attract foreign tourists.

Shrug.

Getting a Chinese plastic SIM card with Chinese phone number only requires a passport though. Cheap as well.

Only need passport? If that’s the case that is relatively easy.

 

[turbineseaplane]

China has a long testing history on eSIM, but mainly limited to wearables and IoT devices.

Also, I think Beijing govenment also wants to achieve eSIM-only like the US, since they can forbid all foreign unapproved phones to be used in China with their eSIM activation policy.

I wonder if any other governments might be thinking along those lines.
Interesting

 

[baconcat_8964]

I think they are already limiting foreign unapproved iPhones by locking 5G behind international eSIM whether the region has 5G signals or not. I can only use 4G with Telstra eSIM.

Might be a policy limitation, a frequency band difference, or just carriers havn't make a deal for 5G international roaming. But overall I keep pessimistic on China's mobile phone eSIM implementation.

Only need passport? If that’s the case that is relatively easy.

They used to require a working visa or permernant residency for buying a phone number, which looks like only for people who work and live in China for longer period, not for short term tourists. But the policy was changed in 2024, now any foreigner with passport can buy a SIM with phone number.

 

[KPOM]

Clueless much?!

1. China offers visa-free entry for 30 days to citizens of most developed countries. A country with such a rich history is undoubtedly worth visiting.

Is that new? In 2016 when I went only cities like Shanghai permitted visa free entry for Americans and only for 6 days if you had a ticket out of China from the same airport of entry.