(MENAFN) Apple is expected to postpone the release of its iPhone Air in China as the company works to address regulatory concerns surrounding the use of embedded SIM (eSIM) technology with Chinese authorities, according to reports.

As of Friday morning, Apple updated its mainland China iPhone Air ordering page, replacing the original launch date with a notice stating that “release information [will] be updated later.” The company had initially planned deliveries to begin on September 19, with pre-orders opening that same day.

The iPhone Air, Apple’s thinnest model yet at 5.6 millimeters, relies exclusively on an eSIM. Other newly announced devices—the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Max, and standard iPhone 17—remain on track for pre-orders starting Friday night and official availability on September 19.

Apple told Chinese media that it is “working closely with regulatory authorities to bring it to China as soon as possible.” The three state-owned telecom operators—China Unicom, China Mobile, and China Telecom—are expected to support the eSIM, with the exact timing dependent on regulatory approval. Previously, only China Unicom provided eSIM support for Apple devices.

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