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iPhone Air's eSIM-only Design Drives China's Shift to Digital SIMs

The iPhone Air's eSIM-only design is transforming China's mobile landscape. With China Unicom already on board, more carriers are set to follow, accelerating the shift towards digital SIMs.

In this picture I can see there is a smartphone and there are few specifications mentioned on the...
In this picture I can see there is a smartphone and there are few specifications mentioned on the screen and it is placed in a white box and placed on a brown surface.

iPhone Air's eSIM-only Design Drives China's Shift to Digital SIMs

Apple's latest iPhone 15 Air has made waves in China, becoming the first eSIM-only ultra-slim handset. China Unicom has stepped up as the first carrier to support the iPhone 15 Air's eSIM, a move that's accelerating the shift towards digital SIM technology in the country.

Currently, the iPhone 15 Air supports eSIM activation in mainland China exclusively through China Unicom. This is a significant development, as eSIM technology allows users to activate a cellular plan without a physical SIM card, offering greater convenience and flexibility.

The iPhone 15 Air's eSIM-only design has sparked anticipation among Chinese tech enthusiasts. An anonymous netizen, Sakabanban, has expressed hope that more Chinese smartphone brands will adopt this technology. Meanwhile, China Telecom's eSIM mobile service is expected to launch soon after receiving official approval, further expanding eSIM availability.

However, the rollout of eSIM support is not uniform across all carriers. While China Unicom has taken the lead, China Mobile has not yet provided a timeline for eSIM support for the iPhone 15 Air. The regulatory approvals for eSIM by Chinese carriers are still pending, which may explain this delay. Both China Mobile and China Telecom, however, are working to fast-track eSIM support for the iPhone 15 Air.

In other news, the iPhone 17 series' availability in the Chinese market has been delayed due to localization, regulatory requirements, and technical integration challenges. Apple Intelligence on this series is currently unavailable in China.

The iPhone 15 Air's eSIM-only design is driving China's shift towards digital SIM technology, with China Unicom leading the way. As more carriers, including China Telecom and China Mobile, fast-track their eSIM support, we can expect to see a wider adoption of this technology in the Chinese market. Despite the delay in the iPhone 17 series' availability, the iPhone 15 Air's innovative design is making a significant impact on the Chinese smartphone market.

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