Overview
- An MIIT-affiliated notice confirmed China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom can run commercial eSIM phone trials, with China Telecom launching service across 31 provinces that must be activated in person.
- Apple set China preorders for Oct. 17 with sales starting Oct. 22, pricing the iPhone Air from ¥7,999.
- Apple’s China site says units sold are unlocked and can use travel eSIMs when abroad, with local service dependent on carrier support.
- Early tests report Hong Kong iPhone Air units fail mainland eSIM provisioning due to IMEI or certificate checks, while the mainland A3518 model is listed as compatible.
- Carriers have opened reservation channels, with China Unicom reporting more than 180,000 sign-ups; staff indicate in-store eSIM setup is initially free as overall fee policies remain unsettled, and China Telecom says Huawei and OPPO will introduce eSIM phones soon.